Nestled in southeast Los Angeles County, California, Downey is a city that encompasses approximately 12 square miles and is currently home to a population of more than 114,000 residents.
Downey is best known for its rich history in the aviation and aerospace manufacturing industry. The city is, in fact, the birthplace of the Apollo Space Program, which successfully transported the first humans to the moon.
Beyond its identity as a pioneer for aerospace, however, is a city that offers an exceptional quality of life and is one of the best places to call home in Southern California. It offers a prime location with easy access to top-quality healthcare facilities, nationally recognized schools, and a plethora of attractions for all ages. Downey takes pride in being a full-service municipal organization with a staff of more than 800 skilled employees, providing high-quality services including fire protection, police, medical emergency, water distribution, library services, and parks and recreational facilities.
More importantly, Downey is home to a close-knit community of residents who take great pride and share an unwavering passion for their city, which makes it a truly wonderful place to live in.
For anyone planning to buy real estate in California, the city of Downey is an excellent choice offering myriad benefits for new residents. On this page, we’ll give you a glimpse of Downey’s history and take a closer look at the lifestyle, the real estate market, and all of the reasons that make it such a special place to live.
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Downey’s history at a glance
During the early Spanish era, the site now occupied by present-day Downey was part of the 300,000-acre Manuel Nieto Land Grant. This grant was divided by the Nieto heirs in 1834, which led to the creation of the Rancho Santa Gertrudes between the banks of the San Gabriel and Rio Hondo rivers. Rancho Santa Gertrudes was granted to Josefa Cota, the widow of Manuel Nieto’s son, Antonio.
The city is named after John Gately Downey, an Irish-American politician who served as the seventh governor of California from 1860 to 1862. At the conclusion of his gubernatorial term, Downey made plans to divide the Rancho Santa Gertrudes into several farms along the San Gabriel River. Development for the subdivision started in 1865.
In 1873, the Southern Pacific Railroad completed the construction of a line that provided access to the area between areas known as the College Settlement and Gallatin. This laid the very foundations for a future city which eventually became known as Downey.
During World War II, Vultee Aircraft started operations in Downey, becoming the city’s largest employer. The company manufactured 15% of all of the country’s military aircraft by 1841. Later on, Vultee became part of North American Aviation (which eventually became Rockwell International), which produced the systems used for the Apollo Space Program.
In 1956, the community of Downey, which had a population of about 90,000 at the time, was officially incorporated into Los Angeles County, becoming its 50th incorporated city.
Benefits of owning a home in Downey, CA
Downey is known for its convenient location, quality residential neighborhoods, and terrific family-friendly environment. The city boasts some of the most sought-after real estate options, and it’s easy to see why. Homes tend to be more affordable here compared to most cities in Los Angeles County, making Downey an excellent choice for those looking forward to a laid-back yet engaging lifestyle in Southern California. Below are just some of the many reasons why buying real estate in Downey, California is a great decision:Prime Location
Downey’s convenient central location has made it an ideal choice for many companies. In fact, the city was included in the top 25% in California Business Magazine’s list of “100 Best Cities to do Business in California.” Downey offers easy access to a diverse variety of transit options including airports, interstates, railways, and seaports, making it easy for businesses to establish strong connections with their customer base, both in local and international markets.Pleasant Climate
Downey experiences a semi-arid climate with an average of 287 sunny days a year, providing a wealth of opportunities to spend time outdoors and enjoy recreational activities.Quality Education
Downey is served by the top-rated Downey Unified School District, which has won numerous prestigious awards. The district currently serves 13 elementary schools, four middle schools, three high schools, and an adult school. The Downey Unified School District is committed to providing a nurturing environment that encourages all students to become self-motivated lifelong learners and responsible, productive, and compassionate members of society. All schools administered by the district provide a relevant and rigorous curriculum and employ a highly qualified staff who fosters meaningful relationships with students, parents, and members of the greater community. Learn more about schools served by the Downey Unified School District by visiting their website. You can also find more information on schools in Downey here.Easy Access to Acclaimed Universities
In addition to its excellent school system, Downey is conveniently located minutes away from many outstanding facilities that offer higher education, such as:- California Institute of Technology (Cal Tech)
- Loyola Marymount University
- Pepperdine University
- University of California at Irvine (UCI)
- University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA)
- University of La Verne
- University of Southern California (USC)
Exceptional Resources
As the birthplace of the Apollo Space Program and Space Shuttle systems, Downey has a long history with the aerospace industry. For more than 70 years, the city’s Rockwell NASA plant manufactured and tested many of the top missile, aviation, and space endeavors of the 20th century. While aerospace vehicle manufacturing reached its end when Rockwell NASA closed in 1999, the strong influence of the aerospace industry and the city’s proximity to many renowned universities has produced one of Southern California’s largest concentrations of skilled and highly educated workforces.Vibrant Economy
Downey boasts a thriving business-friendly environment with more than 2,700 service, retail, and manufacturing companies creating over 47,000 employment opportunities in the region. The city features a wealth of employment hubs, retail venues, industrial facilities, and business locations all primed for development.
It comes as no surprise that Downey consistently ranks as one of the best cities for businesses and employees in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area.