The Fairfax County Asian American History Project

Preserving and sharing stories about the heritage and contributions of Fairfax County Asian Americans
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2008 Heritage Month      
FCAAHP Book Draft -- Honoring 143 Years of Fairfax County Asian American History (1867 - 2010)
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FCAAHP Historical Timeline for
Fairfax County Asian Americans


 DateItemSource

1870

 

1870 Census reported a Chinese resident Suvoong, a student, was living in Fairfax County -- in Falls Church Township.  Cora Foley's research showed that he lived in Fairfax County from 1867 - 1870 as a student in the Virginia Theological Seminary.

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1900

 

Chinese laundryman Wing Moy was living in Fairfax County -- in Falls Church District. 

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1920

 

Chinese American Ying Jung born in California was serving time in DC Work House in Fairfax County.

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1930

 

Three Chinese residents Lee Hing, George Lee, & Chin Wing in DC Work House in Fairfax County.  Three Filipinos were reported living in Fairfax County:  A Filipino American soldier (and WWI veteran) Roman Rojo was stationed in Camp Humphreys (now Fort Belvoir).  A Filipino American servant Benjamin Trillanes was working for a private family in Camp Humphreys (now Fort Belvoir). A Filipino Roscoe Manats was serving time in the DC WorkHouse in Fairfax County.

Two Japanese residents - K. Ito and S. Waka -- were servants for a family in Providence District, Fairfax County.

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1947

Japanese American Nonkie Ishiyama, his wife and 2 daughters, moved to Vienna, then McLean after being released from a WWII internment camp

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1954 

Dr. Chae Chung Choi, Korean American, established medical practice in Fairfax County 

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1963 

Sam and Ruth Wong moved to Kings Park, Springfield in Fairfax County.

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1968

Cecilia Suyat Marshall moved to Fairfax County with husband, Thurgood Marshall, and their sons. 

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1970

Francis Cheng was a soldier in Fort Belvoir, Fairfax County 

 TG

1970 

Dr. Baikunth Singh moved to Fairfax to start medical practice -- retired in 2009. 

 

1971 

Masako Huibregtse and her family (including Liz Huibregtse) moved to Fairfax County 

 

1973

Raj Kori and Subhash Damle moved to Fairfax County

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1974

Ken and Nori Nakamura moved to Fairfax County 

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1974 

Korean Community Service Center was founded 

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1974 

Ilryong Moon and his family moved to Fairfax County from Korea 

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1975 

Terry and Carolyn Sam moved to Fairfax County 

TS

1975 

Brigitte Le and her family and other refugees left Vietnam and moved to Northern Virginia 

 

1977 

Vietnamese Yourth Educational Association of Washington was founded

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1978 

Lan Du's uncle came to Fairfax; then in 1980 Lan Du's family came as refugees from Vietnam 

 

1978 

Jeanette Rishell and family moved to Fairfax County - 2007 Democratic candidate for Delegate  

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1978 

Roger Saplan and family moved to Fairfax County and he later established Manila Cafe restaurant 

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1980 

Cora and Mike Foley (with Josh and Melinda) moved to Fairfax County 

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1981 

Yearn Hong Choi, a Korean American poet, moved to Fairfax County 

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1981 

Ekoji Buddhist Temple was founded by Japanese American families 

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1984 

Eden Center emerged as the Vietnamese American community center in Northern VQ 

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1984 

Hank Chao moved to Fairfax County from Taiwan 

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1985 

Thomas Jefferson High School was founded and sculpture built by Fairfax County Asian American 

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1989 

Sikh Foundation was built 

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1989 

Hai Hua Community Center was founded -- sponsor of Fair Oaks Lunar New Year event from 2004

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1990 

Fairfax County Asian Americans became largest minority group -- 8.3% of ounty population

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1991 

Samuel DeVera began his career as a Fairfax County Filipino American Firefighter 

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1993 

First Asian American appointed to Fairfax School Board Le Chi Thao appointed by Tom Davis

