Bellflower is a city located in
southeast Los Angeles County,
California
California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...
, in the
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world ...
metropolitan area. It was founded in 1906 and
incorporated on September 3, 1957. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 79,190, up from 76,616 at the 2010 census. This made it the 65th
most densely populated city in the United States, of cities over 50,000 residents (and the 8th most densely populated city in California).
The site was formerly rich farmland watered by artesian wells and floodwaters of the now-contained
San Gabriel River. In 1906, F.E. Woodruff, a local real estate investor, founded the first municipality on the site, which was named Somerset in 1909 when a post office was established there.
However, the proponents of the name 'Bellflower' claimed that the US Post Office Department rejected the name 'Somerset' to prevent confusion with
Somerset, Colorado.
The present name is derived from the
bellflower apple, which was grown in local orchards during the early 1900s.
Originally settled by dairy farmers of Dutch, Japanese, and Portuguese descent, Bellflower and neighboring
Paramount served first as the apple and later the milk production centers for Southern California, until soaring post-
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
property values forced most of the farmers to move several miles east to the Dairy Valley/Dairyland/Dairy City area (now the cities of
Cerritos,
La Palma, and
Cypress). These farms were in turn converted into large housing subdivisions for Los Angeles's growing population that worked in the region's skilled industrial and service sectors. As a result, amongst the highly diverse backgrounds in Bellflower, there remains today a notable number of residents of Dutch descent; Bellflower is one of the only cities in the US to boast multiple Dutch grocery stores.
After Bellflower was incorporated in 1957, its gradual metamorphosis from agricultural center to residential suburb continued. From the 1950s through the late 1960s, Bellflower Boulevard, the city's main thoroughfare, was a thriving commercial strip for shopping. Numerous retail and franchise restaurant firms began on this street, which also featured middle- and high-end boutiques, arts and crafts shops, and other small shopkeeps alongside larger department stores and banks. Today, Bellflower is an urban community within greater Southeast Los Angeles, and ranks amongst the
most densely populated cities in the United States. It is a
sister city
A sister city or a twin town relationship is a form of legal or social agreement between two geographically and politically distinct localities for the purpose of promoting cultural and commercial ties.
While there are early examples of inter ...
with
Los Mochis,
Sinaloa, Mexico.
Geography
Bellflower is located at .
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of th ...
, the city has a total area of . of it is land and of it (0.86%) is water.
Bellflower is bordered by
Downey Downey may refer to:
People
* Downey (surname)
*Robert Downey Jr.
Places
*Downey, California, US
* Downey, Idaho, US
* Downey, Iowa, US
Businesses
* W. & D. Downey, photographic studio
* Downey Studios, created out of a former Boeing plant
Scho ...
on the north and northwest,
Norwalk and
Cerritos on the east,
Lakewood on the south,
Long Beach
Long Beach is a city in Los Angeles County, California. It is the 42nd-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 466,742 as of 2020. A charter city, Long Beach is the seventh-most populous city in California.
Incorporat ...
on the southwest, and
Paramount on the west. Bellflower is part of
Southeast Los Angeles County and the "Gateway Cities Council of Governments" (GCOG).
Demographics
2010
At the
2010 census Bellflower had a population of 76,616. The population density was . The racial makeup of Bellflower was 32,337 (42.2%) White (19.5% Non-Hispanic White),
10,760 (14.0%) African American, 731 (1.0%) Native American, 8,865 (11.6%) Asian, 615 (0.8%) Pacific Islander, 19,732 (25.8%) from other races, and 3,576 (4.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 40,085 persons (52.3%).
The census reported that 75,877 people (99.0% of the population) lived in households, 399 (0.5%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 340 (0.4%) were institutionalized.
