Commerce, California

History

In the 19th century, the area was part of Antonio Maria Lugo's Rancho San Antonio. Its conversion to an industrial area began in 1887, when the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway built its main line through the area. The ranch remained intact until Arcadia Bandini de Stearns Baker, reputedly once the wealthiest woman in Los Angeles, sold some of it around the turn of the 20th century. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad (later the Union Pacific) both were built through what would become the community, as was the Pacific Electric Railway's Whittier Line. By the 1920s, factories had arrived. In the late 1940s, industrial leaders banded together with residents in the communities of Bandini, Rosewood, and Laguna to encourage commerce. They changed the name to match that goal.

The city was incorporated in 1960 to prevent neighboring cities such as Vernon and Los Angeles from annexing industrial land for tax revenue and elected its first city mayor, Maurice Quigley. In the 1970s and 1980s, Commerce successfully negotiated the turbulent period of deindustrialization that hammered nearby cities such as South Gate and Norwalk, maintaining much of its manufacturing and goods-distribution base and successfully converting former industrial land to lucrative commercial uses. The most notable example of this phenomenon is the Citadel Outlets mall, which occupies the site of a former tire factory. The owner of the Citadel, Steve Craig, hosts an annual Clean Up Commerce Day and enlists other businesses to work with the city and volunteers in beautifying a specific area of the city. With a major rail yard within its borders, Commerce has also benefited greatly from the huge expansion in international trade traffic through the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, albeit at the expense of severe air pollution caused by truck congestion on the Long Beach Freeway.

Chrysler had an assembly plant in Commerce from 1930 through July 1971 located at 5800 S. Eastern Avenue and Slauson Avenue, called Los Angeles (Maywood) Assembly. It was closed at the end of the 1971 model year, as Chrysler decided to triple-stack its transport trains for the 1972 model year; its Los Angeles facility couldn't accommodate this change.

Commerce is also the site of Williams Ranch, on which is the swimming hole that the Sleepy Lagoon Murder of José Díaz took place in 1942. The Sleepy Lagoon swimming hole was located near Slauson and Eastern Ave.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.5 sqmi, over 99% of it land.

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1860–1870 1880-1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

Commerce first appeared as a city in the 1960 U.S. census as part of the Southeast census county division.

2020

The 2020 United States census reported that Commerce had a population of 12,378. The population density was 1,894.7 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Commerce was 16.8% White, 0.9% African American, 3.3% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 53.4% from other races, and 24.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 94.4% of the population.

The census reported that 99.4% of the population lived in households, 0.1% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.4% were institutionalized.

There were 3,449 households, out of which 45.2% included children under the age of 18, 46.9% were married-couple households, 7.6% were cohabiting couple households, 29.1% had a female householder with no partner present, and 16.4% had a male householder with no partner present. 16.6% of households were one person, and 8.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.57.

The age distribution was 23.3% under the age of 18, 10.4% aged 18 to 24, 27.9% aged 25 to 44, 24.0% aged 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65years of age or older. The median age was 36.5years. For every 100 females, there were 95.9 males.

There were 3,524 housing units at an average density of 539.4 /mi2, of which 3,449 (97.9%) were occupied. Of these, 47.3% were owner-occupied, and 52.7% were occupied by renters.

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $71,768, and the per capita income was $26,570. About 11.3% of families and 13.6% of the population were below the poverty line.

2010

At the 2010 census Commerce had a population of 12,823. The population density was 1,961.4 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Commerce was 6,930 (54.0%) White (3.1% Non-Hispanic White), 96 (0.7%) African American, 161 (1.3%) Native American, 140 (1.1%) Asian, 9 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 4,886 (38.1%) from other races, and 601 (4.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12,114 persons (94.5%).

The census reported that 12,753 people (99.5% of the population) lived in households, 2 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 68 (0.5%) were institutionalized.

There were 3,382 households, 1,751 (51.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,693 (50.1%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 708 (20.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 308 (9.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 248 (7.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 23 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships; 559 households (16.5%) were one person and 326 (9.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.77. There were 2,709 families (80.1% of households); the average family size was 4.17.

The age distribution was 3,824 people (29.8%) under the age of 18, 1,458 people (11.4%) aged 18 to 24, 3,581 people (27.9%) aged 25 to 44, 2,590 people (20.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,370 people (10.7%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 31.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.

There were 3,470 housing units at an average density of 530.8 per square mile, of the occupied units 1,619 (47.9%) were owner-occupied and 1,763 (52.1%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 1.8%. 6,631 people (51.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 6,122 people (47.7%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Commerce had a median household income of $48,729, with 16.5% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

These were the ten cities or neighborhoods in Los Angeles County with the largest percentage of Latino residents, according to the 2000 census:

1. East Los Angeles, California, 96.7%
2. Maywood, California, 96.4%
3. City Terrace, California, 94.4%
4. Huntington Park, California, 95.1%
5. Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, 94.0%
6. Cudahy, California, 93.8%
7. Bell Gardens, California, 93.7%
8. Commerce, California 93.4%
9. Vernon, California, 92.6%
10. South Gate, California, 92.1%

As of 2000, Mexican (78.4%) and Irish (0.9%) were the most common ancestries. Mexico (83.4%) and El Salvador (4.7%) were the most common foreign places of birth.

