Maywood, California
Encyclopedia
Maywood is a small city in southeast Los Angeles County, California
. At 1.18 square miles (3.1 km²), Maywood is the third-smallest incorporated city in Los Angeles County.
As of July 1, 2010, Maywood became the first municipality in California
to dismantle its police department, lay off all city employees, except for the city manager, city attorney and elected officials, and contract with outside agencies for the provision of all municipal services, an unprecedented action among California cities." Maywood is now billing itself as the first American city to outsource all of its city services. The population was 27,395 at the 2010 census.
monarchy to Spanish War veteran Manuel Nieto. When the settlement of Pueblo de Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles was recorded, it included the cow pasture (now Maywood) that eventually turned into a rancho.
In 1919, May Wood, a popular young woman who worked for the real estate corporation developing the 2300 acres (9.3 km²) ranch into home tracts, agreed to lend her name to the property. The development of Maywood later survived a bitter challenge to dissolve the prospective city in early 1924.
On September 2, 1924, Maywood's citizens voted to incorporate and about 300 people turned out for the dedication, including Miss May Wood. By 1924, the population of Maywood had reached 1,000. The city featured homes, stores and a movie theater. In the 1930s, gamblers were successfully removed from the city. Maywood Parks and Recreation built Maywood Park, had its beginnings in the 1930s, when a large meadow was turned into the present day baseball field. The Golden State Baseball Association made Maywood Park its home in the early 1950s.
The Chrysler Corporation had an auto assembly plant in Maywood from the 1920s until its closing in July 1971. It was located at 5800 Eastern Avenue at Slauson, and was generally referred to as the "Los Angeles" Plant. When the city of Commerce was incorporated in 1961, that corner was annexed as were several in the surrounding area. Lockheed A-29 Hudson
Willys
-Overland built its California factory in Maywood, California, in 1929. Over 900 people were employed at the new $1.5 million assembly plant. Willys-Overland became the second automobile manufacturer to build a major plant in the city. After the United States entered World War II, automobile production for civilians was phased out and in November 1941, automobile assembly at Maywood was stopped. A great many automobile plants were retooled to manufacture war machinery and for three years during the war, the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation rented the plant building from Willys-Overland for that purpose. Equipment was installed for the manufacture of sub-assemblies for Hudson Bombers until the war ended. Willys-Overland began to manufacture the first Jeeps (CJ-2As) for civilians in 1945. As the demand for Jeeps increased, the reconditioning of the plant back to automobile assembly began early in 1947 and by November, Willys was building "West Coast" CJ-2As. By the end of November, 108 Jeeps had been assembled. Jeep Trucks and Station Wagons were incorporated into the West Coast Division's "final assemblies" production lines in 1948. The Maywood plant produced the entire CJ-3A model production duration and about 5% of all CJ-3As were assembled in California. In 1952, Willys-Overland introduced a new post-war model car, the Aero, and they were assembled in both Maywood and Toledo. The entire plant was shut down in 1954.
Postwar Maywood was a flourishing blue-collar, multi-ethnic suburb of Los Angeles. There were plenty of industrial jobs in aerospace, food processing, auto and furniture manufacturing. But, the early 1970s saw these jobs disappear with the pressure of higher taxes, increased local and state regulation, and the desirability of cheaper land and labor in other markets. Maywood would change over the next two decades by the influx of Hispanic immigrants.
An outside audit found that Maywood was losing approximately $620,000 annually from its $10 million general fund budget under the previous seven-year contract with nearby Cudahy
, because they had neglected to bill Cudahy for administration, vehicle maintenance or insurance. The firm concluded that Maywood was losing about $620,000 a year, or a total of about $4 million in the last six years. George Perez, Cudahy's city manager, said Maywood's "politics have been getting in the way." Perez said that he and then-acting Maywood City Manager, Paul Philips would agree on a new contract, but the Maywood City Council would then send Philips back for further negotiation. Perez said that negotiations disintegrated in February, after Philips resigned.
Councilman Felipe Aguirre said, "We don't want to file for bankruptcy. We don't want to disappear as a city." Aguirre said filing for bankruptcy was not an option for Maywood because its problems were related specifically to insurance coverage. Several cities in the state have said that they are close to bankruptcy because of the sharp drop in sales and property tax revenues caused by the deepest recession in decades. During a heated City Council meeting in June 2010, opponents of the plan accused council members of mismanaging the city by failing to maintain insurance coverage. Under the plan adopted by the City Council that night, council members would continue to be paid to set policy, but all services would be contracted out. "You single-handedly destroyed the city," Lizeth Sandoval, the city treasurer, told the City Council. Sandoval, a city employee spoke out as a private citizen, and was laid off as part of the cuts.
Though Maywood officials stopped short of filing for bankruptcy or even giving up the city's municipal status, the city still faces a serious problem with a huge deficit. The city did keep a few employees as independent contractors when they outsourced most city functions to Bell and police duties to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
. In September 2010, the troubled nearby city of Bell
agreed to cancel the contract to handle the day-to-day operations of neighboring Maywood. Maywood has been overrun with political crises — from recalls to a city clerk accused of trying to contract a hit man to kill Councilman Aguirre. In early 2006, a newly-elected Aguirre called Maywood a "sanctuary city" for illegal immigrants.
