Norwalk, California
Encyclopedia
Norwalk is a suburban city in Los Angeles County
, California
, United States
. The population was 105,549 at the 2010 census, up from 103,298 at the 2000 census, making it the 58th most populous city in California and the 255th nationally.
Founded in the late 19th century, Norwalk was incorporated in as a city in 1957. It is located 17 miles (27.4 km) southeast of downtown Los Angeles
, and 12 miles (19.3 km) northwest of Garden Grove
.
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 a member of the Gateway Cities
Council of Governments. Norwalk's sister cities are Morelia
, Michoacán, and Hermosillo
, Sonora, in Mexico.http://www.ci.norwalk.ca.us/commissions.asp
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 25.243 km² (10 sq mi). 9.707 square miles (25.1 km²) of it is land and 0.039 square mile (0.10100953629 km²) of it (0.40%) is 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 North and East.
was 10,829.6 people per square mile (4,181.3/km²). The racial makeup of Norwalk was 52,089 (49.4%) White, 4,593 (4.4%) African American, 1,213 (1.1%) Native American, 12,700 (12.0%) Asian (5.3% Filipino, 2.5% Korean, 0.9% Chinese, 0.8% Indian, 0.8% Vietnamese, 0.6% Cambodian, 0.3% Thai, 0.3% Japanese), 431 (0.4%) Pacific Islander, 29,954 (28.4%) from other races
, and 4,569 (4.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 74,041 persons (70.1%); 60.0% of Norwalk is Mexican, 2.7% Salvadoran, 1.3% Guatemalan, 0.6% Nicaraguan, 0.5% Puerto Rican, 0.4% Cuban, 0.4% Peruvian, 0.3% Honduran, 0.3% Ecuadorian, and 0.3% Colombian.
The Census reported that 103,934 people (98.5% of the population) lived in households, 315 (0.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 1,300 (1.2%) were institutionalized.
There were 27,130 households, out of which 13,678 (50.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 15,190 (56.0%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 5,045 (18.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 2,348 (8.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,712 (6.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 178 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 3,417 households (12.6%) were made up of individuals and 1,631 (6.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.83. There were 22,583 families
(83.2% of all households); the average family size was 4.10.
The population was spread out with 29,164 people (27.6%) under the age of 18, 12,026 people (11.4%) aged 18 to 24, 30,138 people (28.6%) aged 25 to 44, 23,790 people (22.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 10,431 people (9.9%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.5 years. For every 100 females there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.
There were 28,083 housing units at an average density of 2,881.4 per square mile (1,112.5/km²), of which 17,671 (65.1%) were owner-occupied, and 9,459 (34.9%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.8%. 70,180 people (66.5% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 33,754 people (32.0%) lived in rental housing units.
of 2000, there were 103,298 people, 26,887 households, and 22,531 families residing in the city. The population density
was 10,667.6 inhabitants per square mile (4,120.2/km²). There were 27,554 housing units at an average density of 2,845.5 per square mile (1,099.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 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. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 62.89% of the population.
There were 26,887 households out of which 46.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% were married couples
living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.2% were non-families. 12.7% 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 3.79 and the average family size was 4.08.
In the city the population was 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 were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $46,047, and the median income for a family was $47,524. Males had a median income of $31,579 versus $26,047 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,022. About 9.5% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
The structure of the management and coordination of city services is:
, in which the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
provides police services. It maintains its own station, which also provides police services to La Mirada
and unincorporated South Whittier
. At one time the station also provided contracted police services to Santa Fe Springs
, but those services ended when the city entered into a contract with the Whittier
Police Department. The station is staffed with 206 sworn personnel. The Joint Regional Drug Intelligence Center and Joint Regional Intelligence Center, which has a counter-terrorism focus, are located in a large commercial building at 12440 East Imperial Highway.
Norwalk is located in the 30th Senate
District, represented by Democrat Ronald S. Calderon
, and in the 56th Assembly
District, represented by Democrat Tony Mendoza
. Federally, Norwalk is located in California's 38th congressional district
, which has a Cook PVI
of D +20 and is represented by Democrat Grace Napolitano
.
The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services
operates the Whittier Health Center in Whittier
, serving Norwalk.
The United States Postal Service
operates the Norwalk Post Office at 14011 Clarkdale Avenue and the Paddison Square Post Office at 12415 Norwalk Boulevard.
of the Los Angeles County Superior Court is located in Norwalk.
, a psychiatric and mental health facility operated by the California Department of Mental Health, is located in Norwalk.
(I-5) and San Gabriel River Freeway (I-605) intersect at its northern edge, while the Century Freeway (I-105
) terminates at the San Gabriel River Freeway at the city's western edge. The Artesia Freeway (SR 91
) runs just south of the city's southern border in the communities of Cerritos and Artesia
.
serves Norwalk and its adjacent communities. Currently there are 8 different bus lines operating in Norwalk and adjacent cities.
provides service to the Metro Green Line Station via Studebaker Road from Long Beach.
("Metro") provides both bus and rail service from Norwalk. The Metro Green Line light rail
line provides service from the Norwalk
Green Line station to LAX
(via shuttle from Aviation Station) and Redondo Beach. Metro bus routes provide service to the west on Florence Avenue
, Firestone Boulevard, Imperial Highway
, and Rosecrans Avenue
from the Norwalk Green Line Station. Express routes also connect to Disneyland, El Monte Bus Station, Long Beach and downtown Los Angeles.
Orange County Line and 91 Line (which operate on the same track in this area) trains connect Norwalk (the Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs
station) with Orange County, Riverside County
, and Downtown Los Angeles.
, an array of berries, acorns, sage, squirrels, rabbits and birds. Their huts were part of the Sejat Indian village.
In the late 1760s, settlers and missions flourished under Spanish rule with the famous El Camino Real
trail traversing the area. Manuel Nieto
, a Spanish soldier, received a Spanish
land grant (Rancho Los Nietos
) in 1784 that included Norwalk.
