Chinese Immigration to Texas

The first Asian immigrants to come to Texas were the Chinese who arrived to work on railroads in the 1870s. In 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act was signed by President Chester Arthur which prohibited all immigration of Chinese into the US. It was not repealed until 1943. Between 1950 and 1980, the Chinese population in Texas increased almost twenty-five fold. In the 1970s and 1980s, Chinese immigrants were attracted by the shrimp fishing industry. As the 20^th Century drew to a close and the dawn of the 21^st Century began, Chinese immigrants were enticed by economic opportunities in high-tech and other technological fields, and by greater opportunities in education. According to the 2010 census, there are almost 120,000 Asians in Dallas County, a 35% increase over just a decade. Of this Asian population, approximately 15% are Chinese.