As one of the largest ethnic Chinese communities outside of Asia, Chinatown gets its name for good reason. After the first Chinese person settled there in 1858, the population quickly increased to 7,000 Chinese residents by 1900 and has continued to grow since. Today, Chinatown consists mainly of restaurants and garment stores but also has a residential area comprised mostly of tenement and low-income housing. Chinatown is also home to the famous Canal Street, where visitors can shop for knock-off designer purses, watches and other New York specialties. Vibrant and alive with culture, Chinatown is a great area of the city to visit for wonderful ethnic foods and a variety of low-priced shops.