After the Mexican-American War in 1848, the Rancho and mining days ended. Portions of the land were subdivided and made available for sale when California
was admitted into the union of the United States. 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 1880s, the Norwalk Station allowed potential residents the opportunity to visit the "country" from across the nation.
What are known as the "first families" to Norwalk (including the Sprouls, the Dewitts, the Settles, and the Orrs) settled in the area in the years before 1900. 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. Headstones for these families can be found at Little Lake Cemetery, which was founded in 1843 on the border between Norwalk and Santa Fe Springs at Lakeland Road.
At the turn of the 19th century, Norwalk had become established as a 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. Many of the dairy farmers who settled in Norwalk during the early part of the 20th century were Dutch.
After the 1950s, the Hispanic population in Norwalk grew significantly as the area became increasingly residential. In the 1990s, Norwalk gained a significant Asian population from families priced out of wealthier neighboring Cerritos
and communities in Orange County
.
-5F Neptune patrol bomber, collided over Norwalk at night. 47 servicemen were killed as well as a civilian 23-year-old woman on the ground who was hit by falling debris. A plaque commemorating the disaster erected by the American Legion in 1961 marks the spot of the accident, today a mini-mall at the corner of Firestone Boulevard and Pioneer Boulevard.
with ambulance transport by Care Ambulance Service
.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
operates the Norwalk Station in Norwalk.
. Founded in 1955, Cerritos College is a public community college serving an area of 52 square miles (134.7 km²) of southeastern Los Angeles county. The college offers degrees and certificates in 87 areas of study in nine divisions. Over 1,200 students complete their course of studies each year.
Norwalk is served by the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District
, headquartered at 12820 Pioneer Blvd., Norwalk, CA 90650 as well as the Little Lake City School District, headquartered in Santa Fe Springs. Certain areas of West Norwalk are served by the ABC Unified School District
, based in Cerritos. Among the several parochial schools in Norwalk are Saint John of God School (Roman Catholic), Pioneer Baptist School (Baptist Christian), and Saint Linus School (Roman Catholic). It also contains The California distinguished school J.B. Morrison Elementary
Magnet School.
channel 9, an independently-owned and operated television station, is originally licensed to Norwalk (formerly KHJ-TV not to be confused with subsidiary KHJ-AM radio station), but it represents Los Angeles and the entire Southern California region.
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 105,549 at the 2010 census, up from 103,298 at the 2000 census, making it the 58th most populous city in California and the 255th nationally.
Founded in the late 19th century, Norwalk was incorporated in as a city in 1957. It is located 17 miles (27.4 km) southeast of downtown Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, and 12 miles (19.3 km) northwest of Garden Grove
Garden Grove
There are at least three places in the United States named Garden Grove:* Garden Grove, California* Garden Grove, Iowa* Garden Grove, Florida"Garden Grove" could also refer to:...
.
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 a member of the Gateway Cities
Gateway Cities
The Gateway Cities of Southern California are those located in southeastern Los Angeles County. There is some cross-over between these cities and those composing South Los Angeles, East Los Angeles, the South Bay, and the San Gabriel Valley...
Council of Governments. Norwalk's sister cities are Morelia
Morelia
Morelia is a city and municipality in the north central part of the state of Michoacán in central Mexico. The city is in the Guayangareo Valley and is the capital of the state. The main pre-Hispanic cultures here were the P'urhépecha and the Matlatzinca, but no major cities were founded in the...
, Michoacán, and Hermosillo
Hermosillo
Hermosillo is a city and municipality located centrally in the northwestern Mexican state of Sonora. It is the capital and main economic center for the state and region. It contains almost all of the state's manufacturing and has thirty percent of its population...
, Sonora, in Mexico.http://www.ci.norwalk.ca.us/commissions.asp
Geography
Norwalk is located at 33°54′25"N 118°5′0"W (33.906914, -118.083398).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 25.243 km² (10 sq mi). 9.707 square miles (25.1 km²) of it is land and 0.039 square mile (0.10100953629 km²) of it (0.40%) is water.
Norwalk is bordered by Downey
Downey, California
Downey is a city located in southeast Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city is best known as the birthplace of the Apollo space program, and is the city where folk singer Karen Carpenter lived and died...
on the Northwest, Bellflower
Bellflower, California
Bellflower is a city in Los Angeles County, California, and is a suburb of Los Angeles. It was incorporated on September 3, 1957. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 76,616, up from 72,878 at the 2000 census....
on the Southwest, Cerritos
Cerritos, California
Cerritos is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, and is one of several cities that constitute the Gateway Cities of southeast Los Angeles County. It was incorporated on April 24, 1956...
and Artesia
Artesia, California
Artesia is a city in southeast Los Angeles County, California. Artesia was incorporated on May 29, 1959 and is one of Los Angeles County's Gateway Cities. The city has a 2010 census population of 16,522...
on the South, and Santa Fe Springs
Santa Fe Springs, California
Santa Fe Springs is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is one of the Gateway Cities of southeast Los Angeles County. The population was 16,223 at the 2010 census, down from 17,438 at the 2000 census....
on the North and East.
Demographics
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Norwalk had a population of 105,549. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 10,829.6 people per square mile (4,181.3/km²). The racial makeup of Norwalk was 52,089 (49.4%) White, 4,593 (4.4%) African American, 1,213 (1.1%) Native American, 12,700 (12.0%) Asian (5.3% Filipino, 2.5% Korean, 0.9% Chinese, 0.8% Indian, 0.8% Vietnamese, 0.6% Cambodian, 0.3% Thai, 0.3% Japanese), 431 (0.4%) Pacific Islander, 29,954 (28.4%) from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 4,569 (4.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 74,041 persons (70.1%); 60.0% of Norwalk is Mexican, 2.7% Salvadoran, 1.3% Guatemalan, 0.6% Nicaraguan, 0.5% Puerto Rican, 0.4% Cuban, 0.4% Peruvian, 0.3% Honduran, 0.3% Ecuadorian, and 0.3% Colombian.
