Bellflower is a city in southeastern
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County, officially the County of Los Angeles and sometimes abbreviated as LA County, is the List of United States counties and county equivalents, most populous county in the United States, with 9,663,345 residents estimated in 202 ...
, in the
Los Angeles 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).
History
The original title to the Bellflower area dates back to 1784 with one of the first Spanish land grants in California. The Bellflower area was a hunting and fishing spot due to an abundance of wild game, ducks and geese, carp and perch. The area was also used for cattle and grazing dairy cows but settlers moved away. Willow, bamboo, and underbrush, wild grape, blackberry, and rose bushes were grown along the river the name of The Willows and The Wilderness.
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
Paramount (from the word ''paramount'' meaning "above all others") may refer to:
Entertainment and music companies
* Paramount Global, also known simply as Paramount, an American mass media company formerly known as ViacomCBS.
**Paramount Picture ...
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 (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
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 inte ...
with
Los Mochis
Los Mochis () is a coastal city in northern Sinaloa, Mexico. It serves as the municipal seat of the municipality of Ahome. As of the 2010 census, the population was 362,613, which was 61 percent of the municipality's population.
Los Mochis is th ...
,
Sinaloa
Sinaloa (), officially the (), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, compose the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 18 municipalities, and its capital city is Culiacán Rosales.
It is located in northwest Mexic ...
, Mexico.
Geography
Bellflower is located at .
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the city has a total area of . of it is land and of it (0.86%) is water.
Bellflower is bordered by
Downey on the north and northwest,
Norwalk and
Cerritos on the east,
Lakewood on the south,
Long Beach on the southwest, and
Paramount
Paramount (from the word ''paramount'' meaning "above all others") may refer to:
Entertainment and music companies
* Paramount Global, also known simply as Paramount, an American mass media company formerly known as ViacomCBS.
**Paramount Picture ...
on the west. Bellflower is part of
Southeast Los Angeles County and the "Gateway Cities Council of Governments" (GCOG).
Demographics
Bellflower first appeared as a city in the
1960 U.S. Census[ as part of the Downey-Norwalk census county division.][ Prior to 1960, the area was included in the unincorporated portion of the now defunct Downey Township (1950 pop. 109,659).][
]
2020 census
The 2020 United States census reported that Bellflower had a population of 79,190. The population density was . The racial makeup of Bellflower was 21.5% White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 13.3% African American
African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 1.7% Native American, 12.8% Asian, 0.7% Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...
, 33.3% from other races, and 16.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 57.1% of the population.
The census reported that 98.6% of the population lived in households, 0.8% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.6% were institutionalized.[
There were 24,631 households, out of which 40.5% included children under the age of 18, 44.4% were married-couple households, 7.9% were cohabiting couple households, 29.8% had a female householder with no partner present, and 17.9% had a male householder with no partner present. 18.4% of households were one person, and 7.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.17.][ There were 18,728 families (76.0% of all households).
The age distribution was 23.4% under the age of 18, 10.2% aged 18 to 24, 29.2% aged 25 to 44, 25.0% aged 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65years of age or older. The median age was 35.4years. For every 100 females, there were 94.2 males.][
There were 25,220 housing units at an average density of , of which 24,631 (97.7%) were occupied. Of these, 39.2% were owner-occupied, and 60.8% were occupied by renters.][
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $77,602, and the ]per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year.
In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
was $29,633. About 10.6% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line.
2010 census
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.
As of 2000, Mexican and German were the most common ancestries. Mexico
Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...
and the Philippines
The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...
were the most common foreign places of birth in 2000.
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
The California State Legislature is the bicameral state legislature of the U.S. state of California, consisting of the California State Assembly (lower house with 80 members) and the California State Senate (upper house with 40 members). ...
, 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, Califor ...
, it is in .
In the United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...
, Bellflower is mostly covered by the 42nd congressional district which is represented by .
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 simply the Postal Service, is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the executive branch of the federal governmen ...
Bellflower Post Office is located at 9835 Flower Street. '' Los Cerritos Community News'' serves the city.
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), branded as Metro, is the county agency that plans, operates, and coordinates funding for most of the Transportation in Los Angeles, public transportation system in Los Ang ...
