Carson, California

Carson is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2000 census, Carson had a total population of 89,730. It is located 13 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, and is classified as a suburb of the city. Incorporated on April 4, 1968, Carson is the youngest municipality in the South Bay region of Greater Los Angeles.

Carson's economy is based primarily on manufacturing. About half of Carson's land area is occupied by factories, petroleum refineries, and other industrial buildings and structures. Carson also has a diverse ethnic composition consisting of Latinos, Filipinos, African Americans, Khmers, and Samoans.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Sports
4 Attractions
5 Oil History
6 Education
7 Notable residents
8 Movies/TV shows filmed in Carson
9 References
10 See also
11 External links

[edit] Geography

Carson is located at 33°50′23″N, 118°15′35″W (33.839684, -118.259588)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 49.1 km² (19.0 mi²). 48.8 km² (18.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.63%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 89,730 people, 24,648 households, and 20,236 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,838.9/km² (4,762.2/mi²). There were 25,337 housing units at an average density of 519.2/km² (1,344.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 25.69% White, 25.41% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 22.27% Asian (mainly Filipino) , 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. Non-Hispanic whites comprise 12.00% of the population.

There were 24,648 households out of which 39.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.7% were married couples living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.9% were non-families. 14.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.59 and the average family size was 3.92.^{[citation needed]}

In the city the population was spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $52,284, and the median income for a family was $54,886.^{[citation needed]} 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, California has the distinction of being the only incorporated city in the U.S. where the African-American population has a higher median income than the White population of the city.^{[citation needed]} The northside of Carson is home to many affluent and professional African-Americans. The neighborhoods on the northside vary from middle-class two story homes to exclusive gated communities. The affluency of the African-American community in North Carson is based around California State University Dominguez Hills; which was established in the aftermath of the Watts Riots to address the education needs of African-Americans in South Los Angeles.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Sports

Club	League	Venue	Established	Championships
Los Angeles Galaxy	MLS Soccer	The Home Depot Center	1995	2
Chivas USA	MLS Soccer	The Home Depot Center	2004	0
Carson Buzz	ABA Basketball	Veterans Park Sports Complex	2004	0
Los Angeles Riptide	MLL Lacrosse	The Home Depot Center Track Field	2006	0

[edit] Attractions

Carson is the site of California State University, Dominguez Hills. CSUDH is a major commuter school, particularly for African-American students from the surrounding cities of Long Beach, Gardena, and Compton. It was established in the wake of the 1965 Watts riots, as a response to community outcry over the lack of higher education opportunities in the largely black south suburbs of Los Angeles.

Carson is also the location of the Home Depot Center, a sports complex including a soccer-specific stadium used by the Los Angeles Galaxy and, as of 2005, Chivas USA, a tennis stadium and a track and field facility. It is also used as a training ground by the U.S. national soccer team. It opened in 2003, adjacent to CSUDH. The ADT Event Center is the first and only permanent indoor velodrome in the U.S.

The Goodyear Blimp also has a landing pad in Carson, a fitting tribute to the 1st and 2nd U.S. and International Aviation Meets held at the Dominguez Hill Rancho in 1910 and 1911, which featured many blimps and zepplins.

[edit] Oil History

1921 marked the first drilling for oil at Dominguez Hill, on the northwest side of the Dominguez Rancho, site of the famous battle during the Mexican-American War called the Battle of Dominguez Rancho in 1846. The mineral rights to this property was owned by Carson Estate Company, the Hellman Family, the Dominguez Estate Company, and the Burnham Exploration Company of Frederick Russell Burnham. It wasn't long before a number of refineries were up and running, with over 350 oil derricks, tank farms, and sprawling industrial complexes becoming a familiar part of the scenery. The principal leases were with Shell Oil Company and Union Oil of California and the first two wells were located west of Central Avenue and north of Victoria Street. Oil led to an increase in jobs in the community and a subsequent post-war population surge. An average of 300 barrels a day was produced from these wells through 1960.

[edit] Education

Most of Carson is served by the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Carson High School serves that portion of Carson.

Some portions of Carson are in the Compton Unified School District.

It is interesting to note that although the California Academy of Mathematics and Science is located in Carson, it is actually a part of the Long Beach Unified School District.

County of Los Angeles Public Library operates the Carson Regional Library and the Victoria Park Library. Both libraries are in Carson.

[edit] Notable residents

Na Pua me Kealoha, a dance troupe devoted to traditional Hawaiian hula, which has competed in the most important international competition, the Merrie Monarch festival in Hilo, Hawaii.
Forest Whitaker, director, producer, and Academy Award-winning actor
Brandy, singer/actress, lived in the city for a short time in her childhood.
Ray J, singer/actor, lived in the city for a short time in his childhood.
The Game, rapper. Lived in Carson for 8 years between his stints in Compton.
Juanita Millender-McDonald, Democratic U.S. Congresswoman since 1996
Ras Kass, rapper
Bishop Lamont, rapper
MC Ren, rapper.
Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E., Rap Group
Ekene Ibekwe, University of Maryland forward
Chris Guevarra, Ameteur film and documentary maker. Producer of Chocolate Milk Foundation's "Promiscuous Cluster."
Antwuan Dixon, amateur skateboarder from Baker Skateboards,who now resides in Victorville,CA.
Carlos Ruiz, skateboarder from Blind Skateboards.