Gardena California CA Warrant Search

Gardena, California Gardena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 57,746 at the 2000 census. Geography Gardena is located at 33°53′37″N 118°18′28″W / 33.89361°N 118.30778°W / 33.89361; -118.30778 (33.893615, -118.307841).According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.1 km² (5.8 mi²), all land.Gardena is bordered by Athens on the north, the Los Angeles neighborhood of Harbor Gateway on the east and south, Torrance on the southwest, Alondra Park on the west, and Hawthorne on the northwest. History Based on archaeological findings, Tongva Indians hunted and fished in the area of today's Gardena. The Tongva Indians — also known as Gabrielino Indians — are probably descendants of those who crossed from Asia to North America around 10,000 years ago.In 1784, three years after the foundation of Los Angeles, Juan Jose Dominguez (1736–1809), a Spanish soldier who arrived in San Diego, California in 1769 with Fernando Rivera y Moncada, in recognition of his military service, received the roughly 43,000-acre (170 km2) Spanish land grant, the Rancho San Pedro. Part of this land contained what became known as Gardena Valley. After the American Civil War veterans bought parts of the land, soon ranchers and farmers followed suit. Union Army Major General William Starke Rosecrans in 1869 bought 16,000 acres (65 km2). The 'Rosecrans Rancho,' was bordered by what later was Florence Avenue on the north, Redondo Beach Boulevard on the south, Central Avenue on the east, and Arlington Avenue on the west. The Rosecrans property was sub divided and sold in the early 1870s. One of those became the 650-acre (2.6 km2) Amestoy Ranch. Gardena proper began in 1887 when the Pomeroy & Harrison real estate developers subdivided the ranch, and-anticipating that the coming of the Los Angeles and Redondo Railway. Civil War veteran Spencer Roane Thorpe is credited with starting the first settlement in Gardena in 1887. Railroads put Gardena on the map following a real estate boom in the Los Angeles area in the 1880s. Some believe the city was named for its reputation for being the only 'green spot' in the dry season between Los Angeles and the sea. Because of its acres of berries, the city was dubbed 'Berryland'. The Strawberry Day Festival and Parade was held each May annually. The berry industry suffered at the time of World War I as other crops were supported by the war economy. Japanese Americans settled in Gardena throughout its history.The only way Gardena could protect itself from a heavy county tax imposed on a planned project at a park site was to incorporate. The City of Gardena became incorporated on September 11, 1930. Demographics As of the census 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. Local government The Gardena Office of Economic Development is a department of the city government. It aids employers in filling a variety of jobs customized to their specific needs. It also helps potential employers in setting up business enterprises.The Gardena Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency in the City. The Police Department has 93 sworn police officers, 24 full-time support staff, and 33 part-time employees. There are reserve, volunteer, and explorer programs. The current Chief of Police is Edward Medrano, appointed in 2007. Radio communications and the 9-1-1 call center are handled by the South Bay Regional Public Communications Authority. County representation The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Curtis Tucker Health Center in Inglewood and the Torrance Health Center in Harbor Gateway, Los Angeles, near Torrance and serving Gardena. State representation In the state legislature Gardena is located in the 25th Senate District, represented by Democrat Edward Vincent, and in the 51st Assembly District, represented by Democrat Curren D. Price Jr.. Federal representation Gardena is located in California's 35th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of D +33 and is represented by Democrat Maxine Waters.The United States Postal Service operates the Gardena Post Office at 1455 West Redondo Beach Boulevard, the South Gardena Post Office at 1103 West Gardena Boulevard, and the Alondra Post Office at 14028 Van Ness Avenue.The National Transportation Safety Board operates the Gardena Aviation Field Office in Harbor Gateway, Los Angeles; it is the regional headquarters of the NTSB Aviation Western Region. Transportation The city operates the Gardena Municipal Bus Lines. Economy Digital Manga is headquartered in Suite 300 at 1487 West 178th Street. Nissin Foods has its United States headquarters and its Gardena Plant in Gardena. Nissin Foods (U.S.A.) Co., Inc. opened in Gardena in 1970.National Stores Inc., which operates