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Downey, California
Official seal of Downey, California
Seal
Location of Downey in Los Angeles County, California
Location of Downey in Los Angeles County, California
Coordinates: 33°56′17″N 118°07′51″W / 33.93806, -118.13083
Country United States
State California
County Los Angeles
Founded 1800s
Incorporated 1956
Government
 - Type Council-Manager government
 - City Council David R. Los Angeles County is a county in California and is by far the most populous county in the United States. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Wikipedia talkFeatured lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This list of countries, arranged alphabetically The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The political units and divisions of the United States include The 50 states (four of these being officially styled as Commonwealths) which are typically California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The US state of California is divided into fifty-eight counties. Los Angeles County is a county in California and is by far the most populous county in the United States. In the council-manager form of government an elected city council (typically between five and 11 people is responsible for making Policy, passing Ordinances voting Appropriations A city council is a form of Local government, usually covering a City or other Urban area, such as a Town. Gafin
Mario A. Guerra
Rick Trejo (Mayor)
Anne Marie Bayer
Kirk Cartozian
Area
 - Total 12. Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. 6 sq mi (32. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. 6 km²)
 - Land 12. To help compare sizes of different geographic regions we list here Areas between 10 km² (1000 Hectares and 100 km² (10000 hectares 4 sq mi (32. 2 km²)
 - Water 0. 2 sq mi (0. 4 km²)  1. 35%
Elevation 118 ft (36 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 107,323
 - Density 8,641. The elevation of a Geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point often the mean sea level. A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 7/sq mi (3,336. 4/km²)
  U.S. Census, 2000
Time zone PST (UTC-8)
 - Summer (DST) PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP codes 90239-90242
Area code(s) 562
FIPS code 06-19766
GNIS feature ID 1652698
Website: www.downeyca.org

Downey is a city located in southeast Los Angeles County, California, United States, 21 km (13 miles) southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The Pacific Time Zone observes Standard time by subtracting eight hours from Coordinated Universal Time ( UTC-8) UTC−8 is a band of Timezones separated from the Universal Coordinated Time by 8 hours Daylight saving time ( DST UTC−7 can be observed in Mountain Standard Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time Zone Canada The ZIP code is the system of Postal codes used by the United States Postal Service (USPS A telephone numbering plan is a plan for allocating Telephone number ranges to countries regions areas and exchanges and to non-fixed telephone networks Area code 562 is a California Telephone Area code that was split from Area code 310 on January 25, 1997. Federal Information Processing Standards ( FIPS) are publicly announced standards developed by the United States Federal government for use by all non-military The Geographic Names Information System ( GNIS) is a database that contains name and locative information about more than two million physical and cultural features located throughout Los Angeles County is a county in California and is by far the most populous county in the United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 107,323.

Contents

History

Prior to the arrival of the Spanish in Alta California, the area that now comprises Downey was inhabited by the Tongva ethnic group, which came to be called the Gabrielino by the Spanish. The Spanish Empire (Imperio Español was one of the largest Empires in history and one of the first Global empires In the 15th and 16th centuries Alta California (Upper California was formed in 1804 when the Province of the Californias, then a part of the Commandancy General of the Provincias Internas in the Tongva may also refer to the Tongva language. The Tongva are a Native American people who inhabited the area in and around Los Angeles Tongva may also refer to the Tongva language. The Tongva are a Native American people who inhabited the area in and around Los Angeles

Spanish colonial history of the area today known as Downey dates back to 1771 with the founding of the Mission San Gabriel Arcangel, a California State historical landmark. The Mission San Gabriel Arcángel is a fully functioning Roman Catholic mission and a historic landmark in San Gabriel California. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The founding of the mission and mission lands establishes the birthplace of the modern Los Angeles region. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West

