Editing Bell, California

{{Short description|City in California, United States}}
{{Refimprove|date=November 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Bell, California
| settlement_type    = [[List of municipalities in California|City]]
| nickname           = 
| named_for          = The family of [[James George Bell]]
| motto              = 
| image_skyline      = BellMontageCA.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Images, from top and left to right: James George Bell House, Bell Public Library, City of Bell Police sign
| image_flag         = Flag of Bell, California.png
| flag_size          = 
| image_shield       =
| image_blank_emblem = Logo_of_Bell,_California.png
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
| blank_emblem_size  = 100px
| blank_emblem_alt   = A green capital letter "G" with a cutout image of a tree inside.
| blank_emblem_link  = List of U.S. county and city insignia
| image_seal         = Seal of Bell, California.png
| seal_size          = 
| image_map          = File:Los Angeles County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Bell Highlighted 0604870.svg
| mapsize            = 250x200px
| map_caption        = Location of Bell in Los Angeles County, California.
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| pushpin_map        = Los Angeles#California#USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in California
| pushpin_label      = Bell
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{flagu|United States}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|California}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in California|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = {{Flagicon image|Flag of Los Angeles County, California.svg}} [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles]]
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Ali Saleh
| leader_title1      = [[Vice Mayor]]
| leader_name1       = Monica Arroyo
| leader_title2      = [[City Council]]
| leader_name2       = Ana Maria Quintana <br> Alicia Romero <br> Francis Flores
| leader_title3      = [[City Manager]]
| leader_name3       = Michael L. Antwine II
| established_title  = <!-- Founded -->
| established_date   = 
| established_title3 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date3  = November 7, 1927<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc 
 |title=California Cities by Incorporation Date 
 |format=Word 
 |publisher=California Association of [[Local Agency Formation Commission]]s 
 |access-date=August 25, 2014 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103002921/http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc 
 |archive-date=November 3, 2014 }}</ref>
<!-- Area------------------>| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 30, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi   = 2.63
| area_land_sq_mi    = 2.51
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.12
| area_total_km2     = 6.80
| area_land_km2      = 6.50
| area_water_km2     = 0.31
| area_water_percent = 4.53
| area_note          = 
| area_metro_km2     = 
| area_metro_sq_mi   = <!-- Population ----------->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 33559
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
| population_density_sq_mi = 13380.78
| population_metro   = 
| population_density_metro_sq_mi = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|33|59|N|118|11|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite GNIS|1660322|Bell|access-date=October 11, 2014}}</ref>
| elevation_ft       = 141
| elevation_m        = 43
| timezone           = [[Pacific Time Zone|PST]]
| utc_offset         = -8
| timezone_DST       = PDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -7
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code        = 90201, 90202, 90270<ref>{{cite web| url = http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/zcl_1_results.jsp?visited=1&pagenumber=0&state=ca&city=Bell | title = USPS - ZIP Code Lookup - Find a ZIP+ 4 Code By City Results | access-date = January 17, 2007}}</ref>
| area_code          = [[Area code 323|323]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.nanpa.com/nas/public/npa_city_query_step2.do?method=displayData&cityToNpaModel.stateAbbr=CA&cityToNpaModel.city=Bell | title = Number Administration System - NPA and City/Town Search Results | access-date = January 18, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070929102832/http://www.nanpa.com/nas/public/npa_city_query_step2.do?method=displayData&cityToNpaModel.stateAbbr=CA&cityToNpaModel.city=Bell | archive-date = September 29, 2007 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = {{FIPS|06|04870}}
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature IDs
| blank1_info        = {{GNIS 4|1660322}}, {{GNIS 4|2409816}}
| website            = {{URL|www.cityofbell.org}}
| footnotes          = 
| population_density_km2 = 5166.23
}}

'''Bell''' is an [[municipal corporation|incorporated]] city in [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles County]], [[California]], near the center of the former San Antonio Township (abolished after 1960). Its population was 33,559 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], down from 35,477 at the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]].<ref name="QF">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts: Bell city, California |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/bellcitycalifornia |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=April 3, 2025}}</ref> Bell is located on the west bank of the [[Los Angeles River]] and is a suburb of the city of [[Los Angeles]]. At {{convert|2.5|sqmi|km2}}, Bell is the thirteenth-smallest city in the United States with a population of at least 25,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://geography.about.com/b/2006/03/29/smallest-cities-in-the-united-states.htm |title=Smallest Cities in the United States |publisher=Geography.about.com |access-date=July 26, 2010 |archive-date=June 27, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627023640/http://geography.about.com/b/2006/03/29/smallest-cities-in-the-united-states.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="census2007">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/statab/ccdb/ccdbcityplace.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080305010637/http://www.census.gov/statab/ccdb/ccdbcityplace.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 5, 2008 |title=Cities with 25,000 population or more: C-1. Area and Population |work=County and City Data Book: 2007 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=July 23, 2010 }}</ref>

In 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau ranked Bell's land area at 1245 out of 1257 cities (defined as incorporated areas) and two unincorporated areas that had a population of at least 25,000 in year 2000. Ten cities in the list of 1267 cities had no land area data (e.g., [[Goleta, California]]).

