Carson, California facts for kids

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Carson, California

City

Carson city hall

Flag

Seal

Motto(s):

Future Unlimited

Location of Carson in Los Angeles County, California

Carson, California

Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area

Carson, California

Location in California

Carson, California

Location in the United States

February 20, 1968

Government

• Type

Council-Manager

Area

• Total

18.97 sq mi (49.12 km²)

• Land

18.73 sq mi (48.51 km²)

• Water

0.24 sq mi (0.61 km²) 1.29%

Elevation

39 ft (12 m)

Population

(2020)

• Total

95,558

• Rank

86th in California

• Density

5,101.60/sq mi (1,969.77/km²)

Time zone

UTC−8 (Pacific)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−7 (PDT)

ZIP Codes

90745–90747, 90749, 90810, 90895

Area code(s)

310/424

FIPS code

06-11530

GNIS feature IDs

1660441, 2409399

Carson is a city in Los Angeles County, California. It's located in the southern part of the county, about 13 miles (21 km) south of downtown Los Angeles. The city was officially formed on February 20, 1968. Many people of Filipino-American heritage live in Carson. In 2020, about 95,558 people called Carson home.

History of Carson

Early Days and Name Origin

Long ago, Tongva Native Americans lived in the area that is now Carson. Later, in 1784, the King of Spain gave a large piece of land called Rancho San Pedro to Juan Dominguez. The historic home of the Dominguez family, the Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum, is still nearby.

Carson got its name from George Henry Carson. He married into the Dominguez family in 1857 and helped manage the rancho.

Oil Discovery

In 1921, oil was first found at Dominguez Hill, which was part of the old Rancho San Pedro. This area was also famous for a battle during the Mexican–American War in 1846. The discovery of oil brought new growth and changes to the region.

Environmental Efforts

Over the years, there have been efforts to clean up and improve the environment in Carson. For example, in 2011, a company was ordered to clean up a neighborhood after some chemicals were found. In 2021, the city also dealt with air quality issues from a nearby channel. These efforts help keep Carson a healthy place to live.

Geography and Climate

Where is Carson?

Carson covers about 19.0 square miles (49 km²) of land. Most of it is land, with a small amount of water.

Carson is surrounded by several other communities:

To the north: West Rancho Dominguez and Compton
To the southeast: Rancho Dominguez and Long Beach
To the southwest: West Carson

There's also a special natural area in Carson called Bixby Marshland. It's a 17-acre (7 ha) wetland, which is a type of habitat with lots of water.

Carson's Weather

Weather chart for Carson, California

3.3

3.9

2.2

0.8

0.2

0.1

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0.6

1.2

2.1

temperatures in °F
precipitation totals in inches
source: http://www.weather.com

Metric conversion

J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
83 19 8	99 19 9	56 19 9	19 21 11	5.6 22 13	1.8 23 15	1.3 25 17	0.5 26 17	4.1 26 16	16 24 14	30 21 10	53 18 8
temperatures in °C • precipitation totals in mm

Carson has a warm, sunny climate, much like other parts of the Los Angeles area. It's close to the Pacific Ocean, about 6 to 8 miles (10 to 13 km) away. This means summers are a bit cooler than in places further inland.

It doesn't rain much in the summer, but there's enough rain during the rest of the year. Sometimes in late spring or early summer, Carson experiences "June Gloom." This is when the mornings are cloudy or foggy, but the sun usually comes out by the afternoon.

People of Carson

Population and Diversity

Carson is a diverse city with people from many different backgrounds. According to the 2020 United States Census, the city's population was 95,558.

The city is known for its large Filipino-American community. Many residents also have Mexican ancestry. Other groups include African Americans, Asians, Pacific Islanders, and people of various Hispanic or Latino origins. This mix of cultures makes Carson a vibrant place.

How People Live

In 2010, most people in Carson lived in family households. About 43% of households had children under 18. The average household size was about 3.5 people. Many homes in Carson are owned by the people who live in them.

