Bellflower, California

The original title to the Bellflower area dates back to 1784 with one of the first Spanish land grants in California. The Bellflower area was a hunting and fishing spot due to an abundance of wild game, ducks and geese, carp and perch. The area was also used for cattle and grazing dairy cows but settlers moved away. Willow, bamboo, and underbrush, wild grape, blackberry, and rose bushes were grown along the river the name of The Willows and The Wilderness.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bellflower.org/community/about_bellflower_/city_history.php|title=Bellflower, CA|website=www.bellflower.org|accessdate=December 20, 2023}}

The site was formerly rich farmland watered by artesian wells and floodwaters of the now-contained San Gabriel River. In 1906, F.E. Woodruff, a local real estate investor,{{cite news |author= |title=Mr. F.E. Woodruff of the Active and Reliable Real Estate Firm of Peet & Woodruff Will Live in Westmoreland Tract |date=November 12, 1903 |work=Los Angeles Herald |volume=XXXI |number=42 |page=8 |url= https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=LAH19031112.2.165&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1 |via=California Digital Newspaper Collection}} founded the first municipality on the site, which was named Somerset in 1909 when a post office was established there.{{cite book|last1=Gudde|first1=Erwin G.|title=California Place Names: The Origin and Etymology of Current Geographical Names|url=https://archive.org/details/californiaplacen00gudd|url-access=registration|date=1998|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-26619-3|page=[https://archive.org/details/californiaplacen00gudd/page/31 31]}} However, the proponents of the name 'Bellflower' claimed that the US Post Office Department rejected the name 'Somerset' to prevent confusion with Somerset, Colorado. The present name is derived from the bellflower apple, which was grown in local orchards during the early 1900s.

Originally settled by dairy farmers of Dutch, Japanese, and Portuguese descent, Bellflower and neighboring Paramount served first as the apple and later the milk production centers for Southern California, until soaring post-World War II property values forced most of the farmers to move several miles east to the Dairy Valley/Dairyland/Dairy City area (now the cities of Cerritos, La Palma, and Cypress). These farms were in turn converted into large housing subdivisions for Los Angeles's growing population that worked in the region's skilled industrial and service sectors. As a result, amongst the highly diverse backgrounds in Bellflower, there remains today a notable number of residents of Dutch descent; Bellflower is one of the only cities in the US to boast multiple Dutch grocery stores.

After Bellflower was incorporated in 1957, its gradual metamorphosis from agricultural center to residential suburb continued. From the 1950s through the late 1960s, Bellflower Boulevard, the city's main thoroughfare, was a thriving commercial strip for shopping. Numerous retail and franchise restaurant firms began on this street, which also featured middle- and high-end boutiques, arts and crafts shops, and other small shopkeeps alongside larger department stores and banks. Today, Bellflower is an urban community within greater Southeast Los Angeles, and ranks amongst the most densely populated cities in the United States.{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.2010.html|title = Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades}} It is a sister city with Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico.{{cite web|url=https://portal.clubrunner.ca/2509/Stories/bellflower-sister-city-project|title=Fundraiser for Bellflower/Los Mochis Sister City Project|website=Portal.clubrunner.ca}}

Bellflower is located at {{Coord|33.888165|-118.127604|type:city_region:US|format=dms|display=inline}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|6.2|sqmi|km2}}. {{convert|6.1|sqmi|km2}} of it is land and {{convert|0.1|sqmi|km2}} of it (0.86%) is water.

Bellflower is bordered by Downey on the north and northwest, Norwalk and Cerritos on the east, Lakewood on the south, Long Beach on the southwest, and Paramount on the west. Bellflower is part of Southeast Los Angeles County and the "Gateway Cities Council of Governments" (GCOG).

