- Gardena, California
-
City of Gardena — City — Location of Gardena in Los Angeles County, California
Coordinates: 33°53′37″N 118°18′28″W / 33.89361°N 118.30778°WCoordinates: 33°53′37″N 118°18′28″W / 33.89361°N 118.30778°W Country United States State California County Los Angeles Incorporated (city) 1930-09-11[1] Government – Mayor Paul K. Tanaka[2] Area[3] – Total 5.865 sq mi (15.191 km2) – Land 5.829 sq mi (15.097 km2) – Water 0.036 sq mi (0.094 km2) 0.62% Elevation 49 ft (15 m) Population (2010) – Total 58,829 – Density 10,030.5/sq mi (3,872.6/km2) Time zone PST (UTC-8) – Summer (DST) PDT (UTC-7) ZIP code 90247-90249[4] Area code(s) 310/424[5] FIPS code 06-28168 GNIS feature ID 1660664 Website ci.gardena.ca.us Gardena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 58,829 at the 2010 census, up from 57,746 at the 2000 census.
Contents
Geography
Gardena is located at 33°53′37″N 118°18′28″W / 33.89361°N 118.30778°W (33.893615, -118.307841).[6]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.9 square miles (15 km2), over 99% of which is land.
Gardena is bordered by Athens on the north, the Los Angeles neighborhood of Harbor Gateway on the east and south, Torrance on the southwest, Alondra Park on the west, and Hawthorne on the northwest.
History
Based on archaeological findings, Tongva Indians hunted and fished in the area of today's Gardena.[7] The Tongva Indians — also known as Gabrielino Indians — are probably descendants of those who crossed from Asia to North America around 10,000 years ago.[7]
In 1784, three years after the foundation of Los Angeles, Juan Jose Dominguez (1736–1809), a Spanish soldier who arrived in San Diego, California in 1769 with Fernando Rivera y Moncada, in recognition of his military service, received the roughly 43,000-acre (170 km2) Spanish land grant, the Rancho San Pedro. Part of this land contained what became known as Gardena Valley.[7] After the American Civil War veterans bought parts of the land, soon ranchers and farmers followed suit.[7] Union Army Major General William Starke Rosecrans in 1869 bought 16,000 acres (65 km2). The "Rosecrans Rancho," was bordered by what later was Florence Avenue on the north, Redondo Beach Boulevard on the south, Central Avenue on the east, and Arlington Avenue on the west. The Rosecrans property was sub divided and sold in the early 1870s. One of those became the 650-acre (2.6 km2) Amestoy Ranch. Gardena proper began in 1887 when the Pomeroy & Harrison real estate developers subdivided the ranch, and-anticipating that the coming of the Los Angeles and Redondo Railway. Civil War veteran Spencer Roane Thorpe is credited with starting the first settlement in Gardena in 1887.[7] Railroads put Gardena on the map following a real estate boom in the Los Angeles area in the 1880s.[7] Some believe the city was named for its reputation for being the only "green spot" in the dry season between Los Angeles and the sea.[7] Because of its acres of berries, the city was dubbed "Berryland".[7] The Strawberry Day Festival and Parade was held each May annually.[7] The berry industry suffered at the time of World War I as other crops were supported by the war economy.[8] Japanese Americans settled in Gardena throughout its history.[9]
The only way Gardena could protect itself from a heavy county tax imposed on a planned project at a park site was to incorporate.[8] The City of Gardena became incorporated on September 11, 1930.[8]
Demographics
Historical populations Census Pop. %± 1940 5,909 — 1950 14,405 143.8% 1960 35,943 149.5% 1970 41,021 14.1% 1980 45,165 10.1% 1990 49,847 10.4% 2000 57,746 15.8% 2010 58,829 1.9% source:[10] 2010
The 2010 United States Census[11] reported that Gardena had a population of 58,829. The population density was 10,030.0 people per square mile (3,872.6/km²). The racial makeup of Gardena was 14,498 (24.6%) White, 14,352 (24.4%) African American, 348 (0.6%) Native American, 15,400 (26.2%) Asian, 426 (0.7%) Pacific Islander, 11,136 (18.9%) from other races, and 2,669 (4.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22,151 persons (37.7%).
The Census reported that 58,035 people (98.7% of the population) lived in households, 122 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 672 (1.1%) were institutionalized.
There were 20,558 households, out of which 7,199 (35.0%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 8,782 (42.7%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 3,931 (19.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,486 (7.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,085 (5.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 104 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 5,142 households (25.0%) were made up of individuals and 1,921 (9.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82. There were 14,199 families (69.1% of all households); the average family size was 3.39.
