Title supplied by cataloger. Compton was originally part of the territory known as Rancho San Pedro, which had been granted to Juan Jose Dominguez by the Spanish Crown. The territory was settled in 1867 by a band of 30 pioneering families that were led to the area by Griffith Dickenson Compton, and it was soon developed into a farming village. Originally named "Gibsonville" after F.W. Gibson - one of the tract owners, the name was changed to "Comptonville", - after Griffith D. Compton, and was eventually shortened to Compton. The city was incorporated on May 11, 1888, with a population of 500 people; as of the 2000 census, Compton's population stood at 93,493. Bank of America, as it appeared in 1933, at the corner of Compton Boulevard and Tamarind Street. Many local businesses are visible, including: DuPont Hardware, Smart Shop, Famous Store, Moore Bros. Printing, Karl's Shoes, and many others. Automobiles line the right side of the street. A short time after this photograph was taken, on March 10, 1933, a devastating 6.4 magnitude earthquake took lives, toppled schools, and caused major damage to the main business district - including the City Hall which was shaken into twisted ruin, and was eventually razed and re-built.
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;18 x 23 cm. Photographic prints
Bank of America Central business districts--California--Compton Bank buildings--California--Compton Stores & shops--California--Compton Buildings--California--Compton Streets--California--Compton Lost architecture--California--Compton Compton (Calif.)
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