Lives of Chinese in Grinnell, Iowa, c. 1900 Similar to Other Small Towns Across the U.S.

Until the last quarter of the 19th century, there were few Chinese in the middle of the United States.  This situation began to change after 1869 with the completion of the transcontinental railroad at Promontory, Utah. Suddenly out of work, thousands of Chinese laborers had to find their way back to the west coast or