[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 2691-2692]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 A CONGRESSIONAL TRIBUTE TO THE CITY OF DOWNEY ON THE OCCASION OF THE 
                CITY'S 50TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

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                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 30, 2007

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
city of Downey and ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating its 
residents on the city's recent 50th anniversary. I am honored to 
represent this unique and proud city as part of my 34th Congressional 
District of California.
  Although we celebrate 50 years since the city's official 
incorporation, the history of Downey begins in the late 1700s when 
Spanish missionaries settled along the California coast. In 1784, 
former soldier Juan Nietos was granted provisional use of 300,000 acres 
of ranch land and, after his death, the portion of the land lying 
between the San Gabriel and Rio Hondo Rivers was carved out and named 
Rancho San Gertrudes. In 1873, a 96-acre parcel of the Rancho became 
the central district of a community called Downey City. The town was 
named after John Gately Downey, an Irish immigrant who journeyed to 
California during the Gold Rush and later became governor of the State.
  The development of Downey City began slowly. A tract map from 1873 
shows a town consisting of only 16 blocks with 10 acres for a railroad 
station. However, the small city prospered, soon becoming a commercial 
center for agricultural products and poultry raising. It was that 
agricultural industry that made it possible for Downey to sustain 
itself during the Depression.
  By the early 20th century, Downey had become a haven for business, 
entering an era that became known as the city's ``golden age.'' 
Downey's ``dare devil'' era brought the aviation industry to the city, 
and the Downey Board of Trade, known today as the Downey Chamber of 
Commerce, was founded.
  The 1940s and '50s brought a population boom to Downey, growing from 
12,000 residents in 1940 to over 86,000 residents by 1956. With its 
significant increase in population, Downey's leaders moved to 
incorporate, and on December 4, 1956, the Los Angeles County Board of 
Supervisors approved the incorporation of the city. The new City 
Council, under the leadership of the city's first mayor, James L. 
Stamps, were trailblazers, paving the way for the city's resounding 
future success.

[[Page 2692]]

  Today, Downey boasts its ``Future Unlimited' slogan and is a 
prosperous city that has managed to maintain its small town atmosphere. 
The city's residents and visitors can enjoy a wide range of 
activities--from great shopping to parks and museums; from golf courses 
to the Symphony Orchestra or the model City Library. Downey is where 
the Apollo Space program began its journey to the stars, and where you 
can find the world's oldest McDonald's and the site of the first Taco 
Bell eatery.
  Fifty years since its incorporation in 1956, Downey has grown to a 
population of over 110,000 residents. The city serves as a hub for 
business, with California Business Magazine recently rating Downey in 
the top 25 percent of ``100 Cities To Do Business In.'' Downey has made 
many outstanding contributions to the region, and was a leader in the 
founding of the Gateway Cities Council of Governments. This 
partnership, comprised of 27 cities in Southeast Los Angeles County, 
effectively works to address the region's challenges, particularly with 
respect to transportation planning and economic development.
  The city of Downey recently hosted a fun-filled 50th anniversary 
celebration for its residents. The ``Birthday Bash,'' which featured 
tunes honoring its hometown singing duo ``The Carpenters,'' marked 
another milestone in the rich history of this city that I am so proud 
to represent. I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating Downey's 
first 50 years as this prosperous city looks toward its ``Future 
Unlimited.''

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