Carson, California
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement
Carson is a city in the South Bay<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the Harbor regions of Los Angeles County, California, located Template:Convert south of downtown Los Angeles<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and approximately Template:Convert away from Los Angeles International Airport.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was incorporated on February 20, 1968.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The city is locally known for its plurality of Filipino-Americans and immigrants.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> As of the 2020 United States census, the city had a population of 95,558.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
History
[edit]Tongva Indians lived in the area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Carson lies on part of the Spanish land grant Rancho San Pedro, from the King of Spain in 1784.<ref name=hmdb>Template:Cite web</ref> The Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum on Alameda Street in Compton (not far from Carson's city limits) is the historic ranch home of the grantees Juan Dominguez and Manuel Dominguez. Carson was named after George Henry Carson, who married a daughter of the Dominguez family in 1857 and managed the rancho.
The first oil drilling took place in 1921 at Dominguez Hill, on the northwest side of the Rancho San Pedro (also called Rancho Domínguez), site of the famous battle during the Mexican–American War called the Battle of Rancho Domínguez in 1846. The mineral rights to this property were owned by Carson Estate Company, the Hellman family, the Dominguez Estate Company, and the Burnham Exploration Company of Frederick Russell Burnham. On September 7, 1923, Burnham Exploration partnering with Union Oil brought in the first producer on the site: Callender No. 1-A well at a depth of Template:Convert and Template:Convert.<ref name="petrohistory">Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2011, Shell was ordered by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board to clean up the Carousel Tract neighborhood after the discovery of benzene and methane gas contamination, as well as soil and groundwater contamination.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2021, Carson was subjected to an air pollution event as a result of hydrogen sulfide emanating from the nearby Dominguez Channel.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Geography
[edit]According to the United States Census Bureau, Carson has an area of Template:Convert, Template:Convert of it being land and Template:Convert, or 1.29%, being water.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Carson is bordered by West Rancho Dominguez on the north, Rancho Dominguez and Long Beach on the southeast, West Carson on the southwest and Compton to the north.
Bixby Marshland, a Template:Convert wetland habitat, is located in Carson.
Climate
[edit]Template:Climate chart Carson experiences a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csb), similar to that of the Los Angeles Basin with noticeably cooler temperatures during the summer due to the nearby Pacific Ocean, which is approximately Template:Convert away. Rainfall is scarce during the summer in Carson but receives enough rainfall throughout the year to avoid Köppen's BSh (semi-arid climate). Carson, like many of the Southern California coastal areas, is subject to a late spring/early summer weather phenomenon called "June Gloom." This involves overcast or foggy skies in the morning which yield to sun by early afternoon.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Demographics
[edit]| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref> | Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref> | Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref> | % 2000 | % 2010 | Template:Partial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 10,767 | 7,022 | 6,569 | 12.00% | 7.66% | 6.87% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 22,485 | 21,385 | 21,264 | 25.06% | 23.32% | 22.25% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 180 | 152 | 185 | 0.20% | 0.17% | 0.19% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 19,711 | 23,105 | 25,011 | 21.97% | 25.19% | 26.17% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 2,589 | 2,291 | 1,585 | 2.89% | 2.50% | 1.66% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 171 | 226 | 484 | 0.19% | 0.25% | 0.51% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 2,495 | 2,116 | 2,817 | 2.78% | 2.31% | 2.95% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 31,332 | 35,417 | 37,643 | 34.92% | 38.62% | 39.39% |
| Total | 89,730 | 91,714 | 95,558 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2020
[edit]The U.S. Census accounts for race by two methodologies. "Race alone" and "Race alone less Hispanics" where Hispanics are delineated separately as if a separate race.
