Regional analysis concepts and applications

Regional Analysis

Chinatown Manhattan is not unique in terms of its demographic nature as mostly composed of Chinese immigrants. Many other American cities also include Chinatown districts. However, the neighborhood in Manhattan has until recently had the somewhat unique status of being the largest enclave of Chinese immigrants not only in the country, but in the entire Western Hemisphere. Chinatown Manhattan attained this status during the 1980s, when it surpassed Chinatown San Francisco in size. Interestingly, size is a fluid, dynamic thing, particularly in terms of cultural regions. The Chinese community in Flushing, Queens, close to Manhattan's Chinatown, has recently outgrown it in number of citizens.

In terms of location, Chinatown Manhattan originated on Mott, Par, Pell and Doyer streets, close to the Five Points district. The traditional borders of Chinatown, valid until the 1970s, were Canal Street (North), the Bowery (East), Worth Street (South), and Baxter Street (West) (AAFNY).

The growth of the region since the 1970s is closely connected to the political issues of the time. Changes to the American immigration laws during 1965 allowed a large increase of immigrants from Asia, which led to an explosion of Chinatown's population. Consequently, the 1970s saw the absorption of Little Italy by Chinatown (AAFNY).

The government subsidized much-needed housing projects in Chinatown, including Confucius Plaza in 1976, which included both residential units and a new public grade school. The former Eastern-European Jewish occupied Lower East Side also became a largely Chinatown neighborhood during the 1990s.

The dynamic growth of the neighborhood is further exemplified by its current geographic borders: Dilancey Street (north), East Broadway (East), Broadway (West) and Chambers Street (South). From north to south, the area stretches to approximately one mile, while it covers two miles in the east-west direction. In addition to its size, Chinatown is also interesting in terms of its residential size.

According the AAFNY, Chinatown Manhattan differs from most others of its kind across the United States in that it features as both a residential and commercial region. Population estimates range from 150,000 to 250,000 or even 350,000 residents. The residents of the region have a tendency towards low participation in the U.S. Census, mainly because of language barriers and illegal immigration. In terms of employment, the some 200-300 Chinese restaurants in the region offer income opportunities for cooks and waiters, although there are also some sweat shops. The local garment industry offers part-time employment for home workers, as it focuses on quick production in small volumes. Population growth is generally due to immigration, with generations that gain language and employment skills moving to the more affluent areas of New York.

In determining whether Chinatown might be a formal, functional, or vernacular region, it is helpful to consider the region's demographic and historical nature. According to the National Geographic Society, formal regions are those that are generally recognized as such as a result of being shared by people with common cultural characteristics or goals. Chinatown can therefore be characterized as formal, as it is generally occupied by Chinese immigrants, as the case has also been in historical terms.

A functional region is referred to as a central area serving the neighborhoods around it. It is generally connected to the areas it serves by means of transportation routes. Chinatown is connected with its surrounding regions, but does not serve them for purposes other than tourism or entertainment. In broad terms, it is unlikely that the region can then be characterized as formal.

Finally, a vernacular, or what the National Geographic Society refers to as "perceptual" regions, are those without particular physical boundaries, but that are based upon human attitudes or feelings. Examples are Dixie, southern California, and the American South. These regions are characterized upon common characteristics and names, but cannot be said to reside within specific borders. While Chinatown may connected with certain perceptions and feelings, it does also reside within a specific geographic area.

According to the criteria mentioned, Chinatown Manhattan can therefore be referred to as a formal region.

Another interesting feature about the Chinese community in New York City is the fact that Chinatown Manhattan is not the only Chinese settlement in the area. Indeed, according to Larry Tung, several others have been established over the years, with examples such as the already mentioned Flushing in Queens, Sunset Park in Brooklyn, and the newest one on Avenue U. In Brooklyn's Homecrest section. Thirty miles to the southwest of New York City, there is also a growing Chinatown in Edison, New Jersey.