Locke, California: The US town built by and for immigrants

Nestled in California's Delta, a few hours from Los Angeles, lies Locke, a unique historical settlement in the United States built exclusively by and for Chinese immigrants. The town's story began officially on October 7, 1915, when residents displaced by a fire that destroyed the Chinatown of nearby Walnut Grove sought a new home.

An entrepreneur named Lee Bing negotiated a verbal agreement with landowner George Locke Jr. to lease over 3.6 hectares. This arrangement was necessary because the Alien Land Law of 1913 prohibited non-citizens from owning land. The immigrants chose to lease the ground but construct and own their buildings, using wood as they initially viewed Locke as a temporary residence.

At its peak, between the 1920s and 1940s, Locke was a vibrant community of about 600 residents. It boasted a Chinese language school, cultural associations, boarding houses, a post office, hotels, a theater, grocery stores, restaurants, a cinema, gambling halls, and even speakeasies during the Prohibition era. The land remained in the Locke family until 1977, when it was sold to a Hong Kong construction company.

The population began to decline after the Alien Land Law was repealed in 1943, as many residents moved to other cities for better opportunities. Despite this, Locke retains many historic wooden buildings that showcase its original splendor. In 1990, the town's historical significance was recognized when it was designated a national historic landmark. In 2004, the Sacramento Housing and Revitalization Agency purchased the land, repaired the infrastructure, and transferred the lots to current residents and descendants of the founders. Today, only a small fraction of Locke's approximately 60 residents are of Chinese descent.