Pearland – May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and the AAPI population is the fastest-growing group in the greater Houston area.
KPRC 2 wanted to highlight some of the growth in this community this month.
From 2010 to 2020, the AAPI population grew by more than 50%, according to the U.S. Census.
Currently, Harris County has a 7% AAPI population. Neighboring cities to Houston also have a significant AAPI population, with Pearland’s AAPI population sitting at 17%.
Pearland will also be home to a new Asian Town by the end of the year.
The 12-acre lot where the development is being built is on Broadway near Reid Boulevard.
It’s just a 2-minute drive from where husband and wife Danny Le and Katherynn Tran live. “It’s really exciting to see all the changes,” said Tran.
Tran and Le have lived in their Pearland home since 2017 and have noticed a boom in the AAPI population.
“With the population that we have, it’s great to have an Asian town, so we’re not always driving to Bellaire,” said Tran. “Having an Asian Town, I think will decrease that congestion.”
Workers have broken ground at the Asian Town location. The project will have two buildings with several restaurants and a major Asian grocery store.
Despite Pearland’s AAPI population being almost a fifth of the total population, the nearest Asian grocery store is more than 20 miles away.
KPRC 2 reached out to the city of Pearland.
Joshua Lee, the communications director, told us:
“The Economic Development Corporation isn’t providing any assistance to the Asian Town project.”
