Editing Bellflower, California

{{Short description|City in California, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Bellflower, California
|settlement_type          = [[List of municipalities in California|City]]
|image_skyline            = Bellflower, CA City Hall.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = Flag of Bellflower, California.gif
|flag_size                = 
|image_seal               = Seal of Bellflower, California.gif
|seal_size                = 
|nickname                 = "The Friendly City"
|motto                    = "Growing Together"
|image_map                = File:Los Angeles County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Bellflower Highlighted 0604982.svg
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location of Bellflower in Los Angeles County, California.
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
| pushpin_map = USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States
| pushpin_relief = 1
<!-- Location ------------------>
|coordinates              = {{coord|33|53|17|N|118|7|39|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type                = Country
| subdivision_name                = {{Flagu|United States|size=23px}}
| subdivision_type1               = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1               = {{Flag|California|size=23px}}
| subdivision_type2               = [[List of counties in California|County]]
| subdivision_name2               = [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles]]
<!-- Politics ----------------->
|established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Founded]]

|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = 1906<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bellflower.org/about/history.asp |title=City of Bellflower - City History |publisher=Bellflower.org |access-date=October 4, 2018 |archive-date=October 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029164429/https://www.bellflower.org/about/history.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|named_for                = [[Bellflower apple|Yellow bellflower apple]]
|established_date2        = September 3, 1957<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------------------>
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Dan Koops
|leader_title1            = [[Mayor Pro Tem]]
|leader_name1             = Ray Dunton
|leader_title2            = [[City council]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bellflower.org/council/default.asp|title=City Council|publisher=City of Bellflower|access-date=April 26, 2017|archive-date=April 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200425080530/https://www.bellflower.org/council/default.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|leader_name2             = Wendi Morse <br/> Sonny Santa Ines <br/> Victor A. Sanchez
|leader_title3            = [[City Manager]]
|leader_name3             = Ryan C. Smoot
|area_total_km2           = 15.97
|area_total_sq_mi         = 6.17
|area_land_km2            = 15.84
|area_land_sq_mi          = 6.12
|area_water_km2           = 0.13
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.05
|area_water_percent       = 0.86
|area_metro_km2           = 
|area_metro_sq_mi         = <!-- Population   ----------------------->
|area_note                = 
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref>{{Cite GNIS|1652671|Bellflower|access-date=October 11, 2014}}</ref>
|elevation_m              = 22
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
|elevation_ft             = 71
|population_total         = 79190
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_density_sq_mi = 12945.89
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|pop_est_footnotes        = 
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_metro_km2     = 
|population_density_metro_sq_mi   = <!-- General information  --------------->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]s
|postal_code              = 90706, 90707
|area_code                = [[Area code 562|562]]
|area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
|website                  = {{URL|www.bellflower.ca.gov}}
|footnotes                = 
|timezone                 = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific]]
|utc_offset               = -8
|timezone_DST             = [[Pacific Daylight Time|PDT]]
|utc_offset_DST           = -7
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS]] code
|blank_info               = {{FIPS|06|04982}}
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature IDs
|blank1_info              = {{GNIS 4|1652671}}, {{GNIS 4|2409822}}
|population_density_km2 = 4998.23
}}

'''Bellflower''' is a city in southeastern [[Los Angeles County, California]], in the [[Los Angeles metropolitan area]]. It was founded in 1906 and [[municipal corporation|incorporated]] on September 3, 1957. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the city had a total population of 79,190, up from 76,616 at the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]]. This made it the 65th [[List of United States cities by population density|most densely populated city in the United States]], of cities over 50,000 residents (and the 8th most densely populated city in California).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decades|website=Census.gov|access-date=February 18, 2019}}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bellflower.org/community/about_bellflower_/city_history.php|title=Bellflower, CA|website=www.bellflower.org|accessdate=December 20, 2023}}</ref>