The population was spread out with 13,410 people (22.8%) under the age of 18, 5,353 people (9.1%) aged 18 to 24, 16,656 people (28.3%) aged 25 to 44, 15,086 people (25.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 8,324 people (14.1%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.9 years. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.
There were 21,472 housing units at an average density of 3,660.8 per square mile (1,413.5/km²), of which 9,852 (47.9%) were owner-occupied, and 10,706 (52.1%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.6%. 28,585 people (48.6% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 29,450 people (50.1%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 57,746 people, 20,324 households, and 14,023 families residing in the city. The population density was 9,921.3 inhabitants per square mile (3,830.9/km²). There were 21,041 housing units at an average density of 3,615.0 per square mile (1,395.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 23.82% White, 25.99% Black or African American, 0.64% Native American, 26.82% Asian, 0.73% Pacific Islander, 16.94% from other races, and 5.05% from two or more races. 31.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 20,324 households out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% were married couples living together, 18.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.38.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,988, and the median income for a family was $44,906. Males had a median income of $32,951 versus $29,908 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,263. About 12.3% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.3% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
Local government
The Gardena Office of Economic Development is a department of the city government. It aids employers in filling a variety of jobs customized to their specific needs. It also helps potential employers in setting up business enterprises.
The Gardena Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency in the City. The Police Department has 93 sworn police officers, 24 full-time support staff, and 33 part-time employees. There are reserve, volunteer, and explorer programs. The current Chief of Police is Edward Medrano, appointed in 2007. Radio communications and the 9-1-1 call center are handled by the South Bay Regional Public Communications Authority.
County representation
The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Curtis Tucker Health Center in Inglewood and the Torrance Health Center in Harbor Gateway, Los Angeles, near Torrance and serving Gardena.[13][14]
State representation
In the state legislature Gardena is located in the 25th Senate District, represented by Democrat Roderick D. Wright, and in the 51st Assembly District, represented by Democrat Curren D. Price Jr..
Federal representation
Gardena is located in California's 35th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of D +33[15] and is represented by Democrat Maxine Waters.
The United States Postal Service operates the Gardena Post Office at 1455 West Redondo Beach Boulevard,[16] the South Gardena Post Office at 1103 West Gardena Boulevard,[17] and the Alondra Post Office at 14028 Van Ness Avenue.[18]
The National Transportation Safety Board operates the Gardena Aviation Field Office in Harbor Gateway, Los Angeles; it is the regional headquarters of the NTSB Aviation Western Region.[19]
Transportation
The city operates the Gardena Municipal Bus Lines.
Economy
Digital Manga is headquartered in Suite 300 at 1487 West 178th Street.[20] Nissin Foods has its United States headquarters and its Gardena Plant in Gardena.[21][22] Nissin Foods (U.S.A.) Co., Inc. opened in Gardena in 1970.[23]
National Stores Inc., which operates the Factory 2-U and the Fallas Paredes brands, has its headquarters in the Harbor Gateway area of Los Angeles,[24] located near the City of Gardena.[25]
Top employers
According to the City's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[26] the top employers in the city are:
# Employer # of Employees 1 Hustler Casino 696 2 Memorial Hospital of Gardena 603 3 Normandie Casino 497 4 Southwest Offset Printing 490 5 Hitco Carbon Composites 400 6 Ramona's Mexican Food 235 7 Nissin Foods 224 8 Sam's Club 190 9 Target 186 10 United Parcel Service 175 Education
Primary and secondary schools
Public schools
Gardena is served by the Los Angeles Unified School District. The area is within Board District 7.[27] As of 2008 Dr. Richard Vladovic represents the district.[28]
Zoned elementary schools include:
- 152nd Street Elementary School
- 156th Street Elementary School
- 186th Street Elementary School[29]
- Ambler Elementary School
- Amestoy Elementary School
- Chapman Elementary School
- Denker Elementary School[30]
- Gardena Elementary School (Los Angeles)
- Purche Elementary School
- Some areas in Gardena have a choice among Gardens Elementary School[31] (Los Angeles), Purche, and 135th Street Elementary School (Los Angeles)
Zoned middle schools include:
- Peary Middle School[32]
- Some areas in Gardena have a choice between Peary and Clay Middle School[33] (Los Angeles)
Zoned high schools include:
- Gardena High School (Los Angeles)
In Spring 1956, the junior high school classes stayed at the old Gardena High School while the high school classes moved into a new building. Up until the opening of the new Gardena High School, high school students held morning shifts, while junior high school students held afternoon shifts.[34]
Private schools
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles operates Catholic schools in Gardena, including Junípero Serra High School,[35] Maria Regina Catholic School (K-8),[36] and St. Anthony of Padua School (K-8).[37] Gardena Valley Christian School, a K-8 non-Catholic private school, is in Gardena.[38] The Gardena Christian Academy, a PreK-2 Christian school, is in Gardena.[39]
Public libraries
Gardena Mayme Dear Library, a 16,000-square-foot (1,500 m2) building located in Gardena,[40] and Masao W. Satow Library, located west of Gardena in Alondra Park (El Camino Village), unincorporated Los Angeles County,[41][42] are operated by the County of Los Angeles Public Library.
