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Gardena, California
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Gardena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 57,746 at the 2000 census.
ena is located at (33.893615, -118.307841).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.1 km˛ (5.8 mi˛), all land.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 57,746 people, 20,324 households, and 14,023 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,830.9/km˛ (9,921.3/mi˛).
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Encyclopedia
Gardena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 57,746 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Gardena is located at (33.893615, -118.307841).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.1 km˛ (5.8 mi˛), all land.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 57,746 people, 20,324 households, and 14,023 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,830.9/km˛ (9,921.3/mi˛). There were 21,041 housing units at an average density of 1,395.9/km˛ (3,615.0/mi˛). 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.
Gardena had a strong Japanese-American population, who settled there after they were released from incarceration during World War II. As many were farmers who had lost their property when they were sent to the camps, they created a large nursery industry using some of the only land freely available at the time - that directly under the high-tension power lines that run through the city. Those nurseries remain and contribute to making Los Angeles County one of the biggest nursery counties in the US.
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 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, state, and federal representation
In the state legislature Gardena is located in the 25th Senate District, represented by Democrat Edward Vincent, and in the 51st Assembly District, represented by Democrat Curren D. Price Jr.. Federally, Gardena is located in California's 35th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of D +33 and is represented by Democrat Maxine Waters.
The United States Postal Service operates the Gardena Post Office at 1455 West Redondo Beach Boulevard, the South Gardena Post Office at 1103 West Gardena Boulevard, and the Alondra Post Office at 14028 Van Ness Boulevard.
Cardrooms
In 1931, Gardena allowed legal gambling at cardrooms. Some of the most famous were The Gardena Club, The Rainbow Club, The Monterey Club, The Horseshoe Club, The El Dorado Club, and Normandie Casino. Gardena was the center of poker in Los Angeles until larger casinos like the Bicycle Casino and Commerce Casino were built in the 1980s.
Education
Primary and secondary schools
Public schools
Gardena is served by the Los Angeles Unified School District. The area is within Board District 7. As of 2008 Dr. Richard Vladovic represents the district.
Zoned elementary schools include:
- 153rd Street Elementary School
- 156th Street Elementary School
- 186th Street Elementary School
- Ambler Elementary School
- Amestoy Elementary School
- Chapman Elementary School
- Denker Elementary School
- Gardena Elementary School (Los Angeles)
- Purche Elementary School
- Some areas in Gardena have a choice among Gardens Elementary School (Los Angeles), Purche, and 135th Street Elementary School (Los Angeles)
Zoned middle schools include:
- Peary Middle School
- Some areas in Gardena have a choice between Peary and Clay Middle School (Los Angeles)
Zoned high schools include:
Private schools
Area private schools include Junípero Serra High School. St. Anthony of Padua School Gardena Valley Christian School.
Public libraries
Gardena Mayme Dear Library, located in Gardena, and Masao W. Satow Library, located west of Gardena in unincorporated Los Angeles County, are operated by the County of Los Angeles Public Library.
See also
Trivia
- The movie California Split follows two California poker players from Gardena card rooms, although the city is not named.
- In the movie Reservoir Dogs, Nice Guy Eddie, Mr. Orange, Joe, and Mr. White have a meeting at "Smokey Pete's in Gardena".
- The first few seasons of BET's Comic View were filmed in Gardena at the Normandie Casino, located on Rosecrans Avenue.
- A new City of Gardena motto was adopted in 2006 - The City of Opportunity. The motto was formerly The Freeway City. It was so named because of its proximity and accessibility to the intersection of the 405, 110, and 91 freeways. It is interesting to note that there are no freeways within Gardena's city limits.
- In the "The Case of the Dangerous Dowager" episode of the Perry Mason television series, the female protagonist loses her money at a Gardena card club. Mason explains to his assistant, Della Street, that Gardena is an unusual place because they allow legalized gambling in the form of poker and other card games.
- The United States division of Nissan was headquartered here from its incorporation until 2005, when Carlos Ghosn decided to move it to Franklin, Tennessee.
- Members of the African-American rock band, The Bus Boys were former residents of Gardena.
- Money Mark or Mark Nishita, a DJ and musician who worked with The Beastie Boys as well as his own solo projects lived in Gardena. In the Beastie Boys song "So Watcha Want" there is a rap lyric that proclaims "...From here to Gardena!" presumably in reference to the musician's home base.
- The liquor store scene in the movie Friday (film) was shot in Gardena on 135th street & Budlong ave.
- The first scene of the movie Criminal (film) was shot in Gardena, in the Normandie Casino.
- Home of street rapper Don Cutec.
External links
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