Bellflower, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bellflower, California
City
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  "The Friendly City"
Motto(s):  "Growing Together"
Location of Bellflower in Los Angeles County, California.
Bellflower, California Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	California
County	Los Angeles
Founded	1906
Incorporated	September 3, 1957
Named for	Yellow bellflower apple
Area
• Total	15.97 km2 (6.17 sq mi)
• Land	15.84 km2 (6.12 sq mi)
• Water	0.13 km2 (0.05 sq mi)  0.86%
Elevation	22 m (71 ft)
Population  (2020)
• Total	79,190
• Density	4,998.23/km2 (12,945.89/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP codes	90706, 90707
Area code	562
FIPS code	06-04982
GNIS feature IDs	1652671, 2409822

Bellflower is a city in Los Angeles County, California. It is part of the larger Los Angeles area. The city was started in 1906 and became an official city on September 3, 1957. In 2020, about 79,190 people lived there. This makes Bellflower one of the most crowded cities in the United States for its size.

History of Bellflower

The land where Bellflower now stands was first used for hunting and fishing. This was because there was a lot of wild game and fish. Later, it became a place for raising cattle and dairy cows. However, many early settlers moved away.

In 1906, a real estate investor named F.E. Woodruff started the first town here. It was called Somerset in 1909 when a post office opened. But the name 'Somerset' was too similar to a town in Colorado. So, the name was changed to Bellflower. This new name came from the bellflower apple, which was grown in local fruit farms.

From Farms to Homes

Bellflower was first settled by dairy farmers. Many of these farmers came from Dutch, Japanese, and Portuguese backgrounds. Bellflower and nearby Paramount were important for producing apples and then milk for Southern California.

After World War II, land became very valuable. This caused most farmers to move to other areas. Their farms were then turned into large neighborhoods. These new homes were for the many people moving to Los Angeles for jobs. Even today, Bellflower has many residents of Dutch descent. You can even find Dutch grocery stores there!

Bellflower became an official city in 1957. It slowly changed from a farming area to a place with many homes. In the 1950s and 1960s, Bellflower Boulevard was a busy shopping street. Many stores and restaurants started there. Today, Bellflower is a busy city within Southeast Los Angeles. It is also a "sister city" with Los Mochis, Mexico.

Geography of Bellflower

Bellflower is located at 33°53′17″N 118°07′39″W / 33.888165°N 118.127604°W / 33.888165; -118.127604.

The city covers about 6.2 square miles (15.97 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 6.1 square miles (15.84 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.1 square miles (0.13 square kilometers), is water.

Bellflower is surrounded by several other cities. To the north and northwest is Downey. To the east are Norwalk and Cerritos. Lakewood is to the south, and Long Beach is to the southwest. Paramount is to the west. Bellflower is part of the "Gateway Cities" area in Los Angeles County.

Population and People

In 2010, Bellflower had a population of 76,616 people. The city is home to a diverse group of people from many different backgrounds.

Economy

Bellflower has many businesses that provide jobs for its residents.

Top Employers in Bellflower

Here are some of the largest employers in the city:

City Services

Fire protection in Bellflower is handled by the Los Angeles County Fire Department. They have two stations in the city. Ambulance services are provided by Care Ambulance Service.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department helps keep the city safe. They have a substation in Bellflower. The United States Postal Service also has a post office in the city.

Getting Around Bellflower

Several major freeways are close to Bellflower. The Artesia Freeway runs through the southern part of the city. The San Gabriel River Freeway is just east of Bellflower. The Century Freeway is just north of the city.

Bellflower also has bus services. These are provided by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Long Beach Transit. The city also has its own local bus service called Bellflower Bus.

Education in Bellflower

Clifton M. Brakensiek Library

Most students in Bellflower attend schools in the Bellflower Unified School District. Some parts of the city are in the Downey Unified School District or the Paramount Unified School District. Bellflower Unified School District has two high schools in Bellflower: Bellflower High School and Somerset High School.

There are also private schools in Bellflower. These include St. John Bosco High School and Valley Christian Elementary.

The Clifton M. Brakensiek Library is a local branch of the County of Los Angeles Public Library.

Famous People from Bellflower

Anthony Brown

Derrick Williams

Many talented people have lived in or are from Bellflower. Here are a few:

• Danny Barber (born 1971), a soccer player.
• Anthony Brown (born 1992), a basketball player.
• Chris Carter, who created The X-Files TV show.
• Misty Copeland, a famous ballet dancer.
• Nomar Garciaparra, a well-known Major League Baseball player.
• Don Hahn, a producer for Disney movies like "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Lion King".
• Trevor Hoffman, a Hall of Fame Major League Baseball pitcher.
• Jeff Kent, a Major League Baseball MVP.
• Evan Longoria, a Major League Baseball All-Star.
• Wendi McLendon-Covey, an actress known for the movie Bridesmaids.
• Jerry Quarry, a famous heavyweight boxer.
• Derrick Williams, a professional basketball player.
• Ron Yary, a Hall of Fame professional football player.

See also

In Spanish: Bellflower (California) para niños