In 1784, Governor Pedro Fages granted to former solider Manuel Nieto (1734-1804) the largest of the land concessions made during the Spanish control of California. Don Pedro Fages Beleta ( Pere Fages i Beleta) (1734&ndash1794 nicknamed El Oso, was a Soldier, explorer and the second Spanish military Governor Jose Manuel Nieto (1734 - 1804 was a soldier from the Presidio of San Diego who was assigned to the Mission San Gabriel at the time his land was granted by the Its 300,000 acres (1,200 km²) stretched from the Santa Ana River on the east to the Old San Gabriel River (now the Rio Hondo and Los Angeles River) on the west, and from the mission highway (approximately Whittier Boulevard) on the north to the ocean on the south. The Santa Ana River begins in San Bernardino County California, in the San Bernardino National Forest. The Los Angeles River is a creek flowing through Los Angeles County California, from Canoga Park in the west end of the San Fernando Valley State Route 72 (SR 72 is a state highway in the US state of California. Its acreage was slightly reduced later at the insistence of Mission San Gabriel on whose lands it infringed. The Mission San Gabriel Arcángel is a fully functioning Roman Catholic mission and a historic landmark in San Gabriel California. The Spanish concessions, of which 25 were made in California, were unlike the later Mexican land grants in that title was not transferred, but were similar to grazing permits, with the title remaining with the Spanish crown. [1]

The Rancho Los Nietos passed to Manuel Nieto's four children upon his death and remained intact until, in 1833, his heirs petitioned Mexican Governor José Figueroa to partition the property. Rancho Los Nietos, awarded to Manuel Nieto in 1784 was the largest Spanish land grant in Alta California. For the surviving passenger see Avianca Flight 52. For the Honduran footballer see José Roberto Figueroa. The northwestern portion of the original rancho, comprising the Downey-Norwalk area, was granted as Rancho Santa Gertrudes to Josefa Cota, the widow of Manuel's son, Antonio Nieto. At approximately 21,000 acres (85 km²), Santa Gertrudes was itself a sizable rancho and conatined the old Nietos homestead, which was a center of social life east of the pueblo of Los Angeles. [2]


After the Mexican-American war concluded in 1848, many of the Californio ranchos were obtained by affluent Anglo-Americans who were immigrating west under the United States manifest destiny doctrine, and marrying into established Californio Spanish families. Californio's (Spanish for "Californian" is a term used to identify a Californian of Hispanic and/or Latin-American descent first as a part of New Spain, later English Americans (occasionally known as Anglo -Americans although this may have a wider cultural meaning are Citizens of the United States whose ancestry The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Manifest Destiny was the belief that the United States was destined to expand from the Atlantic seaboard to the Pacific Ocean. Californio's (Spanish for "Californian" is a term used to identify a Californian of Hispanic and/or Latin-American descent first as a part of New Spain, later

Downey was founded by and named for the former Civil War governor of California, John Gately Downey, when he subdivided land he procured between the Rio Hondo and the San Gabriel River. Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South A governor is a governing official usually the executive (at least nominally to different degrees also politically and administratively of a non-sovereign level of government California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. John Gately Downey ( June 24, 1827 March 1, 1894) was an Irish-American politician and Governor of California from The Rio Hondo (translation Deep River is a tributary of the Los Angeles River in Los Angeles County California, approximately long The San Gabriel River flows through southern Los Angeles County California. The Southern Pacific Railroad arrived in 1873, and farmers in the area grew grain, corn, castor beans and fruit until around 1940.

Downey was incorporated in 1956, and instituted a charter form of government in 1964. Suburban homes and factories replaced the farms after World War II. The largest employer was originally Vultee Aircraft, then North American Aviation, (later North American Rockwell, then Rockwell International which was then bought by the Boeing company) whose facilities produced some of the systems for the Apollo Project as well as the space shuttle. The Vultee Aircraft Corporation became an independent company in 1939 and had limited success before merging with the Consolidated Aircraft Corporation in 1943 Rockwell International was the ultimate incarnation of a series of companies under the sphere of influence of Willard Rockwell, who had made his fortune after the invention and The Boeing Company is a major Aerospace and defense corporation originally founded by William E NASA 's Space Shuttle, officially called the Space Transportation System ( STS) is the Spacecraft currently used by the United States The seventy year history of airplane and space vehicle manufacturing in Downey came to an end when the Rockwell plant closed in 1999. The former Rockwell plant has been converted to the Downey Landing shopping complex, a Kaiser Permanente hospital, a park, a space museum and [Downey Studios]. Kaiser Permanente is an integrated Managed care organization based in Oakland California, founded in 1945 by industrialist Henry J For more information about the history of the Downey NASA site refer to http://www.aerospacelegacyfoundation.org

