Prior to European arrival, present-day Chinatown was inhabited by indigenous peoples for thousands of years.  Recent history includes waves of immigration from Mexico, Croatia, Italy, and elsewhere.  Beginning around 1870, Chinese immigrants were concentrated in neighborhoods south and east of El Pueblo (Olvera Street).  This thriving Chinese community was destroyed in 1933 to make way for the construction of Union Station.  Some displaced residents and businesses were relocated to today’s Chinatown, which was then called “New Chinatown.”

For the past few decades, Chinese immigration has moved east, primarily in the San Gabriel Valley.  However, Chinatown remains a significant population center and an important center of Chinese culture.  Beginning in the 1990’s, a new wave of artists and art galleries began to add new flavor to the historic community.

The community has been changing with the arrival of the Metro Gold Line (2004), the opening of Los Angeles State Historic Park (2006), and the large mixed-use transit-oriented development Blossom Plaza, planned to open in a couple of years.