Compton, California

Compton is a city located in Southern Los Angeles County, California, USA, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city was incorporated in 1888. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 93,493. Although officially a suburb of Los Angeles, Compton is often labeled as an "inner-city" community primarily due to poverty, the elevated crime rate found in the city, and its location in South Los Angeles.

Despite the city's mark on African-American culture, Compton has a multiracial and multi-ethnic population. The city boasts an equestrian club, an astronomy program for teenagers, and the Major League Baseball Academy.

1 History
2 Crime
3 Politics and government
4 City Government controversies
5 Geography
6 Demographics
7 Culture
8 Economy
9 Transportation
10 Education
11 City sites
12 Special events
13 Sister Cities
14 Further reading
15 Notes
16 External links

[edit] History

Compton, 1914.

Compton, 1920.

In 1784, the Spanish Crown deeded a tract of over 75,000 acres (304 km²) to Juan Jose Dominguez in this area. The tract was named Rancho San Pedro. Dominguez's name was later applied to the Dominguez Hills community south of Compton. The oak tree that marked the original northern boundry of the rancho still stands at the corner of Poppy and Short streets. The rancho was sub-divided and parcels were sold within the Californios of Alta California until the lands were ceded after the Mexican-American war in 1848. American immigrants acquired most of the rancho lands after 1848.

In 1867, Griffith D. Compton (1820–1905) led a group of American settlers to the area in search of the mild Californian climate. The city was incorporated on May 11, 1888 and was named for Griffith D. Compton in commemoration.

Compton grew quickly in the mid-1900s. In the late 1940s with the dismantling of segregation, middle class Afro-Americans began moving into the area, mostly on the west side. One reason for this was Compton's proximity to Watts, California, where a significant number of Afro-Americans lived at the time. However, the eastern side of the city remained predominantly white into the 1960s. Despite being located in the middle of a major metropolitan area, there remains at least one small pocket of agriculture remaining from its early years.^[1]

[edit] Crime

In 2006, the Morgan Quitno Corporation rated Compton as the most dangerous city in the United States with a population of 75,000 to 99,999, and fourth most dangerous overall.^[2] The city is notorious for gang violence, primarily the Bloods and the Crips. Compton's violent reputation was popularized in the late 1980s by the rise to prominence of local gangsta rap groups Compton's Most Wanted and N.W.A., who released the famous album Straight Outta Compton in 1988. The most recent rapper from Compton to popularize the city's gang culture is The Game, with his albums The Documentary (2005) and Doctor's Advocate (2006). ^[3]

Compton has a homicide rate about eight times higher than the national average, most of which are gang killings. Economic conditions and Compton's location as the center of the South Los Angeles "ghettos" make crime prevention more difficult. Crime has not been as severe as it was in the 1980s and early 1990s, during the crack epidemic.^{[citation needed]}

Compton had 72 murders in 2005, which is a per capita rate significantly higher than the national average for small cities. Recently in an effort to combat this gun violence the Compton citizens were given the option to hand over their guns to the police, and receive a $100 check for various goods. During 2006, Compton has deployed twice as many sheriff deputies and the murder rate has decreased from 22 in four months, to just five.

[edit] Politics and government

During Compton's early years, the emerging black population was largely ignored by the city's elected officials. At one time, the City Council even discussed dismantling the Compton Police Department in favor of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in an attempt to exclude blacks from law enforcement jobs. This slowly began to change when in 1958, the first African-American ran for a City Council seat. However, it would be another three years before an African-American would be elected to the City Council.

Douglas Dollarhide made history in Compton in 1969 when he became California's first African-American mayor of a metropolitan city. Four years later, Doris A. Davis defeated Dollarhide's bid for re-election to become the first African-American female mayor of a metropolitan city in the United States. By the early 1970s, the city had one of the largest concentrations of blacks in the country with over ninety percent.

For many years, Compton was a much sought after neighborhood for the black middle class of Los Angeles. This past affluence is reflected in the area's appearance — Compton's streets are lined with relatively spacious and attractive single family homes. However, several factors have contributed to Compton's decline. One of the most significant factors was a steady erosion of its tax base. First by whites who fled to the newly incorporated cities of Artesia, Bellflower, Paramount and Santa Fe Springs in the late 1950s. These nearby communities offered relatively low crime, lower municipal taxes and significantly, effectively excluded blacks, despite integration. This move was even further precipitated after the Watts Riots in 1965.

