Following the fire, a group of Zhongshan merchants, headed by Bing, met local entrepreneur George Locke Jr to engage in negotiations over his property. In 1912, Locke had already let three Chinese merchants to rent land and construct houses on his property. He subsequently consented to lease an additional nine acres of his land to the Zhongshan merchants. The rate charged for residential lots was $5 per month, while commercial lots were leased for $10 per month. The hamlet formerly known as Lockeport underwent a transformation and acquired the name Locke due to a long-standing gentlemen's agreement.

Shortly after settling in Zhongshan, the new inhabitants of Locke constructed several establishments including a dry goods shop, a saloon, a hotel and restaurant, and a gaming hall inside their little Chinese community. Additionally, between the years 1915 and 1917, they erected a total of 45 structures made of wood, ranging from one to two stories in height. Due of the inability of the people to own the property, they saw Locke as a temporary place to live and chose to use cheaper materials. A multitude of structures remained devoid of paint and were adorned with corrugated metal roofs. «In my opinion, it appears to resemble a Western frontier town» - said Clarence Chu, the vice chair of the Locke Foundation. Presently, the town has a striking resemblance to its appearance a century ago.

From 1915 onwards, a large number of Chinese laborers migrated to Locke, where they found employment in the adjacent canneries and local farms in the Delta region. Nevertheless, their efforts extended beyond only physical work. The residents founded a Chinese school, where the majority of youngsters acquired skills in calligraphy and received instruction in the Chinese language. Lee stated that the school served not only as an educational institution but also as a center for preserving Chinese culture and ensuring that the younger generation learned about their heritage. In its prime from the 1920s to 1940s, Locke was a prosperous and culturally distinct town with a population of approximately 600 individuals, the majority of whom were of Chinese descent. The town included a cinema operated by Chinese individuals, six dining establishments, nine food markets, a lodging facility, boarding homes, and a facility for grinding wheat. The Sacramento Bee newspaper coined the term «Monte Carlo of California» to depict the city's illicit gambling establishments, which functioned without restraint until they were closed by police in 1951.

Following the abolition of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1943, the offspring of Locke's first Chinese families began relocating to neighboring communities in search of better prospects. Currently, just a minuscule proportion of Locke's 60 inhabitants are of Chinese descent. Min Zhou, the director of the documentary Voices: Chinese Women of the Delta, argues that Locke's true impact lies in its ability to provide refuge for Chinese immigrants in the face of discrimination, enabling them to not only survive but also contribute to the development of the California Delta.
During the 1960s, when the population of Locke decreased, the departure of residents did not result in the destruction of the town. «Locke has consistently been a sustainable location». Each individual was familiar with and had a high regard for one another. «The amicable interaction among residents fostered a sense of social unity that endures to this day» - Lee said. «A portion of the individuals who previously departed have returned with the intention of aiding in the process of revitalizing the town».

Currently, a significant number of the original structures designed by Locke are still being used. The old gambling hall has been transformed into the Dai Loy Museum, showcasing the original tables used for Chinese games such as Pai Ngow, Fan Tan, and the Chinese lottery, as well as an extensive collection of historical photographs. The previous boarding home has been transformed into a museum that safeguards tools, clothes, and other Chinese artifacts dating back to the early 1900s. The Joe Shoong School House functions as the Locke Chinese School Museum, showcasing the authentic classroom and tables used by pupils a century ago. The Jan Ying Associate Building Museum provides a look into the exclusive social club that was only accessible to male immigrants from Zhongshan. Al the Wops, the first non-Chinese establishment to establish itself in Locke in 1934, occupies a previously existing restaurant constructed by Bing in 1915. It continues to enjoy popularity among both visitors and local residents.