What happened to the Chinese after they helped build the First Transcontinental Railroad? Where did they go?
Not aware of any detailed records about the Chinese after the completion of the first transcontinental railroad. Many of the Chinese continued to work for the railroad – the Southern Pacific RR was building south to Los Angles. Others having earned the money that they needed to be relatively wealthy by the local standards in Canton (their original hope) returned to their families in China – and many stayed in San Francisco or elsewhere in California as miners or in various service occupations.