The site was formerly rich farmland watered by artesian wells and floodwaters of the now-contained [[San Gabriel River (California)|San Gabriel River]]. In 1906, F.E. Woodruff, a local real estate investor,<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |title=Mr. F.E. Woodruff of the Active and Reliable Real Estate Firm of Peet & Woodruff Will Live in Westmoreland Tract  |date=November 12, 1903 |work=Los Angeles Herald |volume=XXXI |number=42 |page=8 |url= https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=LAH19031112.2.165&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1 |via=California Digital Newspaper Collection}}</ref> founded the first municipality on the site, which was named Somerset in 1909 when a post office was established there.<ref name=Gudde>{{cite book|last1=Gudde|first1=Erwin G.|title=California Place Names: The Origin and Etymology of Current Geographical Names|url=https://archive.org/details/californiaplacen00gudd|url-access=registration|date=1998|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-26619-3|page=[https://archive.org/details/californiaplacen00gudd/page/31 31]}}</ref> However, the proponents of the name 'Bellflower' claimed that the US Post Office Department rejected the name 'Somerset' to prevent confusion with [[Somerset, Colorado]].<ref name=Gudde /> 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, California|Paramount]] served first as the apple and later the milk production centers for Southern California, until soaring post-[[World War II]] 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, California|Cerritos]], [[La Palma, California|La Palma]], and [[Cypress, California|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 [[List of United States cities by population density#Cities|most densely populated cities in the United States]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.2010.html|title = Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades}}</ref> It is a [[sister cities|sister city]] with [[Los Mochis]], [[Sinaloa]], Mexico.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://portal.clubrunner.ca/2509/Stories/bellflower-sister-city-project|title=Fundraiser for Bellflower/Los Mochis Sister City Project|website=Portal.clubrunner.ca}}</ref>

==Geography==
Bellflower is located at {{Coord|33.888165|-118.127604|type:city_region:US|format=dms|display=inline}}.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|6.2|sqmi|km2}}. {{convert|6.1|sqmi|km2}} of it is land and {{convert|0.1|sqmi|km2}} of it (0.86%) is water.

Bellflower is bordered by [[Downey, California|Downey]] on the north and northwest, [[Norwalk, California|Norwalk]] and [[Cerritos, California|Cerritos]] on the east, [[Lakewood, California|Lakewood]] on the south, [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]] on the southwest, and [[Paramount, California|Paramount]] on the west. Bellflower is part of [[Gateway Cities|Southeast Los Angeles County]] and the "Gateway Cities Council of Governments" (GCOG).

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1960= 45909
|1970= 52334
|1980= 53441
|1990= 61815
|2000= 72878
|2010= 76616
|2020= 79190
|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/>
}}

Bellflower first appeared as a city in the [[1960 U.S. Census]]<ref name=1960CensusCA1/> as part of the Downey-Norwalk census county division.<ref name=1960CensusCA2/> Prior to 1960, the area was included in the unincorporated portion of the now defunct Downey Township (1950 pop. 109,659).<ref name=1950CensusCA/>

===2020===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Bellflower 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 – Bellflower city, California |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0604982&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) – Bellflower city, California |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0604982&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) – Bellflower city, California |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0604982&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|22,403
|14,971
|style='background: #ffffe6; |10,815
|30.74%
|19.54%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |13.66%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|9,239
|10,374
|style='background: #ffffe6; |10,131
|12.68%
|13.54%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |12.79%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|280
|229
|style='background: #ffffe6; |183
|0.38%
|0.30%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.23%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|6,976
|8,720
|style='background: #ffffe6; |9,855
|9.57%
|11.38%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |12.44%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|475
|567
|style='background: #ffffe6; |531
|0.65%
|0.74%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.67%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|188
|163
|style='background: #ffffe6; |376
|0.26%
|0.21%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.47%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|1,814
|1,508
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,049
|2.49%
|1.97%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.59%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|31,503
|40,085
|style='background: #ffffe6; |45,250
|43.23%
|52.32%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |57.14%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''72,878'''
|'''76,616'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''79,190'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