, the city has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), all land.
It is 8 miles (12.9 km) southeast from Downtown Los Angeles
Financial District
and only 2 miles (3.2 km) miles east of the Los Angeles
city limit on Slauson Ave and Alamada St in the Central-Alameda neighborhood. Maywood is part of the Gateway Cities
region of southeastern Los Angeles County area. Maywood is bordered by the city of Bell
on the south, Vernon
on the north and west, Huntington Park
on the southwest, and Commerce
on the east.
was 23,247.5 people per square mile (8,975.9/km²). The racial makeup of Maywood was 14,244 (52.0%) White, 166 (0.6%) African American, 208 (0.8%) Native American, 87 (0.3%) Asian, 20 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 11,495 (42.0%) from other races
, and 1,175 (4.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 26,696 persons (97.4%).
The Census reported that 27,276 people (99.6% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 119 (0.4%) were institutionalized.
There were 6,559 households, out of which 4,120 (62.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,721 (56.7%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 1,254 (19.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 717 (10.9%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 595 (9.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 32 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 599 households (9.1%) were made up of individuals and 231 (3.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.16. There were 5,692 families
(86.8% of all households); the average family size was 4.30.
The population was spread out with 8,925 people (32.6%) under the age of 18, 3,402 people (12.4%) aged 18 to 24, 8,619 people (31.5%) aged 25 to 44, 4,807 people (17.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,642 people (6.0%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27.9 years. For every 100 females there were 104.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.9 males.
There were 6,766 housing units at an average density of 5,741.6 per square mile (2,216.9/km²), of which 1,980 (30.2%) were owner-occupied, and 4,579 (69.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 2.6%. 9,245 people (33.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 18,031 people (65.8%) lived in rental housing units.
of 2000, there were 28,083 people, 6,469 households, and 5,699 families residing in the city. The population density
was 23,887.2 inhabitants per square mile (9,188.9/km²). There were 6,701 housing units at an average density of 5,699.8 per square mile (2,192.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 42.99% White, 0.36% African American, 1.14% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 50.48% from other races
, and 4.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 96.33% of the population.
There were 6,469 households out of which 62.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.8% were married couples
living together, 16.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 11.9% were non-families. 8.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.33 and the average family size was 4.47.
In the city the population was varied, with 37.0% under the age of 18, 13.2% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 13.0% from 45 to 64, and 4.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 104.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,480, and the median income for a family was $30,361. Males had a median income of $20,646 versus $16,397 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $11,935. About 23.1% of families and 24.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.3% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.
and Commerce
. The city has been at the forefront of illegal immigration debates. It is speculated that one- third of Maywood's residents population lives in the U.S. illegally. The city, 96% of which is Latino, and more than half are foreign-born, has declared itself as a "Sanctuary City" for illegal immigrants. Councilman Felipe Aguirre stated: "I think we needed to amplify the debate by saying that no human being is illegal. These people are here ... making your clothes, shining your shoes and taking care of your kids. And now you want to develop this hypocritical policy?"
But Maywood's actions have made the town a lightning rod for criticism on conservative radio shows and websites.
and Atlantic Boulevard. It is now city-wide. The coverage is highly dependent upon location and proximity to wireless access points along Atlantic Boulevard and Slauson Avenue. Indoor coverage is severely limited due to the inherent nature of WiFi coverage. Netlogix is the provider of the service. The city is the only one in the Southeast Los Angeles area with free WiFi.
for law enforcement services. In August 2010, the Sheriff's Department went out walking in Maywood streets and knocking on residents' doors to survey the safety and policing needs in the community. The nearby East Los Angeles Sheriff’s Station will address non-emergency police questions and concerns including requests for police reports.
Fire protection in Maywood is provided by the Los Angeles County Fire Department
. Ambulance transport is provided by Care Ambulance Service
. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
will continue to provide police and aerial support to the city of Maywood.
operates the Whittier Health Center in Whittier
, serving Maywood.
Maywood is located in the 22nd Senate
District, represented by Democrat Gil Cedillo
, and in the 46th Assembly
District, represented by Democrat John A. Perez. Federally, Maywood is located in California's 34th congressional district
, which has a Cook PVI
of D +23 and is represented by Democrat Lucille Roybal-Allard. Supervisor Gloria Molina represents Maywood.
The United States Postal Service
Maywood Post Office is located at 4357 Slauson Avenue.
on Atlantic Boulevard. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
(Metro) provides bus services to the city, Metro Local Line 108 and Metro Rapid Line 358 on Slauson Avenue. Metro Local Line 260 and Metro Rapid Line 762 on Atlantic Boulevard. Metro Shuttle Line 611 runs through the westside and northside of the city.
The city of Maywood also operates a local bus service to its residents called Dial-a-Ride. The shuttles pick up residents at their location and transports them within the city limits for a one way fee of $1.00. The service is free to senior citizens, age 62 and over, and handicapped individuals. Seniors and the handicapped must come to City Hall to pick up their free pass.
. The city has also joined
South Gate
, Huntington Park
, Cudahy
, Vernon
, and Bell
in the Southeast Cities School Coalition to improve the education of the children of the Southeast. Several council members from each city are part of this group. The city is offering scholarships to students planning to attend Community Colleges and Universities. This may change with the city reorganization.
Most of Maywood is zoned to Bell High School, while a portion is zoned jointly to Bell and Huntington Park high schools. Any student who lives in the Bell or Huntington Park zones may apply to Maywood Academy High School; Maywood Academy, which opened in 2005 and moved into its permanent campus in 2006, does not have its own attendance boundary because it lacks American football, track and field, and tennis facilities. Maywood Academy is a showcase "green" school in the Los Angeles Unified School District
(LAUSD). In the time since its opening, it has made the case that, aside from reducing environmental impact, sustainable design can dramatically improve a school's learning environment, and hopefully, even its attendance rates. Data is being gathered; it is too soon to demonstrate that this "green school" is fulfilling its goals.
In November 2009, the voters in Maywood, in an advisory vote, voted against the acquisition and demolition of properties to build a new high school. The construction of the new school would demolish the homes of over 200 families in Maywood. The voters also voted to have more studies to find an alternative site for the school.
.
The Maywood Activities Center (M.A.C.), is available for general public use and offers a wide variety of classes, specialty rooms, indoor basketball court, gymnasium, pool and place for clubs and classes to meet.
The new Riverfront Park is located next to the Los Angeles River and has handball courts,a basketball court, and soccer field. It also includes an access pathway to the LA River Bike Path
that travels through 40 miles (64.4 km) of Los Angeles County, including Griffith Park
and Long Beach
A small pocket park is located in the west side of the city, Pixley Park at 3626 56th Street. Two small pocket parks were proposed to the city in 2008, Maywood Avenue Park and Pine Avenue Park are to be built in the future in the west side of the city. As the city reorganizes, future plans are on hold.
The only sports team located in the city is the Maywood Buzz, which features former NBA star Cedric Ceballos
. The team plays in the Maywood Activities Center, also known as the M.A.C. They are an ABA (American Basketball Association) team. Several famous baseball players have played at Maywood Park including former MLB player Marvin Benard
, who attended local rival, Bell High School
.
The ABA
team, the Beijing Aoshen Olympians played their inaugural season at the M.A.C. during the 2005–2006 season. They reached the playoffs, but lost to the SoCal Legends
in the Great Eight Tournament in Rochester
. After the season, the Olympians relocated, and now play on the campus of Azusa Pacific University
.
from Diff'rent Strokes
was born on November 7, 1964, in Maywood, CA
Jim Messina, Loggins and Messina
Christie Repasy
, American floral artist
Gateway Cities
The Gateway Cities of Southern California are those located in southeastern Los Angeles County. There is some cross-over between these cities and those composing South Los Angeles, East Los Angeles, the South Bay, and the San Gabriel Valley...
. At 1.18 square miles (3.1 km²), Maywood is the third-smallest incorporated city in Los Angeles County.
As of July 1, 2010, Maywood became the first municipality in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to dismantle its police department, lay off all city employees, except for the city manager, city attorney and elected officials, and contract with outside agencies for the provision of all municipal services, an unprecedented action among California cities." Maywood is now billing itself as the first American city to outsource all of its city services. The population was 27,395 at the 2010 census.
History
The land on which Maywood now stands had been populated by Native American tribes for centuries. The area that would later become Maywood was deeded in 1781 by the SpanishSpanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
monarchy to Spanish War veteran Manuel Nieto. When the settlement of Pueblo de Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles was recorded, it included the cow pasture (now Maywood) that eventually turned into a rancho.
In 1919, May Wood, a popular young woman who worked for the real estate corporation developing the 2300 acres (9.3 km²) ranch into home tracts, agreed to lend her name to the property. The development of Maywood later survived a bitter challenge to dissolve the prospective city in early 1924.
On September 2, 1924, Maywood's citizens voted to incorporate and about 300 people turned out for the dedication, including Miss May Wood. By 1924, the population of Maywood had reached 1,000. The city featured homes, stores and a movie theater. In the 1930s, gamblers were successfully removed from the city. Maywood Parks and Recreation built Maywood Park, had its beginnings in the 1930s, when a large meadow was turned into the present day baseball field. The Golden State Baseball Association made Maywood Park its home in the early 1950s.
The Chrysler Corporation had an auto assembly plant in Maywood from the 1920s until its closing in July 1971. It was located at 5800 Eastern Avenue at Slauson, and was generally referred to as the "Los Angeles" Plant. When the city of Commerce was incorporated in 1961, that corner was annexed as were several in the surrounding area. Lockheed A-29 Hudson
Willys
Willys
Willys was the brand name used by Willys-Overland Motors, an American automobile company best known for its design and production of military Jeeps and civilian versions during the 20th century.-Early History:In 1908, John Willys bought the Overland Automotive Division of Standard Wheel Company...
