Abstract
In the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the number of ethnic neighborhoods has been increasing, especially since the 1970 s, reflecting the continuing influx of immigrants from around the world. This paper attempts to provide a viewpoint and method to analyze and comprehend these ethnic communities and to disclose the nature of ethnic neighborhoods by focusing on the use of ethnic resources. The urbanization process of Los Angeles and the formation of ethnic neighbor-hoods are first outlined by looking at the downtown area, the periphery of downtown, and the suburbs. The following twelve indicators were proposed for analyzing the ethnic communities: forms of ethnic space, ethnic organization, ethnic symbols, ethnic museums, ethnic festivals, religious facilities, ethnic banking, ethnic food, ethnic grocery stores, ethnic accommodations, ethnic newspapers, and ethnic TV and radio stations. These indicators are the elements that constitute ethnic communities. They are considered ethnic resources, which are organized into two groups. One consists of the re-sources that serve to maintain ethnic communities. The other includes those resources that are utilized not only by mem-bers of an ethnic community but also by the member of the host society. By utilizing these resources, ethnic communities may be able to make contact with the host society, show their presence, and acquire recognition and appreciation. Ac-cordingly, ethnic communities are organized into three groups based on their use of ethnic resources. The first type is the ethnic community that utilizes ethnic resources not only for its members but also for members of the host society. The sec-ond is the ethnic community that utilizes ethnic resources only to maintain itself. Finally, there is the type in which ethnic resources are not well recognized and utilized. The use of ethnic resources may also be chronologically understood. The first phase is the incipient phase with limited use of ethnic resources. In the second phase, ethnic resources are used as adaptive strategies for making economic and spatial adaptations. In the third phase, immigration history and the culture of the homeland are appreciated and restored, and attempts are made to inform the host society of the presence of the unique ethnic community. These phases are shaped by the frameworks of time, place, and immigration processes.
