Overview

Introduction to South Gate, California

Incorporated in 1923, South Gate is located in the southern part of the state and borders the southeastern part of Los Angeles.

South Gate straddles both the Los Angeles River and Interstate 710. It fits, with room to spare, in the triangle bounded by Interstate 110 on the west, Interstate 105 on the south and Interstate 5 along the northeast. The Pacific Ocean is about 10 miles away whether you are traveling due west or due south. The southeast portion of the city is an area known as Hollydale, a community which was annexed by South Gate.

South Gate is served by four airports, which are all between 6 and 12 miles away. The Metropolitan Transit Authority provides bus service.

South Gate History

Much of South Gate was included in the grant of land from the King of Spain to Don Antonio Maria Lugo in 1810 as a result of his father's service in the Spanish Army. It was originally used for agricultural crops and for grazing cattle, horses, and sheep. The land, known as Rancho San Antonio, was divided into smaller units as it was passed down. By the 1870's much of it was 40 acre tracts.

Between 1910 and 1940 homes, factories, and a commercial district grew at the south gate of the rancho, providing the city with its name. An early housing development named "Southgate Gardens-Gateway to the Sea" began selling in 1917. It comprised 268 parcels of land, each roughly a half acre. By 1918 a total of 125 homes held an estimated 500 residents. The railroad, homes and industry reinforced each other's growth. In the 1920s and 1930s several large companies constructed factories in South Gate including Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, A. R. Maas Chemical Company, the fore runner of U.S. Gypsum named Star Roofing Company and General Motors. Since then, major changes have been the boon to industry which World War II brought, and the immigration of Latino and other groups which began in the 1970s.

South Gate Attractions

The city maintains nine parks. South Gate Park, the largest, with 96 acres, offers:

  • 10 baseball diamonds.
  • 6 tennis courts.
  • Horseshoe pits.
  • A shuffle board court.
  • Basketball.
  • Handball.
  • A 9-hole Frisbee golf.
  • An Olympic size swimming pool.
  • 20 acres of picnic grounds with tables and barbeques.
  • A par 3 golf course.
  • A Municipal Auditorium.
  • A Girls Clubhouse.

One annual attraction is the South Gate Children's Christmas Lane Parade. Others are the Southern Avenue Bike Pedestrian Way and the Rio Hondo Bicycle Trail

The famous aviator, Amelia Earhart, was taught to fly at an unpaved air strip in South Gate named Kinner Field. It was located on Century Boulevard at the intersection with Long Beach Boulevard. Glenn Seaborg, the 1951 co-winner of the Nobel Prize who also worked on the Manhattan Project lived in a neighborhood which later became part of South Gate.

Demographics

People

Total Population95,103
Male Share of the Population48.9%
Female Share of the Population51.1%
Senior Citizens9.2%
Employed Population 16+41,520
Age of the Population32

Families

% of people married41%
Average household size4

Education and Earnings

Population % with Bachelor Degree or Higher11.6%
Median Earnings25+$28,257
Median Earnings Without High School Qualification$21,850
Median Earnings With High School Degree$28,778

Wealth

Median Family Income$51,080
% Above Poverty Level81.2%
% Below Poverty Level18.8%

Commute & Sprawl

Average Commute Time32 minutes
% Working from Home2.7%
% Walking and Biking to Work2.3%
% Using Public Transportation6.3%

Housing

People Living Alone11.3%
Median Gross Rent$1,125
Median House Value$375,900

Ancestry

Other(often includes Hispanic and African American)90%
Irish0.5%
German0.5%
English0.4%
Italian0.3%
Arab0.2%
Scottish0.1%
African0.1%
West Indian0.1%
Turkish0.1%
Swedish0.1%
Russian0.1%
Norwegian0.1%
Lebanese0.1%
Brazilian0.1%
Dutch0.1%
French Except Basque0.1%
Polish0.1%
+ Show More

South Gate Almanac

CategoryValue
CountyLos Angeles County
Standard Zip Codes90280
Phone Area Codes323
Time ZoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
Approximate Latitude33.94
Approximate Longitude-118.2

South Gate Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

  • Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
  • Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

