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Gateway Cities



 
 
The Gateway Cities of Southern California
Southern California

Southern California, or So Cal, is defined as the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Its population centers on the cities of Los Angeles, California, San Diego, California, San Bernardino, California, and Riverside, California....
 are those located in southeastern Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County, California

Los Angeles County is a County in California, and is by far, the most List of the most populous counties in the United States in the United States....
. There is some cross-over between these cities and those composing South Los Angeles
South Los Angeles

South Los Angeles, often abbreviated as South L.A., is the official name for a large geographic and cultural portion lying to the southwest and southeast of downtown Los Angeles, California....
, East Los Angeles
East Los Angeles

East Los Angeles can refer to:* East Los Angeles, California * East Los Angeles ...
, the South Bay
South Bay, Los Angeles

The South Bay is a region of the southwest peninsula of Los Angeles County, California, California, USA. The name stems from its geographic features stretching along the southern shores of Santa Monica Bay which forms its western border....
, and the San Gabriel Valley
San Gabriel Valley

The San Gabriel Valley is one of the principal valleys of southern California. It lies to the east of the city of Los Angeles, California, to the north of the Puente Hills, to the south of the San Gabriel Mountains, and west of the Inland Empire ....
.

orically, the Gateway region is the industrial heartland of Greater Los Angeles.






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Gateway Cities in Southern California
The Gateway Cities of Southern California
Southern California

Southern California, or So Cal, is defined as the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Its population centers on the cities of Los Angeles, California, San Diego, California, San Bernardino, California, and Riverside, California....
 are those located in southeastern Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County, California

Los Angeles County is a County in California, and is by far, the most List of the most populous counties in the United States in the United States....
. There is some cross-over between these cities and those composing South Los Angeles
South Los Angeles

South Los Angeles, often abbreviated as South L.A., is the official name for a large geographic and cultural portion lying to the southwest and southeast of downtown Los Angeles, California....
, East Los Angeles
East Los Angeles

East Los Angeles can refer to:* East Los Angeles, California * East Los Angeles ...
, the South Bay
South Bay, Los Angeles

The South Bay is a region of the southwest peninsula of Los Angeles County, California, California, USA. The name stems from its geographic features stretching along the southern shores of Santa Monica Bay which forms its western border....
, and the San Gabriel Valley
San Gabriel Valley

The San Gabriel Valley is one of the principal valleys of southern California. It lies to the east of the city of Los Angeles, California, to the north of the Puente Hills, to the south of the San Gabriel Mountains, and west of the Inland Empire ....
.

History

Historically, the Gateway region is the industrial heartland of Greater Los Angeles. The huge expanse of flat land in the floodplains of the lower Los Angeles
Los Angeles River

The Los Angeles River starts in San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Mountains, and Santa Susana Mountains and flows through Los Angeles County, California, from Canoga Park, Los Angeles, California in the west end of the San Fernando Valley, 51 miles southeast to its mouth in Long Beach, California....
 and San Gabriel
San Gabriel River (California)

File:San Gabriel River at Seal Beach California.jpgThe San Gabriel River flows through southern Los Angeles County, California. It rises in the San Gabriel Mountains, flowing southwest into and through the western San Gabriel Valley before turning southward at the Whittier Narrows to enter the Los Angeles Basin....
 rivers proved ideal for industrial development, and large-scale urbanization began in the 1900s. The cheap, fertile land was generally subdivided into long, narrow "railroad lots" aimed at Midwestern and Southern farmers starting new lives as workers in the region's factories. Explosive industrial growth and concurrent suburb
Suburb

Suburbs are commonly defined as the residential areas which surround the central area of the urban area of a town or city. In the United States, suburbs have a prevalence of usually detached single-family homes.....
anization occurred in World War II
World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a Participants in World War II, including all of the great powers, organised into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War II and the Axis powers....
 and continued throughout the Cold War
Cold War

The Cold War was the continuing state of conflict, tension and competition that existed between a number of world powers, including the United States, the Soviet Union, People's Republic of China, France, United Kingdom and those countries' respective allies from the mid-1940s to the early 1990s....
; by the 1980s, Los Angeles County had become the leading center of industrial production in the United States, with the Gateway Cities leading the way. However, the end of the Cold War and the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement
North American Free Trade Agreement

