Asian Portrait : A Diverse Community Doubles

Asian-Americans are the fast est-growing segment of the U.S. population, a trend that mirrored in the San Fernando Valley.

According to the 1990 Census, the Asian-American community, which includes a small number of Pacific Islanders, more than doubled to nearly 100,000 residents in the Valley during the past decade. In the nation as a whole, it increased 95%.

The census found that Asian-Americans have grabbed an important share of the economic pie. High school dropout, unemployment and poverty rates are about half those of Los Angeles County’s population as a whole. Large populations of Asians live in affluent neighborhoods such as Granada Hills, Chatsworth and Northridge, and Asian stores and restaurants have become a familiar feature of the Valley business landscape.

But community leaders are concerned about the poverty of newer, poorer immigrants from countries such as Cambodia and the lack of political cohesion among the many ethnic groups within the community. The census shows that Asians in the Valley hail from a wide range of countries, led by Filipinos and including large contingents of Koreans, Chinese, Japanese, Asian Indians and Vietnamese.

Looking for Unity, Resources

“The biggest challenge is the diversity among Asian-Americans in the Valley because you have not only different ethnic backgrounds but a division between those who’ve been here for generations and those who arrived yesterday. It’s going to be very difficult for the community to reach a consensus or to unite behind a particular political candidate. That’s something that needs to change or otherwise Asian-Americans will not be seen as a viable community.”

Another problem is that “even though the growth (of the community) is very present ... it’s still not very well-known outside the San Fernando Valley. Resources are not available here, particularly bilingual resources. Asian-Americans still need to travel outside the area for medical care, legal help or banking services.”Sue Fan, Northridge resident, administrator of UCLA’s Center for Pacific Rim Studies and chairwoman of the Asian and Pacific Islander Council in the Valley.

Asians & Pacific Islanders Valleywide

Population: 99,599

% of Valley population: 7.9

Population growth (1980-1990): +136.3%*

Median age: 31.8

High school dropout rate: 6.7%**

Unemployment rate: 4.7%***

Median household income: $46,839

Individuals below poverty line: 8%

% who own homes: 62.3 * Estimate ** Dropout figures include only students who started high school.

National Origins

Chinese: 13.5%

Filipino: 28.5%

Japanese: 10.9%

Asian Indian: 8.9%

Korean: 18.9%

Vietnamese: 7.5%

Cambodian, Laotian, Thai: 5.6%

Pacific Islander and Other Asian: 6.1%

Asians & Pacific Islanders in Granada Hills

Most of the Valley’s Asian population is spread about its various neighborhoods. The largest concentration of Asians in the Valley is in Granada Hills.

Population: 7,364

% of total population: 13.1

Population growth (1980-1990): +143.2%*

Median age: 31.5

High school dropout rate: 6.5%**

Unemployment rate: 3.8%***

Median household income: $50,137

Individuals below poverty line: 7.4%

% who own homes: 79.0%

Los Angeles County Overall

Population: 8.9 million

% Asian/Pacific Islander: 10.4

Population growth (1980-1990): +18.5%*

Median age: 30.7

High school dropout rate: 14.4%**

Unemployment rate: 8.6%

Median household income: $34,965

Individuals below poverty line: 15.1%

% who own homes: 48.2%

*Estimate

**Dropout figures include only students who started high school.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Researched and written by Matthew Heller