Carson

 

city (1990 pop. 83,995), Los Angeles co., S Calif., an industrial and residential suburb of Los Angeles; inc. 1968. Oil refining is the major industry; fabricated metals, paper, and other products are manufactured. The California State Univ. Dominguez Hills is there.

City of Carson
Seal
Location of Carson in Los Angeles County, California
Coordinates: 33°50′23″N 118°15′35″W / 33.83972, -118.25972
Country	United States
State	California
County	Los Angeles
Incorporated (city)	1968-02-20 [2]
Government
- Mayor	Jim Dear [1]
Area
- City	sq mi (km²)
- Land	sq mi ( km²)
- Water	sq mi ( km²)
Elevation	ft ( m)
Population (2005)[3]
- City
- Density	/sq mi (/km²)
Time zone	PST (UTC-8)
- Summer (DST)	PDT (UTC-7)
Zip Code	90745, 90746, 90747, 90749, 90810, 90895 [4]
Area code(s)	310, 424 [5]
FIPS code	06-115302
GNIS feature ID	16604413
Website: http://ci.carson.ca.us/

Carson is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2000 census, Carson had a total population of 89,730. It is located 13 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, and is classified as a suburb of the city. Incorporated on April 4, 1968, Carson is the youngest municipality in the South Bay region of Greater Los Angeles.

Carson's economy is based primarily on manufacturing. About half of Carson's land area is occupied by factories, petroleum refineries, and other industrial buildings and structures. Carson also has a diverse ethnic composition consisting of Latinos, Filipinos, African Americans, White Americans, and Samoans.

Geography

Carson is located at 33°50′23″N, 118°15′35″W (33.839684, -118.259588)¹.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 49.1 km² (19.0 mi²). 48.8 km² (18.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.63%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 89,730 people, 24,648 households, and 20,236 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,838.9/km² (4,762.2/mi²). There were 25,337 housing units at an average density of 519.2/km² (1,344.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 25.69% White, 25.41% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 22.27% Asian (mainly Filipino) , 2.99% Pacific Islander, 17.98% from other races, and 5.09% from two or more races. 34.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Non-Hispanic whites comprise 12.00% of the population.

There were 24,648 households out of which 39.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.7% were married couples living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.9% were non-families. 14.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.59 and the average family size was 3.92.^{[citation needed]}

Age ranges of residents were 28.4% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $52,284, and the median income for a family was $54,886.^{[citation needed]} Males had a median income of $33,579 versus $31,110 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,107. About 7.2% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.9% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.

Carson, California has the distinction of being the only incorporated city in the United States where the African American population has a higher median income than the white population.^[6] The north side of Carson is home to many affluent, professional African American families. The neighborhoods on the north side of the city include middle-class, two-story homes as well as exclusive gated communities. The wealthier portion of the community largely resides in north Carson, north and south of California State University, Dominguez Hills, (also known as CSU Dominguez Hills). Prior to expansion in the mid 1960's, the university was located in nearby Palos Verdes. In 1965, Carson was chosen as the home for the relocating university over the communities of Friendship Park, Fort MacArthur and Torrance. ^{[citation needed]} Carson is also home to the Home Depot Center which is the home of the Los Angeles Galaxy soccer team and hosts the yearly JP Morgan/Chase tennis tournament.

Sports

Club	League	Venue	Established	Championships
Los Angeles Galaxy	MLS Soccer	The Home Depot Center	1995	2
Chivas USA	MLS Soccer	The Home Depot Center	2004	0
Carson Buzz	ABA Basketball	Veterans Park Sports Complex	2004	0
Los Angeles Riptide	MLL Lacrosse	The Home Depot Center Track Field	2006	0

Attractions

Carson is the site of California State University, Dominguez Hills. CSUDH is a major commuter school, particularly for African-American students from the surrounding cities of Long Beach, Gardena, and Compton. It was established in the wake of the 1965 Watts riots, as a response to community outcry over the lack of higher education opportunities in the largely black south suburbs of Los Angeles. Today it is among the most racially diverse campuses in the United States.

