Lomita is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 20,046 at the 2000 census. Lomita is Spanish for "little knoll".

History

Lomita was originally part of Rancho San Pedro, granted by the Spanish Empire to Juan Jose Dominguez by King Carlos III of Spain in 1784.

Lomita established a sister city relationship with Takaishi, Osaka, Japan in October 1981.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.9 km² (1.9 mi²), all land.

Lomita originally spanned 7 square miles (18 km²). However, over time, much of this area was annexed by neighboring cities. A notable example is "Lomita Fields," now Zamperini Field (the Torrance Municipal Airport).

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 20,046 people, 8,015 households, and 5,033 families residing in the city. The population density was 10,572.7 inhabitants per square mile (4,073.6/km²). There were 8,295 housing units at an average density of 4,375.0 per square mile (1,685.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 66.16% White, 4.18% African American, 0.70% Native American, 11.41% Asian, 0.52% Pacific Islander, 10.79% from other races, and 6.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 26.20% of the population.

There were 8,015 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.0% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.2% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 34.2% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $51,360, and the median income for a family was $53,003. Males had a median income of $41,582 versus $31,353 for females. The per capita income for the city was $27,748. About 9.3% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.3% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government and Infrastructure

Fire protection in Lomita is provided by the Los Angeles County Fire Department with ambulance transport by McCormack Ambulance.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) operates the Lomita Station in Lomita.

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Torrance Health Center in Harbor Gateway, Los Angeles, near Torrance and serving Lomita.

In the state legislature Lomita is located in the 28th Senate District, represented by Democrat Ted Lieu, and in the 53rd Assembly District, represented by Democrat Betsy Butler. Federally, Lomita is located in California's 36th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of D +11 and is represented by Democrat Jane Harman.

The United States Postal Service Lomita Post Office is located at 25131 Narbonne Avenue.

Landmarks

• Lomita Railroad Museum, Opened in 1966 by Irene Lewis, the Lomita Railroad Museum is a small museum in Lomita devoted to the steam engine period of Railroading. Mrs. Lewis, along with her husband Martin, operated "Little Engines of Lomita" which sold kits for live steam engine locomotives. Her engines also appeared in movies, including "The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)" and "Von Ryans Express (1965)". This operation inspired Mrs. Lewis to earn a mechanical engineering degree late in life and to build the museum as a showplace for her products. When built, the museum was the first of its kind west of Denver. The museum was designed to replicate the Boston & Maine's Greenwood Station in Wakefield, Massachusetts. The Museum was donated by Mrs. Lewis to the City of Lomita in honor of her late husband, Martin Lewis, in 1967. On display are a 1902 Baldwin Locomotive, a Southern Pacific tender, a 1910 Union Pacific caboose, and a Santa Fe caboose. The Museum also houses a full-size replica of a 1920s water tower that was constructed in 2000. The museum also incorporates a small public park, which accommodates a Union Pacific boxcar and a Union Oil tank car. The Museum is open Thursday through Sunday.