By the 1880s , Chinese Americans had established a village at China Camp of approximately 500 people , many of whom were originally from Canton , China . They supported themselves by shrimp fishing in San Pablo Bay and/or working at local businesses . In its heyday , the village had three general stores , a marine supply store and a barber shop . China Camp was one of approximately 26 such shrimp-fishing villages established along the coast by Chinese Americans , many of whom had moved from San Francisco to escape racial prejudice and persecution . For a brief time following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire , China Camp 's population increased to 10,000 as residents of San Francisco 's Chinatown fled from the destruction
1906 San Francisco earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
China Camp State Park