City residents voted to become a [[charter city]] in a special municipal election on November 29, 2005. Fewer than 400 voters turned out for that special election.<ref name="latimes1">{{Cite news |last=Vives |first=Ruben |url=https://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-721-bell-20100721,0,3475382.story |title=Bell council seeks resignations of 3 city officials |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=July 21, 2010 |access-date=July 26, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722004835/http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-721-bell-20100721%2C0%2C3475382.story |archive-date=July 22, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> More than half of those votes were dubiously obtained absentee votes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wavenewspapers.com/news/Attorney-General-Jerry-Brown-subpoenas-Bell-officials-sets-up-voter-fraud-hotline-100321659.html |title=AG Jerry Brown subpoenas Bell officials, sets up voter fraud hotline &#124; Los Angeles Wave - Community News, Sports & Entertainment &#124; News |publisher=Wavenewspapers.com |date=August 10, 2010 |access-date=August 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722142250/http://www.wavenewspapers.com/news/Attorney-General-Jerry-Brown-subpoenas-Bell-officials-sets-up-voter-fraud-hotline-100321659.html |archive-date=July 22, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Being a charter city meant that city officials were exempt from state salary caps.<ref>{{cite web |title=Charter Cities |publisher= League of California Cities |date=May 9, 2007 |url=http://www.cacities.org/chartercities |access-date=April 17, 2008}}</ref> A [[City of Bell scandal|scandal]] ensued, in which several city officials were indicted for fraud after giving themselves extraordinarily high salaries.<ref name="CNN"/>

==History==

===Early history===
The area comprising the present-day City of Bell has a Native American history dating back thousands of years. The Gabrieliño Indians migrated to the place now called Bell in 500 B.C. Spaniards have been living in this area of California since the mid-18th century. Among the early Spanish settlers was one of California's first families, the [[Lugo (surname)|Lugo]]s.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>

While stationed at [[Mission San Antonio de Padua]] near [[Salinas, California|Salinas]], California, Francisco Lugo's first California son, Antonio María Lugo was born in 1775,<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |url=http://www.bell.k12.ca.us/decades/history/timeline.htm |title=Timeline |publisher=Bell.k12.ca.us |access-date=July 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100822150646/http://www.bell.k12.ca.us/decades/history/timeline.htm |archive-date=August 22, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> who would become Don Antonio María Lugo, Spanish aristocrat and soldier, who settled on 30,000 acres of land that encompasses the present-day City of Bell. In 1810, the king of Spain formally granted the land to Lugo as a reward for his military service<ref name="autogenerated1"/> and the acreage became known as [[Rancho San Antonio (Lugo)|Rancho San Antonio]].

The grant was confirmed by the Mexican governor in 1838. By 1865, the Lugo family's fortune had dwindled and most of the Rancho was sold for less than a dollar per acre. The Lugo family did manage to retain its home, built about 1810, which is the now oldest house in Los Angeles County. The original adobe house was on Gage Avenue.<ref name="cityofbell.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.cityofbell.org|title=City of Bell |website=cityofbell.org}}</ref>

Between 1870 and 1890, settlers arrived to the area and among those was the city's founder. In 1876, the pioneer residents for whom the city is named, [[James George Bell]] and his wife Susan Abia Hollenbeck Bell, and their two children, Maude Elizabeth and Alphonzo Sr. moved from [[Los Angeles]] where they lived for a short period with Susan's brother, [[John Edward Hollenbeck|John Hollenbeck]], in their Victorian style home – the Bell House, now a historic landmark located at 4401 East Gage Avenue.<ref name="cityofbell.org"/> On April 6, 2000, the Bell House was dedicated as a California State Historical Resource.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>

[[Image:Bell House.jpg|thumb|left|James George Bell House]]
They acquired about 360 acres (145.7&nbsp;ha) of land and in the next decade, helped in its development as a small farming and cattle raising community. The Bell Family lived at the [[John Edward Hollenbeck|Hollenbeck]]'s "Town House" on 4th and Breed Street until they moved into the "ranch" Bell House in 1876. The Bell House was an early [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] style farm house. In 1898, the town's name was changed from Rancho San Antonio to Bell, in honor of its pioneer founders.<ref name="cityofbell.org"/>

