Chinese

Many Chinese lived on the Comstock during its heyday. From the 23 Chinese men who worked in the Carson County, Utah Territory in 1860 to the 710 Chinese (including  103 women) in 1870 census, the Chinese continued to move to Virginia City and Gold Hill until the economic decline began to take its toll in the Photo of the Chinese section circa 2002 1880s.  Although the 1875 state census reported 1,362 Chinese resident, the fluctuating nature of mining communities gave the figure of 2,000 during times of prosperity.  The 1882 Chinese Exclusion Acts and subsequent laws restricting Chinese immigration and travel to and from china lead to a drop in the number of Chinese.  By 1890 the Chinese population in Storey County was 245 and by 1900 had declined to 76 residents. 

For many decades the Chinese population on the Comstock has been forgotten but in 2004 the community will pay tribute to this ethnic minority that played an important role in the development and prosperity of the Comstock.

 

 

 

 

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