Founded in 1905 Hawthorne’s name is a tribute to author Nathaniel Hawthorne. B L Harding and H D Lombard real estate developers established the town. Harding’s daughter shared a birthday with the famous author. This led to the charming name Hawthorne.
Imagine the small village Hawthorne once was. It was a “whites only” settlement a sundown town. Signs warned African Americans to leave Hawthorne by sundown during the 1930s. This shameful chapter in Hawthorne’s history is important to remember. We must never forget the injustices of the past.
Today Hawthorne thrives. It’s a bustling part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. It’s in southwestern Los Angeles County. Hawthorne is part of the South Bay region. This region includes seventeen cities. The 2020 census showed Hawthorne’s population was 88083. It’s a city of contrasts. Its past is shadowed by racial prejudice. Its present is one of aerospace innovation.
Hawthorne’s geography is fascinating. Lennox and Inglewood border Hawthorne to the north. Athens and Gardena are to the east. Lawndale and Redondo Beach are to the south. Manhattan Beach is southwest. El Segundo lies to the west. Westchester a Los Angeles neighborhood is northwest. Hawthorne wraps around Del Aire on three sides. It also shares a border with Westmont.
The Century Freeway I-105 runs along Hawthorne’s northern boundary. The C Line light rail runs down the freeway’s center. The San Diego Freeway I-405 borders Hawthorne to the west. Important east-west streets include Rosecrans Avenue El Segundo Boulevard and Imperial Highway. North-south streets are Aviation Boulevard Inglewood Avenue Hawthorne Boulevard Prairie Avenue Crenshaw Boulevard and Van Ness Avenue.
Hawthorne is close to Los Angeles International Airport. It’s only five miles away. Hawthorne has two ZIP codes 90250 and 90251. It’s primarily in area code 310. A small part of northeast Hawthorne is in area code 323.
Hawthorne’s climate is typical of the Los Angeles basin. It has a Mediterranean climate. August is the warmest month on average. The highest temperature recorded was 111 degrees Fahrenheit in 1961. January is the coolest month on average. The lowest recorded temperature was 15 degrees Fahrenheit in 1963. Most of the rainfall happens in winter and spring. Hawthorne enjoys sunshine. It averages 263 sunny days a year. It only has 35 days with measurable precipitation annually.
Hawthorne’s past its present its location its climate. These are all threads woven into the rich fabric of Hawthorne. They create a fascinating history. They also show the diversity and complexity of this Los Angeles city. This vibrant community continues to evolve. Let us remember and celebrate its remarkable journey.