Before the area became known for its predominant Asian culture, the area surrounding Oklahoma City University between Classen and 23rd Street was incredibly high in crime and was at one point known as one of the most concentrated
Crip neighborhoods in the central United States. Crime in the area began to die down in the mid 1990's, as both the expansion of Oklahoma City University and the influx of Vietnamese families began to push gang activity out of the area. "Little Saigon" in the current area was first coined in 1975 when thousands of Vietnamese refugees came to Oklahoma City after the fall of
Saigon. The Vietnamese population has continued to grow since the first wave of immigrants landed just across the state line in
Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. underground in
Downtown Oklahoma City. Artifacts were discovered in 1969 when excavation occurred for the
Myriad Convention Center within the blocks bordered by Sheridan (Grand) Avenue, EK Gaylord Boulevard, Reno Avenue, and Robinson Avenue. Oklahoma City's Historic Chinatown consisted of a tunnel system underneath buildings and streets in downtown, centered in the vicinity of Main Street and Grand Avenue (now Sheridan) toward Broadway and Robinson Avenues, the extent of which is unknown and likely lost forever. ==References==