Artesia is a small city in southeast Los Angeles County, California, incorporated on May 29, 1959. It has a population of 16,395 (as of the 2020 census) and is surrounded by Cerritos on three sides, with Norwalk to the north. Known as one of the Gateway Cities, Artesia is home to the East West Ice Palace, co-owned by Olympic skater Michelle Kwan, and was the childhood home of former First Lady Pat Nixon.
The area was first settled in 1875 and named for its artesian wells, which made it ideal for farming. During the 1920s and 1930s, Dutch and Portuguese farmers helped make Artesia one of Southern California’s leading dairy districts. After World War II, housing development replaced much of the farmland, and many dairies relocated to other regions. The city officially incorporated in 1959.In 1993, the Artesia Historical Society was created to protect the city’s history. In 2002, the group restored one of the last Spanish-style homes in Artesia and turned it into a public historical museum.