The North American Free Trade Agreement is a trilateral trade bloc in North America created by the governments of the United States, Canada, and Mexico....
 with Mexico
Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federalism constitutionalism republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of Mexico....
 had a devastating effect on the region, and by the end of the 1990s industrial output was far below its historical peak. High-tech industries spurned the area as both lacking in modern buildings and also too polluted and crime-ridden, moving instead to locales such as the western San Fernando Valley
San Fernando Valley

The San Fernando Valley is an urbanized valley located in Southern California, United States. More than half of the city of Los Angeles' land area lies within the San Fernando Valley....
, southern Orange County
Orange County, California

Orange County is a county in Southern California California, United States. Its county seat is Santa Ana, California. The state of California estimates its population as of 2008 to be 3,121,251, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County, California and San Diego County, California....
, and Santa Clarita
Santa Clarita, California

Santa Clarita is the fourth largest city in Los Angeles County, California, California, United States. The California Department of Finance estimated the city population as of January 1, 2008 at 177,045....
. The logistics firms that grew exponentially with increased traffic at the Port of Los Angeles
Port of Los Angeles

The Port of Los Angeles, also called Los Angeles Harbor and WORLDPORT LA, is a port complex that occupies 7,500 acres of land and water along 43 miles of waterfront....
 largely ignored the region as well, instead choosing inland cities such Corona
Corona, California

Corona is a city in Riverside County, California, California, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,966....
, known as the gateway to the Inland Empire, and Colton
Colton, California

Colton is a city in San Bernardino County, California, California, United States. The population was 47,662 at the 2000 census.Colton is the site of Colton Crossing, one of the busiest at-grade railroad crossings in the United States....
. Most of the region's middle-class whites and blacks moved to other parts of Southern California (particularly the Inland Empire
Inland Empire (California)

The Inland Empire is a region mainly located in Southeast California, particularly the Riverside County, California and San Bernardino County, California counties....
) or left the state altogether; the vacuum was filled primarily by persons of Mexican ancestry drawn to cultural magnets like Pacific Boulevard
Pacific Boulevard

Pacific Boulevard is a street and principal commercial thoroughfare in the city of Huntington Park, California. It runs from Vernon and Santa Fe Avenues in Vernon to Cudahy Avenue in South Gate before changing to Long Beach Boulevard....
 in Huntington Park
Huntington Park, California

Huntington Park is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 61,348....
, with the result that most of the cities of the Gateway region have substantial Latino
Latino

The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American or Spanish-speaking descent."...
 majorities, with the significant exception of Cerritos
Cerritos, California

Cerritos is a charter city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, and is one of several cities that constitute the Gateway Cities of southeast Los Angeles County....
, which has a majority Asian population and Artesia
Artesia, California

Artesia is a general law city in southeast Los Angeles County, California, California, United States and is one of the county's Gateway Cities. It was incorporated on May 29, 1959....
, La Mirada
La Mirada, California

La Mirada is a city within Los Angeles County, California, California, United States. The population was 46,783 at the 2000 census.It is best known as the home of Biola University , an Evangelicalism institution of higher education....
, Lakewood
Lakewood, California

Lakewood is a city in Los Angeles County, California, California, United States. The population was 79,345 at the 2000 census. It is bordered by Long Beach, California on the west and south, Bellflower, California on the north, Cerritos, California on the northeast, Cypress, California on the east, and Hawaiian Gardens, California on the sout...
, Signal Hill
Signal Hill, California

Signal Hill is a small city in Los Angeles County, California, California that is an enclave . As of 2005, the city population was 10,951. The city was Municipal corporation on April 22, 1924, roughly three years after oil was discovered on Signal Hill....
 and Whittier
Whittier, California

Whittier is a city in Los Angeles County, California about southeast of Los Angeles, California. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 83,680....
, which remain predominantly white.

Education


Universities

  • Biola University
    Biola University

    Biola University is a Private university, non-denominational, conservative evangelical Christian university located near Los Angeles. Biola's main campus is located in the city of La Mirada, California in Los Angeles County, California....
    , in La Mirada
  • California State University, Long Beach
    California State University, Long Beach

    California State University, Long Beach is the largest campus of the California State University system and the second largest university in the state of California by enrollment....
  • Southern California University of Health Sciences
    Southern California University of Health Sciences

    Southern California University of Health Sciences is a private institute of higher education founded in 1911, and focused on complementary and alternative medicine ....
     in Whittier
  • Whittier College
    Whittier College

    Whittier College is a Private university Liberal arts colleges in the United States in Whittier, California. As of January 2009, the college has approximately 1,300 enrolled students....
  • California State University Dominguez Hills


