Santa Fe Springs, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Santa Fe Springs, California
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Little Lake Park, Santa Fe Springs
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Location of Santa Fe Springs in Los Angeles County, California
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 Santa Fe Springs, California
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  California |
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| County | Los Angeles | |
| Incorporated | May 15, 1957 | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 8.91 sq mi (23.08 km2) | |
| • Land | 8.87 sq mi (22.98 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.10 km2) 0.45% | |
| Elevation | 135 ft (41 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 19,219 | |
| • Density | 2,157.0/sq mi (832.71/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) | |
| ZIP Codes |
90605, 90670, 90671
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| Area code | 562 | |
| FIPS code | 06-69154 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 1661404 | |
Santa Fe Springs is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Its name means "Holy Faith" in Spanish. It is one of the Gateway Cities in southeast Los Angeles County. In 2010, about 16,223 people lived there.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name "Santa Fe Springs" comes from a special place. In 1886, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway bought some land from Dr. James E. Fulton. This land had natural mineral springs, and the railway named them "Santa Fe Springs."
Where is Santa Fe Springs?
Santa Fe Springs is located in Southern California. It covers about 8.9 square miles (23 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
The city is surrounded by several other towns and areas:
- To the north: West Whittier-Los Nietos (an area not part of a city)
- To the northwest: Pico Rivera
- To the west: Downey
- To the southwest: Norwalk
- To the south: Cerritos
- To the east: La Mirada and South Whittier (another unincorporated area)
- To the northeast: Whittier
A Look Back in Time
Early Days and Ranchos
Long ago, Junípero Serra started missions in this area, like the San Gabriel mission. By 1806, the native people, called Gabrieleños, were working to build the mission.
Later, in 1789, a soldier named José Manuel Nieto received a huge piece of land. It was one of the biggest land grants, about 300,000 acres (1,200 square kilometers)! This land became known as "Rancho La Zanja." It grew into a large cattle ranch, and part of it is where Santa Fe Springs is today.
The Sulfur Springs and Health Spa
In 1871, Dr. James E. Fulton came to the area. He found a sulfur spring while drilling for water. By 1874, he turned it into a health spa called Fulton's Sulfur Wells. It had a two-story hotel and a pool for people to bathe in the special water. Many people visited the spa each year for their health.
In 1886, the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway bought land from Dr. Fulton. They wanted to build a train line from Los Angeles to San Diego. This brought train transportation to the town, which was a big change!
The Oil Boom
In 1907, the Union Oil Company started drilling for oil. At first, they didn't find much. But in 1921, a well called Union-Bell struck oil, and it was a huge success! This started an "oil rush" in Santa Fe Springs. Many oil companies came to drill, and the Santa Fe Springs oil field became one of the richest in history.
People even set up tents to tell stories about how much money could be made in oil. In the 1920s, the field produced a lot of oil every day. Even though production slowed down over time, by 1938, the field had produced over 440 million barrels of oil!
Birthplace of the Shelby Cobra
Santa Fe Springs is famous for being the birthplace of the Shelby Cobra car. In 1962, Carroll Shelby started his car shop here. He brought lightweight British sports cars without engines and put powerful American V8 engines into them. This created the fast and famous Shelby Cobra!
Who Lives Here?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 16,342 | — | |
| 1970 | 14,750 | −9.7% | |
| 1980 | 14,520 | −1.6% | |
| 1990 | 15,520 | 6.9% | |
| 2000 | 17,438 | 12.4% | |
| 2010 | 16,223 | −7.0% | |
| 2019 (est.) | 17,630 | 8.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, Santa Fe Springs had a population of 16,223 people. Most people (about 81%) were of Hispanic or Latino background. The city is also home to White, African American, Native American, and Asian residents, making it a diverse community.
Most people in Santa Fe Springs live in family homes. In 2010, about 61% of homes were owned by the people living in them, and 39% were rented. The average household had about 3 to 4 people.
Keeping the City Safe
Police Services
The city of Santa Fe Springs gets its police services from the Whittier Police Department. They have a special office in Santa Fe Springs called the Police Services Center.
Fire and Rescue
The Santa Fe Springs Department of Fire and Rescue is in charge of protecting the city from fires and providing rescue services.
What Does Santa Fe Springs Make?
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Santa Fe Springs has a strong economy based on light industry. This means there are many large factories and manufacturing businesses. If you look at the city from above, you can see how many industrial buildings there are!
Some important companies in Santa Fe Springs include:
- Egge Machine Company: They make parts for classic cars and hot rods.
- U.S. Aerospace: This company works on aerospace and defense projects for the United States military.
- Fuji Food: A food company.
The Hathaway Ranch Museum in Santa Fe Springs shows the history of ranching, farming, and oil production in the area. It tells the story of the Hathaway family and how the local economy changed over time.
Shopping in the City
Santa Fe Springs used to have large shopping malls. Now, these have been changed into open-air shopping centers with supermarkets and discount stores. The city is also home to the Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet, which is a popular flea market and music spot.
Top Employers
Many people work in Santa Fe Springs. Here are some of the biggest employers:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
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| 1 | McMaster-Carr | 706 |
| 2 | Vans | 472 |
| 3 | Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits | 389 |
| 4 | Genesis Logistics/7-Eleven Distribution | 387 |
| 5 | Bumble Bee Foods | 325 |
| 6 | FedEx Ground | 324 |
| 7 | Shaw Industries | 317 |
| 8 | Walmart | 308 |
| 9 | Wismettac Asian Foods | 298 |
| 10 | Phillips Industries | 277 |
Getting Around
You can travel to and from Santa Fe Springs using Metrolink trains at the Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs station. Local buses are provided by Metro Local and Norwalk Transit.
Major highways like Interstate 5 and Interstate 605 also have exits in Santa Fe Springs, making it easy to drive there.
Learning in Santa Fe Springs
Different parts of Santa Fe Springs are served by different school districts:
- The northern part is served by the Little Lake City, Los Nietos, and South Whittier School Districts, as well as the Whittier Union High School District.
- The southern part is served by the ABC and Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School Districts.
Neighborhoods
- Carmenita is one of the areas within Santa Fe Springs.
Sister Cities
Santa Fe Springs has "sister cities" in other countries. This means they have special friendly relationships to promote cultural exchange.
See also
In Spanish: Santa Fe Springs para niños
