Cudahy, California

City of Cudahy
City
Logo
Location of Cudahy in Los Angeles County, California
Coordinates: 33°57′51″N 118°10′57″W / 33.96417°N 118.18250°W / 33.96417; -118.18250Coordinates: 33°57′51″N 118°10′57″W / 33.96417°N 118.18250°W / 33.96417; -118.18250
Country	United States of America
State	California
County	Los Angeles
Incorporated	November 10, 1960[1]
Area[2]
• Total	1.226 sq mi (3.175 km2)
• Land	1.175 sq mi (3.043 km2)
• Water	0.051 sq mi (0.132 km2)  4.15%
Elevation[3]	121 ft (37 m)
Population (April 1, 2010)[4]
• Total	23,805
• Estimate (2013)[4]	24,103
• Density	19,000/sq mi (7,500/km2)
Time zone	PST (UTC-8)
• Summer (DST)	PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP Code	90201
Area code(s)	323
FIPS code	06-17498
GNIS feature ID	1652694
Website	www.cityofcudahy.com

Cudahy (/ˈkʌdəheɪ/ KUD-ə-hay or /ˈkuːdəhaɪ/ KOO-də-hy) is a city located in southeastern Los Angeles County, California. In terms of area, Cudahy is the second smallest city in Los Angeles County, after Hawaiian Gardens, but with one of the highest population densities of any incorporated city in the United States. It is part of the Gateway Cities region. Cudahy is populated predominantly by Latino immigrants^[5] and has a population of 23,805 as of the 2010 U.S. Census^[6]

History

Cudahy is named for its founder, meat-packing baron Michael Cudahy,^[7] who purchased the original 2,777 acres (11.2 km²) of Rancho San Antonio in 1908 to resell as 1-acre (4,000 m²) lots. These "Cudahy lots" were notable for their dimensions—in most cases, 50 to 100 feet (15 to 30 m) in width and 600 to 800 feet (183 to 244 m) in depth, a length equivalent to a city block or more in most American towns. Such parcels, often referred to as "railroad lots", were intended to allow the new town's residents to keep a large vegetable garden, a grove of fruit trees (usually citrus), and a chicken coop or horse stable. This arrangement, popular in the towns along the lower Los Angeles and San Gabriel rivers, proved particularly attractive to the Southerners and Midwesterners who were leaving their struggling farms in droves in the 1910s and 1920s to start new lives in Southern California. Sam Quinones of the Los Angeles Times said that the large, narrow parcels of land gave Cudahy Acres a "rural feel in an increasingly urban swath."^[7] As late as the 1950s, some Cudahy residents were still riding into the city's downtown areas on horseback. After World War II the city was a White American blue collar town with steel and automobile plants in the area.^[7]

By the late 1970s, the factories closed down and the white American residents of Cudahy left for jobs and housing in the San Gabriel and San Fernando Valleys. Stucco apartment complexes were built on former tracts of land. The population density increased; in 2007 the city was the second-densest in California, after Maywood.^[8]

The city was subjected to a major political corruption incident when the former mayor and the one-time city manager were indicted on bribery and extortion charges for supporting the opening of a medical marijuana dispensary. As a result of these charges, on July 12, 2012, ex-mayor David Silva, councilman Osvaldo Conde, and former City Manager Angel Perales, 43, each pled guilty to one count of bribery and extortion; according to plea agreements they each face up to 30 years in prison.^[9]

Geography

Cudahy is located at 33°57′51″N 118°10′57″W / 33.964214°N 118.182575°W / 33.964214; -118.182575.^[10]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.175 square kilometers (1.226 sq mi), over 95% of it land.^[11]

Cudahy is bordered by Bell on the north, Bell Gardens on the east, South Gate on the south and southwest, and Huntington Park on the west.

In 2007, of the 5,800 housing units, 5,000 were rentals.^[8]

Demographics

2010

The 2010 United States Census^[12] reported that Cudahy had a population of 23,805. The population density was 19,417.5 people per square mile (7,497.2/km²). The racial makeup of Cudahy was 11,708 (49.2%) White (2.1% Non-Hispanic White),^[13] 333 (1.4%) African American, 246 (1.0%) Native American, 137 (0.6%) Asian, 24 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 10,339 (43.4%) from other races, and 1,018 (4.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22,850 persons (96.0%).

The Census reported that 23,797 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 8 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 5,607 households, out of which 3,712 (66.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 2,941 (52.5%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,362 (24.3%) had a female householder with no husband present, 686 (12.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 589 (10.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 42 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 399 households (7.1%) were made up of individuals and 176 (3.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.24. There were 4,989 families (89.0% of all households); the average family size was 4.32.