Community Colleges

  • Cerritos College
    Cerritos College

    Cerritos College is a public comprehensive community college founded in 1955 located in Norwalk, California, California. It was named after Rancho Los Cerritos, a ranch that served prominently in the region in the 19th century....
    , in Norwalk
    Norwalk

    Norwalk is the name of several places in the United States of America:*Norwalk, California, a suburb of Los Angeles*Norwalk, Connecticut, a city in southwestern Connecticut that contains several neighborhoods including Central Norwalk, East Norwalk, South Norwalk, and West Norwalk...
  • El Camino College Compton Center, in Compton
  • East Los Angeles College
    East Los Angeles College

    East Los Angeles College is a community college, of the Los Angeles Community College District, located in the Los Angeles, California suburb of Monterey Park, California....
    , in Monterey Park
  • Long Beach City College
    Long Beach City College

    Long Beach City College, established in 1927, is a community college located in Long Beach, California, California. It is divided into two campuses....
  • Rio Hondo College
    Rio Hondo College

    Rio Hondo College is a community college located in unincorporated Whittier, California, United States, named after the Rio Hondo . It was founded in 1960 and mainly serves the cities of Whittier, California, Pico Rivera, California, Santa Fe Springs, California, El Monte, California, and South El Monte, California....


Cities of the Gateway region

Most area residents identify with the city of Los Angeles due to its propinquity, despite living in independent municipalities. The following cities are members of the Gateway Cities Council of Governments:
  • Artesia
    Artesia, California

    Artesia is a general law city in southeast Los Angeles County, California, California, United States and is one of the county's Gateway Cities. It was incorporated on May 29, 1959....
  • Bell
    Bell, California

    Bell is a city in Los Angeles County, California, California, United States. The population was 36,664 at the 2000 census.Bell is located on the west bank of the Los Angeles River and is situated north of South Gate, California....
  • Bell Gardens
    Bell Gardens, California

    Bell Gardens is a city in Los Angeles County, California, California, United States. The population was 44,054 at the 2000 census.Bell Gardens is notable for being one of the only five cities in Los Angeles County to permit casino gambling ....
  • Bellflower
    Bellflower, California

    Bellflower is a city in Los Angeles County, California, California, United States, and is a suburb of Los Angeles. It was incorporated on September 3, 1957....
  • Cerritos
    Cerritos, California

    Cerritos is a charter city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, and is one of several cities that constitute the Gateway Cities of southeast Los Angeles County....
  • Commerce
    Commerce, California

    Commerce is a suburb of Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California, California, United States. The population was 12,568 at the 2000 census. It is bordered by Vernon, California on the west, Los Angeles on the northwest, East Los Angeles, California on the north, Montebello, California on the east, Downey, California and Bell Gardens, Cal...
  • Compton
    Compton, California

    Compton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, California, United States, south-southeast of downtown Los Angeles, California. The city was incorporated in 1888....
  • Cudahy
    Cudahy, California

    Cudahy is a city located in southeastern Los Angeles County, California. In terms of area, Cudahy is the second smallest city in Los Angeles County with one of the highest population densities of any incorporated city in the United States....
  • Downey
    Downey, California

    Downey is a city located in southeast Los Angeles County, California, United States, 21 km southeast of downtown Los Angeles, California. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 107,323....
  • Hawaiian Gardens
    Hawaiian Gardens, California

    Hawaiian Gardens is a city in Los Angeles County, California, California, United States. It is the smallest city in the county and was incorporated on April 9, 1964....
  • Huntington Park
    Huntington Park, California

    Huntington Park is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 61,348....
  • La Habra Heights
    La Habra Heights, California

    La Habra Heights is a city in Los Angeles County, California, California, United States. The population was 5,712 at the 2000 census....
  • La Mirada
    La Mirada, California

    La Mirada is a city within Los Angeles County, California, California, United States. The population was 46,783 at the 2000 census.It is best known as the home of Biola University , an Evangelicalism institution of higher education....
  • Lakewood
    Lakewood, California

    Lakewood is a city in Los Angeles County, California, California, United States. The population was 79,345 at the 2000 census. It is bordered by Long Beach, California on the west and south, Bellflower, California on the north, Cerritos, California on the northeast, Cypress, California on the east, and Hawaiian Gardens, California on the sout...
  • Long Beach
    Long Beach, California

    Long Beach is a large city located in southern California, USA, on the Pacific Ocean coast. It is situated in Los Angeles County, about south of downtown Los Angeles....
  • Lynwood
    Lynwood, California

