Gardena is a city located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 61,027 at the 2020 census, up from 58,829 at the 2010 census. Until 2014, the U.S. census cited the City of Gardena as the place with the highest percentage of Japanese Americans in California. Gardena's Japanese American population contributes to the South Bay region of Los Angeles being home to the highest density of Japanese companies within the mainland United States.
History Based on archaeological findings, the Tongva people hunted and fished in the area of today's Gardena.
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 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, and soon ranchers and farmers followed suit. Union Army Major General William Starke Rosecrans in 1869 bought . 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 subdivided and sold in the early 1870s. One of those became the Amestoy Ranch. Gardena proper began in 1887 when the Pomeroy & Harrison real estate developers subdivided the ranch, anticipating 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 1880s Southern California real estate boom.
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. The berry industry suffered at the time of World War I as other crops were supported by the war economy.Gardena, p. 8
Japanese Americans settled in Gardena throughout its history.Frequently Asked Questions: Gardena County of Los Angeles Public Library. Retrieved on March 27, 2010. 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.
From 1936 to 1980, Gardena held a local monopoly on legal cardrooms, the taxes from which accounted for nearly a third of its annual budget. As this Los Angeles suburb grew, many Japanese American families moved into the new tract homes being built.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , over 99% of which is land. A wetland preserve, the Gardena Willows Wetland Preserve, is located at the southeast corner of Gardena. This is a naturally occurring marshland where water seeps above-ground all year round. It hosts several species of trees and other vegetation.
Gardena is bordered by the unincorporated community of 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.
Neighborhoods in Gardena include: Hermosillo Moneta Strawberry Park
Demographics
Gardena first appeared as a city in the 1940 U.S. census as part of Inglewood Township (pop. 38,637 in 1930).
Racial and ethnic composition
+Gardena city, California – racial and ethnic compositionRace / ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010White alone (NH)14,47910,4717,0645,4844,81932.06%21.01%12.23%9.32%7.90%Black or African American alone (NH)10,09411,44314,70114,03413,00622.35%22.96%25.46%23.86%21.31%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)2361701291001060.52%0.34%0.22%0.17%0.17%Asian alone (NH)12,49816,15315,36315,14915,81327.67%32.41%26.60%25.75%25.91%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)3813823560.66%0.65%0.58%Other race alone (NH)1251041451743640.28%0.21%0.25%0.30%0.60%Mixed race or multiracial (NH)xx1,5911,3552,060xx2.76%2.30%3.38%Hispanic or Latino (any race)7,73311,50618,37222,15124,50317.12%23.08%31.82%37.65%40.15%Total45,16549,84757,74658,82961,027100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%
2020 census As of the 2020 census, Gardena had a population of 61,027, with a population density of .
The racial makeup was 7,284 (11.9%) White, 13,290 (21.8%) Black or African American, 752 (1.2%) American Indian and Alaska Native, 16,167 (26.5%) Asian, 413 (0.7%) Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 15,836 (25.9%) from some other race, and 7,285 (11.9%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 24,503 (40.2%) of the population.
The age distribution was 18.9% under the age of 18, 8.5% aged 18 to 24, 28.0% aged 25 to 44, 27.1% aged 45 to 64, and 17.5% aged 65 or older. The median age was 40.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males age 18 and over.
The census reported that 98.4% of the population lived in households, 0.4% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 1.3% were institutionalized. 100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 21,571 households, of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18. Of all households, 40.7% were married-couple households, 6.4% were cohabiting couple households, 20.2% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present, and 32.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 24.7% of households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78, and there were 14,799 families (68.6% of all households).
There were 22,393 housing units at an average density of , of which 21,571 (96.3%) were occupied. Of occupied units, 47.3% were owner-occupied and 52.7% were occupied by renters. 3.7% of housing units were vacant, with a homeowner vacancy rate of 0.7% and a rental vacancy rate of 3.0%.
2023 estimate In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $79,291, and the per capita income was $35,807. About 7.7% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line.
