City, Los Angeles County
© McCormack's Guides
Zip Codes: 90247, 90248, 90249
Bedroom city, located on flat land five miles from the Pacific and about 15 miles south of downtown L.A. In appearance plain but well kept. Trees aplenty. School rankings low. Population 61,781. www.mccormacks.com
Many people of Japanese descent settled here before World War II, were interned and returned afterwards. Gardena has a sister-city relationship with a Japanese city and has attracted many businesses from Japan. Median age of residents is 34. Under 18 years, 26 percent. Over 55 years, 21 percent. Rounded demographics.
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Another city that boomed during and immediately after World War II. Gardena built 2,400 residential units in the 1940s, about 7,000 units in the 1950s and 3,900 in the 1960s — in total about 62 percent of its current housing.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Gardena erected, respectively, 3,300 and 2,400 units, a nice chunk of the new and fairly new. But in housing style, the town stayed close to the most popular postwar model, the three-bedroom home (followed by the two-bedroom). Apartments and single homes post almost equal numbers.
In the 1990s, Gardena's increased its housing stock by 1,100 units. The state in 2008 counted 21,501 housing units: 9,316 single homes, 1,714 single attached, 9,368 multiples, 1,103 mobiles.
While many cities are clean, Gardena is perhaps a little cleaner and a little better maintained than others. The trees help. City hall presents a nice face. The library is first class. www.mccormacks.com
Education by the Los Angeles Unified School District. Sample academic rankings: Gardena Elementary, 30th to 60th percentile; Peary Middle, 10th and 20th percentile; Gardena High School, 20th and 30th percentile. See Schools.
Three homicides in 2005, five in 2004. Counts for previous years are 3, 5, 5, 3, 4, 6, 8, 6, 8, 14, 7, 13, 7, 10. The town has its own police department. See Crime.
About half-dozen parks. Community center. Community gym. Swim center. Seniors center. El Camino Community College on southern border. Short drive to ocean and first-class beaches.
Close to the ocean, Gardena catches more cooling breezes and on many hot days will be 10 to 15 degrees cooler than downtown L.A., say city officials.
In 1993, the city government, for reasons that at the time seemed wonderfully promising, went into the insurance business. Big mistake! At the start of 2006, the city, $26 million in debt, was discussing bankruptcy. www.mccormacks.com
But within a few months, a solution was found — several public buildings were sold, the debt was restructured and the city's bond rating elevated. Besides the usual sources of revenue, Garden has two large casinos that pump millions into the town's treasury.
Interstate 110 on the east side, Interstate 105 on the north. Highway 91 on the south, Interstate 405 a few miles to west. About six miles to L.A. International Airport.
Many airport-related jobs and this means a short commute for many residents.
For orientation on cities, towns and neighborhoods of Los Angeles County, see County Overview.
Chamber of commerce: (310) 532-9905.
City web site: www.ci.gardena.ca.us
