Commerce, often called the City of Commerce, is a small city in southeast Los Angeles County, California, with a population of 12,378 as of the 2020 census. It’s bordered by Vernon, Los Angeles, East Los Angeles, Montebello, Downey, Bell Gardens, and Maywood, with the Los Angeles River and Rio Hondo forming parts of its boundaries. The city is well connected by major freeways and the Metrolink rail service.
Commerce began as part of Antonio Maria Lugo’s Rancho San Antonio in the 19th century. Industrial growth started in 1887 when the Santa Fe Railway built a main line through the area. By the early 1900s, the land was sold and developed further with additional rail lines and factories. In the late 1940s, local industrial leaders and residents united the nearby communities of Bandini, Rosewood, and Laguna under the name “Commerce” to promote business and industry.