    Lynwood is a city in Los Angeles County, California, California, United States of America. As of 2007, the city had a total population of 72,984....
  • Maywood
  • Montebello
    Montebello, California

    Montebello is a city in Los Angeles County, California, California, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 62,150....
    (Sometimes considered part of the San Gabriel Valley
    San Gabriel Valley

    The San Gabriel Valley is one of the principal valleys of southern California. It lies to the east of the city of Los Angeles, California, to the north of the Puente Hills, to the south of the San Gabriel Mountains, and west of the Inland Empire ....
    )
  • Norwalk
    Norwalk, California

    Norwalk is a city in Los Angeles County, California, California, United States. The population was 103,298 at the 2000 census.Founded in the late 1800s, Norwalk was incorporated in as a city in 1957....
  • Paramount
    Paramount, California

    Paramount is a city in Los Angeles County, California, California, United States. According to the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 55,266....
  • Pico Rivera
    Pico Rivera, California

    Pico Rivera is a city located in southeastern Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 63,428....
  • Santa Fe Springs
    Santa Fe Springs, California

    Santa Fe Springs is a city in Los Angeles County, California, California, United States. It is one of the Gateway Cities of southeast Los Angeles County....
  • Signal Hill
    Signal Hill, California

    Signal Hill is a small city in Los Angeles County, California, California that is an enclave . As of 2005, the city population was 10,951. The city was Municipal corporation on April 22, 1924, roughly three years after oil was discovered on Signal Hill....
  • South Gate
    South Gate, California

    South Gate is a city in Los Angeles County, California, California, United States. It is part of the Gateway Cities region of southeastern Los Angeles County....
  • Vernon
    Vernon, California

    Vernon is a city in Los Angeles County, California, California, United States. The population was 91 at the 2000 census. It has the smallest population of any incorporated city in Southern California; most of the city's land area is occupied by industrial facilities....
  • Whittier
    Whittier, California

    Whittier is a city in Los Angeles County, California about southeast of Los Angeles, California. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 83,680....
     (Sometimes considered part of the San Gabriel Valley
    San Gabriel Valley

    The San Gabriel Valley is one of the principal valleys of southern California. It lies to the east of the city of Los Angeles, California, to the north of the Puente Hills, to the south of the San Gabriel Mountains, and west of the Inland Empire ....
    )
Also members of the Gateway Cities Council of Governments:
  • Avalon
    Avalon, California

    Avalon, or Avalon Bay, is the only city on Santa Catalina Island, California. Besides Avalon, the only other center of population is the small unincorporated area town of Two Harbors, California on the island....
     (on Catalina Island
    Santa Catalina Island, California

    Santa Catalina Island, often called Catalina Island, or just Catalina, is a rocky island off the coast of the U.S. state of California....
    )
  • Los Angeles County
  • Port of Long Beach
    Port of Long Beach

    The Port of Long Beach, also known as Long Beach?s Harbor Department, is the 2nd busiest seaport in the United States. Acting as a major gateway for U.S.-Asian trade, the port occupies of land with of waterfront in the city of Long Beach, California....


The following cities are also considered to be parts of other regions in Los Angeles County:

San Gabriel Valley
San Gabriel Valley

The San Gabriel Valley is one of the principal valleys of southern California. It lies to the east of the city of Los Angeles, California, to the north of the Puente Hills, to the south of the San Gabriel Mountains, and west of the Inland Empire ....
: Montebello, Whittier

East Los Angeles
East Los Angeles (region)

East Los Angeles is the portion of the City of Los Angeles, California that lies east of the Los Angeles River and Downtown Los Angeles, west of the San Gabriel Valley and the unincorporated area of East Los Angeles, California and City Terrace, California, south of Cypress Park, Los Angeles, California, and north of Vernon, California and C...
: Commerce, Montebello, Pico Rivera, and Whittier

South Los Angeles
South Los Angeles

South Los Angeles, often abbreviated as South L.A., is the official name for a large geographic and cultural portion lying to the southwest and southeast of downtown Los Angeles, California....
: Compton, Lynwood, and Inglewood

Although Carson might seem like a 'natural' fit with the Gateway Cities, it is usually considered part of the South Bay
South Bay, Los Angeles

The South Bay is a region of the southwest peninsula of Los Angeles County, California, California, USA. The name stems from its geographic features stretching along the southern shores of Santa Monica Bay which forms its western border....
.

External links


  • - a non profit Community Revitalization and Education Organization