The history of New York is one of constantly changing demographics. Remember when Little Italy had actual Italians in it? We aren't complaining though, we just find these changes fascinating. And to that end, today the Times reveals a new shift in East/Spanish Harlem we'd not noticed: The Chinese are moving in.
According to the 2010 census "8.5 percent of residents in the southern section of East Harlem were listed as Asian, up from 4.6 percent a decade before. Further north, the proportion is smaller — 3 percent of the population in 2010 — but the growth was more sudden, up from less than 1 percent in 2000, according to an analysis by the City University of New York’s Center for Urban Research."
The total number of Chinese New Yorkers in the area are still far lower than in areas like Flushing and Elmhurst, Queens but you've got to start somewhere. And the shift has apparently begun. Peter Kwong, a professor of Asian-American studies at Hunter College, explains the logic of the shift like this: "The patterns for non-English-speaking Chinese are very systematic and follow a specific logic. Are there trains? Are there others up there who speak Chinese? And cost."
Our own anecdotal evidence from spending time in the area backs up the numbers. One Gothamist staffer who lives in Harlem, Nell Casey, has noticed an increase, especially in the last two or three years. And if you needed further proof, it's worth noting that City Comptroller and likely mayoral candidate John Liu made a campaign stop in the area during the recent Lunar New Year celebrations. So, how long until we get a "Chinese Harlem" Google neighborhood?
