Compton's Legacy of Influence
Compton has a rich history of notable individuals who were either born or resided there. Among them are former U.S. Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, actors Kevin Costner, James Coburn, and Niecy Nash, humorist Mort Sahl, "Today Show" co-host Al Roker, former NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle, and Hall of Fame athletes Eddie Murray, Ozzie Smith, and Anthony Munoz.
Native American Heritage
Long before colonial settlement, the Suangna (Tongva) Indians inhabited the southeast Los Angeles region for over 6,000 years.
Nearby in Carson, Los Angeles Historical Marker No. 13 commemorates relics from the Tongva people discovered near the Watson Industrial Center. Known to Spanish explorers as Gabrielinos (a name taken from the San Gabriel Mission), they thrived until the late 19th century across thousands of acres of grazing land.
Early Beginnings
Colonial roots of the greater Compton region date to the 1770s when Spanish soldier Juan José Domínguez, a member of the famed Portolá expedition, accompanied Father Junipero Serra and Franciscan missionaries into uncharted California.
In 1774, Domínguez retired and received California’s first land grant—75,000 acres that now include Compton, Carson, Torrance, Redondo Beach, Lomita, Wilmington, and parts of San Pedro.
Incorporation
Compton, one of the oldest communities in Southern California, was settled in 1867 by 30 families led from Stockton by Griffith Dickenson Compton. Originally known as Gipsonville, later Comptonville, the area was renamed Compton in 1869.
By 1887, a petition to incorporate was submitted to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and approved by the State Legislature. The incorporated land spanned one mile east and west of Wilmington Avenue (now Willowbrook Avenue) and stretched from Greenleaf to north of Rosecrans Avenue.
Key Milestones in Compton's History
1920s: The Compton Airport and Compton Junior College opened, marking the city’s expansion in education and infrastructure.
1933: The Long Beach Earthquake devastated the city, already struggling during the Great Depression.
1940s: Industrial growth surged along the Alameda Industrial Corridor.
1950s: The city saw its first African American families move in, with Centennial High School built to accommodate the growing population.
1960s: Douglas Dollarhide became Compton’s first African American mayor, and for the first time, two Black and one Hispanic council members were elected—significant milestones for a city previously resistant to integration.
1970s-1990s: The Community Redevelopment Agency transformed over 1,500 acres of land into the Walnut Industrial Park, home to major corporate distribution centers such as Nissan Motors, Ralphs Grocery Co., and Xerox Corp.
1990s: The Metro Blue Line light rail introduced the MLK Transit Center at Compton Boulevard and Willowbrook Avenue, connecting the city to Los Angeles and Long Beach via a central hub for multiple transit carriers.
Compton Today
Modern Compton is a multiracial, multicultural city of over 100,000 residents.
The Hispanic population makes up approximately 64%, while African Americans account for just over 32%. This rich tapestry of culture, history, and progress continues to define Compton as a dynamic and resilient city, deeply rooted in its past while embracing opportunities for the future.
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