Near the center of the city lies what was once one of the busiest intersections in the world, the intersection of Lakewood Boulevard (State Route 19) and Firestone Boulevard (former State Route 42). Route 19 was a major thoroughfare between Pasadena and the port at Long Beach, and Route 42 was part of the old Spanish Trail system that connected Los Angeles to San Diego. Pasadena ( is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Long Beach is a city located in southern California, USA, on the Pacific coast Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West

In the 1960s the town's Downey Records achieved a small notoriety with recordings like The Chantays' surfing instrumental "Pipeline. The Chantays are a Surf rock band from the early 1960s best known for the hit instrumental " Pipeline " (1963 " Pipeline " is a Surf rock song by The Chantays. It was also recorded by Johnny Thunders, Hank Marvin, Agent Orange, " Downey's two main public high schools are named for Governor Downey and Governor (and later, Chief Justice) Earl Warren. High school is the name used in some parts of the world (in particular Scotland, North America and Australia) to describe an institution John Gately Downey ( June 24, 1827 March 1, 1894) was an Irish-American politician and Governor of California from Earl Warren ( March 19, 1891 July 9, 1974) was the 14th Chief Justice of the United States and the only person ever elected thrice

Downey is home to Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, which is the main public rehabilitation hospital for Los Angeles County. Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center is a rehabilitation hospital located in Downey California, United States. Los Angeles County is a county in California and is by far the most populous county in the United States. Rancho Los Amigos is renowned worldwide for its innovative contributions to the care of spinal cord injuries and post-polio syndrome. Spinal cord injury causes myelopathy or damage to white matter or myelinated fiber tracts that carry sensation and motor signals to and from the brain Post-polio syndrome ( PPS) sometimes termed Middle age onset Post-polio syndrome is a condition that affects survivors of Poliomyelitis, a viral

Geography

Location of Downey, California

Downey is located at 33°56′17″N, 118°7′51″W (33. 938164, -118. 130801). [3]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 32. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title) is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census 6 km² (12. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of 6 mi²). The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. 32. 2 km² (12. 4 mi²) of it is land and 0. 4 km² (0. 2 mi²) of it (1. 35%) is water.

The cities of South Gate and Bell Gardens are adjacent to the west and northwest, Pico Rivera lies to the northeast, Santa Fe Springs and Norwalk to the east, and Paramount and Bellflower are to the south. South Gate is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Bell Gardens is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Pico Rivera is a city located in southeastern Los Angeles County California, United States. Santa Fe Springs ( Santa Fe meaning "Holy Faith" is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Norwalk is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Paramount is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Bellflower is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, and is a suburb of Los Angeles.

The city can be conveniently reached by any of four freeways: Interstate 105 with its Metro rail line passes through the southern part of the city, Interstate 5 and Interstate 605 pass along the eastern side, and Interstate 710 passes just west of the city. Interstate 105 (abbreviated I-105, and colloquially referred to as The 105 or the one-oh-five) is an interstate highway in southern Route description Southern California See also San Diego Freeway, Santa Ana Freeway, Golden State Freeway Interstate 5 starts Interstate 605 (I-605 - also referred to as "The 605" is a major north-south interstate Freeway of about 27 miles (43 km in length located in the Interstate 710 (I-710 - also referred to as "The 710" is a major north-south interstate Freeway running for 23 miles (37 km through Los Angeles County

