A Chinatown developed in Phoenix in the 1870s as the predominantly single male Chinese population self-segregated primarily to provide cultural support to each other in a place where they faced significant discrimination.

Other aspects of their culture, primarily gambling and the smoking of opium were viewed less favorably, and in the 1890s, they were forced to establish a new Chinatown several blocks away from the prior prime downtown location, where their community would be "less visible".

The new Chinatown grew to be much larger than the original, as the Chinese population increased and successive generations became more likely to plan to stay in the country, have families, and own and operate businesses.

Chinatown was "governed" for decades by unofficial "mayor" Louie Ong, also known as "China Dick", who was given considerable "authority" by city officials.

One grocery warehouse building remained standing after the area was redeveloped in the 1980s for a major league sports arena.

[1]: 87 Around 1890 to 1895, the community was forced to leave the prime downtown location and move several blocks south where a Chinatown would be less visible.

The new Chinatown, centered at First and Madison, developed with Chinese grocery stores, laundries, and other shops, often with the proprietors living above.

[1]: 94 Most early Chinese in Phoenix emigrated from one village in Hoiping in Guangdong Province in southeast China.

Ong was asked by Booker T. Washington how he became "mayor", he explained that over 30 years he had learned American "customs and manners" allowing him to bridge both communities.

Washington noted that Phoenix police would hand any petty Chinese criminal over to "Mayor Dick" for justice rather than using the official court system.

[4] Revolutionary leader Sun Yat-sen, also a native of Canton, the capital of Guandgong Province, visited Phoenix's Chinatown in early 1911 to solicit contributions for his fight to overthrow the Qing Dynasty, China's last imperial government.

Louie Ong flew the flag of the new Republic of China outside his store at First Street in Madison in October 1911 upon Sun's victory.

[1]: 101  Further efforts to aid the Republic occurred in 1922 when Kerman L. Wong, leader of the Chinese Nationalist Party in the United States came to Phoenix to establish a branch of the San Francisco-headquartered organization.

Such relocation continued and this Chinatown started to dissolve by the early 1940s,[2]: 374  with the Chinese population dispersed throughout the city and its suburbs.

[1]: 103  The gambling and illegal drugs continued through the 1930s giving Chinatown "a bad image" with which successful Chinese wanted to disassociate.

[1]: 111  During World War II, in which China allied with the U.S., anti-Chinese laws were repealed and Chinese faced less prejudice.

Developed by COFCO to enhance Phoenix as a place for international Chinese trade and share Chinese culture with the Asian and general community, it failed financially and closed after twenty years despite a fierce battle to save it, conducted primarily by the local Asian community who were unaware of the redevelopment until after COFCO had sold the building.