Wednesday Progressive Club sponsored the formation of the Gardena Library.[40] In 1913 the Moneta Branch was formed.[41] In 1914 the Gardena Library became a part of the Los Angeles County Free Library system. Due to annexation the library was transferred to the Los Angeles City Library Board.[40] In 1919 the Strawberry Park branch was formed.[41] In August 1951 the Gardena library came back to the county system.[40] In 1958 the Strawberry Park and Moneta branches merged into the West Gardena Branch.[41] The current Gardena library building was dedicated on December 5, 1964.[40] In 1969 a fire forced the West Gardena branch to go to a new location. The current Satow building, dedicated on February 26, 1977, was named after a Japanese American in the community.[41] The Gardena library received its current name on May 30, 1992 after a library volunteer, who had died prior to the renaming.[40]
Notable residents/affiliates
The following is a list of natives, residents, and other people with strong ties to the city:
- J.C. Agajanian- prominent racing promoter; owned and operated Ascot Park.
- Paul Bannai- former city councilman and first Japanese American to serve in the California State Legislature.
- Romana Acosta Bañuelos- 34th and first Hispanic US Treasurer; founder/owner of Ramona's Mexican Food Products, one of the oldest businesses still operating in the city (founded in 1949).
- Polly Bergen- actress and singer; originally from Tennessee, lived in Gardena and attended Gardena High School (GHS).[43]
- Gary Berland- professional poker player, won five World Series of Poker bracelets, born and raised in Gardena.
- Enos Cabell- third basemen with the Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers; originally from Kansas, attended GHS.[43]
- Wayne Collett- runner, 1972 Summer Olympics silver medalist in the 400 meter event; attended GHS.[43]
- Dock Ellis- pitcher with the Pittsburgh Pirates; attended GHS.[43]
- Charlie Evans- running back with the New York Giants and Washington Redskins; born in Gardena.
- Robert L. Freedman- screenwriter and playwright; onetime resident of Gardena, attended Purche Avenue Elementary school(PAE).
- Frankie Garcia- Hall of Fame boxer; resident of Gardena.[43]
- Gaston Green- running back with the Los Angeles Rams and Denver Broncos; attended GHS.[43]
- H.B. Halicki- actor, film maker, stuntman; business owner in Gardena and premiered his Gone in 60 Seconds there in 1974.[43]
- Lisa Leslie- Olympic gold medalist and Los Angeles Sparks basketball player; born in Gardena.
- Art Pepper- innovative jazz saxophonist; born in Gardena.
- Butch Patrick- actor; was living in Gardena and attending PAE when he auditioned for The Munsters.[43]
- Paul Petersen- actor, novelist, activist; onetime resident of Gardena.[43]
- William Rosecrans- Union general, congressman, and ambassador to Mexico; owner of and resident upon (from 1869) "Rosecrans Rancho," the foundation upon which Gardena would later emerge.[43]
- George Stanich- 1948 Summer Olympics high jumper and bronze medalist; resident of Gardena.[43]
See also
- Gardena Municipal Bus Lines
- South Bay, Los Angeles
- Ascot Park, a closed racetrack in Gardena
References
- ^ "Incorporation Dates of California Cities". http://www.cacities.org/resource_files/20457.IncorpDateLO.doc. Retrieved 2007-01-18.
- ^ "City of Gardena ~ City Government". http://www.ci.gardena.ca.us/government/citycouncil.asp. Retrieved 2007-01-18.
- ^ U.S. Census
- ^ "USPS - ZIP Code Lookup - Find a ZIP+ 4 Code By City Results". http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/zcl_1_results.jsp?visited=1&pagenumber=0&state=ca&city=Gardena. Retrieved 2007-01-18.
- ^ "Number Administration System - NPA and City/Town Search Results". http://www.nanpa.com/nas/public/npa_city_query_step2.do?method=displayData&cityToNpaModel.stateAbbr=CA&cityToNpaModel.city=Gardena. Retrieved 2007-01-18.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Gardena Heritage Committee (2006). Gardena. Arcadia Publishing. p. 7. ISBN 9780738546766.
