San Francisco’s Chinatown—the oldest, largest, and most famous Chinese enclave outside of Asia—is more than a tourist attraction. Since its birth in the 1850s, Chinatown has also been a residential neighborhood, business community, and cultural center for generations of Chinese Americans. Through...

After World War II, San Francisco gave rise to countercultural movements such as the Beats, hippies, the Diggers, and highly visible LGBT communities. These movements helped to secure the city’s postwar reputation for left-leaning politics and “San Francisco values.” Yet subsequent developments...