{{US Census population

|1960= 45909

|1970= 52334

|1980= 53441

|1990= 61815

|2000= 72878

|2010= 76616

|2020= 79190

|estyear=

|estimate=

|estref=

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decade|website=United States Census Bureau|access-date=}}
1860–1870{{Cite web|title= 1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-12.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}{{Cite web|title= 1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-13.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1880-1890{{Cite web|title= 1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1890/bulletins/demographics/134-population-of-ca.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}
1900{{Cite web|title= 1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1900/bulletins/demographic/10-population-ca.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1910{{Cite web|title= 1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-ca.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1920{{Cite web|title= 1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1920/bulletins/demographics/population-ca-number-of-inhabitants.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}
1930{{Cite web|title= 1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1930/population-volume-1/03815512v1ch03.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1940{{Cite web|title= 1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch03.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1950{{Cite web|title= 1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-1/vol-01-08.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}
1960{{Cite web|title= 1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/vol-01-06-d.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}{{Cite web|title= 1960 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/vol-01-06-c.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1970{{Cite web|title= 1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1970a_ca1-01.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1980{{Cite web|title= 1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_caAB-01.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}
1990{{Cite web|title= 1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}

2000{{Cite web|title= 2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-6.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 2010{{Cite web|title= 2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}
2020

}}

Bellflower first appeared as a city in the 1960 U.S. Census as part of the Downey-Norwalk census county division. Prior to 1960, the area was included in the unincorporated portion of the now defunct Downey Township (1950 pop. 109,659).

At the 2010 census Bellflower had a population of 76,616. The population density was {{convert|12,416.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Bellflower was 32,337 (42.2%) White (19.5% Non-Hispanic White),{{cite web|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0604982.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215155003/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0604982.html|archive-date=February 15, 2015|title=Census data|website=quickfacts.census.gov}} 10,760 (14.0%) African American, 731 (1.0%) Native American, 8,865 (11.6%) Asian, 615 (0.8%) Pacific Islander, 19,732 (25.8%) from other races, and 3,576 (4.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 40,085 persons (52.3%).{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0604982|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Bellflower city|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203172927/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0604982|archive-date=February 3, 2016|url-status=dead}}

The census reported that 75,877 people (99.0% of the population) lived in households, 399 (0.5%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 340 (0.4%) were institutionalized.

There were 23,651 households, 11,029 (46.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 10,992 (46.5%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 4,812 (20.3%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,965 (8.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,666 (7.0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 170 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 4,618 households (19.5%) were one person and 1,540 (6.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.21. There were 17,769 families (75.1% of households); the average family size was 3.67.

The age distribution was 21,749 people (28.4%) under the age of 18, 8,493 people (11.1%) aged 18 to 24, 22,418 people (29.3%) aged 25 to 44, 17,339 people (22.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 6,617 people (8.6%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 31.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.

There were 24,897 housing units at an average density of 4,034.9 per square mile, of the occupied units 9,459 (40.0%) were owner-occupied and 14,192 (60.0%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.1%. 31,897 people (41.6% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 43,980 people (57.4%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Bellflower had a median household income of $49,637, with 17.1% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

At the 2000 census there were 72,878 people in 23,367 households, including 17,128 families, in the city. The population density was {{convert|11,999.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 24,247 housing units at an average density of {{convert|3,992.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 22.37% White American, 33.09% Black or African American, 0.92% Native American, 9.69% Asian, 0.70% Pacific Islander, 24.38% from other races, and 5.13% from two or more races. 43.23% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}

Of the 23,367 households 43.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 19.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were non-families. 21.1% of households were one person and 7.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average family size was 3.59.

The age distribution was 31.9% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% 65 or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.

The median household income was $39,362 and the median family income was $42,822. Males had a median income of $32,658 versus $28,012 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,982 and was below the "poverty rate". About 12.8% of per capita family households and 15.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.7% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.

Mexican and German were the most common ancestries. Mexico and the Philippines were the most common foreign places of birth in 2000.{{Cite web|url=https://maps.latimes.com/neighborhoods/neighborhood/bellflower/|title=Bellflower|website=Mapping L.A.|accessdate=December 20, 2023}}

According to the city's 2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report,{{cite web |date=June 30, 2021 |title=City of Bellflower Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) |url=https://cms5.revize.com/revize/bellflowerca/Document%20Center/Department/Finance/Financial%20Reports/2020-21%20City%20of%20Bellflower%20ACFR%20(For%20Distribution).pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303093703/https://cms5.revize.com/revize/bellflowerca/2020-21%20City%20of%20Bellflower%20ACFR%20(For%20Distribution).pdf |archive-date=March 3, 2022 |access-date=June 12, 2022 |website=Bellflower.org}} the top employers in the city are:

File:Bellflower memorial 1.jpg

In the California State Legislature, Bellflower is in {{Representative|casd|32|fmt=sdistrict}}. In the California State Assembly, it is in {{Representative|caad|58|fmt=adistrict}}.{{cite web

| url = http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html

| title = Statewide Database

| publisher = UC Regents

| access-date = December 16, 2014

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150201113744/http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html

| archive-date = February 1, 2015

| url-status = dead

}}

In the United States House of Representatives, Bellflower is mostly covered by the 42nd congressional district which is represented by {{Representative|cacd|42}}.{{Cite web |title=California's 42nd Congressional District - CA-42 Representatives & District Map |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/CA/42 |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=GovTrack.us |language=en}}

Fire protection in Bellflower is provided by the Los Angeles County Fire Department from stations 23 and 98. Ambulance transport is provided by Care Ambulance Service.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department operates the Lakewood Station in Lakewood, serving Bellflower."[http://www.lasd.org/stations/for3/lakewood/index.html Lakewood Station] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091230224813/http://www.lasd.org/stations/for3/lakewood/index.html |date=December 30, 2009 }}." Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Retrieved on January 21, 2010. In addition the sheriff's department operates the Bellflower Substation in Bellflower."[http://www.lasd.org/stations/for3/lakewood/bellflower.html Bellflower Sub Station] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114051657/http://www.lasd.org/stations/for3/lakewood/bellflower.html |date=January 14, 2010 }}." Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Retrieved on January 21, 2010.

File:Bellflower, Los Angeles County, California - 2025 February 06.jpg

The United States Postal Service Bellflower Post Office is located at 9835 Flower Street."[https://archive.today/20120718041914/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/42390?p=2&s=CA&service_name=post_office&z=Bellflower Post Office Location - BELLFLOWER]." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on December 6, 2008. Los Cerritos Community News serves the city.

The Artesia Freeway (State Route 91) passes east–west through the southern portion of Bellflower, the San Gabriel River Freeway (Interstate 605) runs north–south just east of the city, and the Century Freeway (Interstate 105) runs east–west just north of the city.

Bellflower is served by bus service from Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Long Beach Transit. The city also operates Bellflower Bus, a fixed-route local bus.

File:Clifton M. Brakensiek Library.jpg

Most of Bellflower is within the Bellflower Unified School District. Some of Bellflower is in the Downey Unified School District and some of it is in the Paramount Unified School District.{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06037_los_angeles/DC20SD_C06037.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Los Angeles County, CA|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|page=10 (PDF p. 11/19)|access-date=November 22, 2023}} BUSD has two secondary schools in Bellflower: Bellflower High School and Somerset High School.

St. John Bosco High School, and Valley Christian Elementary both privately run, are also in Bellflower.

The Clifton M. Brakensiek Library is a branch of the County of Los Angeles Public Library."[http://www.colapublib.org/libs/brakensiek/ Clifton M. Brakensiek Library] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070203220218/http://colapublib.org/libs/brakensiek/ |date=February 3, 2007 }}." County of Los Angeles Public Library. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.

==Notable people==

{{More citations needed section|date=November 2012}}

File:Anthony Brown Stanford layup 2014.jpg]]

File:Derrick Williams Kings.jpg]]

