Gateway Cities Census Data

Commerce

Description: What is now the City of Commerce was a ranch known as Rancho Laguna, where farmers raised cattle, horses and sheep. One of the area’s first industries was a brickyard, which boasted of being the largest in the world. With the railroad came companies such as Chrysler Corporation and Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.

The city was incorporated in 1960. Today, the city is home to a mix of industrial parks, stores, residential areas and entertainment businesses, all allowing the city to maintain some of the lowest taxes of any city in the state while providing many services for residents. The city also offers the ideal climate for business growth — central location, good transportation, a skilled labor pool, competitive business fees, a low-crime environment and more.

Commerce also offers a two-pool, allyear Aquatorium facility at Rosewood Park and four municipal libraries. The city offers regular service on the city’s free buses — the nation’s first free municipal transportation system. The City of Commerce continues to operate as a dynamic city, which has effectively recycled old, heavy industrial sites with high technology, office,warehouse and retail use businesses.

(city description courtesy of Press Telegram 2006 Almanac)