Chinatown, Washington, D.C.

For the location of the first Chinatown in Washington, D.C. between 1851 and the mid-1930s, see Federal Triangle.
Chinatown
Neighborhood of Washington, D.C.
Chinatown's Friendship Archway, as seen looking east on H Street NW in November 2023
Chinatown's Friendship Archway, as seen looking east on H Street NW in November 2023
Chinatown within the District of Columbia
Chinatown within the District of Columbia
Coordinates: 38°53′59″N 77°01′18″W / 38.8998°N 77.0217°W / 38.8998; -77.0217
CountryUnited States
DistrictWashington, D.C.
WardWard 2
Government
 • CouncilmemberBrooke Pinto
ZIP Code
20001
Area code202
Map of Washington, D.C., with Chinatown highlighted in yellow

Washington, D.C.'s Chinatown is a small, historic area of Downtown Washington, D.C. along H and I Streets between 5th and 8th Streets, Northwest. The area was once home to thousands of Chinese immigrants, but fewer than 300 remained in 2017. The current neighborhood was the second in Washington to be called “Chinatown” since 1931. Originally, the first Chinatown was built in the Federal Triangle on the south side of Pennsylvania Avenue some time after 1851, but was moved to the H Street area when a new federal building was built there.[1] In 1986, a Chinese gate was built over H Street at 7th Street. By 1997, prominent landmarks such as the Capital One Arena, a sports and entertainment arena, occupied the area. The neighborhood is served by the Gallery Place station of the Washington Metro.[2]

  1. ^ "The rise and fall of DC's Chinatown". Archived from the original on 2019-10-16. Retrieved 2019-10-16.
  2. ^ "History of Washington DC -Chinatown" Archived 2014-12-13 at the Wayback Machine Chinatown Community Cultural Center Retrieved 12 December 2014