StationLOS ANGELES DOWNTOWN USC
Distance7.5 miles
Jan Temp49 to 68 F
Apr Temp54 to 73 F
Jul Temp65 to 84 F
Oct Temp60 to 79 F
Annual Precip15.1 inches
StationLONG BEACH AP
Distance10.2 miles
Jan Temp46 to 68 F
Apr Temp53 to 73 F
Jul Temp65 to 83 F
Oct Temp58 to 79 F
Annual Precip12.9 inches
StationSAN GABRIEL FIRE DEPT
Distance11.9 miles
Jan Temp43 to 70 F
Apr Temp50 to 77 F
Jul Temp62 to 89 F
Oct Temp55 to 83 F
Annual Precip18.5 inches

Nearby Cities and Towns

LocationPopulationMedian Family Income
Bell35,809$43,265
Bell Gardens42,641$40,634
Cudahy24,016$41,942
Huntington Park58,694$41,626
Lynwood71,022$50,910
Maywood27,542$43,324

South Gate Public Schools

Alliance Margaret M. Bloomfield Technology Academy High
8691 California Ave.
ZIP: 90280
High
Total Enrollment 104
Aspire Firestone Academy
8929 Kauffman Ave.
ZIP: 90280
Primary
Total Enrollment 417
Aspire Gateway Academy
8929 Kauffman Ave.
ZIP: 90280
Primary
Total Enrollment 400
Bryson Avenue Elementary
4470 Missouri Ave.
ZIP: 90280
Primary
Total Enrollment 833
Hollydale
5511 Century Blvd.
ZIP: 90280
Primary
Total Enrollment 1063
Independence Elementary
8435 Victoria Ave.
ZIP: 90280
Primary
Total Enrollment 754
International Studies Lrng Center At Legacy High Sch Complex
5225 Tweedy Blvd.
ZIP: 90280
Other
Total Enrollment 842
Liberty Boulevard Elementary
2728 Liberty Blvd.
ZIP: 90280
Primary
Total Enrollment 595
Madison Elementary
9820 Madison Ave.
ZIP: 90280
Primary
Total Enrollment 623
Montara Avenue Elementary
10018 Montara Ave.
ZIP: 90280
Primary
Total Enrollment 831
Odyssey Continuation
8693 Dearborn Ave.
ZIP: 90280
High
Total Enrollment 122
San Gabriel Avenue Elementary
8628 San Gabriel Ave.
ZIP: 90280
Primary
Total Enrollment 643
San Miguel Elementary
9801 San Miguel Ave.
ZIP: 90280
Primary
Total Enrollment 1035
Sci, Tech, Engr, Arts And Math At Legacy High Sch Complex
5225 Tweedy Blvd.
ZIP: 90280
High
Total Enrollment 431
South East High
2720 Tweedy Blvd.
ZIP: 90280
High
Total Enrollment 2262
South Gate Middle
4100 Firestone Blvd.
ZIP: 90280
Middle
Total Enrollment 2178
South Gate Senior High
3351 Firestone Blvd.
ZIP: 90280
High
Total Enrollment 2832
Southeast Middle
2560 Tweedy Blvd.
ZIP: 90280
Middle
Total Enrollment 1105
Stanford Avenue Elementary
2833 Illinois Ave.
ZIP: 90280
Primary
Total Enrollment 560
Stanford Primary Center
3020 Kansas Ave.
ZIP: 90280
Primary
Total Enrollment 165
State Street Elementary
3211 Santa Ana St.
ZIP: 90280
Primary
Total Enrollment 600
Tweedy Elementary
9724 Pinehurst Ave.
ZIP: 90280
Primary
Total Enrollment 678
Victoria Avenue Elementary
3320 Missouri Ave.
ZIP: 90280
Primary
Total Enrollment 494
Visual And Performing Arts At Legacy High School Complex
5225 Tweedy Blvd.
ZIP: 90280
High
Total Enrollment 344
Willow Elementary
2777 Willow Pl.
ZIP: 90280
Primary
Total Enrollment 551

South Gate Private Schools

Redeemer Lutheran School
2626 Liberty Blvd
ZIP: 90280
Elementary
Total Enrollment 108
Southgate Montessori Preschool
10108 California Ave
ZIP: 90280
Elementary
Total Enrollment 12
St Helen Catholic Elementary School
9329 Madison Ave
ZIP: 90280
Elementary
Total Enrollment 214
Sources :
Additional Details
South Gate Colleges
South Gate colleges and trade schools.
Our Partner Listings
Additional Resources
Info for South Gate Government Officials


Are you an official in the South Gate government or quasi-government agency such as the chamber of commerce, visitors bureau or economic development council? If so, visit our information page for government officials to see how CityTownInfo can support you.