Bell

City of Bell
—  City  —
Location of Bell in California
Coordinates: 33°58′42″N 118°10′58″W / 33.97833°N 118.18278°W / 33.97833; -118.18278
Country	United States
State	California
County	Los Angeles
Incorporated (city)	1927-11-07[1]
Area
- Total	2.64 sq mi (6.84 km2)
- Land	2.48 sq mi (6.42 km2)
- Water	0.17 sq mi (0.43 km2)  6.27%
Elevation	141 ft (43 m)
Population (2000)[2]
- Total	36,664
- Density	14,802.5/sq mi (5,715.3/km2)
Time zone	PST (UTC-8)
- Summer (DST)	PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP Code	90201, 90202, 90270[3]
Area code(s)	323[4]
FIPS code	06-04870
GNIS feature ID	1660322
Website	cityofbell.org/

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2008)

Bell is a city in Los Angeles County, 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. Bell Gardens lies to its east.

In March 2000, Bell gained worldwide publicity, as the media announced that a shipment of 55 Oscar statuettes were stolen from a trucking company loading dock in the City of Bell. In addition to the Los Angeles and Bell police departments, FBI art-theft experts were investigating. It was the second Oscar mishap, as earlier that month 4,000 ballots were misrouted. Coincidentally, the missing Oscar ballots were found by the Post Office in a Bell processing center. AMPAS Executive Director Bruce Davis was quoted as jokingly warning Billy Crystal (host of that year's Oscar Ceremony) not to go near Bell, because it "seems to be a Bermuda Triangle for Oscar things."^[5]

Every winter, The City of Bell hosts its annual "Bell Family Holiday Parade & Festival" which starts at Debs Park and ends at the Bell Community Center.

On November 29, 2005, in a Special Municipal Election, City of Bell residents voted to become a Charter city.

The City's Chamber of Commerce is located at the historic James George Bell House, which serves as a meeting place and in addition, a museum showcasing artifacts from the City's founding family and period furniture. The House is open to the general public with free admission.

On March 6, 2007, the City of Bell held its first contested election for City Council in almost a decade.^{[citation needed]}

History

Lugo family

In the Nineteenth century, until 1860, the area which now is the City Of Bell in Los Angeles County, was part of the 30,000 acres (121.4 km²) Rancho San Antonio. Some between 1810 and 1813, Antonio Maria Lugo, a former soldier, obtained permission to settle on the Rancho. In about 1838, the Mexican government formally granted the land to Antonio Lugo.

Between 1855 and 1865 most of the Rancho was sold for less than one dollar per acre. The Lugo family did manage to retain its home, and descendants of the family still living in the original adobe house which is located on what is now the southwest corner of Gage and Garfield Avenues. Between 1870 and 1890, when a land boom occurred in the area (then known as Obed), large portions of the former Rancho were divided into smaller land holdings which were acquired by newly arriving settlers.

Bell family

James George Bell and his family, the pioneer residents for whom the city is named; arrived, and acquired about 360 acres (1.5 km²) of land and helped in its development as a small farming and cattle raising community. The Bell Family lived at the Hollenbeck’s “Town House” on 4th and Breed Street until they moved in the “ranch” Bell House in 1876. The Bell House was an early Victorian style farm house. In 1898, the town’s name was changed to Bell in honor its pioneer founder.

James George Bell House 1876

James George Bell House 1876

Cityhood

At the turn of the twentieth century, the Bell area was a sparsely settled countryside with a scattering of houses, including the Bell family's home. Between 1900 and 1915, as more people settle in the area, more homes and churches were built, and several small businesses were established in July, 1913. The citizens agreed to provide all facilities and services for the library, except for the books.

In the fifteen years following World War I, from 1920 to 1935, an explosive growth in population occurred in the Bell area. Old and new residents built new businesses, established schools, and founded community organizations such as the Bell Chamber of Commerce and the Woman's Club. An area-wide sanitation district was formed in 1923 to provide sewer facilities. In 1924, George O. Wheeler founded the Industrial Post, the local newspaper which now serves the communities of Bell, Cudahy, and Maywood. In 1925, Bell High School was opened. In that same year, the Alcazar Theater to show "talking pictures", was completed.

