Locke in Sacramento County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Locke / 樂居镇

By Andrew Ruppenstein, December 6, 2020

1. Locke / 樂居镇 Marker - English version

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Locke has been designated a National Historic Landmark

This site possesses national significance in commemorating the history of the United States of America

Locke Historic District is the largest and most complete example of a rural Chinese American community in the United States. No comparable district exists that so clearly illustrates rural Chinese American life.

(Chinese not transcribed)

Erected by National Park Service Unites States Department of the Interior.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Asian Americans • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks series list.

Location. 38° 15.048′ N, 121° 30.592′ W. Marker is in Locke, California, in Sacramento County. Marker can be reached from Main Street south of Locke Road, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Walnut Grove CA 95690, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Locke Memorial Park (here, next to this marker); Welcome to Locke

Locke / 樂居镇 Marker - Chinese version image. Click for full size.

By Andrew Ruppenstein, December 6, 2020

2. Locke / 樂居镇 Marker - Chinese version

(within shouting distance of this marker); Locke, California (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Locke (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Delta Transmission Towers/Delta Cross Channel Gates (approx. ¼ mile away); Charles “Chuck” Tison (approx. ¼ mile away); Walnut Grove, Est. 1850/Locke, Est. 1915 (approx. ¼ mile away); Boon-Dox Botel (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Locke.

Also see . . .
1. California NHL Locke Historic District registration form (National Archives at College Park). (Submitted on December 7, 2020.)
2. Town of Locke, Locke, Sacramento County, CA (Historic American Buildings Survey). HABS survey of Locke. Includes 18 photos, schematics for many of the buildings, plus 35 pp. of information. (Submitted on December 7, 2020.)

Locke / 樂居镇 Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

By Andrew Ruppenstein, December 6, 2020

3. Locke / 樂居镇 Marker - wide view

The English (left) and Chinese (right) versions of the marker flank the Chinese Pioneer Memorial located within Locke Memorial Park.

<i>Looking North Along Main Street From Levee Road...</i> image. Click for full size.

Jet Lowe (courtesy of the Historic American Buildings Survey, Library of Congress), 1984

4. Looking North Along Main Street From Levee Road...

"Significance: It is a town of frame structures built by Chinese immigrants carpenters and Caucasian carpenters between 1912 and 1922. The Chinese came to America in the 1850s during the Gold Rush and in the 1860s and 1870s labored on the railroads. They were then diverted to farm labor, and contributed to the development of California agriculture. The Sacramento-San Joaquin delta consisted of large ranches which grew wheat, and when mechanized, allowed the farms to specialize in vegetable and fruit crops..." - HABS

Credits. This page was last revised on December 7, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 7, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Sacramento, California. This page has been viewed 40 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 7, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Sacramento, California.