Compton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city is considered part of the south side by residents of Los Angeles. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 96,455. It is known as the "Hub City".
The 1920s saw the opening of the Compton Airport. Compton Junior College was founded and city officials moved to a new City Hall on Alameda Street. On March 10, 1933, a devastating earthquake caused many casualties, schools were destroyed and there was major damage to the central business district. While it would eventually be home to a large number of African Americans, in 1930 there was only one black resident. In the late 1940s, middle class African-Americans began moving into the area, mostly on the west side. Compton grew quickly in the 1950s. One reason for this was Compton was close to Watts, where there was an established community of African Americans. The eastern side of the city was predominately white until the 1970s.
During the 1950s and 1960s, after the Supreme Court declared all racially exclusive housing covenants (title deeds) unconstitutional in the case Shelley v. Kraemer, the first African American families moved to the area. Compton's growing African American population was still largely ignored and neglected by the city's elected officials. Centennial High School was finally built to accommodate a burgeoning student population. At one time, the City Council even discussed dismantling the Compton Police Department in favor of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in an attempt to exclude blacks from law enforcement jobs. This slowly began to change when, in 1958, the first African-American ran for a City Council seat. However, it would be another three years before an African-American would actually be elected to the City Council in 1961.
Douglas Dollarhide made history in Compton in 1969 when he became California's first African-American mayor of a metropolitan city. Two African-Americans and one Mexican-American were also elected to the local school board. Four years later, in 1973, Doris A. Davis defeated Dollarhide's bid for re-election to become the first African-American female mayor of a metropolitan city in the United States. By the early 1970s, the city had one of the largest concentrations of African-Americans in the country with over ninety percent.
Although Compton is still often thought of as a primarily black community, Latinos are the largest ethnic group in the city. A possible reason for this misconception is, despite the shift in population, many African American professional athletes and rappers are originally from Compton. Also, African Americans continue to dominate local politics, holding most elected positions in the city.
The Compton Cricket Club nicknamed "The Homies & the POPz", has also been christened "America's Team" and the "US Ambassadors of Good Will and Peace in the sporting world of Cricket." At this time, the CCC is the only Exhibition cricket team in the world that consists of totally of North American-born players. Their mission is "to curb the negative effects of gang activities amongst the youth of Compton, South Central Los Angeles, and all inner cities, and to address homelessness through the principles and ethics of cricket.
The median income for a family was $40,021. Males had a median income of $22,698 versus $24,692 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,382 . About 21.6% of families and 23.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.5% of those under age 18 and 14.1% of those age 65 or over.
Radio Stations
KKJZ 88.1 FM Long Beach, CA - Long Beach Jazz
KDAY 93.5 FM Redondo Beach, CA Hip Hop
KTWV 94.7 FM Los Angeles, CA Smooth Jazz
KFSH 95.9 FM La Mirada, CA Christian Contemporary
KJLH 102.3 FM Compton, CA Urban Contemporary
KIIS 102.7 FM Los Angeles, CA Top-40
KPWR 105.9 FM Los Angeles, CA Hip Hop
KLAC 570 AM Los Angeles, CA Sports
Because Hispanics could be counted in other races, the totals above could possibly be more than 100%. If you would like a detailed listing of all ethnic groups in the U.S., please Click Here.
A small percentage of the businesses listed on BlackCityInfo.com may not necessarily be black owned and operated but have received favorable reviews from users who have visited the establishment, or from the owners themselves who warmly seek out African American patronage.
BEAUTY CARE - BLACK HAIR SALONS - MULTICULTURAL
Ebony Barber Shop - Category: Black Hair Salons - 324 West Alondra Boulevard
Compton, CA 90220 (310) 537-3618
Expressions Hair Studio - Category: Black Hair Salons - 810 W Rosecrans Ave
Compton, CA 90222 (310) 764-5314
Fatima Beauty Salon - Category: Black Hair Salons - 2329 East El Segundo Boulevard Compton, CA 90222 (310) 604-0602
Friday's Beauty Supply - Category: Black Beauty Supply - 1528 S. Wilmington Ave. Compton, CA 90220 (310) 638-0578
Hair Braider - Category: Black Hair Salons - 425 South Pannes
Compton, CA 90221 (310) 762-9246
Hair Traffic Control Beauty Supply - Category: Black Beauty Supply - 1025 E. Compton Blvd Compton, CA 90221 (310) 637-5442
House of Braids - Category: Black Hair Salons - 810 West Rosecrans Avenue Suite 10 Compton, CA 92405 (310) 639-4889
House of Braids II - Category: Black Hair Salons - 327 West Compton Boulevard
Compton, CA 90220 (310) 639-7985
Naptural Roots - Category: Black Hair Salons - Long Beach Blvd.
Compton, CA 90221 (310) 930-8030
DINING - CATERING
Bludso's BBQ - Category: Barbeque - 811 S Long Beach Blvd
Compton, CA 90221 (310) 637-1342
Ella Mae's Cuisine & Catering - Category: Southern, Barbeque, Soul Food - 515 W Compton Blvd Compton, CA 90220 (310) 886-0052
Honey's Kettle Fried Chicken - Category: Soul Food, Southern - 2600 E Alondra Blvd. Compton, CA 90221 (310) 638-7871
Young N Worthy - Category: Soul Food - 312 W Compton Blvd
Compton, CA 90220 (310) 884-9909
VIDEO CONNECTION
Inspired by the Tuskeegee Airmen, 15-year-old Kimberly Anyadike flew a single-engine Cessna cross-country from her hometown of Compton, Calif., to Newport News, Va.
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