Economy and Jobs

Major Employers in Carson

Carson has many businesses that provide jobs for its residents. Here are some of the top employers in the city as of 2021:

Marathon Refining Logistics Services
See's Candy Shops Inc.
Select Staffing
Lakeshore Learning
Mag Aerospace Industries
Natural History Museum of LA County
Defense Contract Management Agency
The Pepsi Bottling Group
Prime Wheel Corporation
Huck International Inc.

Past Companies

For a long time, Nissan had its North American headquarters in Carson. It was a big office complex with many buildings. In 2006, Nissan moved its headquarters to Tennessee. Many employees chose to stay in the Los Angeles area.

Arts and Culture

Libraries and Learning

Carson has two public libraries run by the County of Los Angeles Public Library:

The Carson Regional Library
The Dr. Martin Luther King Library

Carson Branch Library

Higher Education

Carson is home to California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH). This university is a big school for students who live nearby, especially from cities like Long Beach and Compton. It was started to help more students get a college education. Today, CSUDH is known for being one of the most diverse college campuses in the United States.

California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) campus

Museums and Shopping

The International Printing Museum is located in Carson. It's a unique place where you can learn about the history of printing.

The International Printing Museum in Carson

For shopping, Carson has the SouthBay Pavilion mall. It opened in 1973 and is a popular spot for residents.

Sports and Recreation

Dignity Health Sports Park

Carson is home to Dignity Health Sports Park, a large sports complex. It has a special stadium for soccer, which is where the Los Angeles Galaxy team plays. The park also has a tennis stadium and a track and field area.

Professional Sports Teams

The LA Galaxy soccer team plays their home games at Dignity Health Sports Park.

Club	League	Venue	Established	Championships
LA Galaxy	Major League Soccer	Dignity Health Sports Park	1995 (2003 in Carson)	6

The Los Angeles Chargers (an NFL team) also played their home games in Carson from 2017 to 2019.

Future Olympic Events

Carson will be a host city for the 2028 Summer Olympics! Several sports will be held here, including rugby union, modern pentathlon, tennis, field hockey, and track cycling.

NFL Stadium Proposals

Because Carson has some open land, there have been ideas for building a new NFL stadium. In 2015, there was a plan for a $1.2 billion stadium that would have been home to both the Oakland Raiders and the San Diego Chargers. However, the NFL owners decided to build a different stadium in Inglewood instead.

Education in Carson

Local Schools

Most schools in Carson are part of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Some parts of the city are served by the Compton Unified School District.

High schools in Carson include:

Carson High School
Rancho Dominguez Preparatory School (in nearby Long Beach)
Banning High School (in the Wilmington area of Los Angeles)

There's also a public school called Magnolia Science Academy-3 that serves grades 6-12.

Special Schools

The California Academy of Mathematics and Science is located in Carson, on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills. This school is part of the Long Beach Unified School District and accepts students from Carson and other nearby areas.

City Services

Emergency Services

Carson has dedicated teams to keep its residents safe:

The Los Angeles County Fire Department provides fire protection.
McCormick Ambulance Service provides ambulance transportation.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) has a station in Carson for law enforcement.

Transportation

Carson used to have a local bus system called the Carson Circuit. It helped people get around the city and connect to other public transportation, like the Los Angeles Metro A Line train. This bus service was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Dial-A-Ride services continued.

Notable People from Carson

Many famous people have lived in or have connections to Carson, including:

Ab-Soul, rapper
Brandy, singer/actress
Dr. Dre, rapper/producer (lived here during middle school)
Vince Ferragamo, NFL quarterback
The Game, rapper (lived here as a child)
Baby Keem, rapper
Tommy "Tiny" Lister, actor and wrestler
Kyla Pratt, actress
Ray J, singer/actor
Forest Whitaker, Academy Award-winning actor and director

Sister Cities

Carson has special connections with cities in other countries, called "sister cities." These connections help promote cultural exchange and friendship. Carson's sister cities are: