Riverside Chinatown Archaeological Site, Riverside, CA

Threat: Inappropriate development
Owner: Riverside County Office of Education

Riverside Chinatown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo courtesy of Rosalind Sagara.

Riverside’s Chinatown dates back to 1885 and is considered among the best-preserved early Chinese American archaeological sites in the country. The site has been designated a historic resource by federal, state, county, and city governments. A central hub of the Chinese community in Inland Southern California, Riverside’s Chinatown contains the remains of a temple, business district, and permanent and temporary housing. Many of Chinatown’s residents provided skilled labor to the region’s developing citrus industry. Their centuries-old knowledge of citrus contributed to making Riverside the richest city per capita in the U.S. by the turn of the 20th century.

In October 2008, the City of Riverside approved a medical office development at the site of Riverside’s Chinatown. The approved project would have resulted in the loss of the site’s archaeological remains, considered to be one of the best intact remains of an early Chinese American historic site. Local citizens successfully challenged City approvals in court and have subsequently developed a vision for a signature park that highlights the site’s social, cultural, and archaeological values. Despite widespread opposition, the developer and new out-of-town business partners are continuing to seek entitlements for a medical office development at the historic site.

For more information:
M. Rosalind Sagara, Chair
Save Our Chinatown Committee
P.O. Box 55436
Riverside, CA 92517
Email: saveourchinatown@gmail.com
Websites: www.saveourchinatown.org and facebook.com/savechinatown