Demographics

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 107,323 people, 33,989 households, and 26,001 families residing in the city. A census is the procedure of acquiring information about every member of a given population The population density was 3,336. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 4/km² (8,641. 7/mi²). There were 34,759 housing units at an average density of 1,080. 6/km² (2,798. 8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 53. 48% White, 3. 75% Black or African American, 0. 87% Native American, 7. 74% Asian, 0. 22% Pacific Islander, 29. 05% from other races, and 4. 89% from two or more races. 57. 85% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Hispanic and Latino Americans are Americans of Hispanic or Latino descent, which comprises ancestry or origins in Hispanic America

There were 33,989 households out of which 41. 8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54. 1% were married couples living together, 15. 8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23. 5% were non-families. 19. 1% of all households were made up of individuals and 8. 1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3. 11 and the average family size was 3. 55.

In the city the population was spread out with 29. 2% under the age of 18, 9. 8% from 18 to 24, 31. 2% from 25 to 44, 18. 8% from 45 to 64, and 11. 0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 94. 6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89. 8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $46,000 and the median income for a family was $50,017. Males had a median income of $35,991 versus $28,768 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,197. Per capita income means how much each individual receives in monetary terms of the yearly income generated in the country About 9. 3% of families and 11. 1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14. The poverty threshold, or poverty line, is the minimum level of Income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate Standard of living in a given country 4% of those under age 18 and 7. 6% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

In the state legislature Downey is located in the 27th Senate District, represented by Democrat Alan Lowenthal, and in the 50th and 58th Assembly Districts, represented by Democrats Hector De La Torre and Charles M. Calderon respectively. The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. Alan S Lowenthal (born March 8 1941 in New York City) is a Democratic member of the California State Senate. The California State Assembly is the Lower house of the California State Legislature. Hector De La Torre is a member of the California State Assembly for the 50th Assembly District Charles M Calderon (born December 3 1950 in Montebello California) began his second stint in the California State Assembly in 2006. Federally, Downey is located in California's 34th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of D +23[5] and is represented by Democrat Lucille Roybal-Allard. California's 34th congressional district covers part of Los Angeles County and is California 's most heavily Hispanic district The Cook Partisan Voting Index ( CPVI) sometimes referred to as simply the Partisan Voting Index ( PVI) is a measurement of how strongly an American Lucille Roybal-Allard (born June 12 1941) an American politician has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives

Immigration

Since the mid 1990s Downey has had a significant demographic shift, with the ethnic makeup of the city remaining diverse, as well as a rapidly increasing Latino population. Wealthy Latino immigrants have also gained a comfortable presence in Northeast Downey, the city's most affluent neighborhood.

Landmarks

Historic McDonald's restaurant

Oldest operating McDonald's restaurant on Lakewood and Florence in Downey, California
Oldest operating McDonald's restaurant on Lakewood and Florence in Downey, California

The 1953 McDonald's restaurant at 10207 Lakewood Blvd. (at Florence Ave. State Route 19 (SR 19 locally known as Lakewood Boulevard and Rosemead Boulevard, is a State highway in the Los Angeles area of the U ) was the fourth McDonald's built and is the oldest surviving McDonald's. It was listed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation's 1994 list of the 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is an American member-supported organization that was founded in 1949 by Congressional charter to support preservation Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) It was one of the first restaurants franchised by Dick and Mac McDonald, prior to the involvement of Ray Kroc in the company, and it still has the original "Golden arches" and a 60-foot animated neon "Speedee" sign. Richard "Dick" J McDonald ( February 16, 1909 – July 14, 1998) and Maurice "Mac" McDonald ( November 26 Raymond Albert Kroc ( October 5, 1902 - January 14, 1984) took over the then small-scale McDonald's Corporation franchise in 1954 and The Golden Arches are the famous Symbol of McDonald's, the global Fast-food Hamburger chain

