Chinese in Nevada

Did you know the Chinese have a long history in Nevada? The earliest record is in 1856 when immigrants dug ditches on the Carson River. In 1860 twenty-one Chinese men lived in the Western Great Basin, by 1880 the population reached 5,000. Dayton had a large Chinese population and was known as Chinatown until 1861.

Miners’ unions prohibited the Chinese from working underground so they worked as laborers, woodcutters, laundrymen, and servants. Chinese faced more discrimination than any other minority group. In some towns, the Chinese built underground cities as you can tour in Pendleton, Oregon (highly recommended tour).

I traveled to Asia several times and was fortunate to be there for the Lantern Festival which marks the end of Chinese New Year. Leave it to me, I even visited ghost towns while in Asia. One you had to climb up a cliff to visit. Our family celebrates Chinese New Year every year with my little one leading the parade at the Nevada State Museum.

2-11-2021

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