Choa Chu Kang Road/Avenue/Central/Drive/Loop/New Town/Tracks/Road/Village (expunged) Way

By the 1840s, the Chinese had established themselves in riverine settlements across the island, particularly in the north. Each village was named after the family clan controlling that part of the river (kang), a practice brought over from China. These names have survived to this day in such districts as Choa Chu Kang (on Sungei Berih), Lim Chu Kang, and Yio Chu Kang. Other forgotten villages were Lau Chu Kang on the Sungei Mandai (Sungei River), Tan Chu Kang on the Mandai Kechil, Chu Chu Kang on the Kranji and Chan Chu Kang on the Seletar. The road to Lim and Choa Chu Kang were cut during the time of John Thomson's tenure as Land Surveyor around 1852-1853. The Choa Chu Kang area began as a cluster of farms around Lim Chu Kang, Neo Tiew, Yew Tee and Ama Keng. The original settlers of Choa Chu Kang village were peper and gambier farmers who were mainly Teochews . They were later joined by pineapple, rubber and coconut planters who wer Hokkeins (from the Nan Ann or Ann Hui provinces), and finally, market gardeners. Pig and poultry farming were also predominated. Today, the Chao Chu Kang area contains a New Town as well as public cemetery for different races and creeds. One explanation for the name Chua Chu Kang refers to anearly settler Mr Chua who built his house (chu) by the side of Kranji River (kang).