The Census reported that 103,934 people (98.5% of the population) lived in households, 315 (0.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 1,300 (1.2%) were institutionalized.
There were 27,130 households, out of which 13,678 (50.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 15,190 (56.0%) were opposite-sex married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 5,045 (18.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 2,348 (8.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,712 (6.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
POSSLQ
POSSLQ is an abbreviation for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters," a term coined in the late 1970s by the United States Census Bureau as part of an effort to more accurately gauge the prevalence of cohabitation in American households....
, and 178 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 3,417 households (12.6%) were made up of individuals and 1,631 (6.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.83. There were 22,583 families
Family (U.S. Census)
A family or family household is defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes as "a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state...
(83.2% of all households); the average family size was 4.10.
The population was spread out with 29,164 people (27.6%) under the age of 18, 12,026 people (11.4%) aged 18 to 24, 30,138 people (28.6%) aged 25 to 44, 23,790 people (22.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 10,431 people (9.9%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.5 years. For every 100 females there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.
There were 28,083 housing units at an average density of 2,881.4 per square mile (1,112.5/km²), of which 17,671 (65.1%) were owner-occupied, and 9,459 (34.9%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.8%. 70,180 people (66.5% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 33,754 people (32.0%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 103,298 people, 26,887 households, and 22,531 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 10,667.6 inhabitants per square mile (4,120.2/km²). There were 27,554 housing units at an average density of 2,845.5 per square mile (1,099.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 44.82% White, 4.62% African American, 1.16% Native American, 11.54% Asian, 0.39% Pacific Islander, 32.75% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 4.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 62.89% of the population.
There were 26,887 households out of which 46.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.2% were non-families. 12.7% 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 3.79 and the average family size was 4.08.
In the city the population was 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 were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $46,047, and the median income for a family was $47,524. Males had a median income of $31,579 versus $26,047 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $14,022. About 9.5% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
Local government
According to the city’s most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city’s various funds had $78.2 million in Revenues, $79.1 million in Expenditures, $107.2 million in Total Assets, $48.7 million in Total Liabilities, and $54.8 million in Cash and Investments.The structure of the management and coordination of city services is:
| Department | Director |
|---|---|
| City Manager | Michael J. Egan |
| Assistant City Manager | Thomas E. Lynch |
| Director of Finance/City Treasurer | Jana Stuard |
| Director of Transportation | James C. Parker |
| Director of Community Development | Kurt Anderson |
| Director of Personnel/Risk Manager | Ernie Hernandez |
| Director of Public Services | Gary DiCorpo |
| Director of Recreation and Park Services | Dave Verhaaf |
| Director of Public Safety | Carlos Ramos |
| Director of Social Services | Tak Hamabata |
| City Clerk | Theresa Devoy |
Law enforcement
Norwalk is currently a contract cityContract city
Contract city is a term used in the U.S. for a city which provides municipal services by contract with another unit of government, public agency or private organizations....
, in which the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is a local county law enforcement agency that serves Los Angeles County, California. It is the fourth largest local policing agency in the United States, with the New York City Police Department being the first. The second largest is the Chicago Police...
provides police services. It maintains its own station, which also provides police services to La Mirada
La Mirada, California
La Mirada is a city in southeast Los Angeles County, California, United States, and is one of the Gateway Cities. The population was 48,527 at the 2010 census, up from 46,783 at the 2000 census....
and unincorporated South Whittier
South Whittier, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that South Whittier had a population of 57,156. The population density was 10,691.8 people per square mile...
. At one time the station also provided contracted police services to Santa Fe Springs
Santa Fe Springs, California
Santa Fe Springs is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is one of the Gateway Cities of southeast Los Angeles County. The population was 16,223 at the 2010 census, down from 17,438 at the 2000 census....
, but those services ended when the city entered into a contract with the Whittier
Whittier, California
Whittier is a city in Los Angeles County, California about southeast of Los Angeles. The city had a population of 85,331 at the 2010 census, up from 83,680 as of the 2000 census, and encompasses 14.7 square miles . Like nearby Montebello, the city constitutes part of the Gateway Cities...
Police Department. The station is staffed with 206 sworn personnel. The Joint Regional Drug Intelligence Center and Joint Regional Intelligence Center, which has a counter-terrorism focus, are located in a large commercial building at 12440 East Imperial Highway.
Registrar/recorder
Norwalk is the home of the Los Angeles County Registrar/Recorder. The Los Angeles County Registrar's Office is responsible for the registration of voters, maintenance of voter files, conduct of federal, state, local and special elections and the verification of initiative, referendum and recall petitions. There are approximately 4.1 million registered voters, and 5 thousand voting precincts established for countywide elections. The office also has jurisdiction over marriage license issuance, the performance of civil marriage ceremonies, fictitious business name filings and indexing, qualification and registration of notaries and miscellaneous statutory issuance of oaths and filings. The office issues approximately 75,000 marriage licenses and processes 125,000 fictitious business name filings annually. The Recorder's Office is responsible for recording legal documents which determine ownership of real property and maintains files of birth, death and marriage records for Los Angeles County. It serves the public and other County departments such as the Assessor, Health Services, Public Social Services and Regional Planning. The office processes 2 million real and personal property documents and 750,000 birth, death and marriage records annually and services approximately 2,000 customers daily.County, state, and federal representation
In the state legislatureCalifornia State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
Norwalk is located in the 30th Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
District, represented by Democrat Ronald S. Calderon
Ronald S. Calderon
Ronald Steven Calderon is the California State Senator from the 30th Senate District. He was elected to the Senate in 2006....
