Hawaiian Gardens, California

Hawaiian Gardens is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is the smallest city in the county (approximately 1.0 mi²) and was incorporated on April 9, 1964. The population was 14,254 at the 2010 census, down from 14,779 at the 2000 census.

The town's unusual name originated in a 1920s refreshment stand that was decorated with palm fronds and bamboo. It was the then-rural area's main landmark for many years, and its name stuck as the small town grew up around it. As one of seven Los Angeles County cities that allow casino gambling, more than $9.2 million (65%) of the city's revenue comes from the Hawaiian Gardens Casino.

Geography
Hawaiian Gardens is located at 33.82861°N, -118.07361°W (33.828565, -118.073646). It is bounded by the Los Angeles County cities of Long Beach and Lakewood, and by the Orange County city of Cypress.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.0 sqmi. 1.0 sqmi of it is land and 0.01 sqmi of it (1.09%) is water. Hawaiian Gardens is the smallest city in area in Los Angeles County.

History
There is a history section currently being worked on, to include the demolition of rows of businesses in the 1980s along Norwalk Blvd for Homebase, and the demolition of Bloomfield School in 1987 for a giant shopping center, and the Casino took out a family based market, a Pic N Save, and lots of historic sites.

In 1927, a fruit stand with palms was opened on the corner of two dirt roads of Carson and Norwalk, and called Hawaiian Gardens. Thus, the name was born. The area was a refugee for people to buy or build a home during the Great Depression as there were no jobs. Many homes lacked basic modern conveniences we take for granted today. In the last 1920s, only Norwalk Blvd was a paved road. For the next 35 years, with the exceptions of Pioneer Blvd, Norwalk Blvd, and Carson, the little town would be all dirt roads. When the city was incorporated in 1964, immediately began the paving of roads. By 1966, all streets south of Carson between Pioneer and Norwalk were paved. By 1968, all streets were paved, and the three major thoroughfares of Norwalk, Pioneer, and Carson were widened that year to current traffic standards.

Historic structures lost
Van Kampen Dairy Drive-In. 1959 until 2011. Razed for parking lot 2013. SW Corner of Norwalk & 226th St

Bloomfield Elementary School. 1924-1986. Sold for $3,000,000 in lieu of current shopping center at 12100 Carson St.

Homebase Warehouse Store. 1989-2007. Sold and razed for the current The Bingo Club at 21900 Norwalk Blvd.

Historic Section 22100-21700 Norwalk Blvd. Razed in 1989 for Homebase Warehouse Store. This whole east side of Norwalk Blvd had a few cafes, businesses, beauty salons, some industries, that dated back to the 1950s.

Plowboys Market. 1956-1999. Family business owned supermarket with focus on grown foods. Replaced by The Gardens Casino. There were also other businesses replaced, including a Pic N Save.

Hawaiian Gardens City Hall (Original). 12134 Tilbury St. 1964-1979. Bldg Razed 1988 for Gardens Shopping Center.

Hawaiian Gardens Library (Original). 12134 Tilbury St. 1979-1988. Bldg Razed 1988 for Gardens Shopping Center.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Hawaiian Gardens had a population of 14,254. The population density was 14,905.0 people per square mile (5,754.9/km²). The racial makeup of Hawaiian Gardens was 6,477 (45.4%) White (7.3% Non-Hispanic White), 546 (3.8%) African American, 178 (1.2%) Native American, 1,513 (10.6%) Asian, 57 (0.4%) Pacific Islander, 4,929 (34.6%) from other races, and 554 (3.9%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11,010 persons (77.2%).

The Census reported that 14,238 people (99.9% of the population) lived in households, 16 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 3,562 households, out of which 1,930 (54.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,819 (51.1%) were married couples living together, 714 (20.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 337 (9.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 217 (6.1%) partnerships, and 20 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 534 households (15.0%) were made up of individuals and 246 (6.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.00. There were 2,870 families (80.6% of all households); the average family size was 4.33.

The population was spread out with 4,576 people (32.1%) under the age of 18, 1,759 people (12.3%) aged 18 to 24, 4,109 people (28.8%) aged 25 to 44, 2,684 people (18.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,126 people (7.9%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males.

There were 3,703 housing units at an average density of 3,872.1 per square mile (1,495.0/km²), of which 1,577 (44.3%) were owner-occupied, and 1,985 (55.7%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.3%. 6,247 people (43.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 7,991 people (56.1%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Hawaiian Gardens had a median household income of $42,017, with 24.4% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,779 people, 3,507 households, and 2,868 families residing in the city. The population density was 15,389.5 inhabitants per square mile (5,944.0/km²). There were 3,624 housing units at an average density of 3,773.7 per square mile (1,457.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 38.24% White, 4.45% Black or African American, 1.28% Native American, 8.80% Asian, 0.74% Pacific Islander, 41.65% from other races, and 4.85% from two or more races. 62.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,507 households out of which 52.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 19.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.2% were non-families. 14.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.21 and the average family size was 4.52.

In the city, the population was spread out with 36.8% under the age of 18, 12.6% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 14.4% from 45 to 64, and 6.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,500, and the median income for a family was $31,840. Males had a median income of $21,074 versus $20,643 for females. The per capita income for the city was $10,728. About 19.8% of families and 22.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.4% of those under age 18 and 15.2% of those age 65 or over.

City government
The City of Hawaiian Gardens is a general law city and governs itself as a council-manager form of government. The city council is elected at-large. The city council appoints the city manager. The council establishes policies and ordinances and the city manager, assisted by the department heads, implements them.

The city council members must be Hawaiian Gardens residents and registered voters. As specified by the Constitution of California, city elections are non-partisan.

State and federal representation
In the California State Legislature, Hawaiian Gardens is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, Hawaiian Gardens is in.

Public services
Fire protection in Hawaiian Gardens is provided by the Los Angeles County Fire Department with ambulance transport by Care Ambulance Service.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department operates the Lakewood Station in Lakewood, serving Hawaiian Gardens.

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Whittier Health Center in Whittier, serving Hawaiian Gardens.

The United States Postal Service Hawaiian Gardens Post Office is located at 21101 Norwalk Boulevard.

Education
Hawaiian Gardens is within the ABC Unified School District.

Elementary schools within Hawaiian Gardens include Venn W. Ferguson Elementary School and Hawaiian Elementary School.

Middle schools within Hawaiian Gardens include Pharis F. Fedde Middle School, which was formerly called Killingsworth Junior High School.

Residents are zoned to the following high schools:
 * Artesia High School in Lakewood
 * Tracy High Continuation School in Cerritos

Top employers
According to the City's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are: