Colusa, CA - Chinatown

Tehama County’s sister county and former county, Colusa has taken the extra steps of honoring their Chinese heritage with historic markers. The former Chinatown is comprised of beautiful brick buildings with markers on them. Although, many Chinese arrived in Red Bluff because it was the last steamboat stop, they also arrived in Colusa creating their very own Chinatown in the 1850’s.

Like many long lost Chinatown’s there’s the plague of misinformation regarding the subterranean and cellars in this neighborhood, where folks still refer to them as “Chinese tunnels”, unaware that this was a hurtful narrative created to perpetuate a negative regard towards the Chinese community. In fact, in Colusa the Chinese took jobs building railroads, dams, levees, and highways and occupied this area for many years.

Location is 749 Main Street, Colusa CA 95932.