Thai Community
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According to the 2020 Census, there are approximately 204,150 Thai individuals living in the United States with 4,458 in Colorado.
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Thai immigration to the United States proceeded very slowly. It began in earnest during and after the Vietnam War. Records show that in the following decades, thousands of Thais immigrated to the United States.
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Thai culture's prominence in the United States is clearly seen in the food and restaurant landscape. Thai cuisine is popular across the country with even non-Thai restaurants including Thai-influenced dishes on their menus.
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The very first Thai restaurant in the United States opened in 1961 - in Denver, CO. La-Iad Chittivej fell in love with the area when her husband was serving in a Thai military unit stationed at Fitzsimons; she returned years later to open her restaurant and paved the way for the Thai restaurants, businesses, and community that followed.
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Since then, the Colorado Thai community has thrived and continued to have significant impact on local arts and culture.