===2010===
At the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]] Bellflower had a population of 76,616. The population density was {{convert|12,416.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Bellflower was 32,337 (42.2%) White (19.5% Non-Hispanic White),<ref name="quickfacts.census.gov">{{cite web|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0604982.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215155003/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0604982.html|archive-date=February 15, 2015|title=Census data|website=quickfacts.census.gov}}</ref> 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%).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0604982|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Bellflower city|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203172927/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0604982|archive-date=February 3, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

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 [[marriage|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%) [[POSSLQ|unmarried opposite-sex partnerships]], and 170 (0.7%) [[same-sex partnerships|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.<ref name="quickfacts.census.gov"/>

===2000===
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 72,878 people in 23,367 households, including 17,128 families, in the city. The population density was {{convert|11,999.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 24,247 housing units at an average density of {{convert|3,992.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the city was 22.37% [[White American]], 33.09% Black or African American, 0.92% Native American, 9.69% Asian, 0.70% Pacific Islander, 24.38% from other races, and 5.13% from two or more races. 43.23% of the population were [[Hispanics in the United States|Hispanic]] or Latino of any race.<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>
Of the 23,367 households 43.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 19.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were non-families. 21.1% of households were one person and 7.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average family size was 3.59.

The age distribution was 31.9% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% 65 or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.

The median household income was $39,362 and the median family income was $42,822. Males had a median income of $32,658 versus $28,012 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,982 and was below the "poverty rate". About 12.8% of per capita family households and 15.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 20.7% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.

[[Mexican Americans|Mexican]] and [[German Americans|German]] were the most common ancestries. [[Mexico]] and the [[Philippines]] were the most common foreign places of birth in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://maps.latimes.com/neighborhoods/neighborhood/bellflower/|title=Bellflower|website=Mapping L.A.|accessdate=December 20, 2023}}</ref>

==Economy==
===Top employers===
According to the city's 2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report,<ref name="cafr">{{cite web |date=June 30, 2021 |title=City of Bellflower Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) |url=https://cms5.revize.com/revize/bellflowerca/Document%20Center/Department/Finance/Financial%20Reports/2020-21%20City%20of%20Bellflower%20ACFR%20(For%20Distribution).pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303093703/https://cms5.revize.com/revize/bellflowerca/2020-21%20City%20of%20Bellflower%20ACFR%20(For%20Distribution).pdf |archive-date=March 3, 2022 |access-date=June 12, 2022 |website=Bellflower.org}}</ref> the top employers in the city are:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of Employees
|-
| 1
|[[Kaiser Permanente Medical Group]]
|419
|-
| 2
|[[Taco Nazo]]
|196
|-
| 3
|City of Bellflower
|192
|-
| 4
|Tulaphorn Inc ([[McDonald's]] franchisee)
|157
|-
| 5
|George [[Chevrolet]]
|148
|-
| 6
|Cerritos Vista Healthcare Center
|134
|-
| 7
|[[Life Care Centers of America|Bel Tooren Villa Convalescent Hospital]]
|114
|-
| 8
|Superior Grocers
|106
|-
| 9
|Harbor Health Care
|99
|-
| 10
|[[Norms Restaurants|Norm's Restaurants, LLC]]
|97
|}

==Government==
[[File:Bellflower memorial 1.jpg|thumb|Veterans Memorial at Library Garden park]]
In the [[California State Legislature]], Bellflower is in {{Representative|casd|32|fmt=sdistrict}}. In the [[California State Assembly]], it is in {{Representative|caad|58|fmt=adistrict}}.<ref>{{cite web
 | url = http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html
 | title = Statewide Database
 | publisher = UC Regents
 | access-date = December 16, 2014
| 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]], Bellflower is mostly covered by the 42nd congressional district  which is represented by {{Representative|cacd|42}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=California's 42nd Congressional District - CA-42 Representatives & District Map |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/CA/42 |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=GovTrack.us |language=en}}</ref>

