About Santa Fe Springs
The area now known as Santa Fe Springs was originally inhabited by the Tongva (Gabrielino) people, who lived off the land’s natural springs and abundant resources. In the late 18th century, Spanish explorers and missionaries arrived, incorporating the region into the vast Rancho system under Spanish and later Mexican rule. Following California’s transition to U.S. governance in 1848 after the Mexican-American War, the land was subdivided and developed for agriculture, with crops such as walnuts, citrus, and beans dominating the local economy well into the early 20th century.
A major turning point came in 1919 with the discovery of oil, transforming Santa Fe Springs into one of Southern California’s most productive oil fields. This boom spurred rapid industrial growth and population increases, leading to the city’s incorporation in 1957. Over time, Santa Fe Springs evolved from an oil and agriculture-based economy into a hub for manufacturing, logistics, and commerce. Today, it is recognized as a key industrial center in Los Angeles County, while still preserving elements of its rich cultural and historical heritage.
Basic Statistics
- Land area: Approximately 8.86 square miles
- Number of households: About 5,800–5,900 households
- Average household size: Roughly 3.0–3.4 people per household (varies slightly by dataset)
Weather
- Santa Fe Springs has a Mediterranean climate, typical of Southern California. This means:
- Warm, dry summers (often highs in the 80s–90s°F)
- Mild, wetter winters (typically 50s–70s°F)
- Low annual rainfall, with most precipitation occurring between November and March
This climate is characterized by abundant sunshine and relatively stable temperatures year-round.
39.2 Median age
- about the same as the figure in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Metro Area: 38.5 ±0.1
- a little higher than the figure in California: 37.9 ±0.1
- about the same as the figure in United States: 38.9
Educational attainment
77% High school grad or higher
- about 90 percent of the rate in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Metro Area: 82.4% 7,524,666
- about 90 percent of the rate in California: 84.7% 22,936,996 (±0.2% / ±44,650.5)
- about 90 percent of the rate in United States: 89.6% 206,814,894 (±0.1% / ±283,951.7)
23% Bachelor’s degree or higher
- about three-fifths of the rate in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Metro Area: 38%
- about three-fifths of the rate in California: 37.1%
- about two-thirds of the rate in United States: 35.7%
Units & Occupancy
5,927
- the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Metro Area: 4,796,635
- California: 14,644,735
- United States: 143,775,360
Santa Fe Springs Chamber of Commerce
12016 Telegraph Road, Suite 100
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
(562) 944-1616