Commerce, California

Commerce is a city in southeast Los Angeles County, California, usually called the City of Commerce to distinguish it from the common noun. The population was 12,378 at the 2020 census, down from 12,823 at the 2010 census. It is bordered by Vernon on the west, Los Angeles on the northwest, East Los Angeles on the north, Montebello on the east, Downey and Bell Gardens on the south and Maywood on the southwest. The Los Angeles River forms part of its southwestern boundary and the Rio Hondo separates it from Downey. The Long Beach and Santa Ana freeways serve the city, as does the Metrolink commuter rail service at the Commerce station. The city was incorporated in 1960 to prevent neighboring cities such as Vernon and Los Angeles from annexing industrial land for tax revenue, and it elected Maurice Quigley as its first mayor.