Bellflower, California

The City of Bellflower is located in southeast Los Angeles County. The City’s Mission Statement is “to protect and enrich the quality of life, to make Bellflower an excellent place to live, work and play." The City’s mottos are "Growing Together" and "The Friendly City." The name “Bellflower” may have been inspired by an orchard of Bellefleur (Belle-Fleur) apples (“beautiful flower” in French) located in the northern part of the area grown by pioneer settler William Gregory. Bellflower has a population of about 77,000 residents.

Location

The City of Bellflower is located within 25 miles of Downtown Los Angeles, Los Angeles International Airport, the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and Disneyland. Foster Road defines Bellflower’s northern border, across from which lies the city of Downey. Bellflower’s eastern border runs along the San Gabriel River. On the eastern bank of the San Gabriel River are Norwalk, Artesia, and further south, Cerritos. The southern border of Bellflower runs between Rose Street and Allington Street. The City of Lakewood is Bellflower’s neighbor across that border. Like many of the cities and neighborhoods mentioned, Bellflower is part of the Gateway Cities region, formed by a collection of cities south and east of Downtown Los Angeles huddled around the border of Orange County.

Jobs and the Economy

The City of Bellflower is home to a diverse collection of businesses, including fine restaurants, an extreme sports theme park, auto dealerships, dental and medical practice groups, shopping areas, and medical facilities. Kaiser Permanente Bellflower Medical Offices, George Chevrolet, and Bel Tooren Villa Convalescent Hospital are among the City’s largest employers.

Modern transportation routes ensure easy access to Bellflower. California State Route 91 (the Atresia Freeway) passes through the City of Bellflower. Close to the City of Bellflower are several other major freeways, including Interstate 5 (the Santa Ana Freeway), Interstate 405 (the San Diego Freeway), Interstate 605 (the San Gabriel River Freeway), and Interstate 710 (the Long Beach Freeway.) Norwalk Transit, Metropolitan Transit Authority, and Long Beach Transit bus line routes pass through the City.

As of 2022, the Edgeway Mixed-Use Project was under construction in the heart of Downtown Bellflower. The project includes 91 residential units, about 14,000 square feet of commercial space, and an exterior public plaza. This is one of many projects underway to revitalize Downtown Bellflower. Construction has also begun on the WoodSpring Suites Bellflower, which will offer 122 hotel rooms.

History

The land now encompassed by the City of Bellflower was subject to annual flooding from the San Gabriel River. Dense growths of willows and underbrush earned areas near the San Gabriel River the names “The Willows and “The Wilderness.” Farming developed in the area, which was successful due to the area’s fertile soil. During this time, Bellflower was known by such names as Firth, New River Colony, and Somerset Acres. Prior to World War II, the area was largely agricultural and was associated with dairy cattle, poultry, and horticulture. The economy of the City of Paramount, Bellflower’s western neighbor, was also dominated by agriculture. In both cases, the agricultural focus of the region would not last. The farmers had to move further southeast when the demand for residential property exploded in the area in the middle of the twentieth century, causing property values to shoot up. Developers parceled out the farms into residential plots to be sold to workers who took technical and industrial jobs in surrounding cities and neighborhoods. The town grew from a rural community consisting of a handful of immigrant farmers to a densely populated suburban city.

Pacific Electric Railway

In about 1905, the interurban Pacific Electric Railway, which became the world’s largest electric interurban passenger system, extended into what is now Bellflower with the establishment of the Somerset Station on the line leading to the City of Santa Ana. A new depot building was built for the stop in about 1927. Pacific Electric Railway service to Bellflower ended in 1958. The Pacific Electric Railway ceased operations entirely in 1961.

Downtown

A business district had sprung up in the town by 1910. At one time, Downtown Bellflower was a main shopping district for mainly agricultural southeast Los Angeles County.

Schools

In 1910 a four-room modern school building—the Somerset School, later renamed the Bellflower School—was built in Bellflower, The Bellflower Unified School District was formed in 1956.

Infrastructure

Electric lines came to the town in about 1913 and gas lines in about 1914. In 1946, the short-lived 53-acre Bellflower Airport was established near Bellflower High School and the San Gabriel River. The airport was closed in 1953. By 1956, houses had been built on much of the site of the former airport.

Incorporation

Bellflower incorporated in 1957.

Government

The City of Bellflower is a general law city with a council-manager form of government. The City has a five-member City Council, a mayor elected by the City Council each year, a City Manager, and a several committees and commissions. The County of Los Angeles provides law enforcement, library, and fire services for the City of Bellflower.

Points of Interest

The Carpenter House Museum is dedicated to sharing the history of the City of Bellflower. The museum also helps visitors learn what family life was like for the Fred B. Carpenter family and their contemporaries in 1928, and features turn-of-the-century décor, furnishings, and other household items. Also located in Bellflower is the Los Angeles County Fire Museum. The museum features a variety of antique fire engines, some of which date back to the 19th Century, along with an extensive collection of uniforms, helmets, and other fire service artifacts.

Bellflower has several community parks. John S. Simms Park has a large banquet facility. T. Mayne Thompson Park has a community center, swimming pools, and a weight room. Ruth R. Caruthers Park has baseball diamonds and a skate park. Riverview Park features a bike path.

The William and Jane Bristol Civic Auditorium showcases private, commercial, and community events. The auditorium has 340 seats, dressing rooms, a green room, and a box office.

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Have you been fired due to your disability, or has your employer or former employer otherwise violated your rights under California or federal law? The details of each person’s situation are unique, so call the experienced employment attorneys at Kokozian Law Firm, APC. You may also Contact Us via our online form.

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