Between 1920 and 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. By the early 1960s, the ''Bell Industrial Post'' had become the ''Bell-[[Maywood, California|Maywood]]-[[Cudahy, California|Cudahy]] Industrial Post''. It was later renamed the ''Community News'', and became part of the Los Cerritos Community Newspaper Group. In 1998 it was sold again. The ''Community News'' disappeared not long after{{why|date=April 2020}},<ref>{{cite news|last1=Francke|first1=Terry|title=Why the Bell Scandal Happened and What Can Be Done|url=http://voiceofoc.org/2010/07/why-the-bell-scandal-happened-and-what-can-be-done/|access-date=January 22, 2017|publisher=Voice of OC|date=July 28, 2010}}</ref> facilitating a chain of corrupt practiced that ultimately led to criminal convictions for city administrator [[Robert Rizzo]], who had been hired around 1998, and six other Bell city officials.<ref> {{Cite web |title=10 YEARS AFTER THE BELL SCANDAL ARE WE MORE ETHICAL? |url=https://www.calcities.org/docs/default-source/annual-conference---session-materials/ten-years-after-the-bell-scandal-are-we-more-ethical.pdf?sfvrsn=21ab7d85_3 |website=www.calcities.org}}</ref>

In 1925, the Alcazar Theater to show "talking pictures", was opened. It has since been demolished.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cinematour.com/theatres/us/CA/2.html |title=Cinemas Around the World - United States - California |publisher=CinemaTour |access-date=July 26, 2010}}</ref>

In 1925, [[Bell High School (Bell, California)|Bell High School]] was opened.<ref name="search.lausd.k12.ca.us">{{cite web |url=http://search.lausd.k12.ca.us/cgi-bin/fccgi.exe?w3exec=school.profile.content&which=8536 |title=LAUSD School Profile |publisher=Search.lausd.k12.ca.us |date=September 16, 2009 |access-date=July 26, 2010 |archive-date=May 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527173829/http://search.lausd.k12.ca.us/cgi-bin/fccgi.exe?w3exec=school.profile.content&which=8536 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Cityhood===
Bell was [[municipal corporation|incorporated]] as a city in 1927. 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 the city of Maywood and the County of Los Angeles, the city of Bell constructed an indoor public swimming pool at [[Bell High School (Bell, California)|Bell High School]].

[[Image:Bell House2.jpg|thumb|right|James George Bell House]]

The city's Chamber of Commerce is located at the historic [[James George Bell|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.

In March 2007, the city of Bell held its first contested election for city council in almost a decade.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?s=Bell+CA+election%2C+2007&gwp=13|title=Bell CA election, 2007: Web Search Results from Answers.com<!-- Bot generated title -->|website=[[Answers.com]]|access-date=January 1, 2011|archive-date=November 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109060641/http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?s=Bell+CA+election,+2007&gwp=13|url-status=dead}}</ref> The next election for City Council was held in March 2011, and included the recall of all the city council members save one, who was not re-elected.

===Oscar controversy===
In March 2000, it was reported that a shipment of 55 [[Academy Awards|Oscar]] statuettes was stolen from a trucking company loading dock in Bell. In addition to the [[Los Angeles]] and Bell police departments, [[FBI]] [[art theft]] experts investigated. It was the second Oscar mishap within a short period, as earlier that month 4,000 Oscar 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".<ref>{{Cite news| url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/waiting-for-oscar/ | publisher=CBS News | title=Waiting For Oscar | date=March 25, 2000}}</ref>

===2010 city official corruption scandal===
{{Main|City of Bell scandal}}
In July 2010, when two ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' reporters, Jeff Gottlieb and Ruben Vives, were investigating possible malfeasance in the neighboring city of [[Maywood, California|Maywood]], it was revealed that Bell city officials were receiving unusually large salaries, perhaps the highest in the United States. The salaries came into the public eye after the newspaper's investigation, based on [[California Public Records Act]] requests, showed that the city payroll was swollen with six- to seven-figure salaries.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rogers |first=John |url=http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/news_details/article/116/2010/july/27/la-suburb-to-discuss-firing-high-paid-officials.html |title=DA probes voter fraud allegations in Calif. city |publisher=PhillyBurbs.com |date=July 27, 2010 |access-date=July 29, 2010 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> [[Robert Rizzo]], the [[City manager]], received $787,637 a year, almost double the salary of the [[President of the United States]]. Including benefits, he had received $1.5 million in the last year.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/news/la-me-bell-manager-compensation-mobile,0,52255.story |title=Former Bell city manager's compensation totaled $1.5 million a year, records show |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=August 8, 2010 |access-date=August 8, 2010 |first1=Jeff |last1=Gottlieb |first2=Ruben |last2=Vives |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100811161838/http://www.latimes.com/news/la-me-bell-manager-compensation-mobile%2C0%2C52255.story |archive-date=August 11, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> Rizzo's assistant, Angela Spaccia, was earning $376,288 a year, more than the top administrator for [[Los Angeles County]].<ref name="latimes1"/> The police chief, Randy Adams, was paid $457,000, 33% more than Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck.<ref name="latimes1"/> All three resigned following news reports and public outcry. All but one of the members of the city council were receiving $100,000 for their part-time work, salaries which were authorized by a sparsely attended special election,<ref>{{cite news| url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/07/bell-council-found-loophole-in-law-to-allow-big-salaries.html | work=Los Angeles Times | title=L.A. Now | date=July 22, 2010}}</ref> giving the city "Charter" status. By comparison, council members in cities similar to Bell in size make an average of $4,800 a year, prosecutors have noted.<ref name="latimes1"/>