Bell was incorporated as a city in 1927 and has continued to grow and develop. Since its incorporation, the City of Bell has acquired land for public parks and the recreational program. The city also has constructed an adequate sewer system, widened all major streets, built a City Hall, and provided Fire Department buildings, with the cooperation of Los Angeles County, the City of Maywood and the County Of Los Angeles, the City of Bell constructed an indoor public swimming pool at Bell High School. Numerous businesses and small industries are now located within the city; and several schools, churches, and community organizations now serve Bell residents. A local government now supervises this growth and provides the services needed by the ever-increasing populace.

Government and infrastructure

Fire protection in Bell is provided by the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The LACFD operates Station #163 at 6320 Pine Avenue in Bell as a part of Battalion 3.^[6] The Bell Police Department provides law enforcement.

In the state legislature Bell is located in the 30th Senate District, represented by Democrat Ronald S. Calderon, and in the 50th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Hector De La Torre. Federally, Bell is located in California's 34th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of D +23^[7] and is represented by Democrat Lucille Roybal-Allard.

The United States Postal Service operates the Bell Post Office at 6327 Otis Avenue and the Bandini Station Post Office at 5555 Bandini Boulevard.^[8][9]

Geography

Bell is located at 33°58′42″N 118°10′58″W / 33.97833°N 118.18278°W / 33.97833; -118.18278 (33.978414, -118.182908).^{[10][page needed]}

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.3 km² (2.4 mi²). 5.3 km² (2.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (6.44%) is water.

Demographics

Median income^[11][12]

Age distribution

As of the census^{[13][page needed]} of 2000, there were 36,664 people, 8,918 households, and 7,615 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,708.1/km² (14,802.5/mi²). There were 9,215 housing units at an average density of 1,434.6/km² (3,720.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 48.45% White, 1.28% Black or African American, 1.28% Native American, 1.07% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 43.09% from other races, and 4.78% from two or more races. Roughly 43% of the population of Bell is Hispanic. Most of the non-Hispanic White population is of American, Lebanese and other Arab, Italian, and Irish descent.

There were 8,918 households out of which 57.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples living together, 18.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.6% were non-families. 11.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.05 and the average family size was 4.27.

In the city the population was spread out with 35.3% under the age of 18, 12.9% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 14.1% from 45 to 64, and 5.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 102.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,946, and the median income for a family was $30,504. Males had a median income of $22,596 versus $17,025 for females. The per capita income for the city was $9,905. About 21.2% of families and 24.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.7% of those under age 18 and 16.7% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

J&F Design, the company that owns the Bobby Jack Brand clothing brand, is headquartered in Bell.^[14][15]

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools

Bell is served by Los Angeles Unified School District.

Bell is served by several schools.

Kindergarten schools:

• Martha Escutia Primary Center (Opened in 2005^[16]) (Bell)

Elementary schools:

• Corona Avenue Elementary School (Bell, K-5)
• Nueva Vista Elementary School (Bell, K-5)
• Woodlawn Avenue Elementary School (Bell, K-5)

Middle schools:

• Chester W. Nimitz Middle School (Huntington Park)

K-8 schools:

• Ellen Ochoa Learning Center (Cudahy)

High schools:

• Bell High School (Bell)

South Region Middle School 2 will open in Bell in 2010.^[17]

Public libraries

County of Los Angeles Public Library operates the Bell Library at 4411 East Gage Avenue.^[18]

See also

• South Central Los Angeles

Notes

References

• Meth Lab in Bell Mayors Property: http://www.topix.net/city/bell-ca/2009/06/meth-lab-found-on-bell-mayors-property
• Meth Lab found in Bell on 3700 Bell Avenue Read the story and watch the video: http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-bell-meth-lab,0,7119328.story

