- Paramount, California
Infobox Settlement
official_name = City of Paramount
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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Paramount in Los Angeles County,California
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name =United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 =California
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Los Angeles
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leader_title =Mayor
leader_name = Gene Daniels [cite web | url = http://www.paramountcity.com/docs/council.php | title = Welcome to the City of Paramount - Paramount City Council | accessdate = 2007-01-18]
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established_title3 = Incorporated (city)
established_date3 = 1957-01-30 [ cite web | url = http://www.cacities.org/resource_files/20457.IncorpDateLO.doc | title = Incorporation Dates of California Cities | accessdate = 2007-01-18]
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 12.53
area_total_sq_mi = 4.84
area_land_km2 = 12.26
area_land_sq_mi = 4.73
area_water_km2 = 0.27
area_water_sq_mi = 0.10
area_water_percent = 2.17
area_urban_km2 =
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population_as_of = 2000
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population_footnotes = [cite web | url = http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=&_geoContext=&_street=&_county=&_cityTown=Paramount%20city&_state=04000US06&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010 | title = Paramount city, California - Fact Sheet - American FactFinder | accessdate = 2007-01-18]
settlement_type =City
population_total = 55,266
population_density_km2 = 4509.0
population_density_sq_mi = 11678.3
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timezone = PST
utc_offset = -8
timezone_DST = PDT
utc_offset_DST = -7
latd = 33 |latm = 54 |lats = 0 |latNS = N
longd = 118 |longm = 10 |longs = 0 |longEW = W
coordinates_display = inline,title
coordinates_type = type:city_region:US-CA_elevation:21
elevation_m = 21
elevation_ft = 69
postal_code_type =ZIP Code
postal_code = 90723 [cite web | url = http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/zcl_1_results.jsp?visited=1&pagenumber=0&state=ca&city=Paramount | title = USPS - ZIP Code Lookup - Find a ZIP+ 4 Code By City Results | accessdate = 2007-01-18]
area_code = 562 [cite web | url = http://www.nanpa.com/nas/public/npa_city_query_step2.do?method=displayData&cityToNpaModel.stateAbbr=CA&cityToNpaModel.city=Paramount | title = Number Administration System - NPA and City/Town Search Results | accessdate = 2007-01-18]
website = [http://www.paramountcity.com/index.php http://www.paramountcity.com/index.php]
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 06-55618
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1652771
footnotes =Paramount is a city in Los Angeles County,
California ,United States . As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 55,266. Paramount is part of theGreater Los Angeles Area . The city is bordered by Compton to the west, South Gate and Downey to the north, Bellflower to the east and south, and Long Beach to the south.Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 12.5km² (4.8 mi²). 12.3 km² (4.7 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (2.07%) is water.History
The city today known as Paramount was originally identified in
1781 by Spanish settlers ofNew Spain . It was organized under two famous old SpanishRanchos ; on the west,Rancho San Pedro , and on the east,Rancho Los Nietos (now portions of the cities ofSanta Fe Springs andWhittier ). These ranchos were established under theSpanish Empire and granted byKing Carlos III in1784 . In the early 1800s, two smaller ranchos were established;Rancho Los Cerritos andRancho Los Alamitos , which both encompased parts of Paramount. At the conclusion of theMexican-American war , many of theseCalifornio ranchos changed ownership to American immigrants.The city of Paramount was created in 1948 when the United States Postmaster General ordered the merger of the post offices of Hynes and Clearwater (Pitt 1997:381). The name was taken from Paramount Boulevard, the main north-to-south surface street extending through the city. The city officially incorporated January 30, 1957 following a successful "Save Paramount for Paramount" campaign to fight annexation by Long Beach, Bellflower, and South Gate.
While the Paramount economy was based largely on the hay and dairy industries, the high cost of land led to their local demise. The last Paramount dairy closed in 1977.