, and in the 56th Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
District, represented by Democrat Tony Mendoza
Tony Mendoza
Tony Mendoza is a Cuban-American photographer. He was born in Havana, Cuba, and moved to Miami, Florida with his family in 1960. He graduated from Yale with a Bachelor of Engineering and Harvard with a Master of Architecture, before becoming a full time photographic artist in 1973...
. Federally, Norwalk is located in California's 38th congressional district
California's 38th congressional district
California's 38th congressional district is congressional district in the U.S. state of California based in Los Angeles County centered around suburban Los Angeles...
, which has a Cook PVI
Cook Partisan Voting Index
The Cook Partisan Voting Index , sometimes referred to as simply the Partisan Voting Index , is a measurement of how strongly an American congressional district or state leans toward one political party compared to the nation as a whole...
of D +20 and is represented by Democrat Grace Napolitano
Grace Napolitano
Graciela Flores Napolitano is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. She is a member of the Democratic Party. She previously served in the California State Assembly and the Norwalk, City Council....
.
The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services
Los Angeles County Department of Health Services
Health services to over 10 million residents in the Los Angeles County are provided by the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Mental health services are provided by the County Department of Mental Health...
operates the Whittier Health Center in Whittier
Whittier, California
Whittier is a city in Los Angeles County, California about southeast of Los Angeles. The city had a population of 85,331 at the 2010 census, up from 83,680 as of the 2000 census, and encompasses 14.7 square miles . Like nearby Montebello, the city constitutes part of the Gateway Cities...
, serving Norwalk.
The United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
operates the Norwalk Post Office at 14011 Clarkdale Avenue and the Paddison Square Post Office at 12415 Norwalk Boulevard.
Superior Court
The Southeast DistrictDistrict
Districts are a type of administrative division, in some countries managed by a local government. They vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.-Austria:...
of the Los Angeles County Superior Court is located in Norwalk.
Metropolitan State Hospital
The 162 acre (0.65559132 km²) Metropolitan State HospitalMetropolitan State Hospital (California)
Metropolitan State Hospital is an American public hospital for the mentally ill, located in the city of Norwalk in Los Angeles County, California. Metropolitan State Hospital provides mental health care and treatment to forensic and civilly committed patients in need of a structured and secure...
, a psychiatric and mental health facility operated by the California Department of Mental Health, is located in Norwalk.
Freeways
Norwalk has no fewer than 4 freeways that cross into city boundaries. The Santa Ana FreewaySanta Ana Freeway
The Santa Ana Freeway is one of the principal freeways in Southern California, connecting Los Angeles and its southeastern suburbs including the freeway's namesake, the city of Santa Ana. The freeway begins at the Four Level Interchange in downtown Los Angeles, signed as U.S. Route 101...
(I-5) and San Gabriel River Freeway (I-605) intersect at its northern edge, while the Century Freeway (I-105
Interstate 105 (California)
Interstate 105 is an Interstate Highway in southern Los Angeles County, California that runs east–west from near the Los Angeles International Airport to Norwalk...
) terminates at the San Gabriel River Freeway at the city's western edge. The Artesia Freeway (SR 91
California State Route 91
State Route 91 is a major east–west freeway located entirely within Southern California and serving several regions of the Greater Los Angeles metropolitan area...
) runs just south of the city's southern border in the communities of Cerritos and Artesia
Artesia, California
Artesia is a city in southeast Los Angeles County, California. Artesia was incorporated on May 29, 1959 and is one of Los Angeles County's Gateway Cities. The city has a 2010 census population of 16,522...
.
Norwalk Transit
Norwalk TransitNorwalk Transit (California)
Norwalk Transit is a municipal transit company providing fixed-route and paratransit bus transit services in Norwalk, California, United States, and also operates in portions of Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, La Mirada and Whittier in Southeast Los Angeles County.Norwalk Transit receives its...
serves Norwalk and its adjacent communities. Currently there are 8 different bus lines operating in Norwalk and adjacent cities.
Long Beach Transit
Long Beach TransitLong Beach Transit
Long Beach Transit is a municipal transit company providing fixed and flexible bus transit services in Long Beach, California, United States, other communities in South and Southeast Los Angeles County and Northwestern Orange County. Long Beach Transit also operates the Passport shuttle, Aquabus,...
provides service to the Metro Green Line Station via Studebaker Road from Long Beach.
Los Angeles Metro
The Los Angeles MTALos Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority is the California state-chartered regional transportation planning agency and public transportation operating agency for the County of Los Angeles formed in 1993 out of a merger of the Southern California Rapid Transit District and the...
("Metro") provides both bus and rail service from Norwalk. The Metro Green Line light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
line provides service from the Norwalk
Norwalk (LACMTA station)
Norwalk is a Los Angeles County Metro Rail station on the Green Line. Located in Norwalk, California, it is the eastern terminus of the Green Line...
Green Line station to LAX
Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually...
(via shuttle from Aviation Station) and Redondo Beach. Metro bus routes provide service to the west on Florence Avenue
Florence Avenue
Florence Avenue is a west-east street in Los Angeles County that starts off as Mills Road at Janine Drive in Whittier. At Telegraph Road, it changes to Florence...
, Firestone Boulevard, Imperial Highway
Imperial Highway
Imperial Highway is a road in Orange and Los Angeles counties in California. It begins at the Anaheim-Orange boundary and runs through several cities until it stops at Dockweiler State Beach in Los Angeles near the Los Angeles International Airport. For much of the way, Imperial Highway is signed...
, and Rosecrans Avenue
Rosecrans Avenue
Rosecrans Avenue is a major west-east thoroughfare in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, California, USA. It has a total length of 27.5 miles . The street is named after Union General William S. Rosecrans, who spent his later years in Southern California.-Route:Rosecrans Avenue begins at Ocean...
from the Norwalk Green Line Station. Express routes also connect to Disneyland, El Monte Bus Station, Long Beach and downtown Los Angeles.