In September 2010, the California Attorney General's office filed a lawsuit against eight former and current City of Bell employees, requesting the return of what the suit calls "excessive salaries" as well a reduction in pension benefits accrued as a result of those higher salaries.<ref name="CNN">{{Cite news|title=California AG sues over California town's municipal salaries|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/09/15/california.bell.lawsuits/|access-date= September 16, 2010|publisher=CNN|date=September 15, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100918072807/http://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/09/15/california.bell.lawsuits/| archive-date= September 18, 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> Allegations about irregularities in the 2009 election also were examined by the [[FBI]] and [[California Secretary of State]] office.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Winton |first=Richard |last2=Gottlieb |first2=Jeff |last3=Blankstein |first3=Andrew |date=2010-07-28 |title=L.A. County D.A. expands probe into Bell government |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/la-xpm-2010-jul-28-la-me-bell-elections-20100728-story.html |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> The city's high [[property tax]]es are also being investigated.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-aug-16-la-oe-gelinas-bell-bonds-20100816-story.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717063854/http://articles.latimes.com/2010/aug/16/opinion/la-oe-gelinas-bell-bonds-20100816/2|url-status=live|archive-date=July 17, 2012|title=Bell stuck in a money rut|work=Los Angeles Times|date=August 16, 2010|access-date=August 30, 2010 | first=Nicole | last=Gelinas}}</ref>

On September 21, 2010, former city manager Robert Rizzo, Mayor Oscar Hernandez, former assistant city manager Angela Spaccia and council members George Mirabal, Teresa Jacobo, Luis Artiga, George Cole and Victor Bello were arrested and charged with misappropriation of public funds.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-09-21 |title=Rizzo faces 53 counts; Bell was 'corruption on steroids,' D.A. Cooley says [Updated] |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/09/bell-charges-rizzo.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923154420/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/09/bell-charges-rizzo.html |archive-date=2010-09-23 |access-date= |website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/09/bell-charges-rizzo.html|title=8 current, former Bell, California officials arrested|publisher=CNN|date=September 21, 2010|access-date=September 21, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923154420/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/09/bell-charges-rizzo.html| archive-date=September 23, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> The mayor and council members all either resigned or were recalled. Of the eight, only Luis Artiga was found not guilty. The revelations about the salary amounts paid to city officials in Bell led media inquires into salaries paid in other cities.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Allen|first=Sam|url=https://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bell-impact-20100729,0,6243085.story|title=California's city officials scramble to limit damage from Bell scandal|work=Los Angeles Times|date=July 29, 2010|access-date=July 29, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100729190157/http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bell-impact-20100729%2C0%2C6243085.story|archive-date=July 29, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> After a review, the ''L.A. Times'' found frequent failures in audits of public agencies in other municipalities in California.<ref>[http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2010/11/11/1649516/bell-mayor-in-corruption-case.html "Bell mayor in corruption case"]{{Dead link|date=June 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, mercedsunstar.com; November 11, 2010; accessed October 1, 2014.</ref>
<!-- MUST BE UPDATED; THIS IS 4 YEARS OLD!! -->

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|2.6|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|2.5|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.1|sqmi|km2}} is water.

===Surrounding areas===

<div style= width:700px;">
:{{pad|11em}} [[Maywood, California|Maywood]] / [[Commerce, California|Commerce]]
:{{pad|1em}} [[Huntington Park, California|Huntington Park]] / [[Vernon, California|Vernon]] [[Image:Up arrow left.svg|20px]] [[Image:Up-1.svg|30px]] [[Image:Up arrow right.svg|20px]] [[Commerce, California|Commerce]]
:{{pad|4em}} [[Huntington Park, California|Huntington Park]] [[Image:Left.svg|30px]] {{pad|2.5em}} [[Image:Right.svg|30px]] [[Bell Gardens, California|Bell Gardens]]  
:{{pad|5em}} [[South Gate, California|South Gate]] [[Image:Down arrow left.svg|20px]] [[Image:Down arrow.svg|30px]] [[Image:Down arrow right.svg|20px]] [[Bell Gardens, California|Bell Gardens]] 
:{{pad|13.5em}} [[Cudahy, California|Cudahy]]
</div>
{{clear|left}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1930= 7884
|1940= 11264
|1950= 15430
|1960= 19450
|1970= 21836
|1980= 25450
|1990= 34365
|2000= 36664
|2010= 35477
|2020= 33559
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decade|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref><br>1860–1870<ref name=1870CensusCA1>{{Cite web|title= 1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-12.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><ref name=1870CensusCA2>{{Cite web|title= 1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County  |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-13.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1880-1890<ref name=1890CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1890/bulletins/demographics/134-population-of-ca.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1900<ref name=1900CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1900/bulletins/demographic/10-population-ca.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1910<ref name=1910CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-ca.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1920<ref name=1920CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1920/bulletins/demographics/population-ca-number-of-inhabitants.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1930<ref name=1930CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1930/population-volume-1/03815512v1ch03.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1940<ref name=1940CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch03.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1950<ref name=1950CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-1/vol-01-08.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1960<ref name=1960CensusCA1>{{Cite web|title= 1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/vol-01-06-d.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><ref name=1960CensusCA2>{{Cite web|title= 1960 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/vol-01-06-c.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1970<ref name=1970CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1970a_ca1-01.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1980<ref name=1980CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_caAB-01.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1990<ref name=1990CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
2000<ref name=2000CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-6.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

Bell first appeared as a city in the [[1930 U.S. Census]] as part of the now defunct San Antonio Township (pop. 107,894 in 1930).<ref name=1930CensusCA/>

===2020===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Bell city, California – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Bell city, California |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0604870&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Bell city, California |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0604870&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Bell city, California |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0604870&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|2,132
|1,728
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,484
|5.81%
|4.87%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.42%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|307
|214
|style='background: #ffffe6; |124
|0.84%
|0.60%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.37%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|143
|64
|style='background: #ffffe6; |35
|0.39%
|0.18%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.10%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|368
|229
|style='background: #ffffe6; |237
|1.00%
|0.65%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.71%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|7
|2
|style='background: #ffffe6; |15
|0.02%
|0.01%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.04%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|38
|69
|style='background: #ffffe6; |101
|0.10%
|0.19%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.30%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|341
|143
|style='background: #ffffe6; |171
|0.93%
|0.40%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.51%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|33,328
|33,028
|style='background: #ffffe6; |31,392
|90.90%
|93.10%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |93.54%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''36,664'''
|'''35,477'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''33,559'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

===2010===
The [[2010 United States census]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0604870|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715031144/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0604870|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Bell city|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref> reported that Bell had a population of 35,477. The population density was {{convert|13545.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Bell was 19,098 (53.8%) [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (4.9% Non-Hispanic White),<ref name=quif>{{cite web|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0604870.html|title=Bell (city) QuickFacts|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416020228/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0604870.html|archive-date=April 16, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> 337 (0.9%) [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 315 (0.9%) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 259 (0.7%) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 8 (0.0%) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 13,899 (39.2%) from [[Race (United States census)|other races]], and 1,561 (4.4%) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 33,028 persons (93.1%).

The census reported that 34,898 people (98.4% of the population) lived in households, 490 (1.4%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 89 (0.3%) were institutionalized.

There were 8,870 households, of which 5,327 (60.1%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 4,659 (52.5%) were [[marriage|opposite-sex married couples]] living together, 1,879 (21.2%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,019 (11.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 857 (9.7%) [[POSSLQ|unmarried opposite-sex partnerships]], and 31 (0.3%) [[same-sex partnerships|same-sex married couples or partnerships]]. 967 households (10.9%) were made up of individuals, and 388 (4.4%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.93. There were 7,557 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (85.2% of all households); the average family size was 4.15.

11,363 people (32.0% of the population) were under the age of 18, 4,124 people (11.6%) aged 18 to 24, 10,783 people (30.4%) aged 25 to 44, 6,811 people (19.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,396 people (6.8%) 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.

There were 9,217 housing units at an average density of {{convert|3519.2|/sqmi|/km2|adj=off}}, of which 2,570 (29.0%) were owner-occupied, and 6,300 (71.0%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.3%. 11,333 people (31.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 23,565 people (66.4%) lived in rental housing units.

