'''SOUTH GATE'''

is a city in Los Angeles County, California. The sixteenth largest city in Los Angeles County, it encompasses Interwiki: convert » 7.4|sqmi|km2. South Gate is located just Interwiki: convert » 7|mi|km southeast of downtown Los Angeles It is part of the Gateway Cities region of southeastern Los Angeles County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 94,396, belying the California Department of Finance's January 1, 2009 estimate that the city had a total population of 102,770. The "City of South Gate" was incorporated on January 20, 1923. South Gate became known as an official "Azalea City" when it adopted the azalea as its official flower in 1965. An image of the azalea is used in the official “All American City” seal. In 1990, South Gate was one of ten U.S. communities to receive the All-America City Award from the National Civic League.

HISTORY

The South Gate area was inhabited by the Gabrielino/Tongva Indians before development by Spanish ranchers. Spaniards have been living in this area of California since the mid-16th century. Among the early Spanish settlers was one of California’s first families, the Lugos. In the summer of 1769, a group of Spanish explorers set out from the coast of San Diego to explore the uncharted territory between San Diego and the Bay of Monterey. With them was Father Juan Crespi, considered by historians to be one of the great diarists of the new world explorations. His daily entries were remarkably revealing of the country through which the caravan passed. They proceeded in the general direction of the San Gabriel Valley, across the Los Angeles River, which Crespi named "Porciuncula" on August 2, 1769. There would be no history of South Gate without including the story of the Lugo Spanish Land Grant. That grant encompassed a great part of what is now the City of South Gate and is a vital and colorful part of this area's history. While stationed at Mission San Antonio de Padua near Salinas, California, Francisco Lugo’s first California son, Antonio Maria Lugo was born in 1775. That son became Don Antonio Maria Lugo, Spanish aristocrat and soldier, who settled on Interwiki: convert » 30000|acre|km2 of land that encompasses what is now the City of South Gate. In 1810, the King of Spain formally granted the land to Lugo, the land grant was a reward for his and his father's military service to the crown. Rancho San Antonio extended from the low range of hills which separated it from the San Gabriel Valley to the old Dominguez Ranch at its south, and from the eastern boundary of the pueblo of Los Angeles to the San Gabriel River. Lugo also became the mayor of a little town called Los Angeles, from 1816–1819,
A little more than 100 years after the establishment of the Lugo Land Grant, the area at the south gate of the ranch became the City of South Gate. As Don Lugo's family grew, he obtained San Bernardino Rancho and other grants in his children's names.
The future South Gate site and adjacent mesas presented a colorful spectacle when countless heads of cattle and horses were herded from all directions to a common point for the annual great spring rodeo. Lugo would direct the proceedings and settle disputes regarding ownership of contested animals as well as adjudicate agricultural disputes. In his saddle, he was the court and the plains his courtroom.
The Land Grant was handed down from generation to generation, dividing among offspring and eventually parceled and sold to people outside the Lugo family.
Don Antonio's son Vincente (1820–1889) built his adobe dwelling in the 1850s on Interwiki: convert » 5.5|acre|m2. It is known as Lugo Ranch, and is situated on modern day Gage Avenue in the City of Bell Gardens.
Before the end of the 1870s, much of the original land grant had been replaced by tracts of Interwiki: convert » 40|acre|m2|adj=on. By 1880, cattle raising had been replaced by agriculture as the most important local industry. During the years between 1910 and 1940, most of the agricultural land was replaced by homes and factories. Today, with the land divided by freeways, it is difficult to imagine those early centuries when it was a vast plain stretching from the mountains to the sea.
The R.D. Tweedy family has played an important part in South Gate's history. Mr. Tweedy was born in 1812 in Illinois, and came to California by ox-drawn cart in 1852. Mrs. Tweedy rode across the prairies perched on her rocking chair in the ox cart. The family was large, and several generations have lived in this city. The family members bought some Interwiki: convert » 2000|acre|km2 of the land on which much of South Gate was built. The "downtown business district" in South Gate was named after the family and is known as the Tweedy Mile.
The city was named in 1918 after the South Gate Gardens on the Cudahy Ranch. The city was incorporated five years later, in 1923, using the shortened form of the name. The name refers to the city's being south of Los Angeles.

GEOGRAPHY

South Gate is located at Interwiki: Coord » 33|56|39|N|118|11|42|W|type:city (33.944264, -118.194903).Interwiki: GR » 1
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of Interwiki: convert » 7.4|sqmi|km2. Interwiki: convert » 7.2|sqmi|km2 of it is land and Interwiki: convert » 0.1|sqmi|km2 of it is water. The total area is 1.59% water.
The Los Angeles River runs through the eastern part of South Gate.

ECONOMY

As of June 2009, California's EDD lists the unemployment rate in South Gate as 14.4%, with negative job growth. The California State Board of Equalization lists South Gate's sale tax rate as 10.75%. The income per capita is $11,566, which includes all adults and children. The median household income is $41,064.
South Gate's commercial activity is concentrated in the following zones:

• Tweedy Mile (on Tweedy Blvd. from Alameda St to Atlantic Ave.)
• Firestone Blvd. (from Long Beach Blvd. to Garfield Ave.)
• El Paseo (Corner of Firestone Blvd. and Garfield Ave.)
• Hollydale (on Garfield Ave. from 105 Freeway to Imperial Hwy.)

As of April 1, 2009, the City of South Gate imposes a 10.25-percent,which is now 10.75. 11 cents per dollar sales tax (statewide plus local supplementary), which matches Pico Rivera's sales tax rate as the highest in the State of California.
On July 9, 2009, the South Gate City Council held a special meeting where a resolution was adopted declaring a fiscal emergency for the City of South Gate. Resolution adopted declaring the City of South Gate in a fiscal emergency.

DEMOGRAPHICS

Interwiki: USCensusPop »
| 1930=19632
| 1940=26945
| 1950=51116
| 1960=53831
| 1970=56909
| 1980=66784
| 1990=86284
| 2000=96375
| 2010=94396
| footnote=source:
}}

EDUCATION

Schools located in South Gate include: 16 public (12 elementary, 2 high school and 2 middle high school) and two parochial schools. Adult Education classes are conducted at both the junior and senior high schools. The City is also served by 3 community colleges (Compton, Cerritos and East Los Angeles—main campus and South Gate satellite) and 3 California State Universities (Dominguez Hills, Long Beach and Los Angeles.)


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