Economy

Principal employers

According to the city's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

Kimlan Foods USA has its headquarters in Commerce.

Government

In the California State Legislature, Commerce is in , and in .

In the United States House of Representatives, Commerce is in California's 42nd Congressional District, Represented by Democrat Robert Garcia.

Commerce residents have many civic services funded from taxes on the local card club, the Commerce Casino, which accounts for 46% ($19.5 Million for budget year 2005/06) of Commerce's tax revenues, and the Citadel. This includes four libraries, a senior center, a teen center, an aquatics center, and a city-owned camp in the San Bernardino National Forest.{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-commerce-scandals-20160907-snap-story.html |title=Mountain resorts, rent subsidies and saunas: The benefits of living in a city plagued by scandal |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |first=Adam |last=Elmahrek

Education

Most of Commerce is served by Montebello Unified School District, while small portions are served by the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Montebello Unified School District

Elementary schools that serve Commerce include:

• Bandini Elementary School (Commerce)
• Suva Elementary School (Bell Gardens)

Intermediate schools that serve Commerce include:

• Bell Gardens Intermediate School (Bell Gardens)
• Suva Intermediate School (Bell Gardens)
• La Merced Intermediate School (Montebello)

K–8 schools:

• Rosewood Park School (Commerce)

High schools that serve Commerce include:

• Bell Gardens High School (Bell Gardens)
• Montebello High School (Montebello)
• Schurr High School (Montebello)

Los Angeles Unified School District

• Ford Boulevard Elementary School (Unincorporated Los Angeles County)
• Griffith Middle School (Unincorporated Los Angeles County)
• Garfield High School (Unincorporated Los Angeles County)

Infrastructure

Los Cerritos Community News serves the city.

Health care

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Whittier Health Center in Whittier, serving Commerce.

Emergency services

Fire services

Fire protection in Commerce is provided by the Los Angeles County Fire Department, which has its headquarters in Commerce. The LACFD operates Station #22 at 928 South Gerhart Avenue, Station #27, the battalion headquarters, at 6031 Rickenbacker Road, and Station #50 at 2327 South Saybrook Avenue, all in Commerce, as a part of Battalion 3. Ambulance transport is provided by Care Ambulance Service.

Police services

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) operates the East Los Angeles Station in East Los Angeles, serving Commerce.

Friendship City

Commerce is a friendship city with Nanning, Guangxi, China.

References

References

1. "Mayor & City Council". City of Commerce.
2. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
3. {{Cite GNIS. 1660503. Commerce
4. "USPS - ZIP Code Lookup - Find a ZIP+ 4 Code By City Results".
5. (November 23, 2014). "So Cal Entrepreneurs: Steve Craig, Outlet Mall Developer". Globe Trot Comm.
6. "Chrysler's Lost Los Angeles Plant, 1932-1971".
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27. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Commerce city, California".
28. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Commerce city, California".
29. "Commerce city, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing".
30. "Commerce city, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing".
31. "Commerce city, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles".
32. "State & County QuickFacts: Commerce (city), California".
33. "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Commerce city". U.S. Census Bureau.
34. [http://projects.latimes.com/mapping-la/neighborhoods/ethnicity/latino/neighborhood/list "Latino" Mapping L.A., ''Los Angeles Times'']
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36. [http://www.ci.commerce.ca.us/archives/40/cafr2010final.pdf City of Commerce, California Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, for the Year ended June 30, 2010] {{Webarchive. link. (June 1, 2015 Retrieved September 24, 2010)
37. [http://www.kimlanusa.com/ Home page] {{webarchive. link. (September 9, 2012 . [[Kimlan Foods USA]]. Retrieved on November 9, 2012. "3330 S. Garfield Ave • Building 102 • Unit A Commerce • CA 90040")
38. "Final Maps {{!}} California Citizens Redistricting Commission".
39. "Congressman Robert Garcia".
40. "Transportation".
41. (July 2020). "City of Commerce Municipal Bus Lines Citadel Outlets Express".
42. "[http://montebellousd-ca.schoolloop.com/file/1294471603772/1295706265378/6585536690319575483.pdf District Map] {{Webarchive. link. (August 11, 2016 ." [[Montebello Unified School District]]. Retrieved on January 3, 2017.)
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51. "[http://www.fire.lacounty.gov/DoingBusiness/DoRptRequestFireReport.asp Fire Reports] {{Webarchive. link. (March 2, 2010 ." [[Los Angeles County Fire Department]]. Retrieved on March 12, 2010.)
52. "[http://fire.lacounty.gov/HometownFireStations/HometownFireStations.asp Hometown Fire Stations] {{webarchive. link. (September 13, 2007 ." ''[[Los Angeles County Fire Department]]''. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.)
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54. "[http://www.lasd.org/stations/for1/ela/index.html East Los Angeles Station] {{webarchive. link. (January 25, 2010 ." [[Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department]]. Retrieved on January 21, 2010.)
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