There were 23,651 households, 11,029 (46.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 10,992 (46.5%) were
opposite-sex married couples living together, 4,812 (20.3%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,965 (8.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,666 (7.0%)
unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 170 (0.7%)
same-sex married couples or partnerships. 4,618 households (19.5%) were one person and 1,540 (6.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.21. There were 17,769 families (75.1% of households); the average family size was 3.67.
The age distribution was 21,749 people (28.4%) under the age of 18, 8,493 people (11.1%) aged 18 to 24, 22,418 people (29.3%) aged 25 to 44, 17,339 people (22.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 6,617 people (8.6%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 31.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.
There were 24,897 housing units at an average density of 4,034.9 per square mile, of the occupied units 9,459 (40.0%) were owner-occupied and 14,192 (60.0%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.1%. 31,897 people (41.6% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 43,980 people (57.4%) lived in rental housing units.
According to the 2010 United States Census, Bellflower had a median household income of $49,637, with 17.1% of the population living below the federal poverty line.
2000
At the
2000 census there were 72,878 people in 23,367 households, including 17,128 families, in the city. The population density was 11,999.5 inhabitants per square mile (4,635.6/km). There were 24,247 housing units at an average density of . The
racial makeup
A race is a categorization of humans based on shared physical or social qualities into groups generally viewed as distinct within a given society. The term came into common usage during the 1500s, when it was used to refer to groups of variou ...
of the city was 22.37%
White American
White Americans are Americans who identify as and are perceived to be white people. This group constitutes the majority of the people in the United States. As of the 2020 Census, 61.6%, or 204,277,273 people, were white alone. This represented ...
, 33.09% Black or African American, 0.92% Native American, 9.69% Asian, 0.70% Pacific Islander, 24.38% from other races, and 5.13% from two or more races. 43.23% of the population were
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...
or Latino of any race.
Of the 23,367 households 43.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 19.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were non-families. 21.1% of households were one person and 7.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average family size was 3.59.
The age distribution was 31.9% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% 65 or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.
The median household income was $39,362 and the median family income was $42,822. Males had a median income of $32,658 versus $28,012 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,982 and was below the "poverty rate". About 12.8% of per capita family households and 15.8% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 20.7% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Top employers
According to the city's 2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report,
the top employers in the city are:
Government
In the
California State Legislature, Bellflower is in . In the
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature, the upper house being the California State Senate. The Assembly convenes, along with the State Senate, at the California State Capitol in Sacramento.
The ...
, it is in .
In the
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...
, Bellflower is split between
38th and
40th congressional districts, which are represented by and , respectively.
Infrastructure
Fire protection in Bellflower is provided by the
Los Angeles County Fire Department from stations 23 and 98. Ambulance transport is provided by
Care Ambulance Service.
The
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department operates the Lakewood Station in
Lakewood, serving Bellflower. In addition the sheriff's department operates the Bellflower Substation in Bellflower.
The
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or Postal Service, is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for providing postal service in the ...
Bellflower Post Office is located at 9835 Flower Street.
Transportation
The
Artesia Freeway (State Route 91) passes east–west through the southern portion of Bellflower, the
San Gabriel River Freeway (Interstate 605) runs north–south just east of the city, and the
Century Freeway (Interstate 105) runs east–west just north of the city.
Bellflower is served by bus service from
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA), commonly branded as Metro, LA Metro, and L.A. Metro, is the state agency that plans, operates, and coordinates funding for most of the transportation system in Los Angele ...
(MTA) and
Long Beach Transit. The city also operates
Bellflower Bus, a fixed-route local bus.
Education
Most of Bellflower is within the
Bellflower Unified School District.
St. John Bosco High School, and Valley Christian Elementary both privately run, are also in Bellflower. The Clifton M. Brakensiek Library is a branch of the
County of Los Angeles Public Library.
Notable people
*
Anthony Brown (born 1992), basketball player in the
Israeli Basketball Premier League
*
Chris Carter, television and film producer, director and writer, creator of ''
The X-Files''
*
Misty Copeland, principal ballet dancer from
American Ballet Theatre
*
Ronnie Correy
Ronnie Dean Correy (born November 8, 1966 in Bellflower, California)
is an American international motorcycle speedway rider. He is a former World Pairs Champion, winning the title in 1992.