(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. Some of Bellflower is in the Downey Unified School District and some of it is in the Paramount Unified School District. BUSD has two secondary schools in Bellflower: Bellflower High School and Somerset High School.
St. John Bosco High School
St. John Bosco High School (SJBHS) is a Salesians of Don Bosco, Salesian all-boys college preparatory high school located in Bellflower, California, and is operated by the San Francisco Province of the order.
The school is named after the ord ...
, 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
* Danny Barber (born 1971), indoor/outdoor soccer player
* Anthony Brown (born 1992), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
Ligat HaAl (, lit., ''Supreme League or Premier League''), or the Israeli Basketball Premier League, is a professional basketball league in Israel and the highest level of basketball in the country. The league's name is abbreviated as either BSL ...
* Chris Carter, television and film producer, director and writer, creator of ''The X-Files
''The X-Files'' is an American science fiction on television, science fiction drama (film and television), drama television series created by Chris Carter (screenwriter), Chris Carter. The original series aired from September 10, 1993, to Ma ...
''
* Zach Charbonnet, NFL player.
* Misty Copeland, principal ballet dancer from American Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre (ABT) is a classical ballet company based in New York City. Founded in 1939 by Lucia Chase and Richard Pleasant. Through 2019, it had an annual eight-week season at the Metropolitan Opera House (Lincoln Center) in the spr ...
* Ronnie Correy, motorcycle speedway rider
* Savannah DeMelo, soccer player for Racing Louisville and the United States national team
* Aaron Embry, songwriter and record producer
* Kirk Fletcher, electric blues
Electric blues is blues music distinguished by the use of electric amplification for musical instruments. The guitar was the first instrument to be popularly amplified and used by early pioneers T-Bone Walker in the late 1930s and John Lee Ho ...
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
St. John Bosco High School (SJBHS) is a Salesians of Don Bosco, Salesian all-boys college preparatory high school located in Bellflower, California, and is operated by the San Francisco Province of the order.
The school is named after the ord ...
* A.J. Gass, former Canadian Football League player
* Anthony Gose, Major League Baseball pitcher, currently in the Cleveland Guardians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. Since , the team has played its home gam ...
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 league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...
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
* Malcolm David Kelley American rapper and Singer songwriter
* Vanessa Lam, figure skater, 2012 Junior Grand Prix finalist
* Darryll Lewis, former National Football League player
* Adam Liberatore, 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 (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
* Evan Longoria, Major League Baseball third baseman, 3-time All-Star graduated from St. John Bosco High School
St. John Bosco High School (SJBHS) is a Salesians of Don Bosco, Salesian all-boys college preparatory high school located in Bellflower, California, and is operated by the San Francisco Province of the order.
The school is named after the ord ...
in 2003
* Kimberly McCullough, actress, ''General Hospital
''General Hospital'' (often abbreviated as ''GH'') is an American daytime television soap opera created by Frank and Doris Hursley which has been broadcast on American Broadcasting Company, ABC since April 1, 1963. Originally a half-hour seria ...
''
* 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
Ligat HaAl (, lit., ''Supreme League or Premier League''), or the Israeli Basketball Premier League, is a professional basketball league in Israel and the highest level of basketball in the country. The league's name is abbreviated as either BSL ...
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'') may be a tertiary educational institution (sometimes awarding degrees), part of a collegiate university, an institution offering vocational education, a further education institution, or a secondary sc ...
and Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame for professional football (gridiron), professional American football, located in Canton, Ohio. Opened on September 7, 1963, the Hall of Fame enshrines exceptional figures in the sport of profes ...
; graduated Bellflower High School in 1964
* Bob Meusel, an MLB baseball player that played for the New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...
and the Cincinnati Reds.
* Matt Welch, blogger and journalist
See also
* List of cities in Los Angeles County, California
*List of cities and towns in California
California is a U.S. state, state located in the Western United States. It is the List of U.S. states and territories by population, most populous state and the List of U.S. states and territories by area, third largest by area after Alaska an ...
References
External links
*
{{authority control
Cities in Los Angeles County, California
Gateway Cities
Incorporated cities and towns in California