According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the racial makeup (including Hispanics in the racial counts) was 11.85% (11,325) White, 22.76% (21,752) Black, 1.12% (1,066) Native American, 26.69% (25,501) Asian, 1.79% (1,713) Pacific Islander, 23.61% (22,557) Other Race, and 12.19% (11,644) Multiracial.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
When residents of Hispanic or Latino ancestry were counted in their own category, the population was 6.87% (6,569) Non-Hispanic White, 22.25% (21,264) Non-Hispanic Black, 0.19% (185) Native American, 26.17% (25,011) Asian, 1.66% (1,585) Pacific Islander alone (non-Hispanic), 0.51% (484) Other Race alone (non-Hispanic), 2.95% (2,817) Multiracial and 39.39% (37,643) of Hispanic or Latino origin.<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
2010
[edit]The 2010 United States census<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> reported that Carson had a population of 91,714. The population density was Template:Convert. The racial makeup of Carson was 21,864 (23.8%) White (7.7% Non-Hispanic White),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 21,856 (23.8%) African American, 518 (0.6%) Native American, 23,522 (25.6%) Asian (20.9% Filipino, 0.8% Japanese, 0.8% Korean, 0.5% Chinese, 0.4% Vietnamese, 0.4% Asian Indian, 0.2% Cambodian, 0.1% Pakistani, 0.1% Thai), 2,386 (2.6%) Pacific Islander (2.2% Samoan, 0.2% Guamanian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian), 17,151 (18.7%) from other races, and 4,417 (4.8%) from two or more races. There were 35,417 residents of Hispanic or Latino origin, of any race (38.6%); 32.6% of the population was of Mexican ancestry, 1.1% Salvadoran, 1.0% Guatemalan, 0.6% Puerto Rican, 0.3% Cuban, 0.2% Honduran, 0.2% Peruvian, and 0.2% Ecuadorian.
The Census reported that 90,411 people (98.6% of the population) lived in households, 1,170 (1.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters and 133 (0.1%) were institutionalized.
There were 25,432 households, out of which 10,980 (43.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 14,178 (55.7%) were married couples living together, 4,787 (18.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,761 (6.9%) had a male householder with no wife present. 3,776 households (14.8%) were made up of individuals, and 1,790 (7.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.56. There were 20,726 families (81.5% of all households); the average family size was 3.90. Template:US Census population
There were 21,992 people (24.0%) under the age of 18, 9,964 people (10.9%) aged 18 to 24, 23,105 people (25.2%) aged 25 to 44, 24,013 people (26.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 12,640 people (13.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.
There were 26,226 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert, of which 19,529 (76.8%) were owner-occupied, and 5,903 (23.2%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.7%. 68,924 people (75.2% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 21,487 people (23.4%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
[edit]As of the census of 2000,<ref name="GR2" /> there were 89,730 people, 24,648 households and 20,236 families residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 25,337 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 25.69% White, 25.41% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 22.27% Asian, 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.
According to a 2006 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $60,457, and the median income for a family was $66,468.<ref>Quick facts census.gov Template:Webarchive</ref> 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 has the distinction of being the only incorporated city in the United States where the black population has a higher median income than the white population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Philippines (43.7%) and Mexico (39.3%) are the most common foreign places of birth in Carson.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Irish, German, English, Nigerian and African are the most common ancestries. The most common non-English languages spoken in Carson are Spanish and Tagalog.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Economy
[edit]Top employers
[edit]As of 2021, the top ten employers in the city were:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marathon Refining Logistics Services | 1,530 |
| 2 | See's Candy Shops Inc. | 876 |
| 3 | Select Staffing | 585 |
| 4 | Lakeshore Learning | 505 |
| 5 | Mag Aerospace Industries | 450 |
| 6 | Natural History Museum of LA County | 350 |
| 7 | Defense Contract Management Agency | 345 |
| 8 | The Pepsi Bottling Group | 329 |
| 9 | Prime Wheel Corporation | 271 |
| 10 | Huck International Inc. | 203 |
Former companies
[edit]Nissan previously had its North American headquarters in Carson. The Template:Convert property consisted of 13 buildings, with a total of Template:Convert of office and light industrial space. One of the buildings, a nine-story tower, had the Nissan logo on it. Vincent Roger of the Los Angeles Times wrote that it "was a familiar sight to drivers passing the intersection of the Harbor and San Diego freeways."<ref name=Vincentflipped>Vincent, Roger. "Nissan's old campus in South Bay gets 'flipped' ." Los Angeles Times. March 3, 2010. Retrieved on March 7, 2014.</ref> Around 2006 the company had 1,500 employees at the headquarters.<ref name=FujitaAkikoToyota>Fujita, Akiko. "Toyota built Torrance into the second-largest home of Japanese Americans. Now, it's leaving" (Archive). The World. Public Radio International. May 16, 2014. Retrieved on May 27, 2015.</ref> In 2005 a leak revealed that Nissan planned to move its offices to Franklin, Tennessee. In the summer of 2006, the Nissan headquarters completed the move.<ref name=Vincentflipped/> Over half of the employees chose to stay in the Los Angeles area.<ref name=FujitaAkikoToyota/>
Arts and culture
[edit]County of Los Angeles Public Library operates the Carson Regional Library and the Dr. Martin Luther King Library. Both libraries are in Carson.
