Maywood, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Maywood, California
City
Images, from top, left to right: Slauson Ave, Swimming Pool, Retirement Home, Maywood High School
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Location of Maywood in Los Angeles County, California
Maywood, California Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area Show map of the Los Angeles metropolitan area Maywood, California Location in California Show map of California Maywood, California Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	California
County	Los Angeles
Incorporated	September 2, 1924
Area
• Total	1.18 sq mi (3.05 km2)
• Land	1.18 sq mi (3.05 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0%
Elevation	151 ft (46 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	25,138
• Density	21,300/sq mi (8,242/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP Code	90270
Area code(s)	213 / 323
FIPS code	06-46492
GNIS feature ID	1661000

Maywood is a city in Los Angeles County. It is known as a "gateway city" because of its location. Maywood is one of the smallest cities in Los Angeles County, covering only about 1.18 square miles (3.05 km2). It is surrounded by other cities like Bell, Vernon, Huntington Park, and Commerce.

In 2010, Maywood made a big change. It became the first city in California to have all its services, like police and city operations, handled by outside companies. This meant many city employees were laid off, except for a few key leaders. The population of Maywood was 27,395 people at the 2010 census.

History of Maywood

The land where Maywood is today was once home to Native American tribes for hundreds of years. In 1781, the King of Spain gave this land to a Spanish war veteran named Manuel Nieto. This area later became a large ranch.

In 1919, a real estate company was turning this 2,300-acre ranch into homes. A popular young woman named May Wood worked for them. She agreed to let the new community be named after her. Maywood officially became a city on September 2, 1924.

Car Factories in Maywood

Maywood was once a place where many cars were built!

• The Chrysler Corporation had a car assembly plant in Maywood from the 1920s until 1971. It was known as the "Los Angeles" Plant.
• The Ford Motor Company also had an assembly plant in Maywood from 1948 to 1957. This factory built Lincoln and Mercury cars. It was located across the street from the Chrysler plant.
• Willys-Overland built its California factory in Maywood in 1929. Over 900 people worked there. During World War II, this plant helped make parts for Hudson Bombers. After the war, Willys-Overland started making the first Jeeps for everyday people in 1945. The Maywood plant helped build many Jeeps and even a new car called the Aero. The plant closed in 1954.

City Services Changes in 2010

In 2010, Maywood faced some financial challenges. The city was having trouble keeping its insurance coverage. Because of these money problems, the city decided to make a big change.

On July 1, 2010, Maywood decided to close its own police department. They also laid off most city employees, keeping only the city manager, city attorney, and elected officials. Instead, the city hired other agencies to provide all the services that residents needed. For example, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department took over police duties. This was a way for the city to save money and manage its budget.

Geography and Climate

Maywood covers about 1.2 square miles (3.1 km2) of land. It is located about 8 miles (13 km) southeast of Downtown Los Angeles. It is part of the Gateway Cities area in southeastern Los Angeles County. As mentioned, it shares borders with the cities of Bell, Vernon, Huntington Park, and Commerce.

Maywood's Weather

The weather in Maywood is generally warm in summer and mild in winter. In August, which is the warmest month, temperatures usually reach around 89°F (32°C). In December, the coldest month, temperatures usually stay above 47°F (8°C). The city gets about 15 inches (383 mm) of rain each year, with February being the wettest month.

Maywood has experienced some tornado activity, which is higher than the average for California. For example, in 1966, a strong tornado caused some damage and injured people nearby.

People of Maywood (Demographics)

Population in 2010

According to the 2010 United States Census, Maywood had a population of 27,395 people. The city is very diverse. About 97.4% of the people identified as Hispanic or Latino.

Most people in Maywood live in households. About 62.8% of households had children under 18 living there. The average household had about 4 people. The median age in Maywood was 27.9 years old. This means half the population was younger than 27.9 and half was older.

Population in 2000

In the year 2000, Maywood had 28,083 people. The population was also very diverse, with a large percentage of Hispanic or Latino residents (96.33%). Many families in Maywood had children. The median age was 25 years old.

Diverse Community

Maywood is known for its diverse population. Many residents are from other countries, especially Mexico and El Salvador. A large number of people in Maywood work in factories in nearby cities like Vernon and Commerce. The city is known for being a welcoming place for people from all backgrounds.

Arts and Culture

Street Fair

Every year, Maywood hosts a fun Street Fair during Memorial Day weekend. It's a great event where families and friends can enjoy different foods, listen to music, play games, and go on rides. It's a chance for the community to come together and celebrate. The city also holds a July 4 Family Fun Day Celebration to honor Independence Day.

