Map of Little Manila

This map outlines where the Filipino community in Stockton California existed.

This map outlines where the Filipino and the neighboring Japanese community in Stockton California existed.

For many years, the Filipino community has been underappreciated in the history of the Delta region. The Filipino culture influenced entertainment, agriculture, and business while being influenced by laws and churches of the delta region. The Filipino’s in the area set up an area in downtown stockton that resembled the capitol of the Philippines called Manilla; consequently, the downtown Stockton area became known as Little Manilla.

The people who immigrated from the Phillipines created a culture and community to allocate themselves to the delta region, they created homes, churches, schools, and a social culture that helped shape the delta into the highly diversified area that it now is. Throughout the course of this paper you will explore the different activities and forms of entertainment there was for Filipino’s in the area, the types of businesses located in Little Manilla, the influence of the Filipino people on agriculture, and their interaction with different churches in the area.To learn more about the business in Little Manila please visit the section: Businesses.