The Emergence of New Suburban Chinese Community in Millbrae, California

Abstract

The socioeconomic conditions of contemporary Chinese immigrant communities are improving as there are increasing numbers of affluent, educated, and professional immigrants. At the same time, many Chinese immigrants bypass traditional enclaves and live in suburban communities. While they are living in suburbs, they still maintain their Chinese cultures and have strong ties with local Chinese communities. This research paper used Millbrae, one of the emerging middle class Chinese suburban communities in San Francisco Bay Area, as an example of how traditional urban ethnic communities have carried out suburbanization. The process of community-ties transplantation of urban Chinese community in Millbrae is evidenced by the suburban-branching of economic and sociocultural establishments, such as famous Chinese restaurants and businesses, as well as residential suburbanization and institutional relocation.