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Compton
cityCompton, California, located in the Gateway Cities region of southern Los Angeles County, is situated south of downtown Los Angeles. Known as the "Hub City" due to its central location within Los Angeles County, Compton is one of the oldest cities in the county, having been incorporated in 1888. The city had a population of 95,740 as of the 2020 Census. Compton's economy is diverse, with major employment sectors including transportation and warehousing, healthcare and social assistance, and manufacturing. While the city has a substantial amount of land devoted to industrial uses, there is a lack of diversity in other job-producing sectors. Compton is surrounded by freeways, providing access to destinations throughout the region. Compton has a rich history and has been experiencing gentrification. The city was founded in 1867 by Griffith Dickenson Compton, who led a group of 30 pioneer families to the area. Compton offers various recreational facilities, including 16 parks, community centers, swimming pools, gymnasiums, and a skate park.
Compton, California
Overview
- Classification
- City
- FIPS Code
- 06-15044
- Country
- United States
- County
- Los Angeles County
Geography
- Region
- Gateway Cities region, Southern California
- Elevation
- 69 ft
- Total Area
- 10.12 sq mi
- Land Area
- 10.03 sq mi
- Water Area
- 0.09 sq mi
- Latitude
- 33.895847
- Longitude
- -118.22007
- Climate
- Mild climate
- Notable Features
- Compton Creek
- Neighboring Areas
- Willowbrook · West Compton · Carson · Rancho Dominguez · Long Beach · Paramount · East Compton · Lynwood
Demographics
- Population (2020)
- 95,740
- Est. Population (2026)
- 88,990
- Median Age
- 33.3
- Median Income
- $78,465
- Poverty Rate
- 17.91%
- Owner-Occupied
- 57.4%
- Racial & Ethnic Composition
- Compton now has a large Latino and Mexican population. African, Italian, Belizean, Irish, and Jamaican are the most common ancestries.
Governance
- Government Type
- Council-Manager
- Governing Body
- City Council
- Body Size
- 5 members
- School District
- Compton Unified School District
- Municipal Services
- Police · Fire · Public Works · Parks & Recreation · Library
U.S. Congress
Padilla, AlexD
U.S. SenatorSchiff, Adam B.D
U.S. RepresentativeHuffman, JaredD
U.S. Representative - District 2Kiley, KevinI
U.S. Representative - District 3Thompson, MikeD
U.S. Representative - District 4McClintock, TomR
U.S. Representative - District 5Bera, AmiD
U.S. Representative - District 6Matsui, Doris O.D
U.S. Representative - District 7Garamendi, JohnD
U.S. Representative - District 8Harder, JoshD
U.S. Representative - District 9DeSaulnier, MarkD
U.S. Representative - District 10Pelosi, NancyD
U.S. Representative - District 11Simon, LateefahD
U.S. Representative - District 12Mullin, KevinD
U.S. Representative - District 15Khanna, RoD
U.S. Representative - District 17Lofgren, ZoeD
U.S. Representative - District 18Panetta, JimmyD
U.S. Representative - District 19Fong, VinceR
U.S. Representative - District 20Costa, JimD
U.S. Representative - District 21Valadao, David G.R
U.S. Representative - District 22Obernolte, JayR
U.S. Representative - District 23Carbajal, Salud O.D
U.S. Representative - District 24Ruiz, RaulD
U.S. Representative - District 25Brownley, JuliaD
U.S. Representative - District 26Whitesides, GeorgeD
U.S. Representative - District 27Chu, JudyD
U.S. Representative - District 28Rivas, Luz M.D
U.S. Representative - District 29Friedman, LauraD
U.S. Representative - District 30Cisneros, Gilbert RayD
U.S. Representative - District 31Sherman, BradD
U.S. Representative - District 32Aguilar, PeteD
U.S. Representative - District 33Gomez, JimmyD
U.S. Representative - District 34Torres, Norma J.D
U.S. Representative - District 35Lieu, TedD
U.S. Representative - District 36Kamlager-Dove, SydneyD
U.S. Representative - District 37Sánchez, Linda T.D
U.S. Representative - District 38Takano, MarkD
U.S. Representative - District 39Kim, YoungR
U.S. Representative - District 40Calvert, KenR
U.S. Representative - District 41Garcia, RobertD
U.S. Representative - District 42Waters, MaxineD
U.S. Representative - District 43Barragán, Nanette DiazD
U.S. Representative - District 44Tran, DerekD
U.S. Representative - District 45Correa, J. LuisD
U.S. Representative - District 46Min, DaveD
U.S. Representative - District 47Issa, DarrellR
U.S. Representative - District 48Levin, MikeD
U.S. Representative - District 49Peters, Scott H.D
U.S. Representative - District 50Jacobs, SaraD
U.S. Representative - District 51Vargas, JuanD
U.S. Representative - District 52Economy
- Unemployment Rate
- 16.1%
- Economic Profile
- Residential/suburban · Commercial growth · Industrial
- Employment Sectors
- Transportation & Warehousing · Health Care & Social Assistance · Manufacturing
Education
- Schools
- 35
- Graduation Rate
- 90+%
- School Districts
- Compton Unified School District
- Colleges & Universities
- Compton College
Infrastructure
- Transportation
- Interstate access · Public transit
- Utilities
- Municipal water
- Major Facilities
- Hospital · Airport
Recreation
- Outdoor Access
- Yes
- Major Recreation Areas
- Parks · Community Centers · Jackie Robinson Baseball Stadium
- Parks & Trails
- Burrell-MacDonald Park · Gonzales Park · Kelly Park · Lueders Park · Wilson Park · Walter Tucker Park
History
- Founded
- 1867
- Incorporated
- 1888
- Named After
- Griffith Dickenson Compton
- Historical Significance
- Compton is one of the oldest cities in Los Angeles County and has played a significant role in the region's development. It has been a hub for industry, commerce, and culture, particularly in the music and entertainment scene.
- Key Events
- Settled by 30 pioneer families led by Griffith Dickenson Compton in 1867 · Incorporated on May 11, 1888 · Devastating earthquake in 1933 · First African American families moved to the area in the 1950s · Douglas Dollarhide, the City's first African American mayor, was elected in the 1960s