Locke in Sacramento County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Locke
樂居镇
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, December 6, 2020
1. Locke / 樂居镇 Marker - English version
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. It 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.
Regionally, this marker is in California’s Sacramento Metro, in Sacramento Valley, and specifically in the Central Valley. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Locke Memorial Park (here, next to this marker); 打更 The Bok Bok Man 更夫 (within shouting distance of this marker); Al the Wop's / Bing Lee's Noodle House
this page online
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.)
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, December 6, 2020
2. Locke / 樂居镇 Marker - Chinese version
Photographed 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.
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 July 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 7, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 405 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 7, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