Soon thereafter, middle class blacks also found other areas more attractive to them. Some were unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County such as Ladera Heights, View Park and Windsor Hills; and others were cities such as Inglewood and, particularly, Carson. The latter was significant because it had successfully thwarted attempts at annexation by neighboring Compton. The city of Carson opted instead for incorporation in 1968, which is notable because its black population was actually more affluent than its white population. As a newer city, it also offered more favorable tax rates and lower crime.

As Compton's tax base deteriorated, it raised municipal taxes, which only worsened the problem. This resulted in creating a situation more favorable to lower income residents than higher income ones. Many of these new residents also benefited from the Section 8 rent-subsidy program. As a result, the need for public services increased dramatically, putting a further strain on the city's budget.

After Lionel Cade, an accountant, assumed the mayor's office in 1977, one of the first orders of business was to conduct an audit of the city's finances. It was discovered that the city was $2 million in debt. The administration was able to eliminate the huge deficit in one year by making cuts in every department. It also aggressively sought federal funding to help pay for essential services, which was at least partially effective. However, with the passage of the property tax cutting initiative Proposition 13 by California voters, Compton was one of the cities hardest hit, since it had already eliminated most of the fat from its budget.

Crime, though present in lesser degrees beforehand, worsened significantly with the introduction of crack cocaine in the latter part of the 20th century. The neighborhood lost richer residents with the worsening safety problems, and, after the 1992 riots in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, many blacks left the city. Meanwhile, many Latino families moved into Compton.

[edit] City Government controversies

Civic corruption has also been a widespread problem in Compton. In 1995, the mayor, Walter R. Tucker III, and a councilwoman were convicted of extortion. In 2002, his replacement, Omar Bradley, was convicted of using city credit cards to purchase golf balls and lavish hotel stays for himself and his friends. Various mayoral administrations have been investigated by federal, state, and county government for bribery, nepotism, and the misappropriation of public funds. These factors have contributed to Compton's poor reputation and has discouraged business investment.

In 2000, the Compton Police Department was disbanded amidst controversy.^[4] Many claim the department's closure could have been related to members of the police force itself being involved in gang activity, while the police themselves charge that this was due to friction between the department and then-mayor Omar Bradley, who has since faced serious corruption charges.^[5] Regardless of the situation, it is clear that government corruption of some form was so severe that it became necessary to have law enforcement overseen from outside the city itself. Compton's policing needs are currently served by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

[edit] Geography

Compton is located at 33°53′48″N, 118°13′30″W (33.896715, -118.225078).^GR1 According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.4 km² (10.2 mi²). 26.2 km² (10.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.69%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 93,493 people, 22,327 households, and 18,620 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,563.5/km² (9,225.6/mi²). There were 23,795 housing units at an average density of 906.9/km² (2,348.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 40.31% Black or African American, 16.71% White, 0.70% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 1.05% Pacific Islander, 37.34% from other races, and 3.62% from two or more races. 56.84% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The racial makeup has changed the last years. In 1990 55% of the population were African-American while 36% were Hispanics. After the LA Riots many African-Americans were thrown out because of their involvement in the riots and they were replaced by Hispanic emigrants. The biggest reason, however, for the shift in demographics, is the flight of African Americans to escape Compton's high crime, if they can afford to. Many illegal immigrants now live in Compton, which is shown in the low per capita income.

There were 22,327 households out of which 50.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% were married couples living together, 27.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.6% were non-families. 13.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.16 and the average family size was 4.45.

In the city the population was spread out with 38.5% under the age of 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 14.4% from 45 to 64, and 6.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,819, and the median income for a family was $33,021. Males had a median income of $22,698 versus $24,692 for females. The per capita income for the city was $10,389. About 25.5% of families and 28.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.6% of those under age 18 and 14.7% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Culture

Currently, Latin Americans are the largest ethnic group in the city, although many people still tend to think of Compton as a primarily African American community. One possible reason for this is that despite the shift in population,[as of 2005] blacks continue to dominate local politics, holding all elected positions in the city.

