In the early 1900s, Chinese businesses began moving to the area around King Street. By the 1920s, most of Seattle's Chinese residents lived and worked there. Other Asian immigrants soon followed, notably Japanese and Filipinos attracted by the area's inexpensive housing and storefronts for their own businesses and restaurants. By the late 1930s, Chinatown was established as a distinct neighborhood along with the West Coast's second largest "Japan Town" on and around Yesler Way.

This view looks northeast on Washington Street. The South End Public Market, located at 302 Washington Street in 1934, is visible on the left side of the street.

Signs visible in image: Fashion Hotel, Laundry and Dry Cleaning Agency, South End Public Market, Garage, Wong Tailors
Handwritten on sleeve: SEATTLE, Chinatown district
Date photograph was filed at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (date of photograph and file date may differ by a month or more): November 1, 1934.

Caption information source: Seattle Chinatown/International District website, http://www.cidbia.org/history