Bell Gardens is a city in Los Angeles County, California, located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 39,501 and is part of the Gateway Cities Region in southeastern Los Angeles County. The city is one of only six in the county that allows casino gambling and is home to the oldest building in Los Angeles County.
The city was named after James George Bell, an American businessman. The word “Gardens” reflects the early Japanese settlers who created vegetable gardens and rice fields in the area. Its neighboring city, Bell, was also named after James George Bell.Bell Gardens has deep historical roots. The area was originally home to the Tongva people, who had a village called Chokshinga before Spanish colonization in 1771 brought it under Mission San Gabriel’s influence. During the Spanish and Mexican periods, the region became an agricultural center. One of the key figures in its early history was Antonio Maria Lugo, who received the Rancho San Antonio land grant in 1810. His land covered much of what are now several cities in southeastern Los Angeles County, including Bell Gardens.









