Description
The City of Commerce Digital Resources Collection contains images from approximately 100 years of life in and near the City
of Commerce before and after its incorporation on January 28, 1960. More than half of the photographs are monochrome and
focus on events which took place during the City's 20th anniversary year in 1980. The collection also contains a representative
example of industries which were located in the City of Commerce and which have since relocated outside municipal boundaries.
The gradual transformation from an English-language and white American heritage to one which is predominantly Latino/Hispanic
is also visible through the years after the 1960 incorporation.
Background
The City of Commerce was created on January 28, 1960 after an affirmative vote of residents of the area created the city from
unincorporated Los Angeles County territory. The city contracts for major services (police, fire, and public services) through
the County of Los Angeles Sheriff's, Fire, and Public Services Departments. The population of the city in 2000 was 12,568
(source: U.S. Census Bureau).
Extent
2,400 images
200 online items
Availability
Collection is available through the California Digital Library/Online Archive of California.