==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, California|Lakewood]], serving Bellflower.<ref>"[http://www.lasd.org/stations/for3/lakewood/index.html Lakewood Station] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091230224813/http://www.lasd.org/stations/for3/lakewood/index.html |date=December 30, 2009 }}." [[Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department]]. Retrieved on January 21, 2010.</ref> In addition the sheriff's department operates the Bellflower Substation in Bellflower.<ref>"[http://www.lasd.org/stations/for3/lakewood/bellflower.html Bellflower Sub Station] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114051657/http://www.lasd.org/stations/for3/lakewood/bellflower.html |date=January 14, 2010 }}." [[Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department]]. Retrieved on January 21, 2010.</ref>

[[File:Bellflower, Los Angeles County, California - 2025 February 06.jpg|thumb|Bellflower post office]]
The [[United States Postal Service]] Bellflower Post Office is located at 9835 Flower Street.<ref>"[https://archive.today/20120718041914/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/42390?p=2&s=CA&service_name=post_office&z=Bellflower Post Office Location - BELLFLOWER]." ''[[United States Postal Service]]''. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.</ref> ''[[Los Cerritos Community News]]'' serves the city.

==Transportation==

The [[California State Route 91|Artesia Freeway (State Route 91)]] passes east–west through the southern portion of Bellflower, the [[Interstate 605|San Gabriel River Freeway (Interstate 605)]] runs north–south just east of the city, and the [[Interstate 105 (California)|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]] (MTA) and [[Long Beach Transit]]. The city also operates [[List of small Southern California transit agencies#Bellflower Bus|Bellflower Bus]], a fixed-route local bus.

==Education==
[[File:Clifton M. Brakensiek Library.jpg|thumb|Clifton M. Brakensiek Library]]

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]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06037_los_angeles/DC20SD_C06037.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Los Angeles County, CA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|page=10 (PDF p. 11/19)|access-date=November 22, 2023}}</ref> BUSD has two secondary schools in Bellflower: [[Bellflower High School]] and [[Somerset High School (Bellflower, California)|Somerset High School]].

[[St. John Bosco High School]], and [[Valley Christian Schools (Los Angeles County, California)|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]].<ref>"[http://www.colapublib.org/libs/brakensiek/ Clifton M. Brakensiek Library] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070203220218/http://colapublib.org/libs/brakensiek/ |date=February 3, 2007 }}." ''[[County of Los Angeles Public Library]]''. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.</ref>

==Notable people==<!--consensus reached to standardize this heading per WP:WikiProject Cities/US Guideline -->
{{More citations needed section|date=November 2012}}
[[File:Anthony Brown Stanford layup 2014.jpg|thumb|180px|[[Anthony Brown (basketball)|Anthony Brown]]]]
[[File:Derrick Williams Kings.jpg|thumb|180px|[[Derrick Williams (basketball)|Derrick Williams]]]]