- ^ a b c Gardena, p. 8
- ^ Frequently Asked Questions: Gardena County of Los Angeles Public Library. Retrieved on March 27, 2010.
- ^ "CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING (1790-2000)". U.S. Census Bureau. http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/decennial/index.html. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
- ^ All data are derived from the United States Census Bureau reports from the 2010 United States Census, and are accessible on-line here. The data on unmarried partnerships and same-sex married couples are from the Census report DEC_10_SF1_PCT15. All other housing and population data are from Census report DEC_10_DP_DPDP1. Both reports are viewable online or downloadable in a zip file containing a comma-delimited data file. The area data, from which densities are calculated, are available on-line here. Percentage totals may not add to 100% due to rounding. The Census Bureau defines families as a household containing one or more people related to the householder by birth, opposite-sex marriage, or adoption. People living in group quarters are tabulated by the Census Bureau as neither owners nor renters. For further details, see the text files accompanying the data files containing the Census reports mentioned above.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Torrance Health Center." Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Retrieved on March 18, 2010.
- ^ "Curtis Tucker Health Center." Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Retrieved on March 18, 2010.
- ^ "Will Gerrymandered Districts Stem the Wave of Voter Unrest?". Campaign Legal Center Blog. http://www.clcblog.org/blog_item-85.html. Retrieved 2008-02-10.
- ^ "Post Office Location - GARDENA." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.
- ^ "Post Office Location - SOUTH GARDENA." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.
- ^ "Post Office Location - ALONDRA." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.
- ^ "Regional Offices: Aviation." National Transportation Safety Board. Retrieved on May 15, 2010.
- ^ "Contact DMI." Digital Manga. Retrieved on April 21, 2009. "Digital Manga, Inc. 1487 West 178th Street, Suite 300 Gardena, CA 90248"
- ^ "No Border: 200 Annual Report." Nissin Foods Holdings. 42 (44/48). Retrieved on December 27, 2010. "Nissin Foods (U.S.A.) Co., Inc. (Corporate Offices & Gardena Plant) 2001 West Rosecrans Avenue, Gardena, CA 90249 U.S.A."
- ^ Hevesi, Dennis. "Momofuku Ando, 96, Dies; Invented Instant Ramen." The New York Times. January 9, 2007. Retrieved on March 5, 2010.
- ^ "History." Nissin Foods Holdings. Retrieved on December 27, 2010.
- ^ "Contact Us." National Stores. Retrieved on February 24, 2010.
- ^ "Fallas Paredes expanding local presence." Austin Business Journal. Monday August 11, 2008. Retrieved on February 24, 2010.
- ^ City of Gardena CAFR
- ^ Board District 7 Map. Los Angeles Unified School District. Retrieved on November 24, 2008.
- ^ "Board Members." Los Angeles Unified School District. Retrieved on November 24, 2008.
- ^ "186th Street Elementary School". http://www.186streetschool.org/.
- ^ http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/Denker_EL/about/schedule2.html
- ^ http://sfpc.lausd.k12.ca.us/AvalonGardens/default.htm Avalon
- ^ "Peary Middle School". http://www.pearyms.org/.
- ^ "Henry Clay Middle School". http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/Clay_MS/.
- ^ "Peary Middle School History." Peary Junior High School. Retrieved on April 21, 2009.
- ^ "Contact Us." Junípero Serra High School. Retrieved on April 21, 2009.
- ^ "Contact Maria Regina Catholic School." Maria Regina Catholic School. Retrieved on April 21, 2009.
- ^ "St. Anthony of Padua." Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Retrieved on April 21, 2009.
- ^ Home. Gardena Valley Christian School. Retrieved on April 21, 2009.
- ^ "Gardena Christian Academy contact information." Gardena Christian Academy. Retrieved on December 26, 2010. "Address: Gardena Christian Academy & Preschool 16311 S. Western Ave. Gardena, CA 90247."
- ^ a b c d e f "Gardena Mayme Dear Library." County of Los Angeles Public Library. Retrieved on April 21, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e "Masao W. Satow Library." County of Los Angeles Public Library. Retrieved on April 21, 2009.
- ^ "Alondra Park CDP, California." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on May 5, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Gardena Heritage Committee, "Images of America: Gardena," (San Francisco: Arcadia Publishing, 2006), 74-99.
External links
- City of Gardena, California Official Website
- Jobs and Business: Gardena Economic Development
- Cultural: Gabrielino/Tongva Tribal Council Website
- Cultural: Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute
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