Carson is the site of California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH). CSUDH is a major commuter school, particularly for students from the surrounding cities of Long Beach, Compton, and the census-designated place of West Carson. It was founded as South Bay College and then renamed California State University at Palos Verdes. It moved to the City of Carson to meet a significant need for higher education opportunities in the largely black middle class suburbs of Los Angeles. Today it is among the most racially diverse campuses in the United States. The student body does not have a racial or ethnic majority.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Carson is also the location of Dignity Health Sports Park, a sports complex including a soccer-specific stadium used by the Los Angeles Galaxy and formerly the Los Angeles Sol, C.D. Chivas USA, and the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL), a tennis stadium which hosted the LA Women's Tennis Championships, and a track and field facility.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Carson Mall, now SouthBay Pavilion, opened in 1973 and is located at the Avalon Boulevard exit off the San Diego Freeway (Interstate 405).
Sports
[edit]One professional sports team currently plays their home games in Carson:
| Club | League | Venue | Established | Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LA Galaxy | Major League Soccer | Dignity Health Sports Park | 1995 (2003 in Carson) | 6 |
The Los Angeles Chargers of the NFL played their home games in Carson from 2017 to 2019.
2028 Summer Olympics
[edit]Rugby union, modern pentathlon, tennis, field hockey and track cycling will all be held in Carson during the 2028 Summer Olympics.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Former NFL stadium proposals
[edit]As Carson has large tracts of undeveloped land, unusual for a city in such close proximity to metropolitan Los Angeles,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> various plans for the use of the land have been proposed. One such tract of land located at Del Amo Boulevard, west of the 405, attracted particular attention in the past as a potential site for a National Football League stadium.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> An outdoor power center complex called Carson Marketplace was originally planned for the site. In February 2015, however, the Marketplace plans were scrapped in favor of a $1.2 billion NFL stadium, backed by Goldman Sachs,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> that would have hosted both the then-Oakland Raiders and the then-San Diego Chargers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The NFL had previously considered the site as a location for a stadium, but the plans stalled after it was discovered that the site was once used as a toxic waste dump and would require an extensive clean-up operation before construction was legally allowed to commence.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In May 2015, the Carson City Council allocated $50 million to clean up the site<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> for either the dual NFL stadium or the originally planned Carson Marketplace as a fallback should the NFL stadium not come to fruition.
On January 12, 2016, NFL owners rejected Carson's bid to host an NFL stadium in favor of the competing bid of SoFi Stadium in Inglewood backed by Rams owner Stan Kroenke.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Government
[edit]
Municipal government
[edit]According to the city's most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city's various funds had $96.3 million in revenues, $81.8 million in expenditures, $611.4 million in total assets, $129.2 million in total liabilities, and $187.2 million in cash and investments.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
State and federal representation
[edit]In the California State Legislature, Carson is in Template:Representative, and in Template:Representative.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In the United States House of Representatives, Carson is in Template:Representative.<ref>Template:Cite GovTrack</ref>
Mayors
[edit]See List of mayors of Carson, California
Education
[edit]Primary and secondary schools
[edit]Most of Carson is served by the Los Angeles Unified School District. A portion of Carson is in the Compton Unified School District.<ref name=LACountycensusSDmap2020>Template:Cite web</ref>
High schools serving LAUSD portions of Carson include Carson High School in Carson, Rancho Dominguez Preparatory School in Long Beach, and Banning High School in the Wilmington area of Los Angeles.<ref>"Proposed Changes to Rancho Dominguez Preparatory School Area Schools" (Archive). Los Angeles Unified School District. Retrieved on April 27, 2014.</ref> The area is within Board District 8.<ref>Board District 7 Map Template:Webarchive. Los Angeles Unified School District. Retrieved on November 24, 2008.</ref>
Magnolia Science Academy-3, a public span school (serving grades 6–12) in Carson, is a Magnolia Public Schools campus.
Circa 2019 there were plans to open a campus of the charter school Ganas Academy on the campus of the LAUSD public school Catskill Avenue Elementary School, but there was opposition to this move.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Although the California Academy of Mathematics and Science is located in Carson on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills, 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 Carson), and other districts.