Sports

Maywood has its own basketball team called the Maywood Buzz. This team plays in the American Basketball Association (ABA). A famous former NBA player, Cedric Ceballos, has been part of the team. They play their games at the Maywood Activities Center, also known as the M.A.C.

Some well-known baseball players have also played at Maywood Park, including former MLB player Marvin Benard. The Beijing Aoshen Olympians, another ABA team, also played their first season at the M.A.C.

Parks and Recreation

Maywood Park and Aquatic Center

Access to Los Angeles River Bike Path at Riverfront Park

Maywood has two main parks and two smaller "pocket parks."

• Maywood Park is located at 4801 E 58th Street. It has a baseball field and the Maywood Activity Center (M.A.C.), which opened in 1999.
• The Maywood Riverfront Park is at 5000 Slauson Avenue. It's next to the Los Angeles River and has courts for handball and basketball, plus a soccer field. You can also access the LA River Bike Path from here, which is a long path for biking through Los Angeles County.

The Maywood Activities Center (M.A.C.) is open to everyone. It offers many classes, special rooms, an indoor basketball court, a gym, and a swimming pool. It's a great place for clubs and classes to meet.

The two smaller parks are Pixely Park and Pine Avenue Park. The Parks and Recreation Department takes care of all the city's parks and offers many activities for people of all ages.

Education

Maywood is part of the Los Angeles Unified School District. The city also works with nearby cities like South Gate, Huntington Park, Cudahy, Vernon, and Bell to improve education for children in the area.

Public Primary Schools

Here are some of the public elementary schools in Maywood:

• Fishburn Avenue Elementary School
• Heliotrope Elementary School
• Loma Vista Elementary School
• Maywood Elementary School (opened in 2005)
• Clemente Charter School

Public Secondary Schools

The public high school in Maywood is:

• Maywood Academy High School

Private Schools

Private schools in Maywood include Maywood Christian School (for K–12 students), Betania Christian School (for grades 1–12), and St. Rose of Lima School (for K-8 students), which is a Catholic school.

Infrastructure

Public Safety

• Fire Protection: The Los Angeles County Fire Department provides fire protection services for Maywood.
• Ambulance Services: Ambulance transport is handled by Care Ambulance Service.
• Law Enforcement: The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department provides police services and aerial support for the city of Maywood. The Maywood Police Department used to exist but was disbanded in 2010 due to financial reasons.

Health Services

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Whittier Health Center in Whittier, which serves the residents of Maywood.

Transportation

Maywood Express bus

You can reach Maywood by major roads like Atlantic Boulevard (running north-south) and Slauson Avenue (running east-west). The city is also close to Interstate 710.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) offers bus services in Maywood:

• Metro Local Line 108 runs on Slauson Avenue.
• Metro Local Line 260 runs on Atlantic Boulevard.
• Metro Shuttle Line 611 serves the west and north parts of the city.

Maywood also has a local bus service called Dial-a-Ride. This service picks up residents and takes them to places within the city. It costs $1.00 for a one-way trip. However, it is free for senior citizens (age 62 and over) and people with disabilities who cannot use public transportation.

Economy

Maywood has some lemon groves. These trees can sometimes be affected by a tiny insect called the Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP). Luckily, Maywood is a good place for a special kind of wasp called Tamarixia radiata. This wasp helps control the ACP by eating them, which protects the lemon trees. This means the wasps have naturally settled in Maywood to help keep the trees healthy.

Notable People

Many interesting people have connections to Maywood:

• Larry Anderson - A professional baseball player who pitched for the Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee Brewers.
• Tom Araya - The bassist and singer for the famous band Slayer.
• Scott Autrey - A professional motorcycle speedway racer who was part of the USA team that won the 1982 Speedway World Team Cup.
• Jack Brohamer - A former professional baseball player for teams like Cleveland and the Chicago White Sox.
• Todd Burns - A former professional baseball player for the Oakland Athletics.
• Jim Messina - A songwriter, singer, guitarist, and producer. He was part of the rock duo Loggins and Messina and also played in bands like Buffalo Springfield and Poco.
• Dana Plato - An actress best known for her role as Kimberly Drummond on the TV show Diff'rent Strokes.
• Christie Repasy - An American floral artist.
• Ed Roth - A famous American builder and enthusiast of hot rods.
• Robert S. Woods - An actor who played the character Bo Buchanan on the TV drama "One Life to Live".

Images for kids

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  Maywood Elementary School

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  Maywood Cudahy Police vehicle

See also

In Spanish: Maywood (California) para niños