• Danny Barber (born 1971), indoor/outdoor soccer player{{Cite web |title=Danny Barber |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/danny-barber/ |access-date=January 5, 2025 |website=Major League Soccer}}
• Steven Barrera (born 1993), soccer player{{Cite web |title=Steven Barrera |url=https://lagoldeneagles.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/steven-barrera/2587 |access-date=January 6, 2025 |website=Cal State Los Angeles Golden Eagles}}
• Anthony Brown (born 1992), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Chris Carter, television and film producer, director and writer, creator of The X-Files
• Zach Charbonnet, NFL player.
• Misty Copeland, principal ballet dancer from American Ballet Theatre
• Ronnie Correy, motorcycle speedway rider
• Savannah DeMelo, soccer player for Racing Louisville and the United States national team{{Cite web |date=June 21, 2023 |title=Meet the USA's 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup team |url=https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/meet-the-usas-2023-fifa-womens-world-cup-team/ |access-date=June 21, 2023 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}
• Aaron Embry, songwriter and record producer
• Kirk Fletcher, electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter, was born in Bellflower in 1975.{{cite web|url=https://crossharpchronicles.wordpress.com/2010/03/17/kirk-fletcher-releases-my-turn-on-delta-groove-records/|title=Kirk Fletcher Releases "My Turn" on Delta Groove Records|first=David W.|last=King|date=March 16, 2010|website=Crossharpchronicles.wordpress.com|access-date=February 19, 2019}}
• Nomar Garciaparra, Major League Baseball shortstop, 6-time All-Star, 2-time batting champion, TV commentator; attended St. John Bosco High School{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=garcino01| title= Nomar Garciaparra Stats|publisher= Baseball Almanac |access-date= November 18, 2012}}
• A.J. Gass, former Canadian Football League player
• Anthony Gose, Major League Baseball pitcher, currently in the Cleveland Guardians organization
• Shauna Grant (1963–1984), screen name of pornographic actress Colleen Applegate, was born here{{cite news|journal=Frontline|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/biographies/ |title=Death of a Porn Queen|date= June 8, 1987}}
• Don Hahn, producer of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Lion King"
• Trevor Hoffman, Major League Baseball relief pitcher, 7-time All-Star, born in Bellflower{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=hoffmtr01| title= Trevor Hoffman Stats|publisher= Baseball Almanac |access-date= November 18, 2012}}
• Jeff Kent, Major League Baseball second baseman, 5-time All-Star, 2000 National League MVP; born in Bellflower{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=kentje01| title= Jeff Kent Stats|publisher= Baseball Almanac |access-date= November 18, 2012}}
• Malcolm David Kelley American rapper and Singer songwriter
• Vanessa Lam, figure skater, 2012 Junior Grand Prix finalist
• Darryll Lewis, former National Football League player
• Adam Liberatore, Major League Baseball relief pitcher with Los Angeles Dodgers
• Evan Longoria, Major League Baseball third baseman, 3-time All-Star{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/longoev01.shtml| title= Evan Longoria Stats

|publisher= Baseball Almanac |access-date= November 18, 2012}} graduated from St. John Bosco High School in 2003

• Kimberly McCullough, actress, General Hospital
• Wendi McLendon-Covey, actress, appeared in film Bridesmaids, was born in Bellflower
• Valentino Pascucci, professional baseball player, 2004–11
• Jerry Quarry, heavyweight boxer, former #1 ranked contender
• Carlos Quentin, Major League Baseball outfielder, 2-time All-Star{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=quentca01| title= Carlos Quentin Stats

|publisher= Baseball Almanac |access-date= November 18, 2012}}

• Sergio Santos, Major League Baseball relief pitcher 2010-15
• Brandon Sermons, professional football player
• Anneliese van der Pol, actress; attended Ramona Elementary School and Bellflower High School
• Derrick Williams, professional basketball player with Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League and the EuroLeague; formerly with five NBA teams, 2011 Pac-10 Player of the Year{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/willide02.html|title=Derrick Williams |publisher= Basketball-Reference.com |access-date= November 18, 2012}}
• Ron Yary, professional football player in College and Pro Football Hall of Fame; graduated Bellflower High School in 1964
• Bob Meusel, an MLB baseball player that played for the New York Yankees and the Cincinnati Reds.
• Matt Welch, blogger and journalist

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{{Reflist}}

{{Wikivoyage|Bellflower}}

{{Commons category|Bellflower, California}}

• {{Official website}}

{{Geographic location|title = Destinations from Bellflower|Centre = Bellflower |North = Downey |Northeast = Norwalk |East = Norwalk
Cerritos |Southeast = Lakewood |Southwest = Long Beach |South = Lakewood |West = Paramount
Long Beach |Northwest = Downey
Paramount}}

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Category:Cities in Los Angeles County, California

Category:Gateway Cities

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