-Overland built its California factory in Maywood, California, in 1929. Over 900 people were employed at the new $1.5 million assembly plant. Willys-Overland became the second automobile manufacturer to build a major plant in the city. After the United States entered World War II, automobile production for civilians was phased out and in November 1941, automobile assembly at Maywood was stopped. A great many automobile plants were retooled to manufacture war machinery and for three years during the war, the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation rented the plant building from Willys-Overland for that purpose. Equipment was installed for the manufacture of sub-assemblies for Hudson Bombers until the war ended. Willys-Overland began to manufacture the first Jeeps (CJ-2As) for civilians in 1945. As the demand for Jeeps increased, the reconditioning of the plant back to automobile assembly began early in 1947 and by November, Willys was building "West Coast" CJ-2As. By the end of November, 108 Jeeps had been assembled. Jeep Trucks and Station Wagons were incorporated into the West Coast Division's "final assemblies" production lines in 1948. The Maywood plant produced the entire CJ-3A model production duration and about 5% of all CJ-3As were assembled in California. In 1952, Willys-Overland introduced a new post-war model car, the Aero, and they were assembled in both Maywood and Toledo. The entire plant was shut down in 1954.
Postwar Maywood was a flourishing blue-collar, multi-ethnic suburb of Los Angeles. There were plenty of industrial jobs in aerospace, food processing, auto and furniture manufacturing. But, the early 1970s saw these jobs disappear with the pressure of higher taxes, increased local and state regulation, and the desirability of cheaper land and labor in other markets. Maywood would change over the next two decades by the influx of Hispanic immigrants.
2010 city layoffs
Maywood officials were given notice in June 2009, that the city would lose its insurance coverage unless they implemented a 20-point performance plan. Maywood also owed the California Insurance Authority $927,135 and had been making interest-only payments. Mainly because of the troubled history, including multiple lawsuits, and the dubious reputation of the Maywood Police Department, the city’s Liability and Workers Compensation insurer, notified the city in August 2009, that it would cancel its coverage effective July 1, 2010. When the city was unable to find coverage elsewhere, it disbanded its police department, laid off all city employees, except for the city manager, city attorney and elected officials, and contracted with other agencies to provide all municipal services.An outside audit found that Maywood was losing approximately $620,000 annually from its $10 million general fund budget under the previous seven-year contract with nearby Cudahy
Cudahy, California
Cudahy is a city located in southeastern Los Angeles County, California. In terms of area, Cudahy is the second smallest city in Los Angeles County, after Hawaiian Gardens. with one of the highest population densities of any incorporated city in the United States...
, because they had neglected to bill Cudahy for administration, vehicle maintenance or insurance. The firm concluded that Maywood was losing about $620,000 a year, or a total of about $4 million in the last six years. George Perez, Cudahy's city manager, said Maywood's "politics have been getting in the way." Perez said that he and then-acting Maywood City Manager, Paul Philips would agree on a new contract, but the Maywood City Council would then send Philips back for further negotiation. Perez said that negotiations disintegrated in February, after Philips resigned.
Councilman Felipe Aguirre said, "We don't want to file for bankruptcy. We don't want to disappear as a city." Aguirre said filing for bankruptcy was not an option for Maywood because its problems were related specifically to insurance coverage. Several cities in the state have said that they are close to bankruptcy because of the sharp drop in sales and property tax revenues caused by the deepest recession in decades. During a heated City Council meeting in June 2010, opponents of the plan accused council members of mismanaging the city by failing to maintain insurance coverage. Under the plan adopted by the City Council that night, council members would continue to be paid to set policy, but all services would be contracted out. "You single-handedly destroyed the city," Lizeth Sandoval, the city treasurer, told the City Council. Sandoval, a city employee spoke out as a private citizen, and was laid off as part of the cuts.
Though Maywood officials stopped short of filing for bankruptcy or even giving up the city's municipal status, the city still faces a serious problem with a huge deficit. The city did keep a few employees as independent contractors when they outsourced most city functions to Bell and police duties to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is a local county law enforcement agency that serves Los Angeles County, California. It is the fourth largest local policing agency in the United States, with the New York City Police Department being the first. The second largest is the Chicago Police...
. In September 2010, the troubled nearby city of Bell
Bell, California
Bell is a city in Los Angeles County, California. Its population was 35,477 at the 2010 census, down from 36,664 in the 2000 census. Bell is located on the west bank of the Los Angeles River and is a suburb of the city of Los Angeles...
agreed to cancel the contract to handle the day-to-day operations of neighboring Maywood. Maywood has been overrun with political crises — from recalls to a city clerk accused of trying to contract a hit man to kill Councilman Aguirre. In early 2006, a newly-elected Aguirre called Maywood a "sanctuary city" for illegal immigrants.
Geography
Maywood is located at 33°59′16"N 118°11′12"W (33.987864, -118.186553). According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), all land.
It is 8 miles (12.9 km) southeast from Downtown Los Angeles
Downtown Los Angeles
Downtown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, United States, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area...
Financial District
Financial District, Los Angeles, California
The Financial District is a neighborhood in Downtown Los Angeles on the redeveloped section of Bunker Hill. The area is dominated by upscale corporate office skyscrapers, hotels and related services as well as banks, law firms, and real estate companies...
and only 2 miles (3.2 km) miles east of the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
city limit on Slauson Ave and Alamada St in the Central-Alameda neighborhood. Maywood is part of the Gateway Cities
Gateway Cities
The Gateway Cities of Southern California are those located in southeastern Los Angeles County. There is some cross-over between these cities and those composing South Los Angeles, East Los Angeles, the South Bay, and the San Gabriel Valley...
region of southeastern Los Angeles County area. Maywood is bordered by the city of Bell
Bell, California
Bell is a city in Los Angeles County, California. Its population was 35,477 at the 2010 census, down from 36,664 in the 2000 census. Bell is located on the west bank of the Los Angeles River and is a suburb of the city of Los Angeles...
on the south, Vernon
Vernon, California
Vernon is a city five miles south of downtown Los Angeles, California. The population was 112 at the 2010 United States Census, the smallest of any incorporated city in the state....
on the north and west, Huntington Park
Huntington Park, California
Huntington Park is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 58,114, down from 61,348 at the 2000 census.- History :...
on the southwest, and Commerce
Commerce, California
Commerce is a city located in southeast Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 12,823 at the 2010 census, up from 12,568 at the 2000 census. It is bordered by Vernon on the west, Los Angeles on the northwest, East Los Angeles on the north, Montebello on the east, Downey...
on the east.
Climate
The climate in the city of Maywood is very warm during summer when temperatures tend to be in the 80's and cool during winter when temperatures tend to be in the 50's. The warmest month of the year is August with an average maximum temperature of 89.4 °F (31.9 °C), while the coldest month of the year is December with an average minimum temperature of 47.3 °F (8.5 °C). Temperature variations between night and day tend to be moderate during summer with a difference that can reach 24 °F (-4.4 °C), and moderate during winter with an average difference of 22 °F (-5.6 °C). The annual average precipitation at Maywood is 15.07 inches (382.8 mm). The wettest month of the year is February with an average rainfall of 3.75 inches (95.3 mm). Maywood-area historical tornado activity is significantly above California state average. It is 75% smaller than the overall U.S. average. On November 7, 1966, a category 2 (max. wind speeds 113-157 mph) tornado 6.2 miles (10 km) away from the Maywood city center injured 10 people and caused between $50,000 and $500,000 in damages.Demographics
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Maywood had a population of 27,395. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 23,247.5 people per square mile (8,975.9/km²). The racial makeup of Maywood was 14,244 (52.0%) White, 166 (0.6%) African American, 208 (0.8%) Native American, 87 (0.3%) Asian, 20 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 11,495 (42.0%) from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1,175 (4.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 26,696 persons (97.4%).
The Census reported that 27,276 people (99.6% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 119 (0.4%) were institutionalized.
There were 6,559 households, out of which 4,120 (62.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,721 (56.7%) were opposite-sex married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 1,254 (19.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 717 (10.9%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 595 (9.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
POSSLQ
POSSLQ is an abbreviation for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters," a term coined in the late 1970s by the United States Census Bureau as part of an effort to more accurately gauge the prevalence of cohabitation in American households....
, and 32 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 599 households (9.1%) were made up of individuals and 231 (3.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.16. There were 5,692 families
Family (U.S. Census)
A family or family household is defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes as "a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state...
(86.8% of all households); the average family size was 4.30.
The population was spread out with 8,925 people (32.6%) under the age of 18, 3,402 people (12.4%) aged 18 to 24, 8,619 people (31.5%) aged 25 to 44, 4,807 people (17.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,642 people (6.0%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27.9 years. For every 100 females there were 104.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.9 males.
There were 6,766 housing units at an average density of 5,741.6 per square mile (2,216.9/km²), of which 1,980 (30.2%) were owner-occupied, and 4,579 (69.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 2.6%. 9,245 people (33.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 18,031 people (65.8%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 28,083 people, 6,469 households, and 5,699 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 23,887.2 inhabitants per square mile (9,188.9/km²). There were 6,701 housing units at an average density of 5,699.8 per square mile (2,192.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 42.99% White, 0.36% African American, 1.14% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 50.48% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 4.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 96.33% of the population.
There were 6,469 households out of which 62.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 16.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 11.9% were non-families. 8.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.33 and the average family size was 4.47.
In the city the population was varied, with 37.0% under the age of 18, 13.2% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 13.0% from 45 to 64, and 4.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 104.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,480, and the median income for a family was $30,361. Males had a median income of $20,646 versus $16,397 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $11,935. About 23.1% of families and 24.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.3% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.
Immigrant population
Several news accounts have said Maywood's official population reaches approximately 40,000 persons when illegal immigrants are counted. A significant percentage of its residents work in the factories at nearby VernonVernon, California
Vernon is a city five miles south of downtown Los Angeles, California. The population was 112 at the 2010 United States Census, the smallest of any incorporated city in the state....
and Commerce
Commerce, California
Commerce is a city located in southeast Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 12,823 at the 2010 census, up from 12,568 at the 2000 census. It is bordered by Vernon on the west, Los Angeles on the northwest, East Los Angeles on the north, Montebello on the east, Downey...
. The city has been at the forefront of illegal immigration debates. It is speculated that one- third of Maywood's residents population lives in the U.S. illegally. The city, 96% of which is Latino, and more than half are foreign-born, has declared itself as a "Sanctuary City" for illegal immigrants. Councilman Felipe Aguirre stated: "I think we needed to amplify the debate by saying that no human being is illegal. These people are here ... making your clothes, shining your shoes and taking care of your kids. And now you want to develop this hypocritical policy?"
But Maywood's actions have made the town a lightning rod for criticism on conservative radio shows and websites.
City government
Maywood City Hall is located at 4319 E Slauson Avenue. The City Council of Maywood is constituted by Veronica Guardado, Oscar Magana, Felipe Aguirre, Edward Varela, and Thomas Martin.WiFi Internet access
The City of Maywood offers a free WiFi network service to residents, businesses and visitors. Maywood originally provided free WiFi internet access only along the business corridors of Slauson AvenueSlauson Avenue
Slauson Avenue is a major east-west thoroughfare for southern Los Angeles County, California, named for the land developer and Los Angeles Board of Education member J. S. Slauson. It passes through Culver City, Ladera Heights, View Park-Windsor Hills, Baldwin Hills, Inglewood, South Los Angeles,...
and Atlantic Boulevard. It is now city-wide. The coverage is highly dependent upon location and proximity to wireless access points along Atlantic Boulevard and Slauson Avenue. Indoor coverage is severely limited due to the inherent nature of WiFi coverage. Netlogix is the provider of the service. The city is the only one in the Southeast Los Angeles area with free WiFi.
Emergency services
Due to financial crisis the city officials in Maywood disbanded the Maywood Police Department and contracted with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's DepartmentLos Angeles County Sheriff's Department
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is a local county law enforcement agency that serves Los Angeles County, California. It is the fourth largest local policing agency in the United States, with the New York City Police Department being the first. The second largest is the Chicago Police...
for law enforcement services. In August 2010, the Sheriff's Department went out walking in Maywood streets and knocking on residents' doors to survey the safety and policing needs in the community. The nearby East Los Angeles Sheriff’s Station will address non-emergency police questions and concerns including requests for police reports.
Fire protection in Maywood is provided by the Los Angeles County Fire Department
Los Angeles County Fire Department
The Los Angeles County Fire Department , serves unincorporated parts of Los Angeles County, as well as 58 cities and towns that choose to have the county provide fire and EMS services, including La Habra. It should not be confused with the Los Angeles City Fire Department, which serves the city of...
. Ambulance transport is provided by Care Ambulance Service
Care Ambulance Service
Care Ambulance Service provides ambulance transport and 9-1-1 response services providing basic life support and critical care for patients in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Care Ambulance is divided into 2 divisions, Orange County and Los Angeles County...
. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is a local county law enforcement agency that serves Los Angeles County, California. It is the fourth largest local policing agency in the United States, with the New York City Police Department being the first. The second largest is the Chicago Police...
will continue to provide police and aerial support to the city of Maywood.
County government
The Los Angeles County Department of Health ServicesLos Angeles County Department of Health Services
Health services to over 10 million residents in the Los Angeles County are provided by the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Mental health services are provided by the County Department of Mental Health...
operates the Whittier Health Center in Whittier
Whittier, California
Whittier is a city in Los Angeles County, California about southeast of Los Angeles. The city had a population of 85,331 at the 2010 census, up from 83,680 as of the 2000 census, and encompasses 14.7 square miles . Like nearby Montebello, the city constitutes part of the Gateway Cities...
, serving Maywood.
State and federal
In the state legislatureCalifornia State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
Maywood is located in the 22nd Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
District, represented by Democrat Gil Cedillo
Gil Cedillo
Gilbert Anthony Cedillo is a politician and a member of the Democratic Party. He is currently serving in the California State Assembly....
, and in the 46th Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
District, represented by Democrat John A. Perez. Federally, Maywood is located in California's 34th congressional district
California's 34th congressional district
California's 34th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California based in Los Angeles County. The district consists of downtown Los Angeles and the neighborhoods of Huntington Park and Bell Gardens...
, which has a Cook PVI
Cook Partisan Voting Index
The Cook Partisan Voting Index , sometimes referred to as simply the Partisan Voting Index , is a measurement of how strongly an American congressional district or state leans toward one political party compared to the nation as a whole...
of D +23 and is represented by Democrat Lucille Roybal-Allard. Supervisor Gloria Molina represents Maywood.
The United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
Maywood Post Office is located at 4357 Slauson Avenue.
Transportation
The city can be reached by Atlantic Boulevard which runs north and south through the city and Slauson Avenue which runs east and west through the city. Maywood is also accessible via the Interstate 710Interstate 710
Interstate 710 is a major north–south interstate freeway running for 23 miles through Los Angeles County, California...
on Atlantic Boulevard. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority is the California state-chartered regional transportation planning agency and public transportation operating agency for the County of Los Angeles formed in 1993 out of a merger of the Southern California Rapid Transit District and the...