*[[Danny Barber (soccer)|Danny Barber]] (born 1971), indoor/outdoor soccer player<ref>{{Cite web |title=Danny Barber |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/danny-barber/ |access-date=January 5, 2025 |website=[[Major League Soccer]]}}</ref>
*[[Anthony Brown (basketball)|Anthony Brown]] (born 1992), basketball player in the [[Israeli Basketball Premier League]]
*[[Chris Carter (screenwriter)|Chris Carter]], television and film producer, director and writer, creator of ''[[The X-Files]]''
*[[Zach Charbonnet]], NFL player.
*[[Misty Copeland]], principal ballet dancer from [[American Ballet Theatre]]
*[[Ronnie Correy]], motorcycle speedway rider
*[[Savannah DeMelo]], soccer player for [[Racing Louisville FC|Racing Louisville]] and the [[United States women's national soccer team|United States national team]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 21, 2023 |title=Meet the USA's 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup team |url=https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/meet-the-usas-2023-fifa-womens-world-cup-team/ |access-date=June 21, 2023 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Aaron Embry]], songwriter and record producer
*[[Kirk Fletcher]], [[electric blues]] guitarist, singer and songwriter, was born in Bellflower in 1975.<ref name="Harp">{{cite web|url=https://crossharpchronicles.wordpress.com/2010/03/17/kirk-fletcher-releases-my-turn-on-delta-groove-records/|title=Kirk Fletcher Releases "My Turn" on Delta Groove Records|first=David W.|last=King|date=March 16, 2010|website=Crossharpchronicles.wordpress.com|access-date=February 19, 2019}}</ref>
*[[Nomar Garciaparra]], Major League Baseball shortstop, 6-time All-Star, 2-time batting champion, TV commentator; attended [[St. John Bosco High School]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=garcino01| title= Nomar Garciaparra Stats|publisher= Baseball Almanac |access-date= November 18, 2012}}</ref>
*[[A.J. Gass]], former Canadian Football League player
*[[Anthony Gose]], Major League Baseball pitcher, currently in the [[Cleveland Guardians]] organization
*[[Shauna Grant]] (1963&ndash;1984), screen name of pornographic actress Colleen Applegate, was born here<ref>{{cite news|journal=[[Frontline (U.S. TV series)|Frontline]]|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/biographies/ |title=Death of a Porn Queen|date= June 8, 1987}}</ref> 
*[[Don Hahn]], producer of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Lion King"
*[[Trevor Hoffman]], [[Major League Baseball]] relief pitcher, 7-time All-Star, born in Bellflower<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=hoffmtr01| title= Trevor Hoffman Stats|publisher= Baseball Almanac |access-date= November 18, 2012}}</ref>
*[[Jeff Kent]], Major League Baseball second baseman, 5-time All-Star, 2000 National League MVP; born in Bellflower<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=kentje01| title= Jeff Kent Stats|publisher= Baseball Almanac |access-date= November 18, 2012}}</ref>
*[[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]]
*[[Evan Longoria]], Major League Baseball third baseman, 3-time All-Star<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/longoev01.shtml| title= Evan Longoria Stats
|publisher= Baseball Almanac |access-date= November 18, 2012}}</ref> graduated from [[St. John Bosco High School]] in 2003
*[[Kimberly McCullough]], actress, ''[[General Hospital]]''
*[[Wendi McLendon-Covey]], actress, appeared in film ''[[Bridesmaids (2011 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<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=quentca01| title= Carlos Quentin Stats
|publisher= Baseball Almanac |access-date= November 18, 2012}}</ref>
*[[Sergio Santos (baseball)|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 (basketball)|Derrick Williams]], professional basketball player with  [[Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C.|Maccabi Tel Aviv]] of the [[Israeli Basketball Premier League]] and the [[EuroLeague]]; formerly with five NBA teams, 2011 [[Pac-10 Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year|Pac-10 Player of the Year]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/willide02.html|title=Derrick Williams |publisher= Basketball-Reference.com |access-date= November 18, 2012}}</ref>
*[[Ron Yary]], professional football player in [[College Football Hall of Fame|College]] and [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]]; graduated Bellflower High School in 1964
*[[Bob Meusel]], an [[MLB]] baseball player that played for the [[New York Yankees]] and the [[Cincinnati Reds]].
*[[Matt Welch]], blogger and journalist

==See also==
{{Portal|Greater Los Angeles}}
*[[List of cities in Los Angeles County, California]]
*[[List of cities and towns in California]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Bellflower}}
{{Commons category|Bellflower, California}} 
*{{Official website}}

{{Geographic location|title = '''Destinations from Bellflower'''|Centre = Bellflower |North = [[Downey, California|Downey]] |Northeast = [[Norwalk, California|Norwalk]] |East = [[Norwalk, California|Norwalk]]<br>[[Cerritos, California|Cerritos]] |Southeast = [[Lakewood, California|Lakewood]] |Southwest = [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]] |South = [[Lakewood, California|Lakewood]] |West = [[Paramount, California|Paramount]]<br>[[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]] |Northwest = [[Downey, California|Downey]]<br>[[Paramount, California|Paramount]]}}
{{Cities of Los Angeles County, California}}
{{Greater Los Angeles Area}}
{{Gateway Cities}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Bellflower, California| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Los Angeles County, California]]
[[Category:Gateway Cities]]
[[Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California]]