===2000===
At the 2000 [[census]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> there were 36,664 people, 8,918 households and 7,615 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|14802.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|adj=off}}. There were 9,215 housing units at an average density of {{convert|3720.4|/sqmi|/km2|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 48.45% [[Race (United States census)|White]], 1.28% [[Race (United States census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States census)|African American]], 1.28% [[Race (United States census)|Native American]], 1.07% [[Race (United States census)|Asian]], 0.06% [[Race (United States census)|Pacific Islander]], 43.09% from [[Race (United States census)|other races]], and 4.78% from two or more races. Bell also has a small Lebanese community.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Winton |first=Richard |url=https://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bell-elections-20100728,0,4351844.story?track=rss |title=Bell city scandal: L.A. County D.A. expands probe into Bell city government |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=July 28, 2010 |access-date=August 3, 2010}}</ref> 90.90% of the population were [[Hispanics in the United States|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 8,918 households, out of which 57.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% were [[Marriage|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.

35.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 12.9% were from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 14.1% from 45 to 64, and 5.4% 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 99.3males.

The [[median household income]] was $29,946 and the median family income was $30,504.

[[Mexicans|Mexican]] (67.7%) and [[Salvadorans|Salvadoran]] (4.4%) were the most common ancestries. [[Mexico]] (73.1%) and [[El Salvador]] (9.8%) were the most common foreign places of birth.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://maps.latimes.com/neighborhoods/neighborhood/bell/ | title=Bell }}</ref>

===Income data===
During 2019&ndash;2023, Bell had a median household income of $60,641, with 22.8% of its residents living below the federal poverty line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bell city, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP5Y2023.DP03?g=1600000US0604870 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=April 3, 2025}}</ref>

==Economy==
Bell is in a financial crisis due to the above-referenced public embezzlement scandals. Due to the actions of the former city's manager (Robert Rizzo) and the council in squandering the taxes of their constituents for their own benefit, there is a deficit of several million dollars in the general fund. An audit by the [[Los Angeles County]] auditor-controller concluded that the city must significantly downsize its budget, including the possibility of disbanding its police department and contracting with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Simone |title=L.A. County: Bell, Compton Should Not Have Own Police Departments |url=http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2010/12/bell_compton_police_department.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021090122/http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2010/12/bell_compton_police_department.php |archive-date=October 21, 2013 |access-date=2025-01-10 |work=The Informer |language=en-US |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Government and infrastructure==
The City of Bell has a City Council-City Manager form of local government. City Council is composed of five council members who serve four-year terms, and the Mayor is elected every year by its fellow council members. The City of Bell contracts with Los Angeles County for Fire protection services, along with Animal control services.

The city has the following departments:

*City Manager's Office: Oversees the implementation of City Council policy and prepare's the City Manager's draft budget.
*City Clerks's Office- Official Record keeper of City, staff support to the City Council, and administers City Elections.
*Finance Department- Administers the city's finances including the Budget, accounts payable, accounts receivable and oversees business license renewals.  The department also manages various contracts related to managing the CIty's finances.
*Community Development Department- Oversees the Building and Planning Division, Economic Development, and Public Works and Engineering.
*Community Services Department- Oversees the city's Parks and Recreations programs and Special events.
*Police Department-Provides public safety services, traffic enforcement, and parking enforcement services.

The City of Bell has 75 full-time employees across all City departments.

Fire protection in Bell is provided by the [[Los Angeles County Fire Department]]. The LACFD operates Station No. 163 at 6320 Pine Avenue in Bell as a part of Battalion 3.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Los Angeles County Fire Department - Hometown Fire Stations |url=http://fire.lacounty.gov/HometownFireStations/HometownFireStations.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070913190430/http://fire.lacounty.gov/HometownFireStations/HometownFireStations.asp |archive-date=2007-09-13 |access-date= |website=fire.lacounty.gov}}</ref>

The [[Los Angeles County Department of Health Services]] operates the Whittier Health Center in [[Whittier, California|Whittier]], serving Bell and surrounding areas.<ref>"[http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/phn/docs/HealthCenter/whittier.pdf Whittier Health Center] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527190101/http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/phn/docs/HealthCenter/whittier.pdf |date=May 27, 2010 }}". [[Los Angeles County Department of Health Services]]. Retrieved on March 18, 2010.</ref>

The [[United States Postal Service]] operates the Bell Post Office at 6327 Otis Avenue and the Bandini Station Post Office at 5555 Bandini Boulevard.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=BELL GARDENS Post Office™ Location |url=http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/253?p=1&s=CA&service_name=post_office&z=Bell |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717002230/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/253?p=1&s=CA&service_name=post_office&z=Bell |archive-date=2012-07-17 |access-date= |website=usps.whitepages.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Find Mail Services in 90201 - Bell Gardens, CA |url=http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/66355?p=2&s=CA&service_name=post_office&z=Bell |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130210033654/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/66355?p=2&s=CA&service_name=post_office&z=Bell |archive-date=2013-02-10 |access-date= |website=usps.whitepages.com}}</ref>