Metrolink
The MetrolinkMetrolink (Southern California)
Metrolink is a commuter rail system serving Los Angeles and the surrounding area of Southern California; it currently consists of six lines and 55 stations using of track....
Orange County Line and 91 Line (which operate on the same track in this area) trains connect Norwalk (the Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs
Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs (Metrolink station)
The Norwalk/Sante Fe Springs Metrolink Station is a Metrolink rail station in the city of Norwalk, California. It is served by Metrolink's 91 Line from Los Angeles Union Station to Riverside and Metrolink's Orange County Line running from Los Angeles Union Station to Oceanside. On weekdays, this...
station) with Orange County, Riverside County
Riverside County, California
Riverside County is a county in the U.S. state of California. One of 58 California counties, it covers in the southern part of the state, and stretches from Orange County to the Colorado River, which forms the state border with Arizona. The county derives its name from the city of Riverside,...
, and Downtown Los Angeles.
History
The area known as "Norwalk" was first home to the Shoshonean Native American tribe. They survived primarily on honeyHoney
Honey is a sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers. The variety produced by honey bees is the one most commonly referred to and is the type of honey collected by beekeepers and consumed by humans...
, an array of berries, acorns, sage, squirrels, rabbits and birds. Their huts were part of the Sejat Indian village.
In the late 1760s, settlers and missions flourished under Spanish rule with the famous El Camino Real
El Camino Real (California)
El Camino Real and sometimes associated with Calle Real usually refers to the 600-mile California Mission Trail, connecting the former Alta California's 21 missions , 4 presidios, and several pueblos, stretching from Mission San Diego de Alcalá in San Diego...
trail traversing the area. Manuel Nieto
Rancho Los Nietos
Rancho Los Nietos was one of the first, and the largest, Spanish land concession in Alta California. Located in present day Los Angeles County and Orange County, California. Rancho Los Nietos was awarded to Manuel Nieto in 1784...
, a Spanish soldier, received a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
land grant (Rancho Los Nietos
Rancho Los Nietos
Rancho Los Nietos was one of the first, and the largest, Spanish land concession in Alta California. Located in present day Los Angeles County and Orange County, California. Rancho Los Nietos was awarded to Manuel Nieto in 1784...
) in 1784 that included Norwalk.
After the Mexican-American War in 1848, the Rancho and mining days ended. Portions of the land were subdivided and made available for sale when California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
was admitted into the union of the United States. 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 1880s, the Norwalk Station allowed potential residents the opportunity to visit the "country" from across the nation.
What are known as the "first families" to Norwalk (including the Sprouls, the Dewitts, the Settles, and the Orrs) settled in the area in the years before 1900. 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. Headstones for these families can be found at Little Lake Cemetery, which was founded in 1843 on the border between Norwalk and Santa Fe Springs at Lakeland Road.
At the turn of the 19th century, Norwalk had become established as a 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. Many of the dairy farmers who settled in Norwalk during the early part of the 20th century were Dutch.
After the 1950s, the Hispanic population in Norwalk grew significantly as the area became increasingly residential. In the 1990s, Norwalk gained a significant Asian population from families priced out of wealthier neighboring Cerritos
Cerritos, California
Cerritos is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, and is one of several cities that constitute the Gateway Cities of southeast Los Angeles County. It was incorporated on April 24, 1956...
and communities in Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
.
Airplane disaster
In February 1958, two military aircraft, a Douglas C-118 A military transport and a U.S. Navy P2VP-2 Neptune
The Lockheed P-2 Neptune was a Maritime patrol and ASW aircraft. It was developed for the United States Navy by Lockheed to replace the Lockheed PV-1 Ventura and PV-2 Harpoon, and being replaced in turn with the Lockheed P-3 Orion...
-5F Neptune patrol bomber, collided over Norwalk at night. 47 servicemen were killed as well as a civilian 23-year-old woman on the ground who was hit by falling debris. A plaque commemorating the disaster erected by the American Legion in 1961 marks the spot of the accident, today a mini-mall at the corner of Firestone Boulevard and Pioneer Boulevard.
The Hargitt House
Built in 1891 by the D. D. Johnston family, the Hargitt House was built in the architectural style of Victorian Eastlake. The Hargitt House Museum, located at 12426 Mapledale, was donated to the people of Norwalk by Charles ("Chun") and Ida Hargitt. The Museum is open on the first and third Saturday of the month from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.Emergency services
Fire protection in Norwalk is provided by the Los Angeles County Fire DepartmentLos Angeles County Fire Department
The Los Angeles County Fire Department , serves unincorporated parts of Los Angeles County, as well as 58 cities and towns that choose to have the county provide fire and EMS services, including La Habra. It should not be confused with the Los Angeles City Fire Department, which serves the city of...
with ambulance transport by Care Ambulance Service
Care Ambulance Service
Care Ambulance Service provides ambulance transport and 9-1-1 response services providing basic life support and critical care for patients in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Care Ambulance is divided into 2 divisions, Orange County and Los Angeles County...
.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is a local county law enforcement agency that serves Los Angeles County, California. It is the fourth largest local policing agency in the United States, with the New York City Police Department being the first. The second largest is the Chicago Police...
operates the Norwalk Station in Norwalk.
Top employers
According to the City's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District The Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District is a school district in Los Angeles County, with headquarters in Norwalk. It has schools in Norwalk and La Mirada.-High schools:* El Camino High School* John Glenn High School* La Mirada High School... |
4,365 |
| 2 | Metropolitan State Hospital Metropolitan State Hospital (California) Metropolitan State Hospital is an American public hospital for the mentally ill, located in the city of Norwalk in Los Angeles County, California. Metropolitan State Hospital provides mental health care and treatment to forensic and civilly committed patients in need of a structured and secure... |
1,532 |
| 3 | Los Angeles County Los Angeles County, California Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states... Registrar/Recorder |
1,216 |
| 4 | Cerritos College Cerritos College Cerritos College is a public comprehensive community college founded in 1955 located in Norwalk, California. It was named after Rancho Los Cerritos, a ranch that served prominently in the region in the 19th century... |
1,198 |
| 5 | Bally Total Fitness Bally Total Fitness Bally Total Fitness is an American fitness club chain which operates 100 gyms, in several U.S. states. In November of 2011, competitor L.A. Fitness took over operation of 171 former Bally locations... |
650 |
| 6 | City of Norwalk | 469 |
| 7 | Coast Plaza Hospital | 432 |
| 8 | Target Target Corporation Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's... |
420 |
| 9 | California Division of Juvenile Justice California Division of Juvenile Justice The California Division of Juvenile Justice , formerly known as the California Youth Authority , is a division of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation that provides education, training, and treatment services for California's most serious youth offenders... |
342 |
| 10 | Costco Costco Costco Wholesale Corporation is the largest membership warehouse club chain in the United States. it is the third largest retailer in the United States, where it originated, and the ninth largest in the world... |
318 |
| 11 | Los Angeles County Los Angeles County, California Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states... Department of Public Social Services |
310 |
| 12 | Doty Bros. Contstruction | 300 |
| 13 | Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is a local county law enforcement agency that serves Los Angeles County, California. It is the fourth largest local policing agency in the United States, with the New York City Police Department being the first. The second largest is the Chicago Police... |
250 |
| 14 | McKenna Motors | 230 |
| 15 | Superior Court of Los Angeles County Superior Court of Los Angeles County The Superior Court of Los Angeles County is the Superior Court located in Los Angeles County. It is the largest single unified trial court in the United States.... |
225 |
| 16 | Stater Bros. Stater Bros. Stater Bros. Markets is a privately held supermarket chain, based in San Bernardino, California, consisting of over 167 stores located throughout Southern California. Founded in Yucaipa, California in 1936 by Cleo and Leo Stater , it consisted of 167 stores as of February 23, 2009... |
160 |
| 17 | Lowe's Lowe's Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a U.S.-based chain of retail home improvement and appliance stores. Founded in 1946 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, the chain now serves more than 14 million customers a week in its 1,710 stores in the United States and 20 in Canada. Expansion into Canada began in... |
150 |
| 18 | Norwalk Toyota | 135 |
| 19 | AMC AMC Theatres AMC Theatres , officially known as AMC Entertainment, Inc., is the second largest movie theater chain in North America with 5,325 screens, second only to Regal Entertainment Group, and one of the United States's four national cinema chains AMC Theatres (American Multi-Cinema), officially known as... Norwalk 20 Theaters |
130 |
| 20 | Doubletree | 100 |
| 21 | Wal-Mart Wal-Mart Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000... |
100 |
| 22 | Fresh & Easy Fresh & Easy Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market is a chain of grocery stores in the western United States, headquartered in El Segundo, California. It is a subsidiary of Tesco, the world's third largest retailer... |
99 |
| 23 | Norwalk Regional Library County of Los Angeles Public Library -Library System:The County of Los Angeles Public Library is the 4th largest public library system in the United States which serves residents living in 51 of the 88 incorporated cities of Los Angeles County, California... |
70 |
| 24 | Verizon | 67 |
| 25 | Outback Steakhouse Outback Steakhouse Outback Steakhouse is an American casual dining restaurant chain based in Tampa, Florida with over 1200 locations in 22 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. It was founded in February 1988 in Tampa by Bob Basham, Chris T... |
60 |
| 26 | Sonoco | 60 |
| 27 | Food 4 Less | 56 |
| 28 | Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Los Angeles County Department of Health Services Health services to over 10 million residents in the Los Angeles County are provided by the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Mental health services are provided by the County Department of Mental Health... |
37 |
| 29 | Office Depot Office Depot Office Depot is a supplier of office products and provides many services. The company's selection of brand name office supplies includes business machines, computers, computer software and office furniture, while its business services encompass copying, printing, document reproduction, shipping,... |
30 |
Education
Norwalk is home to Cerritos CollegeCerritos College
Cerritos College is a public comprehensive community college founded in 1955 located in Norwalk, California. It was named after Rancho Los Cerritos, a ranch that served prominently in the region in the 19th century...
. Founded in 1955, Cerritos College is a public community college serving an area of 52 square miles (134.7 km²) of southeastern Los Angeles county. The college offers degrees and certificates in 87 areas of study in nine divisions. Over 1,200 students complete their course of studies each year.
Norwalk is served by the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District
Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District
The Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District is a school district in Los Angeles County, with headquarters in Norwalk. It has schools in Norwalk and La Mirada.-High schools:* El Camino High School* John Glenn High School* La Mirada High School...
, headquartered at 12820 Pioneer Blvd., Norwalk, CA 90650 as well as the Little Lake City School District, headquartered in Santa Fe Springs. Certain areas of West Norwalk are served by the ABC Unified School District
ABC Unified School District
The ABC Unified School District is a school district that is based in Cerritos, California, United States.ABCUSD serves the cities of Artesia, most of Cerritos, Hawaiian Gardens, the portion of Lakewood east of the San Gabriel River, as well as tiny portions of Long Beach, Norwalk, and La Mirada...
, based in Cerritos. Among the several parochial schools in Norwalk are Saint John of God School (Roman Catholic), Pioneer Baptist School (Baptist Christian), and Saint Linus School (Roman Catholic). It also contains The California distinguished school J.B. Morrison Elementary
J.B. Morrison Elementary
J.B. Morrison Elementary School is a Elementary Magnet School Located in Norwalk, California. Its full name is Julia B. Morrison Elementary. It is within the Norwalk La-Mirada Unified School District. It is a Title 1 High Academic Achieving school. In the school year of 2008-2009, Morrison became a...
Magnet School.
Media
KCAL-TVKCAL-TV
KCAL-TV, channel 9, is an independent television station in Los Angeles, California, USA, owned by the CBS Corporation. KCAL-TV shares its studio facilities with KCBS-TV inside CBS Studio Center in the Studio City section of Los Angeles, and its transmitter is located atop Mount Wilson.-Digital...
channel 9, an independently-owned and operated television station, is originally licensed to Norwalk (formerly KHJ-TV not to be confused with subsidiary KHJ-AM radio station), but it represents Los Angeles and the entire Southern California region.
Famous residents of Norwalk
- Tiffany Darwish, 80's Teen Idol
- Poncho SanchezPoncho SanchezPoncho Sanchez , a Mexican-American, is a conguero , Latin jazz band leader, and salsa singer. In 2000, Sanchez and his ensemble won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album for their work on the Concord Picante album Latin Soul...
, Latin jazz artist - Pat NixonPat NixonThelma Catherine "Pat" Ryan Nixon was the wife of Richard Nixon, 37th President of the United States, and was First Lady of the United States from 1969 to 1974. She was commonly known as Patricia or Pat Nixon.Born in Nevada, Pat Ryan grew up in Los Angeles, California...
Wife of President Richard M. Nixon; Excelsior High School Class of 1929 (Family bought a Truck Farm in Dairy Valley, formerly in Artesia, but now part of Cerritos) - James GattusoJames GattusoJames Gattuso is a senior research fellow for the Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think-tank based in Washington D.C. He specializes in regulatory issues and telecommunications policy...
Analyst and pundit now in Washington, DC who often appears on television and radio to give opinions on domestic policy; Excelsior High School Class of 1975 - Cindy SheehanCindy SheehanCindy Lee Miller Sheehan is an American anti-war activist whose son, U.S. Army Specialist Casey Sheehan, was killed by enemy action during the Iraq War. She attracted national and international media attention in August 2005 for her extended anti-war protest at a makeshift camp outside President...
, anti-Iraq War activist - Bob KevoianBob KevoianRobert James "Bob" Kevoian is an American radio host of the nationally syndicated radio show The Bob & Tom Show together with his partner, Tom Griswold. The show is broadcast from WFBQ's studios in Indianapolis, Indiana....
Radio Host "The Bob & Tom Show" Norwalk High Class of 1969 - Gene TaylorGene TaylorGary Eugene "Gene" Taylor is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 1989 until 2011. He was defeated for re-election in 2010 by State Rep. Steven Palazzo, who gained 52% of the vote compared to Taylor's 47%. He left office in January 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
(musician) acclaimed blues-rock and Boogie Woogie pianist. Norwalk High Class of 1970 - Nikki Schieler ZieringNikki Schieler ZieringNikki Schieler Ziering is an American model and actress. Ziering was Playboy's Playmate of the Month for September 1997.- Career :...
, Playboy Playmate, actress and Ian Ziering's ex-wife - William ConradWilliam ConradWilliam Conrad was an American actor, producer and director whose career spanned five decades in radio, film and television....
, Graduate of Excelsior High School; Actor, director and producer in film and television (b. 1920, d. 1994) - Alexandra NechitaAlexandra NechitaAlexandra Nechita is a Romanian-born American cubist painter and muralist.- Biography :She was born in Vaslui, three months after her father, Niki Nechita, escaped from Communist Romania. She and her mother, Viorica Nechita, had to wait for two years before being allowed to join him in the United...
, Artist, considered the youngest cubist ever discovered (at the age of 8) and nicknamed "petite Picasso". Attended Moffit Elementary School prior to her fame when she relocated outside of Norwalk. - Shirley BabashoffShirley BabashoffShirley Frances Babashoff is a former swimmer from the United States, who set six world records and earned a total of eight individual Olympic medals in her career...
, Norwalk High School graduate, 1973 and Olympic Swim Team, 1972 and 1976. - Dick BassDick Bass----Richard Lee Bass was an American football running back who played for the Los Angeles Rams from 1960 to 1969....
, born Richard Lee Bass, played professional football as a running back for the Los Angeles Rams from 1960 through 1969. - Richard BrownRichard BrownRichard Brown or Browne may refer to:* Dick Brown , rugby player* Dick Brown , catcher in American Major League Baseball during the 1950s and 1960s...
Major League Baseball Player Los Angeles Dodgers 1990-93 Oakland Athletics 1993-96 - Keith GinterKeith GinterMilwaukee Brewers 2011Keith Michael Ginter is a former American Major League Baseball infielder now playing for the Orange County Flyers in the independent Golden Baseball League. Ginter is a graduate of Fullerton High School in Fullerton, California...
, MLB player for the Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, and the Oakland Athletics.
Movies and TV shows filmed in Norwalk
- The Postman Always Rings TwiceThe Postman Always Rings Twice (1946 film)The Postman Always Rings Twice is a 1946 drama-film noir based on the 1934 novel of the same name by James M. Cain. This adaptation of the novel is the best known, featuring Lana Turner, John Garfield, Cecil Kellaway, Hume Cronyn, Leon Ames, and Audrey Totter...
- (1946) Includes scene filmed on location at the Norwalk train depot near Front Street and Funston Avenue - Corvette SummerCorvette SummerCorvette Summer is an American film, released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1978 starring Mark Hamill and Annie Potts. It tells the story of a lonely, car-obsessed California teenager and the theft of his beloved customized Corvette Stingray.-Plot summary:...
(1978) - Scene filmed outside of what was then the Golden West Ballroom on Studebaker between Imperial HighwayImperial HighwayImperial Highway is a road in Orange and Los Angeles counties in California. It begins at the Anaheim-Orange boundary and runs through several cities until it stops at Dockweiler State Beach in Los Angeles near the Los Angeles International Airport. For much of the way, Imperial Highway is signed...
and Firestone Boulevard - Square PegsSquare PegsSquare Pegs is an American comedy series that aired on CBS during the 1982–1983 season. The series follows Patty Greene and Lauren Hutchinson , two awkward teenage girls desperate to fit in at Weemawee High School....
(1982) - Filmed at Excelsior High School - Grease 2Grease 2Grease 2 is a 1982 American musical film and sequel to Grease, which is based upon the musical of the same name by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. Grease 2 was produced by Allan Carr and Robert Stigwood, and directed and choreographed by Patricia Birch, who also choreographed the first film...
(1982) - Mostly filmed at Excelsior High School - High School U.S.A.High School U.S.A."High School U.S.A." is also the title of the biggest pop hit by Tommy Facenda.High School U.S.A. is a 1983 television movie directed by Rodney Amateau. The film originally aired on NBC on October 16, 1983 and features an ensemble cast including Michael J. Fox, Anthony Edwards, and Crispin...
(1983) - Filmed at Excelsior High School - CHiPsCHiPsCHiPs is an American television drama series produced by MGM Studios that originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to July 17, 1983. CHiPs followed the lives of two motorcycle police officers of the California Highway Patrol...
(1983) - Episode filmed in various parts of Norwalk - SuburbiaSuburbia (film)Suburbia, also known as Rebel Streets and The Wild Side, is a 1984 film written and directed by Penelope Spheeris about suburban punks who run away from home. The kids take up a minimalist, punk lifestyle by squatting in abandoned suburban tract homes...
(1984) - Streetscape in the Interstate 105Interstate 105 (California)Interstate 105 is an Interstate Highway in southern Los Angeles County, California that runs east–west from near the Los Angeles International Airport to Norwalk...
/605Interstate 605Interstate 605 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Greater Los Angeles Area of Southern California...
area - The Karate Kid (1984) - Golf 'N' Stuff
- Another Day in ParadiseAnother Day in Paradise"Another Day in Paradise" is a song by Phil Collins released as the first single from his number-one album But Seriously . As with his song from Genesis, "Man on the Corner" "Another Day in Paradise" was written to bring attention to the problem of homelessness; as such, the song was a substantial...
(1989) - Locations include both Front Street and Firestone Boulevard - Cutting ClassCutting ClassThis article is about the film. For the song, see Cutting Class . For the crime, see truancyCutting Class is a 1989 horror film directed by Rospo Pallenberg and written by Steve Slavkin. The film was Brad Pitt's first major role.-Plot:...
(1989 Horror Film) - Filmed in Norwalk, the movie was Brad Pitt's first major role in a movie. The John Glenn High School band is heard playing their school fight song during the game scene - Speed (1994) - Shots filmed at the construction site of the 105 Freeway at Studebaker Rd and Imperial Hwy
- Things to Do in Denver When You're DeadThings to Do in Denver When You're DeadThings to Do in Denver When You're Dead is a 1995 crime film directed by Gary Fleder from a screenplay written by Scott Rosenberg. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Andy García, Christopher Lloyd, Steve Buscemi, Christopher Walken, Fairuza Balk, and Gabrielle Anwar.The film's title...
(1995) - Outside scenes filmed at Keystone Lanes, a bowling alley on Imperial Highway - KornKornKorn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,...
(1995) - "Shoots N' Ladders" music video was shot at Golf N' Stuff - Best MenBest MenBest Men is a 1997 film directed by Tamra Davis and starring Sean Patrick Flanery, Luke Wilson, Andy Dick, Mitchell Whitfield, Fred Ward, Drew Barrymore, and Dean Cain.-Plot:...
(1997) - Mostly filmed on Front Street - LifeLife (film)Life is a 1999 American comedy-drama film directed by Ted Demme, and starring Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence. The supporting cast includes Obba Babatundé, Bernie Mac, Anthony Anderson, Miguel A. Núñez Jr. and Bokeem Woodbine...
(1999) - Scene filmed at Greyhound bus station on Front Street - Frailty (2001) - Shots filmed at Greyhound bus station on Front Street at San Antonio Boulevard
- MonkMonk (TV series)Monk is an American comedy-drama detective mystery television series created by Andy Breckman and starring Tony Shalhoub as the titular character, Adrian Monk. It originally ran from 2002 to 2009 and is primarily a mystery series, although it has dark and comic touches.The series debuted on July...
(2004) - The scenes in the Mega-Mart storage area were recorded in the Big LotsBig LotsBig Lots, Inc. is a Fortune 500 retail corporation with annual revenues well over $4 billion.Its department stores focus mainly on selling closeout and overstock merchandise. The company is based in Columbus, Ohio, USA and currently operates over 1,400 stores in 47 states...
at Norwalk Town Square. - Avril LavigneAvril LavigneAvril Ramona Lavigne is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She was born in Belleville, Ontario, but spent most of her youth in the small town of Napanee. By the age of 15, she had appeared on stage with Shania Twain; by 16, she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records worth more...
(2006) - "Girlfriend" music video was shot at Golf N' Stuff - HeroesHeroes (TV series)Heroes is an American science fiction television drama series created by Tim Kring that appeared on NBC for four seasons from September 25, 2006 through February 8, 2010. The series tells the stories of ordinary people who discover superhuman abilities, and how these abilities take effect in the...
(TV series, 2007) - Scene filmed at Greyhound bus station on Front Street at San Antonio Boulevard - BrünoBrunoBruno is a male given name. It is derived from the Germanic word brun meaning "brown". It is also one of the most frequent Italian surnames. It also occurs very frequently in continental Europe and parts of Brazil as a given name for men and boys...
(2009) - Civil Marriage Scene filmed at the LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Building.
Neighborhoods
- Carmenita (South Norwalk)
- Civic Center (Central Norwalk)
- Norwalk Hills (North Norwalk)
- South Norwalk
- Studebaker (North Norwalk)
See also
- List of California public officials charged with crimes, Norwalk