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1993

Somsanith Khamvongsa, Laotian American, was first appointed Asian American Fairfax magistrate 

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1993 

Asian Fortune newspaper began publication -- available for Fairfax County Asian Americans 

 

1994 

Durga Hindu Temple was constructed 

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1995 

Ilryong Moon became the first Asian American elected official in Fairfax County -- School Board  

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1997 

Toa Do became the first Fairfax County Asian American to receive the award as Lord Fairfax

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2000 

Filipino American Catholic Ministry of Northern Virginia was founded 

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2000 

Silver Light Chinese American Senior Association started  

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2000 

Rajdhani Mandir - Hindu temple -- was inaugurated in Chantilly, VA 

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2001 

10,623 Asian American owned firms in Fairfax County, according to Census data 

 

2003

Express Care was started by Naila Alam 

 

2004

First Reston Asian Festival sponsored by Thai Tennis Organization 

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2004

First Asian American Female Firefighter (Hyun Lee) hired by Fairfax County 

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2004 

Toa Do, a former Lord Fairfax, was the first Fairfax Asian American Barbara Varon Awardee

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2004 

Heisung Lee was honored as the first Asian American Lady Fairfax  

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2006

Fairfax County Asian Americans accounted for some 160,000 or 16% of county population

A wikipedia note apparently based on Census Bureau 2006 estimates that show Fairfax County Asian Americans with a larger share of population than many other US counties, including in California.

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2007 

Diversity Business report that in 2007, 6 of 100 largest Asian American business were in Fairfax

 

2007 

Japanese American Gary Nakamoto was chairman of Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce 

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2007 

Filipino American Vellie Dietrich-Hall was Republican candidate for Fairfax County Supervisor  

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2008 

Fairfax County Asian American History Project officially began on January 23, 2008 

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2008 

First Asian Outreach sponsored by Fairfax County Asian American police officers 

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2008 

Vietnamese American Derek Bui -- outstanding swimmer for Robinson High School 

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2008

Thomas Jefferson High School's largest student group became Fairfax County Asian Americans 

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2008 

For the first time in its history, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors recognized Filipino American History Month.  81020 Filipino American History Month (October) Recognition by Fairfax County,   Senator Barack Obama's recognition, and other info on Filipino American History Month

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2008 

10/26/2008 Groundbreaking for Tzu Chi Buddhist Temple on Reston property purchased in 12/2007

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2008 

Fairfax County Asian Americans were caught up in the crash of the housing/stock market.  On 10/27/2008, foreclosures in Fairfax County rose to 587 homes. (Lorton - 35).  Fairfax BoS approved a one-day furlough of county employees for January 2, 2009.

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2009 

May 29, 2009 First-Ever Naturalization Ceremony in Fairfax County Government Center initiated and managed by the Fairfax County Asian American History Project Team that was honored with a June 22, 2009 Recognition by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (photo detail).

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2009 

Corazon Sandoval Foley was honored as first Filipino American Lady Fairfax 2009 (photo detail)

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2009 

Asian American Political Candidates:  Ilryong Moon won primary to be Democratic candidate for Braddock Supervisor in February 2009 special election (won by John Cook); Mark Keam won primary to be Democratic candidate for Delegate; Sasha Wong became a Republican candidate for delegate; Jeanette Rishell (former Fairfax resident) was Democratic candidate for Delegate. 

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2009 

Two Asian American students from TJHSS - Narendra Tallapragada and Alex Kim -- won the national competition for finalists in the 2009 Intel Science Talent Search

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2009 

Mark Keam won the November 3, 2009 election to become the first Asian American delegate from Fairfax County.  The Virginia House of Delegates for 2010 - 2012 includes two Asian American delegates -- Mark Keam and Ron Villanueva, Filipino American delegate from Virginia Beach.  

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