Norwalk is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 103,298.
The City of Norwalk was incorporated in 1957. It is located 17 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. Like much of Southern California, Norwalk went from a predominantly agricultural area at the end of World War II to a well-developed suburb of Los Angeles. Due to an influx of immigration from Mexico and other nations, the diversity of the city has increased. In the 1990s, Norwalk also gained significant Asian-American and Indian populations, largely in the form of families priced out of wealthier neighboring Cerritos and communities in Orange County.
Norwalk operates under a Council/Manager form of government, established by the Charter of the City of Norwalk which was drafted in 1957. The five-member City Council acts as the City's chief policy-making body. Every two years, Councilmembers are elected by the citizens of Norwalk to serve four-year, overlapping terms. Councilmembers are not limited to the number of terms they may serve. The Mayor is selected by the Council and serves a one-year term.
Norwalk is located at 33°54'25" North, 118°5'0" West (33.906914, -118.083398).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 24.2 km2 (9.35 mi2). 24.2 km2 (9.35 mi2) of it is land and 0.1 km2 (0.1 mi2) of it is water. The total area is 0.51% water.
Norwalk is bordered by Downey on the Northwest, Bellflower on the Southwest, Cerritos and Artesia on the South, and Santa Fe Springs on the east.
As of the census of 2000, there are 103,298 people, 26,887 households, and 22,531 families residing in the city. The population density is 4,120.2/km2 (10,667.6/mi2). There are 27,554 housing units at an average density of 1,099.0/km2 (2,845.5/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 44.82% White, 4.62% African American, 1.16% Native American, 11.54% Asian, 0.39% Pacific Islander, 32.75% from other races, and 4.71% from two or more races. 62.89% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 26,887 households out of which 46.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% are married couples living together, 16.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 16.2% are non-families. 12.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 5.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.79 and the average family size is 4.08.
In the city the population is spread out with 32.1% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 30 years. For every 100 females there are 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 94.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $46,047, and the median income for a family is $47,524. Males have a median income of $31,579 versus $26,047 for females. The per capita income for the city is $14,022. 11.9% of the population and 9.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 14.8% of those under the age of 18 and 7.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
The area known as "Norwalk" was first home to the Shoshonean Indian tribe. They survived primarily on honey, an array of berries, acorns, sage, squirrels, rabbits and birds. Their huts were part of the Sejat Indian village.
In the late 1760s, Spanish settlers, Padres and missions flourished in the area under Spanish rule with the famous El Camino Real trail traversing the area. In 1833, the new Mexican government passed the Secularization Bill, which returned the land to the Indian tribes. However, the Indian tribes suffered the loss of much of their culture, and were unable to successfully cope with the return of their land.
The Rancho and mining days in the new California ended around the 1860's and the land was subdivided once again and made available for sale now as part of the State of California. Word of this land development reached the Sproul Brothers in Oregon. They recalled the fertile land and huge sycamore trees they saw during an earlier visit to the Southern California area. In 1869, Atwood Sproul, on behalf of his brother, Gilbert, purchased 463 acres (1.9 km2) of land at $11 an acre ($2700/km2) in an area known as Corazon de los Valles, or "Heart of the Valleys."
By 1873, railroads were being built in the area and the Sprouls deeded 23 acres (93,000 m2) stipulating a "passenger stop" clause in the deed. Three days after the Anaheim Branch Railroad crossed the "North-walk" for the first time, Gilbert Sproul surveyed a town site. In 1874, the name was recorded officially as Norwalk. While a majority of the Norwalk countryside remained undeveloped during the 1880's, the Norwalk Station allowed potential residents the opportunity to visit the "country" from across the nation.
This pre-1900 era also brought the "first families" to Norwalk, including the Sprouls, the Dewitts, the Settles, the Orrs, and many others. D.D. Johnston pioneered the first school system in Norwalk in 1880. Johnston was also responsible for the first real industry in town, a cheese factory, by furnishing Tom Lumbard with the money in 1882. Norwalk's prosperity was evident in the 1890s with the construction of a number of fine homes that were located in the middle of orchards, farms and dairies.
At the turn of the century, Norwalk had become established as the dairy center. Of the 50 local families reported in the 1900 census, most were associated with farming or with the dairy industry. Norwalk was also the home of some of the largest sugar beet farms in all of Southern California during this era.
Source:
NorwalkCalifornia.com
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