(Metro) provides bus services to the city, Metro Local Line 108 and Metro Rapid Line 358 on Slauson Avenue. Metro Local Line 260 and Metro Rapid Line 762 on Atlantic Boulevard. Metro Shuttle Line 611 runs through the westside and northside of the city.
The city of Maywood also operates a local bus service to its residents called Dial-a-Ride. The shuttles pick up residents at their location and transports them within the city limits for a one way fee of $1.00. The service is free to senior citizens, age 62 and over, and handicapped individuals. Seniors and the handicapped must come to City Hall to pick up their free pass.
K–12 schools
Maywood is a part of the Los Angeles Unified School DistrictLos Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District is the largest public school system in California. It is the 2nd largest public school district in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population...
. The city has also joined
South Gate
South Gate, California
South Gate is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The sixteenth largest city in Los Angeles County, it encompasses . South Gate is located just southeast of downtown Los Angeles It is part of the Gateway Cities region of southeastern Los Angeles County...
, Huntington Park
Huntington Park, California
Huntington Park is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 58,114, down from 61,348 at the 2000 census.- History :...
, Cudahy
Cudahy, California
Cudahy is a city located in southeastern Los Angeles County, California. In terms of area, Cudahy is the second smallest city in Los Angeles County, after Hawaiian Gardens. with one of the highest population densities of any incorporated city in the United States...
, Vernon
Vernon, California
Vernon is a city five miles south of downtown Los Angeles, California. The population was 112 at the 2010 United States Census, the smallest of any incorporated city in the state....
, and Bell
Bell, California
Bell is a city in Los Angeles County, California. Its population was 35,477 at the 2010 census, down from 36,664 in the 2000 census. Bell is located on the west bank of the Los Angeles River and is a suburb of the city of Los Angeles...
in the Southeast Cities School Coalition to improve the education of the children of the Southeast. Several council members from each city are part of this group. The city is offering scholarships to students planning to attend Community Colleges and Universities. This may change with the city reorganization.
Public primary schools
Maywood is served by several public elementary schools, including:- Fishburn Avenue Elementary School (Maywood)
- Heliotrope Elementary School (Maywood)
- Loma Vista Elementary School (Maywood)
- Maywood Elementary School (Maywood) (opened 2005)
- Nueva Vista Elementary School (BellBell, CaliforniaBell is a city in Los Angeles County, California. Its population was 35,477 at the 2010 census, down from 36,664 in the 2000 census. Bell is located on the west bank of the Los Angeles River and is a suburb of the city of Los Angeles...
)
Public middle schools
Maywood is served by several public middle schools, including:- Nimitz Middle School (Huntington ParkHuntington Park, CaliforniaHuntington Park is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 58,114, down from 61,348 at the 2000 census.- History :...
) - South Region MS #2 (BellBell, CaliforniaBell is a city in Los Angeles County, California. Its population was 35,477 at the 2010 census, down from 36,664 in the 2000 census. Bell is located on the west bank of the Los Angeles River and is a suburb of the city of Los Angeles...
) Opens September 2010
Public secondary schools
Maywood is served by several public secondary schools, including:- Bell High SchoolBell High School (Bell, California)Bell High School is a public high school in Bell, California, United States.The school, which serves grades 9 through 12, is a part of District 6 of the Los Angeles Unified School District....
(BellBell, CaliforniaBell is a city in Los Angeles County, California. Its population was 35,477 at the 2010 census, down from 36,664 in the 2000 census. Bell is located on the west bank of the Los Angeles River and is a suburb of the city of Los Angeles...
) - Huntington Park High SchoolHuntington Park High SchoolHuntington Park High School is a public high school in Huntington Park, California, part of the Los Angeles Unified School District.-History:...
(Huntington ParkHuntington Park, CaliforniaHuntington Park is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 58,114, down from 61,348 at the 2000 census.- History :...
) - Maywood Academy High SchoolMaywood Academy High SchoolMaywood Academy High School is an alternative high school of the Los Angeles Unified School District, located in Maywood, CA.All residents are zoned to Bell High School in Bell and Huntington Park High School in Huntington Park may apply to Maywood Academy High School; Maywood Academy, which...
(Maywood)
Most of Maywood is zoned to Bell High School, while a portion is zoned jointly to Bell and Huntington Park high schools. Any student who lives in the Bell or Huntington Park zones may apply to Maywood Academy High School; Maywood Academy, which opened in 2005 and moved into its permanent campus in 2006, does not have its own attendance boundary because it lacks American football, track and field, and tennis facilities. Maywood Academy is a showcase "green" school in the Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District is the largest public school system in California. It is the 2nd largest public school district in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population...
(LAUSD). In the time since its opening, it has made the case that, aside from reducing environmental impact, sustainable design can dramatically improve a school's learning environment, and hopefully, even its attendance rates. Data is being gathered; it is too soon to demonstrate that this "green school" is fulfilling its goals.
In November 2009, the voters in Maywood, in an advisory vote, voted against the acquisition and demolition of properties to build a new high school. The construction of the new school would demolish the homes of over 200 families in Maywood. The voters also voted to have more studies to find an alternative site for the school.
