Lawndale, California history

To calm these concerns, in 1851 the United States government organised a conference with several local Indian tribes and established the Treaty of Fort Laramie.

The Burnett-Freeman Era Ten year after the death of Avila, Sausal-Redondo was sold by his heirs at auction for the price of $29,550 to Scottish nobleman Robert Burnett in 1868.

In 1871 the federal government enacted a critical law proclaiming that the United States would not treat Native American tribes as sovereign entities.

Clear title to the land did not occur until 1873, when a United States District Court upheld Burnett's purchase against a suit filed by a Avila heir, Thomas A. Sanchez.

Having leased Centinela Ranch to Daniel and Catherine Freeman, Burnett returned to Scotland to accept the family title and estates in 1876.

In 1887, Congress passed the General Allotment Act, the most significant part of the United States government’s assimilation platform, which was created to “civilize” American Indians by educating them to become farmers.

The year 1902 marked the Los Angeles and Redondo railways arrival in Lawndale along what is now Hawthorne Boulevard; the line extended south from Inglewood along what was then called Railroad Avenue.

The town of Lawndale was founded in March of 1905 by real estate developer, Charles B. Hopper.

Lawndale's first school opened in 1906 in the Lawndale Congregational Church with 19 pupils.

By the time the 1910 United States census was taken there were 142 residents living in Lawndale.

The color changed to red in 1911 when the parent company, Pacific Electric, absorbed the Los Angeles and Redondo.

The Lawndale community fair originated in 1918, and continued for the next five years.

Oil Boom - Bust and Depression Oil discoveries in the 1920's created major commercial activity and temporarily changed the face of the community.

The election was held August 1, 1924, and formal incorporation was perfected August 4, 1924.

Lawndale settled into the 1930's with three schools in the community, and weathered, as did all America, the Great Depression.

Civic Association and Community Identification Although major growth occurred after the conclusion of World War II; the Civic Association, which was responsible for many community improvements, was originally established in February of 1939.

With the increasing population, the Civic Association's tasks multiplied, and on April 6, 1945 August Reiss formed the Businessman's Group within the Association for the purpose of advertising the residential, commercial and industrial advantages of Lawndale.

Community leadership remained in the hands of the Civic Association; and on March 3, 1948, the Businessman's Corp. incorporated as the Lawndale Chamber of Commerce.

Lawndale Blossoms The construction culminated in the Dedication of the Lawndale Civic Center, which included a health clinic for this general area, on March 23, 1957.

December 28, 1959 On this date the residents of Lawndale voted to incorporate as a City within the county of Los Angeles.

California Contract Cities Association 50th Anniversary memorial publication circa 2008