The
Chinatown centered on
Grant Avenue and
Stockton Street in
San Francisco,
California, is the oldest
Chinatown in
North America and the largest
Chinese community outside
Asia. It is the oldest of the
four notable Chinatowns in the city. Since its establishment in 1848, it has been highly important and influential in the history and culture of
ethnic Chinese immigrants in North America. Chinatown is an
enclave that continues to retain its own customs, languages,
places of worship, social clubs, and identity. There are two hospitals, numerous parks and squares, a post office, and other infrastructure. While recent immigrants and the elderly choose to live in here because of the availability of affordable housing and their familiarity with the culture, the place is also a major
tourist attraction, drawing more visitors annually than the
Golden Gate Bridge.