Gardena, California

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 57,746 people, 20,324 households, and 14,023 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,830.9/km² (9,921.3/mi²). There were 21,041 housing units at an average density of 1,395.9/km² (3,615.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 23.82% White, 25.99% Black or African American, 0.64% Native American, 26.82% Asian, 0.73% Pacific Islander, 16.94% from other races, and 5.05% from two or more races. 31.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 20,324 households out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% were married couples living together, 18.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.38.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,988, and the median income for a family was $44,906. Males had a median income of $32,951 versus $29,908 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,263. About 12.3% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.3% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Education

[edit] Primary and secondary schools

[edit] Public schools

Gardena is served by the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Zoned elementary schools include:

153rd Street Elementary School
156th Street Elementary School
186th Street Elementary School
Amestoy Elementary School
Chapman Elementary School
Denker Elementary School
Gardena Elementary School
Purche Elementary School
- Some areas in Gardena have a choice between Avalon Gardens Elementary School (Los Angeles), Purche, and 135th Street Elementary School (Los Angeles)

Zoned middle schools include:

Peary Middle School
- Some areas in Gardena have a choice between Peary and Clay Middle School (Los Angeles)

Zoned high schools include:

Gardena High School

[edit] Private schools

Area private schools include Junípero Serra High School [1].

[edit] Public libraries

Gardena Mayme Dear Library, located in Gardena, and Masao W. Satow Library, located west of Gardena in unincorporated Los Angeles County, are operated by the County of Los Angeles Public Library.

[edit] See also

Ascot Park, a closed racetrack in Gardena

[edit] Trivia

Gardena was originally part of Rancho San Pedro, granted by the Spanish Empire in 1784 by King Carlos III to Juan Jose Dominguez.

The first few seasons of BET's Comic View were filmed in Gardena at the Normandie Casino, located on Rosecrans Avenue.

A new City of Gardena motto was adopted in 2006 - The City of Opportunity. The motto was formerly The Freeway City. It was so named because of its proximity and accessibility to the intersection of the 405, 110, and 91 freeways. It is interesting to note that there are no freeways within Gardena's city limits.

In the "The Case of the Dangerous Dowager" episode of the Perry Mason television series, the female protagonist loses her money at a Gardena card club. Mason explains to his assistant, Della Street, that Gardena is an unusual place because they allow legalized gambling in the form of poker and other card games. For many years, this was Gardena’s big claim to fame. Some of these included The Gardena Club, The Horseshoe Club, The El Dorado Club, and The Normandie Club.

The United States division of Nissan was headquarted here from its incorporation until 2005, when Carlos Ghosn decided to move it to Franklin, Tennessee.

Members of the African-American rock band, The Bus Boys were former residents of Gardena.

Money Mark or Mark Nishita, a DJ and musician who worked with The Beastie Boys as well as his own solo projects lived in Gardena. In the Beastie Boys song "So Watcha Want" there is a rap lyric that proclaims "...From here to Gardena!" presumably in reference to the musician's home base.