Downey California is a wonderful city located in Southern California in Los Angeles County. We have provided storage container rental services in Downey for over 30 years from our Portable Storage Los Angeles location. You can reach us at 800-527-8673.
The city is part of the Los Angeles County area. The Tongva people first inhabited the land of Downey. The Spanish colonizers came to the area in 1771 and built Mission San Gabriel Arcangel. This mission is now a historic state landmark. Downey’s name is derived from John Gately Downey, who was the governor of California during the Civil War.
The South Pacific Railroad was constructed through Downey in 1873. At this point, Downey was still a town involved in orange groves and an agricultural economy. After World War II the city of Downey started the transformation to a more suburban area. This transformation required many portable storage containers to Downey.
Commerce and Industry
Until 1999, Downey was home to the Rockwell International Aerospace Manufacturing Company. Rockwell International was involved in the manufacturing of the Apollo Mission equipment. Now the plant property is a combination of Kaiser Permanente Hospital, Downey Production Studios, a large mall, and a park.
The sets and back lots of Downey Production Studios have been the location of many Hollywood movie scenes. Movies such as Spiderman, Catch Me if You Can, The Prestige, Iron Man 2, Terminator 3, Smokin’ Aces, and Pineapple Express were filmed at the Downey Production Studios. DPS has an 80-acre back lot with a suburban street setting, and indoor production space with the country’s largest indoor water tank.
Notable Accomplishments
Downey is home to the first ever Taco Bell, which was opened in 1962 by Glen Bell. Another historic restaurant, Johnnie’s Broiler, was a prime example of googie architecture. Johnnie’s Broiler was featured in many sitcoms and TV commercials in the second half of the 20th century. The Broiler was replaced by a car dealership in 2001, but as of 2008 it is being transformed into Bob’s Broiler.
Perhaps the most exciting historical restaurant in Downey is the McDonald’s at 10207 Lakewood Blvd. Opened in 1953, it was the third ever McDonald’s, and is now the oldest standing. In 1994 the restaurant entered the list of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It is still in business today due to the power and will of the people in the community. This McDonald’s boasts classic 60-foot golden arches.
A community-organized group was organized in Downey to help keep young people from participating in gang activity. This group, GOOD (Gangs out of Downey) organizes activities, scholarship programs, and counseling services.
Points of Interest
Downey has many points of interest including the Columbia Memorial Space Science Center and the Rio Hondo Golf Course. Some of Downey’s most beautiful parks are Apollo Park, Crawford Park, and Dennis the Menace Park. Quite a few portable storage containers were brought in to support the farmers market that takes place every Saturday at Second Street and New Avenue in Downey.