Ethnic towns and cities in California (Los Angeles, San Diego: home, live, garden)

[WesternPilgrim]

By "ethnic", I mean non-Anglo and non-Hispanic - the two dominant ethnic cultures in the state.

Most California cities are Anglo-dominant in language and culture.

Ten miles away from here is Hamilton City, which is 80% Hispanic. There are many such towns in the Central Valley.

Are there California cities where another ethnicity is a solid majority and culturally dominant? I want to suggest Gustine, for example, due its Portuguese character. Solvang might be a good Danish example, except that I fear the Danish side of Solvang is mostly kitch these days - but I could be wrong.

[BeauCharles]

The few "ethnic" towns are either tourist traps or fading fast. Solvang is 30% Hispanic, Gustine is 50% Hispanic. Kingsburg (Swedish at one time) is 42% Hispanic. Gustine used to be genuinely Portuguese when I lived in Merced in the 90s. Again, that's changing very quickly.

[WesternPilgrim]

Originally Posted by BeauCharles

The few "ethnic" towns are either tourist traps or fading fast. Solvang is 30% Hispanic, Gustine is 50% Hispanic. Kingsburg (Swedish at one time) is 42% Hispanic. Gustine used to be genuinely Portuguese when I lived in Merced in the 90s. Again, that's changing very quickly.

What about Ferndale? Isn't that a Dutch town? Or am I misremembering?

[kttam186290]

Santa Maria area always had a large Portuguese-American population. Lots of Scots-Irish descent in Ventura. Around L.A. , San Marino is mainly Chinese descent. Lots of Arabs/Middle Eastern people in Anaheim. Glendale is mostly Armenian now. Artesia is developing into an East Indian enclave.

Kingsberg (near Fresno) was Swedish. Up by San Francisco, they call Daly City "Little Manila" due to the large Fillipino population. Lots of those little towns up and down the Central Valley were once predominantly "Okie" (Scots-Irish) from Oklahoma and Arkansas.

[Bulldogdad]

Chinatown San Francisco.

[.highnlite]

Originally Posted by WesternPilgrim

What about Ferndale? Isn't that a Dutch town? Or am I misremembering?

Ferndale like the surrounding area was probably settled by Swiss Italians.

As was Guadalupe.

Sebastopol, settle by Russians

[Tex?Il?]

Sounds like Western Pilgrim doesn't spend much time in Californias large urban areas. Californias urban areas are full of ethnic enclaves.

In great Los Angeles:

Greater LA has the largest population of just about every Southeast Asian cultural group (Vietnamese, Philipinos, Cambodians, Laotians, and Thais) and Koreans outside their respective country. While one can also meet Indonesians, Burmese, Malaysians, they are generally not a LARGE population in general.

One other SE Asian group, the Hmong, an ethnic groups of the jungles and hills of Laos/Vietnam that were persecuted, and then found refuge through Lutheran mission groups. Therefore Minneapolis-St.Paul-LaCrosse, WI is the where the largest pop of that group is found, although in California, Fresno area does have a significant Hmong population.


3rd largest Chinese population in the US after New York and San Francisco. LAs Chinatown is cool, but the San Gabriel Valley has five towns (Monterrey Park, Alhambra, San Gabriel, Rosemead, Temple City) which are all majority Asian (mostly Chinese).

Little Tokyo near downtown.

Koreatown west of downwtown.

Historic Philipinotown off the 101. Although I think thats largely historic now. LAs Filipinos I believe are largely scattered and assimilated.

Thai Town east of Hollywood. Still large number of Thai businesses/institutions.

Countries largest Indochinese population (Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian) is in greater LA. The Vietnamese community has its center in Orange County in Westminster/Garden Grove. I'm not sure where the center for the other two groups are, although from what I understand Long Beach might have a big center.



As far as Europeans go: There was a big influx of Russians in West Hollywood in the 90s from what I understand. Although I think that community has scattered.

Santa Monica attracted a large British expat population. I've met a number of Romanians since moving to LA. I've also met several French people here too.

Oh, outside of greater LA, the central Valley, (Bakersfield, etc.) has a significant Basque heritage. The Basque were sheepherders in their country and found their place in the wide open spaces of the west.

Obviously huge middle eastern population. Largest Persian population outside Iran in LA (Tehrangeles). Center of community is along Westwood Ave. Most of the Persians are muslim, but MANY are Persian Jews. Also one of the largest Armenian populations centered around Glendale. (Glendale is 1/3 Armenian I believe). Although I think the Armenians have a longer history in LA than the Persians.

Hope this gives people an idea.

California is a real melting pot.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by WesternPilgrim

By "ethnic", I mean non-Anglo and non-Hispanic - the two dominant ethnic cultures in the state.

Most California cities are Anglo-dominant in language and culture.

Ten miles away from here is Hamilton City, which is 80% Hispanic. There are many such towns in the Central Valley.

Are there California cities where another ethnicity is a solid majority and culturally dominant? I want to suggest Gustine, for example, due its Portuguese character. Solvang might be a good Danish example, except that I fear the Danish side of Solvang is mostly kitch these days - but I could be wrong.

What about majority Black? Does that count?

Lots of Filipinos in Oxnard.
Vietnamese in northern sections of Orange County
Armenians in Glendale
Iranians in Beverly Hills
Jews in North Hollywood, Calabasas, Agoura Hills
Other middle easterns in Calabasas (at least those are about the only languages I hear when I am swimming at the Calabasas Tennis and Swim Center)

[Gentoo]

As mentioned, lots of ethnic enclaves in the larger cities.

San Diego has the second largest Somalian population in the US after Minneapolis.
LA is home to the largest Persian community outside of Iran
El Cajon has one of the largest Iraqi communities in the US.
E 14th in Oakland was renamed International blvd. due to all of the ethnic communities one encounters along it's length.
Oakland itself has arguably been referred to as the most diverse city in the nation.

This is how California is.

[the city]

Costa Mesa has Little Saigon