===State and federal representation===
In the [[California State Legislature]], Bell is in {{Representative|casd|33|fmt=sdistrict}}, and in {{Representative|caad|63|fmt=adistrict}}.<ref>{{cite web
 | url = http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html
 | title = Statewide Database
 | publisher = [[Regents of the University of California]]
 | access-date = April 7, 2015
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150201113744/http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html
 | archive-date = February 1, 2015
| url-status = dead
 }}</ref>

In the [[United States House of Representatives]], Bell is in California's 42nd congressional district<ref>{{Cite web |title=California's 42nd Congressional District - CA-42 Representatives & District Map |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/CA/42#q=90201&marker_lng=-118.150395&marker_lat=33.969456 |access-date=March 20, 2023 |website=GovTrack.us |language=en}}</ref> and its represented by [[Robert Garcia (California politician)|Democrat Robert Julio Garcia]]

===City government===
After a special election in March 2011, lifelong Bell resident Ali Saleh was named mayor by his fellow council members.  Danny Harber, a retired baker and 40-year resident of Bell, was elected vice mayor.<ref name="mayor">{{cite web|url=http://www.enlacelink.com/news/2011/apr/11/scandal-plagued-la-suburbs-new-leaders-meet/|title=EnlaceLink - Informações do dia a dia - Acompanhe as informações do dia a dia, como negócios online, cursos superiores, emagrecimento e muito mais.|website=EnlaceLink - Informações do dia a dia}}{{Dead link|date=June 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Saleh vowed to remake the city whose name had become synonymous with municipal corruption into a model of good government.

==Education==

===Schools===

====Public schools====
Bell is served by [[Los Angeles Unified School District]] (LAUSD).

A portion of Bell lies within the limits of the [[Montebello Unified School District]], but it has no residents.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Montebello Unified School District |url=http://montebellousd-ca.schoolloop.com/file/1294471603772/1295706265378/6585536690319575483.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407235330/http://montebellousd-ca.schoolloop.com/file/1294471603772/1295706265378/6585536690319575483.pdf |archive-date=April 7, 2023 |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=montebellousd-ca.schoolloop.com |url-status=dead }}</ref>

'''Kindergarten schools:'''
*[[Martha Escutia]] Primary Center (opened in 2005)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laschools.org/project-status/one-project?project_number=47.02602 |title=Project Details |publisher=Laschools.org |date=February 26, 2010 |access-date=July 26, 2010}}</ref> (Bell)

'''Elementary schools:'''
*Corona Avenue Elementary School, K-5<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lausd.net/Corona_EL |title=Archived copy |access-date=December 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312145021/http://www.lausd.net/Corona_EL/ |archive-date=March 12, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.education.com/schoolfinder/us/california/bell/corona-avenue-elementary/|title=School Information & Ratings on SchoolFinder|website=education.com}}</ref>
*Nueva Vista Elementary School, K-5<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.education.com/schoolfinder/us/california/bell/nueva-vista-elementary/|title=School Information & Ratings on SchoolFinder|website=education.com}}</ref>
*Woodlawn Avenue Elementary School, K-5
*Ellen Ochoa Learning Center, K-5

'''Middle schools:'''
*Chester W. Nimitz Middle School ([[Huntington Park, California|Huntington Park]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lausd.net/Nimitz_MS/|title=You are about to leave the LAUSD Domain|website=lausd.net}}</ref>
Orchard Academy Middle Schools
'''K-8 schools:'''
*[[Ellen Ochoa]] Learning Center ([[Cudahy, California|Cudahy]])

'''High schools:'''<br>
All residents are zoned to [[Bell High School (Bell, California)|Bell High School]] in Bell.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Bell city, California - Reference Map - American FactFinder |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US0604870&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607124524/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US0604870&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on |archive-date=2011-06-07 |access-date= |website=factfinder.census.gov}}</ref><ref name="SEHSchanges">{{Cite web |title=Proposed Changes to South East HS Area Schools |url=http://laschools.org/employee/mpd/fs-mpd/download/map_booklets/Project22.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060409044938/http://laschools.org/employee/mpd/fs-mpd/download/map_booklets/Project22.pdf |archive-date=2006-04-09 |website=laschools.org}}</ref> The high school population is 98% Hispanic, .02% Black, and a small population of Lebanese, and Asian and Pacific Islanders.<ref name="search.lausd.k12.ca.us"/> The Mission of Bell High School is to: educate all students to the highest degree of their abilities socially, academically, and technologically so that they become contributing members of society. It is the home of the "Mighty Eagles".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bell.k12.ca.us/index.html |title=Official Bell High School Page |publisher=Bell.k12.ca.us |access-date=July 26, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328184522/http://www.bell.k12.ca.us/index.html |archive-date=March 28, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Any student who lives in the Bell or Huntington Park zones may apply to [[Maywood Academy High School]], which opened in 2005 and moved into its permanent campus in 2006. Maywood does not have its own attendance boundary because it lacks American football, track and field, and tennis facilities.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Maywood Academy High School |url=http://maywoodacademy.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=52515&type=d |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124171144/http://maywoodacademy.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=52515&type=d |archive-date=2010-11-24 |access-date= |website=maywoodacademy.org}}</ref>