2010 census The 2010 United States census reported that Gardena had a population of 58,829. The population density was . The racial composition of Gardena was 14,498 (24.6%) white (9.3% Non-Hispanic White), 14,352 (24.4%) black, 348 (0.6%) Native American, 15,400 (26.2%) Asian, 426 (0.7%) Pacific Islander, 11,136 (18.9%) from other races, and 2,669 (4.5%) from two or more races. There were 22,151 people of Hispanic or Latino origin, of any race (37.7%).
The Census reported that 58,035 people (98.7% of the population) lived in households, 122 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 672 (1.1%) were institutionalized.
There were 20,558 households, out of which 7,199 (35.0%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 8,782 (42.7%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 3,931 (19.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,486 (7.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,085 (5.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 104 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 5,142 households (25.0%) were made up of individuals, and 1,921 (9.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82. There were 14,199 families (69.1% of all households); the average family size was 3.39.
The population was spread out, with 13,410 people (22.8%) under the age of 18, 5,353 people (9.1%) aged 18 to 24, 16,656 people (28.3%) aged 25 to 44, 15,086 people (25.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 8,324 people (14.1%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.
There were 21,472 housing units at an average density of , of which 9,852 (47.9%) were owner-occupied, and 10,706 (52.1%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.6%. 28,585 people (48.6% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 29,450 people (50.1%) lived in rental housing units.
During 2009–2013, Gardena had a median household income of $48,251, with 15.5% of the population living below the federal poverty line.
2000 census As of the 2000 census, there were 57,746 people, 20,324 households, and 14,023 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 21,041 housing units at an average density of . 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.
Mexican and Japanese were the most common ancestries. Mexico and Korea were the most common foreign places of birth.
1980 In 1980, about 31% of the population was Anglo white, 23% was black, 21% was Japanese, and 17% was Latino. The remainder included a Korean community that was increasing in size and Chinese, Filipino, and Native American people. The National Planning Data Corp. released projected figures in 1987 estimating that of the 50,000 residents, 26.3% were Anglo, 23% were black, 22.7 were Latino, and 28% were of other racial groups. By 1989, Anglo and Japanese residents tended to live in central and southern Gardena. Middle class black people began to move into the Hollypark area in northern Gardena in the 1960s, so the black population was concentrated there.Goodman, Adrianne. "toward EQUALITY : EXPLORING A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE : ON THE STREET Where You Live : GARDENA." (Article information ) Los Angeles Times. February 13, 1989. Special Section; Metro Desk p. 8. "In 1980, Gardena was about 31% Anglo, 23% black, 21% Japanese and 17% Latino. [...] much of the city's Japanese population was placed in internment camps."
1970–1978 According to the 1970 U.S. Census, 56% of the population was white. Racial demographic changes occurred until 1978. That year, Mayor Edmond J. Russ declared that according to a special 1978 census, the racial demographics of Gardena had stabilized.Williams, Bob. "Gardena Stable After Years of Racial Change ." Los Angeles Times. August 20, 1978. Centinela-South Bay p. CS1. Retrieved on August 30, 2013. "A special 1978 census portrays Gardena as a stable, integrated and largely middle-class community after eight years of racial change, according to Mayor Edmond J. Russ." and "The city, which had a 56% Anglo population in 1970, ac- cording to the 1970 US ... In fact, the Japanese, Chi- nese, Filipino and other Asian proportions in the[...]"
Japanese Americans
Gardena has a large Japanese-American community.Goodman, Adrianne. "Teacher Helps Japanese-Americans Brush Up on Their Heritage." Los Angeles Times. November 24, 1988. Retrieved on August 30, 2013. Until 2014, it had the second-highest concentration of Japanese Americans in any U.S. municipality, the first being Honolulu. As of 2014, the nearby city of Torrance holds the highest Japanese-American population in the 48 contiguous states.
The Japanese Cultural Institute (JCI) has been is located in Gardena since 1988, and offers cultural and social activities for Japanese Americans. The building used during that year was completed in 1976."'Focal Point' for Community : Institute Perpetuates Japanese Culture." Los Angeles Times. September 1, 1988. Retrieved on August 30, 2013.