The city plays an important role in several major hip hop records and hip hop films, and is considered the birthplace of gangsta rap.^{[citation needed]}

See also: List of native and notable residents in Compton

[edit] Economy

Compton was recently designated as an “Entrepreneurial Hot Spot” by Cognetics, Inc., an independent economic research firm. Compton made the national list for best places to start and grow a business, and ranked #2 in Los Angeles County out of a field of 88 cities.^[6] The city provides a business assistance program consisting of a comprehensive mix of resources to small business owners and entrepreneurs.

Compton is surrounded by multiple freeways which provide access to destinations throughout the region. The Long Beach and Los Angeles Ports are less than 20 minutes from downtown Compton, providing access to international destinations for customers and suppliers. The Alameda Corridor, a passageway for 25% of all U.S. waterborne international trade, runs directly through Compton from north to south.

[edit] Transportation

Five freeways outline the general boundaries of the city and provide access to destinations throughout the region. These include Interstate Highways 105, 110, 710, and 405, along with State Highway 91.

The Metro Blue Line light rail runs north-south through the city; Compton Station is in the heart of the city, adjacent to the Renaissance Shopping Center. The Blue Line connects Downtown Los Angeles to South Los Angeles, Compton, Carson, and Long Beach. Riders can transfer to the Metro Green Line to cross South LA east-west, or to the Metro Red Line subway in Downtown LA to travel to Mid-City, Hollywood, the Valley, or Union Station, transfer point for Pasadena-bound Metro Gold Line trains and Metrolink commuter trains.

The Long Beach and Los Angeles Ports are less than a 20 minutes' drive from downtown Compton, providing easy access to international destinations for customers, suppliers and leisure travelers.

Compton/Woodley Airport is a small general aviation airport located in the city. The airport lies within busy airspace, as it is situated within a few miles of both Los Angeles International Airport and Long Beach Airport.

Collectively, these multi–faceted transportation links lend justification to the City’s familiar name of "the Hub City."

[edit] Education

The city is served by Compton Unified School District. The district is a participant of the FOCUS program conducted by the University of California, Irvine. The goals of the program is to improve mathematics and science achievement by uniting the efforts of mathematics, science, education and research library faculty and staff with educators of the school district.^[7]

There are currently three high schools that are part of CUSD, which are Centennial HS, Dominguez HS, and Compton HS.

The city is also served by Compton Community College, Reed Christian College and Yuin University.

[edit] City sites

The Heritage House serves as an important landmark of Compton's rich history. Located at the corner of Myrrh and Willowbrook near the Civic Center Plaza, the Heritage House is a rustic-looking home that will eventually house a museum detailing early life in Compton. For now it demarks the stark difference between the simple life of the 1800s and the fast-paced urban environment of the 21st century.

The Major League Baseball Academy is a youth baseball academy providing free baseball and softball instruction to Southern California youth.

Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum is a unique compilation of a living interactive museum, youth programs and adult flight school.

[edit] Special events

Annual Compton Christmas Parade: The parade is held in early December every year. The 2006 parade was the city's 54th Christmas Parade.

[edit] Sister Cities

The following cities are sister cities of Compton, California. Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico

[edit] Further reading

Adams, Emily, "Bush's Compton Roots Raise Thorny Issue," Los Angeles Times, August 3, 1992, page B-1
Miller, Gary J., Cities by Contract: The Politics of Municipal Incorporation, The MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts and London, England, 1981
Gould, Lewis L. (editor), American First Ladies: Their Lives and Their Legacy, Garland Publishing, New York and London, 1996. See pages 612-613 regarding the Bush family's "nomadic" existence in the cities of Huntington Park, Bakersfield, Whittier, Ventura and Compton, California.
The George Bush Presidential Library web site states that during the period from 1948 to 1951, "Bush and his family moved several times, living successively in Odessa, Texas; Ventura, Bakersfield, and Compton, California; and Midland, Texas." Zapata Oil Files, 1943-1983 The web site also includes a photograph of George W. Bush and Robin Bush in Compton, dated December 1949.