The population was spread out with 8,325 people (35.0%) under the age of 18, 2,858 people (12.0%) aged 18 to 24, 7,279 people (30.6%) aged 25 to 44, 4,121 people (17.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,222 people (5.1%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27.0 years. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.5 males.

There were 5,770 housing units at an average density of 4,706.5 per square mile (1,817.2/km²), of which 1,011 (18.0%) were owner-occupied, and 4,596 (82.0%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 2.3%. 4,355 people (18.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 19,442 people (81.7%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Cudahy had a median household income of $39,263, with 29.9% of the population living below the federal poverty line.^[13]

2000

As of the census^[14] of 2000, there were 24,208 people, 5,419 households, and 4,806 families residing in the city. The population density was 21,627.7 inhabitants per square mile (8,345.3/km²). There were 5,542 housing units at an average density of 4,951.3 per square mile (1,910.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 43.14% White, 1.24% Black or African American, 1.28% Native American, 0.74% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 48.06% from other races, and 5.37% from two or more races. 94.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,419 households out of which 66.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples living together, 21.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 11.3% were non-families. 8.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.47 and the average family size was 4.58.

In the city the population was spread out with 39.9% under the age of 18, 12.4% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 11.7% from 45 to 64, and 3.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,040, and the median income for a family was $28,833. Males had a median income of $19,149 versus $16,042 for females. The per capita income for the city was $8,688. About 26.4% of families and 28.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.1% of those under age 18 and 18.1% of those age 65 or over.

Latino communities These were the ten cities or neighborhoods in Los Angeles County with the largest percentage of Latino residents, according to the 2000 census:^{[§ 1]}

Government

In the California State Legislature, Cudahy is in the 33rd Senate District, represented by Democrat Ricardo Lara, and in the 63rd Assembly District, represented by Democrat Anthony Rendon.^[15]

In the United States House of Representatives, Cudahy is in California's 40th congressional district, represented by Democrat Lucille Roybal-Allard.^[16]

Cudahy's council is elected through at-large elections with four-year seats. The current mayor is Chris Garcia. The current vice mayor is Cristian Markovich.^[17] The current councilmembers are: Diane Oliva, Baru Sanchez, and Jack Guerrero.^[18]

Elections

March of 2015 will mark the next municipal election in the city of Cudahy where residents can vote on a ballot measure establishing term limits and three council members to represent them. While Councilmembers and incumbents Cristian Markovich, Diane Oliva, and Baru Sanchez are running for re-election, newcomers Marlene Chacon, Christian Hernandez, and Adam Ochoa have also entered their names in the race.

Infrastructure

Police Services formerly were contracted through the City of Maywood, by the Maywood-Cudahy Police Department, now disbanded. In an emergency meeting conducted July 21, 2010, Cudahy city leaders agreed to contract for police services with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.^[19]

Fire protection in Cudahy is provided by the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Whittier Health Center in Whittier, serving Cudahy.^[20]

The United States Postal Service Cudahy Post Office is located at 4619 Elizabeth Street.^[21]

Economy

After World War II the population of Cudahy worked for plants operated by General Motors, Chrysler, Firestone, and Bethlehem Steel.^[7] In 2007 the largest employers in Cudahy were the Kmart/Big Lots Center and the Superior Super Warehouse.^[8]

Education

Cudahy is a part of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Cudahy is served by several schools, including Teresa Hughes Elementary School, Park Avenue Elementary School, Elizabeth Learning Center (a neighborhood school for grades K-8 and a high school for grades 9 through 12), Ochoa Learning Center (K-8), and Bell High School in Bell.

All residents are zoned to Bell High School.^[22][23] Any student who lives in the Bell or Huntington Park High School zones may apply to Maywood Academy High School; Maywood Academy, which opened in 2005 and moved into its permanent campus in 2006, does not have its own attendance boundary because it lacks American football, track and field, and tennis facilities.^[24]

Jaime Escalante Elementary School opened in Cudahy on August 16, 2010, named after Jaime Escalante, who was an East Los Angeles-high school educator.^[25][26]

An analysis based on census data, classified Cudahy as the 4th least educated city in California with 37.9 of its population not having completed the ninth grade.^[27]

Public libraries

County of Los Angeles Public Library operates the Cudahy Library at 5218 Santa Ana Street.^[28]

See also

• Gateway Cities

References

Further reading

• Watanabe, Teresa. "Parents' campaign leads to reforms at Cudahy elementary school." Los Angeles Times. January 26, 2014.

External links

• Official website

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