South Region Middle School 2 opened in Bell in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laschools.org/project-status/one-project?project_number=56.40022 |title=Project Details |publisher=Laschools.org |date=February 26, 2010 |access-date=July 26, 2010}}</ref>

====Private schools====
[[Al-Hadi School (California)|Al-Hadi School]] is located in Bell.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Location |url=http://www.alhadischool.org/Location.html |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=www.alhadischool.org}}</ref>

===Public libraries===
[[Image:Bell CA Library.jpg|thumb|alt=Bell California Public Library|Bell Library]]
The [[County of Los Angeles Public Library]] operates the Bell Library at 4411 East Gage Avenue.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bell Library {{!}} LA County Library |url=http://www.colapublib.org/libs/bell/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180521043531/http://www.colapublib.org/libs/bell/ |archive-date=May 21, 2018 |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=www.colapublib.org |language=en |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Parks and recreation==
The city of Bell has several recreational facilities. The Bell Community Center hosts many events such as anniversaries, baptisms, birthdays, conferences, company parties, receptions, and seminars. Treder Park, located at the community center, has a gazebo, a pavilion with barbecues, and picnic tables.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BELL COMMUNITY CENTER |url=http://www.cityofbell.org/comm_center.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100313025515/http://www.cityofbell.org/comm_center.php |archive-date=2010-03-13 |access-date= |website=www.cityofbell.org}}</ref> Camp Little Bear Park and Lodge is a park designed for children 12 and under. The park includes a three-in-one area for junior players with basketball, handball, and four square courts. The park also has an outdoor amphitheater for films, a miniature golf course, an indoor lodge with classrooms and computers, picnic pavilions, play equipment, rock climbing, and a small soccer (football) turf field.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CAMP LITTLE BEAR PARK AND LODGE |url=http://www.cityofbell.org/little_bear.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121213030342/http://www.cityofbell.org/little_bear.php |archive-date=December 13, 2012 |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=www.cityofbell.org |url-status=live }}</ref>

Ernest Debs Park has a synthetic turf soccer field and a shaded outdoor fitness area with cardio, resistance, and strengthening equipment. The park also has one full and two half basketball courts, benches, pavilions, picnic tables, and table games.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DEBS PARK |url=http://www.cityofbell.org/debs_park.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121213030321/http://www.cityofbell.org/debs_park.php |archive-date=December 13, 2012 |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=www.cityofbell.org |url-status=live }}</ref> Veterans Memorial Park has one junior (half) and two full-court basketball courts, batting cages, a baseball diamond with stadium seating and scoreboards, tree-shaded benches, a clubhouse with computer access, large picnic pavilions, tree-shaded picnic tables, a playground for ages 2 through 12, a rose garden in honor of U.S. soldiers, and a snack bar.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=VETERANS' MEMORIAL PARK |url=http://www.cityofbell.org/veterans_park.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100313030151/http://www.cityofbell.org/veterans_park.php |archive-date=2010-03-13 |access-date= |website=www.cityofbell.org}}</ref>

The city also has a joint-use agreement with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) for the use of the Nueva Vista Elementary Soccer Field during after-school hours to facilitate youth and adult soccer programs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nueva Vista Field {{!}} City of Bell |url=https://www.cityofbell.org/?NavID=2679 |access-date=June 25, 2022 |website=cityofbell.org |language=en}}</ref> The Bell Futsal Park (opened in 2018) is a repurposed skate park that features one main court that can be split into 3 smaller courts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futsal Park {{!}} City of Bell |url=https://www.cityofbell.org/?NavID=2678 |access-date=June 25, 2022 |website=cityofbell.org |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Greater Los Angeles}}
*[[South Los Angeles]]
*[[Gateway Cities]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.cityofbell.org/ Official website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051215065951/http://www.bell.k12.ca.us/ Bell High School]
*[http://www.colapublib.org/libs/bell/ Bell Library] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060807184821/http://www.colapublib.org/libs/bell/ |date=August 7, 2006 }}, County of Los Angeles Public Library
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20071021034753/http://handbellringers.com/bellringers.html City of Bell Ringers]}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100822150646/http://www.bell.k12.ca.us/decades/history/timeline.htm Timeline of Bell, California]

{{Los Angeles County, California}}
{{Greater Los Angeles Area}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Bell, California| ]]
[[Category:1913 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Cities in Los Angeles County, California]]
[[Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1913]]
[[Category:Gateway Cities]]