With low sales, damage from the 1994 Northridge earthquake, and the lack of a drive-up window and indoor seating, the restaurant was closed. However with both the public and preservationists demanding the restaurant be saved, McDonald's spent two years restoring the restaurant and reopened it. Customers today can visit the original restaurant and an adjoining gift shop and museum.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, serving the Catholic Community of Downey
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, serving the Catholic Community of Downey

The first Taco Bell

Glen Bell opened the first Taco Bell restaurant on 21 March 1962 in Downey [1]. Glen William Bell (born c 1923 is the founder of Taco Bell. He served in the US Marine Corps during World War II. Taco Bell Corp, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands Inc, is a restaurant chain based in Irvine California specializing in Tex-Mex -inspired Events 630 - Byzantine emperor Heraclius restores the True Cross to Jerusalem. Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Johnie's Broiler

Johnie's Broiler (originally Harvey's Broiler) was a drive in restaurant and coffee shop. Johnie's Broiler was a Restaurant located in Downey, California from 1958 until 2001 The drive in restaurant has been in movies and sitcoms as well as TV commercials and music videos. Completed in 1958, it is an example of Googie architecture. Googie, also known as populuxe or doo-wop, is a subdivision of Futurist architecture, influenced by car culture and the Space Age Johnie's was well known to Southern California locals, many of which drove miles to cruise through its massive lot. Southern California, or So Cal, is defined as the southern portion of the U The restaurant was closed in 2001, and a used car dealership has since leased the property. Recently, the leasers of Johnies started to illegally tear it down. [2] Currently, the destruction of the building has been halted, with extreme damage to the building, though the sign is intact.

Crime

Downey has vehicle theft levels that are 1. 76 times the national average, all other major crime categories are below the national average. In 2003, 7 murders, 25 forcible rapes, 216 robberies, 257 aggravated assaults, 588 burglaries, 1819 thefts, 1169 vehicle thefts, and 4 arsons were reported to law enforcement. Media:http://www.cityrating.com/citycrime.asp?city=Downey&state=CA

Anti-gang activities

In the late 80's and early 90's, Downey saw an increase in gang activity. Today there is still gang activity going on between Latino/hispanic gangs in the south area of Downey. In response, Downey formed GOOD (Gangs Out Of Downey), a community-based organization that helps encourage young people between the ages of 10-20 to stay away from gangs. GOOD is also responsible for organizing many community events and programs such as various sports, after school care, scholarship programs for at-risk students looking to attend college, and counseling for both young people and their parents. GOOD has kept a close partnership with Downey Police. [3]

Police

Downey is served by the Downey Police Department[4].

Education

Special events

Gallery

Downey City Hall

Downey Avenue

Typical Downey Ginger Bread Homes

New Homes in Downey

References

  1. ^ Beck, Warren A. Jeff Tedford (born November 2, 1961 in Lynwood California) is the current Head coach of the University of California Golden Bears The California Golden Bears is the nickname used for 27 varsity athletic programs of the University of California Berkeley. California State University Fresno, commonly referred to as Fresno State and even plainly State, is one of the campuses of California State University Aimee Teegarden (born October 10, 1989 in Downey, California) is an American actress Miranda Cosgrove (born May 14, , Haase, Ynez D. (1974). Historical Atlas of California. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.
  2. ^ Quinn, Charles Russell (1973). The History of Downey, California Published by Elena Quinn; copyright by City of Downey, California.
  3. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title) is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1491 - Kongo monarch Nkuwu Nzinga is baptised by Portuguese missionaries adopting the baptismal name of João Retrieved on 2008-01-31. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1504 - France cedes Naples to Aragon. 1606 - Gunpowder Plot: Guy Fawkes
  4. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title) is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census Retrieved on 2008-01-31. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1504 - France cedes Naples to Aragon. 1606 - Gunpowder Plot: Guy Fawkes
  5. ^ Will Gerrymandered Districts Stem the Wave of Voter Unrest?. Campaign Legal Center Blog. Retrieved on 2008-02-10. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1355 - The St Scholastica's Day riot breaks out in Oxford, England, leaving 63 scholars and perhaps 30 locals dead

External links

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