External links

• City of Bell official website
• Bell High School Website
• City of Bell Public Library
• City of Bell Ringers
• [2] man shot to death in bell
• WatchOurCity.com — Watchdog website on local government corruption, Bell, California

• Bell, California is at coordinates 33°58′42″N 118°10′58″W / 33.978414°N 118.182908°W / 33.978414; -118.182908 (Bell, California)Coordinates: 33°58′42″N 118°10′58″W / 33.978414°N 118.182908°W / 33.978414; -118.182908 (Bell, California)
• [3] topix of bell

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Los Angeles County, California County seat: Los Angeles Cities Agoura Hills | Alhambra | Arcadia | Artesia | Avalon | Azusa | Baldwin Park | Bell | Bell Gardens | Bellflower | Beverly Hills | Bradbury | Burbank | Calabasas | Carson | Cerritos | Claremont | Commerce | Compton | Covina | Cudahy | Culver City | Diamond Bar | Downey | Duarte | El Monte | El Segundo | Gardena | Glendale | Glendora | Hawaiian Gardens | Hawthorne | Hermosa Beach | Hidden Hills | Huntington Park | Industry | Inglewood | Irwindale | La Cañada Flintridge | La Habra Heights | La Mirada | La Puente | La Verne | Lancaster | Lakewood | Lawndale | Lomita | Long Beach | Los Angeles | Lynwood | Malibu | Manhattan Beach | Maywood | Monrovia | Montebello | Monterey Park | Norwalk | Palmdale | Palos Verdes Estates | Paramount | Pasadena | Pico Rivera | Pomona | Rancho Palos Verdes | Redondo Beach | Rolling Hills | Rolling Hills Estates | Rosemead | San Dimas | San Fernando | San Gabriel | San Marino | Santa Clarita | Santa Fe Springs | Santa Monica | Sierra Madre | Signal Hill | South El Monte | South Gate | South Pasadena | Temple City | Torrance | Vernon | Walnut | West Covina | West Hollywood | Westlake Village | Whittier CDPs Acton | Alondra Park | Altadena | Avocado Heights | Charter Oak | Citrus | Del Aire | Desert View Highlands | East Compton | East La Mirada | East Los Angeles | East Pasadena | East San Gabriel | Florence-Graham | Hacienda Heights | La Crescenta-Montrose | Ladera Heights | Lake Los Angeles | Lennox | Littlerock | Marina del Rey | Mayflower Village | North El Monte | Quartz Hill | Rowland Heights | South San Gabriel | South San Jose Hills | South Whittier | Val Verde | Valinda | View Park-Windsor Hills | Vincent | Walnut Park | West Athens | West Carson | West Compton | West Puente Valley | West Whittier-Los Nietos | Westmont | Willowbrook Unincorporated communities Agoura | Agua Dulce | Antelope Acres | Athens | Bassett | Big Pines | Castaic | City Terrace | Del Sur | Firestone Park | Florence | Gorman | Juniper Hills | Kinneloa Mesa | Lake Hughes | Leona Valley | Llano | Neenach | Pearblossom | San Pasqual | Topanga | Two Harbors | Universal City | Valyermo Former settlements Awigna | Azucsagna | Bairdstown | Bartolo | Cahuenga | Chandler | Chokishgna | Chowigna | Clayton | Desert Relief | Evergreen | Freetown | Gaspur | Guirardo | Hahamongna | Harasgna | Holland Summit | Holton | Honmoyausha | Houtgna | Hyperion | Isanthcogna | Juyubit | Kowanga | Las Tunas | Machado | Malibu Mar Vista | Maugna | Motordrome | Nacaugna | Oberg | Okowvinjha | Palisades Del Rey | Pasinogna | Pimocagna | Pubugna | Quapa | Rancho Dominguez | Savannah | Saway-yanga | Sibagna | Sisitcanogna | Soledad Sulphur Springs | Sonagna | Suangna | Takuyumam | Toviseanga | Toybipet | Tuyunga | Virgenes | Wahoo | Walton Place | Wilsona