Career summary
Correy first rode in the UK for the Wo ...
, motorcycle speedway rider
*
Kirk Fletcher
Kirk Fletcher (born December 23, 1975) is an American electric blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. To date, Fletcher has released four studio albums and one live album. In addition, he has variously been a member of the Fabulous Thunderbi ...
,
electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter, was born in Bellflower in 1975.
*
Nomar Garciaparra, Major League Baseball shortstop, 6-time All-Star, 2-time batting champion, TV commentator; attended
St. John Bosco High School
*
A.J. Gass, former Canadian Football League player
*
Anthony Gose
Anthony Robert Gose (; born August 10, 1990) is an American professional baseball pitcher and outfielder in the Cleveland Guardians organization. Originally an outfielder, Gose transitioned from a center fielder to a pitcher, following the 201 ...
, Major League Baseball outfielder, currently in
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...
organization
*
Shauna Grant (1963–1984), screen name of pornographic actress Colleen Applegate, was born here
*
Don Hahn, producer of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Lion King"
*
Trevor Hoffman,
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (A ...
relief pitcher, 7-time All-Star, born in Bellflower
*
Jeff Kent, Major League Baseball second baseman, 5-time All-Star, 2000 National League MVP; born in Bellflower
*
Vanessa Lam, figure skater, 2012 Junior Grand Prix finalist
*
Darryll Lewis
Darryll Lamont Lewis (born December 16, 1968) is an American retired professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL).
Lewis was born in Bellflower, California. After going to high school at Nogales Hi ...
, former National Football League player
*
Adam Liberatore
Adam Joseph Liberatore (born May 12, 1987) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Career
Amateur
Liberatore is of Italian descent and attended Quigley Catholi ...
, Major League Baseball relief pitcher with
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League West, West division. Established in 1883 i ...
*
Evan Longoria, Major League Baseball third baseman, 3-time All-Star graduated from
St. John Bosco High School in 2003
*
Kimberly McCullough
Kimberly Anne McCullough (born March 5, 1978) is an American actress and television director. She is best known for her role as Robin Scorpio on the soap opera ''General Hospital'', a role which she originated at age seven, playing the character ...
, actress, ''
General Hospital
''General Hospital'' (often abbreviated as ''GH'') is an American daytime television soap opera. It is listed in ''Guinness World Records'' as the longest-running American soap opera in production, and the second in American history after '' ...
''
*
Wendi McLendon-Covey, actress, appeared in film ''
Bridesmaids'', was born in Bellflower
*
Valentino Pascucci, professional baseball player, 2004–11
*
Jerry Quarry, heavyweight boxer, former #1 ranked contender
*
Carlos Quentin, Major League Baseball outfielder, 2-time All-Star
*
Sergio Santos, Major League Baseball relief pitcher 2010-15
*
Brandon Sermons, professional football player
*
Anneliese van der Pol, actress; attended Ramona Elementary School and Bellflower High School
*
Derrick Williams, professional basketball player with
Maccabi Tel Aviv of the
Israeli Basketball Premier League and the
EuroLeague; formerly with five NBA teams, 2011
Pac-10 Player of the Year
*
Ron Yary, professional football player in
College
A college (Latin: ''collegium'') is an educational institution or a constituent part of one. A college may be a degree-awarding tertiary educational institution, a part of a collegiate or federal university, an institution offerin ...
and
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame for professional American football, located in Canton, Ohio. Opened on September 7, , the Hall of Fame enshrines exceptional figures in the sport of professional football, including players, coa ...
; graduated Bellflower High School in 1964
References
External links
*
{{authority control
Cities in Los Angeles County, California
Gateway Cities
Incorporated cities and towns in California