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South Gate, California

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City of South Gate Official Seal
City of South Gate Official Seal

South Gate is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is part of the Gateway Cities region of southeastern Los Angeles County. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 96,375.

South Gate developed during the 1920s and 1930s both as an industrial city (primarily in "metal-bashing" industries) and a working-class bedroom community. During the 1940s and 1950s, South Gate was one of the most fiercely segregationist cities in Southern California; gangs of white youths were known to prowl the streets looking for blacks who dared to cross over from neighboring Watts. Since the 1970s, South Gate has had a large Latino community, which became dominant in the 1990s as working-class Chicanos and immigrant Latin American families filled the vacuum left by the white flight. Several popular Mexican American rap celebrities are also from South Gate, including Cypress Hill and Mellow Man Ace.

South Gate is soon to lie within 4 area codes : 323, 562, 310, 424.

Contents

Geography

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South Gate is located at [33°56′39″N, 118°11′42″W] (33.944264, -118.194903)[Geographic references#1GR1].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.4 km² (7.5 mi²). 19.1 km² (7.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.60% water.

Demographics

As of the census[Geographic references#2GR2] of 2000, there are 96,375 people, 23,213 households, and 20,056 families residing in the city. The population density is 5,048.9/km² (13,084.6/mi²). There are 24,269 housing units at an average density of 1,271.4/km² (3,294.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 41.65% White, 0.96% African American, 0.93% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 50.96% from other races, and 4.55% from two or more races. 92.00% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 23,213 households out of which 58.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% are married couples living together, 18.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 13.6% are non-families. 10.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 4.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 4.15 and the average family size is 4.37.

In the city the population is spread out with 35.6% under the age of 18, 12.5% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 14.9% from 45 to 64, and 5.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 26 years. For every 100 females there are 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 95.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $35,695, and the median income for a family is $35,789. Males have a median income of $25,350 versus $19,978 for females. The per capita income for the city is $10,602. 19.2% of the population and 17.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 24.2% of those under the age of 18 and 12.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Scandal and corruption

During 2001-2003, city treasurer, Albert Robles, along with three accomplices on the city council, accepted bribes and in turn gave taxpayer dollars to friends and relatives to perform city contracts. The three accomplices formed a majority of the five member city council, so they could effectively run the city any way they wanted. They gave themselves a 2000% pay raise, and cut the pay of the city clerk (a political rival) by 90% [link].

On January 28, 2003, voters recalled Robles along with his political allies, mayor Xochitl Ruvalcaba, Vice Mayor Raul Moriel, and city councilmember Maria Benavides [link]. Robles was convicted of bribery in July 2005 [link]. In order to try to influence the outcome of the recall vote, the targets of the recall approved all sorts of freebies to voters, such as free trash pickup for the month prior to the election, and a free home as a raffle prize.

A bizzare incident occurred at the last city council meeting after the recall election. The mayor, Xochitl Ruvalcaba, punched then 67 year old councilmember Henry Gonzalez, as she accused him of trying to fondle her breast during the public meeting [link].

In March 2006, Rudy Navarro, who was elected to replace Albert Robles as city treasurer, was caught making a false statement on his biography as posted on the city's official web site. He claimed that he earned a degree from San Diego State University, when he actually has not completed all the requirements [link].

Famous natives and residents

Education

South Gate is served by Los Angeles Unified School District.

Residents are zoned to either South Gate Middle School or Southeast Middle School (South Gate, California). South Gate residents are zoned to either South Gate High School or South East High School.

In 2003 and 2004 South Gate High School was featured in Newsweek's list of the Top 1000 U.S. Public Schools ranking 792 and 1025, respectively.[link]

Residents in South Gate are zoned to the following schools:

Primary Schools

External links

 

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