Private schools
Private schools include Maywood Christian School (K–12), an independent private school, Betania Christian School (1-12), an independent private school, and St. Rose of Lima School (K-8) of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los AngelesRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is an archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. state of California. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the archdiocese comprises the California counties of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura. The diocesan cathedral is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the...
.
Parks and recreation
Maywood has two major parks and one small pocket park. The existing Maywood Park at 4801 E 58th Street and the new Maywood Riverfront Park at 5000 Slauson Avenue are currently the largest parks in the city, both are in the east side of the city. Maywood Park has a baseball field and the Maywood Activity Center, which opened in 1999. The Parks and Recreation Department currently maintains all of the parks in the city and offers many activities for all ages, seniors, adults and youth. Mr. Aldo Perez is Director of Parks and Recreation.The Maywood Activities Center (M.A.C.), is available for general public use and offers a wide variety of classes, specialty rooms, indoor basketball court, gymnasium, pool and place for clubs and classes to meet.
The new Riverfront Park is located next to the Los Angeles River and has handball courts,a basketball court, and soccer field. It also includes an access pathway to the LA River Bike Path
Los Angeles River bicycle path
The Los Angeles River bicycle path is, formally, a short bicycle path in the greater Los Angeles area, paralleling the Los Angeles River for approximately four miles as the river skirts the northern and eastern boundaries of Griffith Park in an area known as the Glendale Narrows.Following the Los...
that travels through 40 miles (64.4 km) of Los Angeles County, including Griffith Park
Griffith Park
Griffith Park is a large municipal park at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The park covers of land, making it one of the largest urban parks in North America...
and Long Beach
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
A small pocket park is located in the west side of the city, Pixley Park at 3626 56th Street. Two small pocket parks were proposed to the city in 2008, Maywood Avenue Park and Pine Avenue Park are to be built in the future in the west side of the city. As the city reorganizes, future plans are on hold.
The only sports team located in the city is the Maywood Buzz, which features former NBA star Cedric Ceballos
Cedric Ceballos
Cedric Z. Ceballos is an American professional basketball player. As a small forward, he played most notably for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns, later finishing his NBA career with the Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat.Ceballos attended college at Ventura College and...
. The team plays in the Maywood Activities Center, also known as the M.A.C. They are an ABA (American Basketball Association) team. Several famous baseball players have played at Maywood Park including former MLB player Marvin Benard
Marvin Benard
Marvin Larry Benard [buh-NARD] is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who batted and threw left-handed....
, who attended local rival, Bell High School
Bell High School (Bell, California)
Bell High School is a public high school in Bell, California, United States.The school, which serves grades 9 through 12, is a part of District 6 of the Los Angeles Unified School District....
.
The ABA
American Basketball Association (21st century)
The American Basketball Association, often abbreviated as ABA, is a semi-professional men's basketball league that was founded in 1999. The current ABA has no affiliation with the original American Basketball Association that merged with the National Basketball Association in 1976...
team, the Beijing Aoshen Olympians played their inaugural season at the M.A.C. during the 2005–2006 season. They reached the playoffs, but lost to the SoCal Legends
SoCal Legends
The Southern California Legends, known commonly as the SoCal Legends, were a team in the Continental Basketball Association.The Legends are owned and coached by former NBA player Gary Grant. They played their home games at Azusa Pacific University's Felix Events Center...
in the Great Eight Tournament in Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. After the season, the Olympians relocated, and now play on the campus of Azusa Pacific University
Azusa Pacific University
Azusa Pacific University is a private, inter-denominational, evangelical Christian university located near Los Angeles in suburban Azusa, California. It was founded in 1899, with classes opening on March 3, 1900 in Whittier, California. It began offering degrees in 1939...
.
"Maywood Street Fair"
Every Memorial Day weekend the City of Maywood holds their annual Street Fair. It is a place where families, friends, and neighbors get together to experience a variety of food, music, games, rides, and multi-cultural activities. Street fair presale ride tickets will be available at City Hall until sold out. Location : On Slauson between Pine Avenue and Loma Vista Avenue In July, 2010, Over 600 people attended the First Annual 4 July Family Fun Day Celebration at the Maywood Activities Center, to honor our nation’s birthday.Places of worship
Notable natives and residents
Dana PlatoDana Plato
Dana Michelle Plato was an American actress notable for playing the role of Kimberly Drummond in the U.S. television sitcom Diff'rent Strokes.Plato appeared in over 100 television commercials as a young girl...
from Diff'rent Strokes
Diff'rent Strokes
Diff'rent Strokes is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from November 3, 1978 to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985 to March 7, 1986...
was born on November 7, 1964, in Maywood, CA
Jim Messina, Loggins and Messina
Loggins and Messina
Loggins and Messina are an American rock-pop duo consisting of Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina who achieved their success in the early to mid 1970s...
Christie Repasy
Christie Repasy
Christie Repasy is an American floral artist born in Maywood, California.- About the Artist :Christie Repasy has been painting since she was in the second grade. By age 14 she was painting furniture for friends and neighbors. Her first accomplishment was a high school art contest she won...
, American floral artist