Demographics
As of the
census GR|2 of 2000, there were 55,266 people, 13,972 households, and 11,331 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 4,511.3/km² (11,678.3/mi²). There were 14,591 housing units at an average density of 1,191.0/km² (3,083.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 34.70% White, 13.59% African American, 1.06% Native American, 3.35% Asian, 0.84% Pacific Islander, 41.69% from other races, and 4.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 72.28% of the population.There were 13,972 households out of which 55.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were married couples living together, 21.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.9% were non-families. 14.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.93 and the average family size was 4.31.
In the city the population was spread out with 36.9% under the age of 18, 12.0% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 14.0% from 45 to 64, and 5.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,749, and the median income for a family was $37,276. Males had a median income of $27,730 versus $22,472 for females. The
per capita income for the city was $11,487. About 19.1% of families and 21.9% of the population were below thepoverty line , including 27.5% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.Politics
In the state legislature Paramount is located in the 27th Senate District, represented by Democrat
Alan Lowenthal , and in the 52nd Assembly District, represented by DemocratMervyn M. Dymally . Federally, Paramount is located inCalifornia's 39th congressional district , which has a Cook PVI of D +13 [cite web | title = Will Gerrymandered Districts Stem the Wave of Voter Unrest? | publisher = Campaign Legal Center Blog | url=http://www.clcblog.org/blog_item-85.html | accessdate = 2008-02-10] and is represented by DemocratLinda Sánchez .Transportation
The Century Freeway (Interstate 105) passes east-west through the northern portion of Paramount, the Long Beach Freeway (Interstate 710) follows north-south along the city's western border, and the Artesia Freeway (State Route 91) runs east-west less than a one-half-mile from the southern Paramount city limits.
Paramount is served by bus service from Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Agency (MTA) and Long Beach Transit. The city also operates Easy Rider Shuttle, a fixed-route local bus.
Emergency services
The
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department provides law enforcement from a substation in Paramount and a regional station in Lakewood. Fire protection in Paramount is provided by theLos Angeles County Fire Department with ambulance transport byCare Ambulance Service .Education
Most of Paramount is within the
Paramount Unified School District , includingParamount High School .Some of it is in the
Long Beach Unified School District . Some of it is within theCompton Unified School District .Our Lady of the Rosary Private Catholic School is located in Paramount.Library
County of Los Angeles Public Library operates the Paramount Library.City Sites
The Paramount Hay Tree is a California State Historical Landmark. It is a still standing mature camphor tree remembered for its importance to the hay trading marketplace of the towns of Hynes and Clearwater, which later incorporated as Paramount. The hay traders met under the tree each working day to discuss the price of hay. Their numbers were quoted by the New York mercantile markets as the global hay standard. Paramount is also home of the Zamboni. Frank Joseph Zamboni Jr. is the inventor of the ice resurfacing machine. Zamboni & Co. began and is still headquartered in Paramount. Zamboni manufactures and sells the machines world wide. Since 1939 the Zamboni family has also operated Iceland, an ice skating rink with improvements patented by Frank Zamboni.
Notable residents
*Former MLB First Baseman and scout for the Atlanta Braves Brian Hunter is a Paramount High School alumnus.
*Former Boston Red Sox pitcherJeff Sellers is a Paramount High School alumnus.
*NFL LBAntonio Pierce of theNew York Giants is a Paramount High School alumnus.
*NFL DTDemetrin Veal of theTennessee Titans is a Paramount High School alumnus.
*Music video & Film DirectorPaul "Coy" Allen (Timbaland "Give It To Me") is a Paramount High School alumnus
*Former porn starMelrose Foxxx was born in Paramount
*Deceased singerAdán Sánchez was raised in Paramount.External links
* [http://www.paramountcity.com/ Paramount official website]
* [http://www.lacdcs.com/station-end-page-13.html LA County Disaster Communications Service ( DCS ) Lakewood Sheriff Station]
* [http://www.zamboni.com/welcome.html Zamboni Corporation website]
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