the Factory 2-U and the Fallas Paredes brands, has its headquarters in the Harbor Gateway area of Los Angeles, located near the City of Gardena. Top employers According to the City's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are: Public schools Gardena is served by the Los Angeles Unified School District. The area is within Board District 7. As of 2008 Dr. Richard Vladovic represents the district.Zoned elementary schools include:153rd Street Elementary School 156th Street Elementary School 186th Street Elementary School Ambler Elementary School Amestoy Elementary School Chapman Elementary School Denker Elementary School Gardena Elementary School (Los Angeles) Purche Elementary SchoolSome areas in Gardena have a choice among Gardens Elementary School(Los Angeles), Purche, and 135th Street Elementary School (Los Angeles) Zoned middle schools include:Peary Middle SchoolSome areas in Gardena have a choice between Peary and Clay Middle School(Los Angeles) Zoned high schools include:Gardena High School(Los Angeles) In Spring 1956, the junior high school classes stayed at the old Gardena High School while the high school classes moved into a new building. Up until the opening of the new Gardena High School, high school students held morning shifts, while junior high school students held afternoon shifts. Private schools The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles operates Catholic schools in Gardena, including Junípero Serra High School, Maria Regina Catholic School (K-8), and St. Anthony of Padua School (K-8). Gardena Valley Christian School, a K-8 non-Catholic private school, is in Gardena. The Gardena Christian Academy, a PreK-2 Christian school, is in Gardena. Public libraries Gardena Mayme Dear Library, a 16,000-square-foot (1,500 m2) building located in Gardena, and Masao W. Satow Library, located west of Gardena in Alondra Park (El Camino Village), unincorporated Los Angeles County, are operated by the County of Los Angeles Public Library.Wednesday Progressive Club sponsored the formation of the Gardena Library. In 1913 the Moneta Branch was formed. In 1914 the Gardena Library became a part of the Los Angeles County Free Library system. Due to annexation the library was transferred to the Los Angeles City Library Board. In 1919 the Strawberry Park branch was formed. In August 1951 the Gardena library came back to the county system. In 1958 the Strawberry Park and Moneta branches merged into the West Gardena Branch. The current Gardena library building was dedicated on December 5, 1964. In 1969 a fire forced the West Gardena branch to go to a new location. The current Satow building, dedicated on February 26, 1977, was named after a Japanese American in the community. The Gardena library received its current name on May 30, 1992 after a library volunteer, who had died prior to the renaming. Notable residents/affiliates The following is a list of natives, residents, and other people with strong ties to the city:J.C. Agajanian- prominent racing promoter; owned and operatedAscot Park. Paul Bannai- former city councilman and first Japanese American to serve in theCalifornia State Legislature. Romana Acosta Bañuelos- 34th and firstHispanicUS Treasurer; founder/owner of Ramona's Mexican Food Products, one of the oldest businesses still operating in the city (founded in 1949). Polly Bergen- actress and singer; originally fromTennessee, lived in Gardena and attendedGardena High School(GHS). Enos Cabell- third basemen with theBaltimore OriolesandDetroit Tigers; originally fromKansas, attended GHS. Wayne Collett- runner,1972 Summer Olympicssilver medalist in the 400 meter event; attended GHS. Dock Ellis- pitcher with thePittsburgh Pirates; attended GHS. Charlie Evans- running back with theNew York GiantsandWashington Redskins; born in Gardena. Robert L. Freedman- screenwriter and playwright; onetime resident of Gardena, attended Purche Avenue Elementary school(PAE). Frankie Garcia- Hall of Fame boxer; resident of Gardena. Gaston Green- running back with theLos Angeles RamsandDenver Broncos; attended GHS. H.B. Halicki- actor, film maker, stuntman; business owner in Gardena and premiered hisGone in 60 Secondsthere in 1974. Lisa Leslie- Olympic gold medalist andLos Angeles Sparksbasketball player; born in Gardena. Art Pepper- innovative jazz saxophonist; born in Gardena. Butch Patrick- actor; was living in Gardena and attending PAE when he auditioned forThe Munsters. Paul Petersen- actor, novelist, activist; onetime resident of Gardena. William Rosecrans-Uniongeneral,congressman, and ambassador toMexico; owner of and resident upon (from 1869) 'Rosecrans Rancho,' the foundation upon which Gardena would later emerge. George Stanich-1948 Summer Olympicshigh jumper and bronze medalist; resident of Gardena.