Brief History:
Locke was founded in 1915 after a fire broke out in the Chinese section of nearby Walnut Grove. The Chinese who lived in that area decided that it was time to establish a town of their own. A committee of Chinese merchants, led by Lee Bing, Chan Hing Sai, Tom Wai, Chan Dai Kee, Ng So Hat, Chan Wai Lum, Chow Hou Bun, and Suen Dat Suin was formed. They approached land owner George Locke and inquired if they could build on his land. An agreement was reached. The town was laid out by Chinese architects and industrious building ensued. The founding of Lockeport, later 'Locke', was a reality. By 1920 Locke stood essentially as you see it now.
Levee construction originally brought the Chinese to this area, but by the time Locke was built most of the work was in farm labor. Locke had many businesses that catered to the farm workers and residents of this region. In the 1940's restaurants, bakeries, herb shops, fish markets, gambling halls, boarding houses, brothels, grocery stores, a school, clothing stores, and the Star Theatre lined the bustling streets of Locke. At its peak 600 residents, and as many as 1500 people occupied the town of Locke.
On August 2, 1970, Locke was added to the registry of national historical places, by the Sacramento County Historical Society, because of its unique status as the only town in the United States built exclusively by the Chinese for the Chinese.
Locke is no tourist trap, nor is it a ghost town. Its unusual, out-of-the-way charm is genuine. Perhaps it is this authenticity, without any hypocritical overtones, which brings so many out of town visitors to its doors.
Currently, there are between 70 to 80 people live in Locke. Chinese population is down
to about ten.
Current and
Upcoming Events in Locke:
Asian Pacific Spring Festival - Saturday, May 11 from 11 AM to 5 PM on
Main Street, Locke. FREE ADMISSION
Free
Chinese Calligraphy Lesson - Sunday, April 14, 2013 at Locke Chinese
School Museum, 13920 Main Street, Locke from 11 AM to 12 Noon.
Board of Directors Meeting
Locke Management Association - Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 6:30 p.m.
Locke Foundation - Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at 6:30 p.m.
Locke Foundation Newsletter, April 2012
Locke Foundation Newsletter, Summer 2012
Locke Foundation Newsletter, Fall 2012
Locke Foundation Newsletter, Winter 2012
All meetings will be held at the
Locke Boarding House.
Locke Videos on YouTube
Bitter Melon One Day One Dollar Bittersweet Roots
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Year of the
Snake 2013
Those born under the sign of the SNAKE are romantic, passionate, charming and well informed. Snakes are intellectuals, philosophers, and deep thinkers. They strive to succeed in all that they do. The are extremely self-critical. Snake personalities often make their way to the top. They ensure that they are in the right place at the right time, which means when the right people are there as well. Snake people should seek their fortunes as professors, writers, philosophers, or psychiatrists.
Ideal Partner: Dragon, Dog
Snake years: 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013
This page last updated: 03/12/13