Carson is also the location of the Home Depot Center, a sports complex including a soccer-specific stadium used by the Los Angeles Galaxy and, as of 2005, Chivas USA, a tennis stadium and a track and field facility. It is also used as a training ground by the U.S. national soccer team. It opened in 2003, adjacent to CSUDH. The ADT Event Center is the first and only permanent indoor velodrome in the U.S.

The Goodyear Blimp also has a landing pad in Carson, a fitting tribute to the 1st and 2nd U.S. and International Aviation Meets held at the Dominguez Hill Rancho in 1910 and 1911, which featured many blimps and zepplins.

Oil History

1921 marked the first drilling for oil at Dominguez Hill, on the northwest side of the Dominguez Rancho, site of the famous battle during the Mexican-American War called the Battle of Dominguez Rancho in 1846. The mineral rights to this property was owned by Carson Estate Company, the Hellman Family, the Dominguez Estate Company, and the Burnham Exploration Company of Frederick Russell Burnham. It wasn't long before a number of refineries were up and running, with over 350 oil derricks, tank farms, and sprawling industrial complexes becoming a familiar part of the scenery. The principal leases were with Shell Oil Company and Union Oil of California and the first two wells were located west of Central Avenue and north of Victoria Street. Oil led to an increase in jobs in the community and a subsequent post-war population surge. An average of 300 barrels a day was produced from these wells through 1960.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools

Most of Carson is served by the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Carson High School serves that portion of Carson.

Some portions of Carson are in the Compton Unified School District.

Although the California Academy of Mathematics and Science is located in Carson, it is actually a part of the Long Beach Unified School District. The school accepts residents of LBUSD, Compton USD, portions of LAUSD (including sections serving Compton), and other districts.

Public libraries

County of Los Angeles Public Library operates the Carson Regional Library and the Victoria Park Library. Both libraries are in Carson.

Notable residents

• Na Pua me Kealoha, a dance troupe devoted to traditional Hawaiian hula, which has competed in the most important international competition, the Merrie Monarch festival in Hilo, Hawaii.
• Forest Whitaker, director, producer, and Academy Award-winning actor
• Brandy, singer/actress, lived in the city for a short time in her childhood.
• Ray J, singer/actor, lived in the city for a short time in his childhood.
• The Game, rapper. Lived in Carson for 8 years between his stints in Compton.
• Juanita Millender-McDonald, Democratic U.S. Congresswoman from 1996-2007
• Ras Kass, rapper
• Bishop Lamont, rapper
• Dr. Dre, rapper/producer. Lived in Carson for a couple years during his middle school years.
• MC Ren, rapper.
• Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E., Rap Group
• Ekene Ibekwe, University of Maryland forward
• Chris Guevarra, Amateur film and documentary maker. Producer of Chocolate Milk Foundation's "Promiscuous Cluster."
• Antwuan Dixon, amateur skateboarder from Baker Skateboards, who now resides in Victorville, CA.
• Carlos Ruiz, skateboarder from Blind Skateboards.
• The Boys (band), late 1980s R&B quartet.
• Tammy Townsend, television actress
• Gawain Elhasan, fashion designer"atomic-geisha" lived in the city during the 80s.
• Chuckii Booker, singer, songwriter
• Southwest Click Rap Group
• Creep Dawg Rapper From Ravenna Street (Straight Outta Carson)

Movies/TV shows filmed in Carson

• 24 (Used CSUDH but was referenced on the show as UCSB)
• Reno 911!
• Reno 911!: Miami
• Jackie Brown (film)
• Gone in 60 Seconds (1974 film)
• Emergency!
• Evolution (film)
• Joe Dirt
• Pros vs Joes
• 10 Items or Less (film)
• The Cable Guy
• Certified Gangstas (2004) Music video from rapper, Jim Jones.
• Colors (film)
• Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael (Winona Ryder, Jeff Daniels)
• Vegas (portions of TV show)
• Gwen Stefani Hollaback Girl Video (S.M. White Middle School Drill & Carson Flaggies)
• Hey Mickey Music Video (Carson High Cheer)

References

See also

• Carson Community Center

External links

• Carson official website
• LA County Disaster Communication Service ( DCS ) Carson Sheriff Station
• Carson High School page
• Home Depot Center website

Coordinates: 33.839684° N 118.259588° W

Municipalities and communities of Los Angeles County, California
County seat: Los Angeles
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