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Gardena, CA

Frequently asked questions

Gardena, CA

Gardena is a city located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 58,829 at the 2010 census, up from 57,746 at the 2000 census. Until 2014, the US 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 largest concentration of Japanese companies within the mainland United States.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.9 square miles (15 km2), over 99% of which is land. A 9.4-acre (3.8 ha) 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.

Based on archaeological findings, the Tongva people 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, and 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 subdivided and sold in the early 1870s. 

Gardena emphasizes health and wellness. Rowley Memorial Park offers a serene environment for outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, and picnicking. The park features walking paths, green spaces, and recreational facilities for community members to enjoy. Gardena has several parks, green spaces, and walking trails where residents can engage in outdoor recreation and exercise. Explore options like Arthur Lee Johnson Memorial Park, Rowley Memorial Park, and Mas Fukai Park for walking, jogging, and outdoor fitness activities. 345 Fit is a state-of-the-art facility furnished with a full range of exercise equipment to improve your cardiovascular and muscular fitness. Massage Therapy Center facilitates deep, long-lasting results in a wide range of modalities, peeling away layers of stress, restoring mobility to injured muscle tissue, and easing stiffened joints and hot spots of pain. Healing Corner incorporates the healing properties of plants, herbs, cremes, oils, and minerals from around the world into a variety of unmatched spa services designed to reduce stress and enhance balance. 

Top sites in Gardena, California are Planet Lambretta, Aquarium of the Pacific, and Rosecrans Park.

Population: 58,921 (2024). ZIP codes: 90247–90249. Area codes: 310, 424. Elevation: 49 ft (15 m). Area: 5.9 square miles (15 km2)

FAQs

What Gardena, CA is known for?

Farming became Gardena’s main industry early in the twentieth century, though berries, ­especially strawberries, ­were its claim to fame. The community became known as “Berryland,” and was renowned for its Strawberry Day Festival and parade every May. The berry industry dwindled with World War I, when land was used first for other crops and then later for development.

What is the crime rate in Gardena, CA?

With a crime rate of 38 per one thousand residents, Gardena has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes - from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One's chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 26. Within California, more than 92% of the communities have a lower crime rate than Gardena. Importantly, when you compare Gardena to other communities of similar populations, then Gardena's crime rate (violent and property crimes combined) is quite a bit higher than average.

Is Gardena, CA expensive?

Gardena, California's cost of living is 41% higher than the national average. The cost of living in any area can vary based on factors such as your career, average salary, and the real estate market of that area. Gardena's housing expenses are 92% higher than the national average and the utility prices are 11% higher than the national average. Transportation expenses like bus fares and gas prices are 28% higher than the national average.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Gardena

Rowley Memorial Park

Arthur Lee Johnson Memorial Park

Mas Fukai Park

345 Fit

Massage Therapy Center

Healing Corner 

Planet Lambretta

Aquarium of the Pacific

Rosecrans Park

Los Angeles to Gardena

LA County Library

NeighborhoodScout

Payscale

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