Public libraries
[edit]
LA County Library operates the Carson Branch.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Infrastructure
[edit]Emergency services
[edit]Fire protection in Carson is provided by the Los Angeles County Fire Department which operates out of Fire Stations 10, 36, 105, 116, and 127.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Ambulance transportation is provided by McCormick Ambulance Service Station 17.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) operates the Carson Station in Carson.<ref>"Carson Station Template:Webarchive." Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Retrieved on January 21, 2010.</ref>
Health care
[edit]The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Torrance Health Center in Harbor Gateway, Los Angeles, near Torrance and serving Carson.<ref>"Torrance Health Center Template:Webarchive." Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Retrieved on March 18, 2010.</ref>
Transportation
[edit]
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the city operated the Carson Circuit<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> bus that serves the local community and connects to other bus and rail transit services including the Los Angeles Metro A Line at the Del Amo Station. Service was suspended on March 28, 2020. However, their Dial-A-Ride services remained in service during that time.
Historically, the city was served by the Pacific Electric Long Beach Line.
Notable people
[edit]- Ab-Soul, rapper and member of group Black Hippy
- Justin Bibbins, basketball player
- Bishop Lamont, rapper
- Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E., Hip Hop Band
- Chuckii Booker, singer, songwriter
- The Boys (American band)
- Brandy, singer/actress
- Chad Brown, former National Football League referee
- Antwuan Dixon, professional skateboarder
- Dr. Dre (Andre Young, Sr.), rapper/producer, lived in Carson during his middle school years<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Rocky Fellers, pioneer Asian-American pop/rock band of four young Filipino brothers during the 1960s with multiple hits including the 1963 chart-topper "Killer Joe".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Vince Ferragamo, NFL quarterback for Los Angeles Rams 1977–86, Super Bowl XIV, played for No. 1-ranked Nebraska 1976, an Academic All American, was LA City's MVP 1972
- The Game (Jayceon Taylor), rapper, lived in Carson age 7 to 15 while in foster care<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Courtney Hall, former San Diego Chargers center and guard 1989–1999
- Ekene Ibekwe, University of Maryland basketball forward, 2012 and 2016 Olympian (Nigerian Basketball National Team)
- Ras Kass, rapper
- Baby Keem, rapper
- Tommy "Tiny" Lister, actor, NCAA shot put champion and former professional wrestler
- A$ton Matthews, rapper
- Juanita Millender-McDonald, Democratic U.S. Congresswoman from 1996 to 2007
- Kyla Pratt, actress
- Michael Quercio, musician
- Ray J (Willie Norwood, Jr.), singer/actor
- Reason, rapper
- Danny Reece, NFL cornerback and punt returner, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1976–1980, punt return leader 1979 and 1980
- Kris Richard, NFL player and coach
- Albert Robles, mayor of Carson from 2015 until 2020<ref name=CarCity>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Rex Salas, musician
- Ashton Sanders, actor
- Demetrius Shipp Jr., actor<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Gilbert D. Smith, first African-American mayor of Carson<ref name=CarCity/>
- SoShy, (Deborah Epstein), a French singer and songwriter
- Kia Stevens, also known as Awesome Kong and Amazing Kong in TNA Wrestling, professional wrestler
- Tammy Townsend, television actress
- Wesley Walker, NFL wide receiver, NY Jets 1977–1989
- Elbert Watts, Green Bay Packers defensive back 1986
- Forest Whitaker, director, producer, and Academy Award-winning actor
- Bob Whitfield, Stanford University graduate, NFL offensive lineman, Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars
- Brett Young, football player
- James Anderson Jr., first African-American Marine to receive the Medal of Honor
In popular culture
[edit]- Reno 911!<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Jackie Brown<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Gone in 60 Seconds (1974 Version)
- Emergency! (Exteriors of the then-fictional 'Station 51' of the series. The station shown is Station 127 of the Los Angeles County Fire Department)
- Pros vs. Joes
- 10 Items or Less
- Larry Crowne
Sister cities
[edit]Carson's sister cities are:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Template:Flagicon La Carlota, Philippines
- Template:Flagicon Muntinlupa, Philippines
- Template:Flagicon Parañaque, Philippines
- Template:Flagicon Sōka, Japan
- Template:Flagicon Taguig, Philippines<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Template:Flagicon Wanju County, South Korea
See also
[edit]- George Henry Carson
- List of cities in Los Angeles County, California
- Demographics of Filipino Americans
References
[edit]Further reading
[edit]- Template:Cite journal Personal account of growing up in Carson.
External links
[edit]Template:Carson, California Template:Cities of Los Angeles County, California Template:Greater Los Angeles Area Template:Southern California megaregion Template:Authority control