Home › California › Downey

Downey, California

Located in Los Angeles County, California, Downey was established in 1873. Oldest surviving McDonald's is in Downey (1953). Apollo spacecraft built here.
Trending in Downey
Latest updates coming soon
2 hours ago
More local news on the way
5 hours ago
Founded 1873 | Population 107,323 | Peak 107,323 (2024) | County Los Angeles County

Top 10 Most Important Events for Downey, California

undefined
1873 Founded: Downey was founded in Los Angeles County.
undefined
1953 Apollo Spacecraft: North American Aviation builds Apollo.
undefined
1953 Oldest McDonald's: Oldest surviving McDonald's.
undefined
1962 Carpenters Hometown: Richard and Karen grow up here.
undefined
2010 Modern Era: Downey continued to develop as part of the region, with new infrastructure and community amenities.
🧠
How Well Do You Know Downey?
5 questions • 2 minutes
Take the Quiz →

Latest News in Downey

Apr 11, 2026
Sexual Assault Probe and Staff Revolt Threaten to End Congressman’s California Gubernatorial Bid
Rep. Eric Swalwell’s once-promising campaign for California governor has unraveled with breathtaking speed. In little more than …
Apr 10, 2026
Pattern of Deaths and Disappearances Among U.S. Scientists Sparks Calls for Federal Scrutiny
The quiet death of a veteran NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientist in 2023 has resurfaced amid a string of unexplained fataliti…
Mar 22, 2026
Parolee with Prior Double-Murder Conviction Sentenced to Life Without Parole in Killing of South Los Angeles Woman
LOS ANGELES—A man previously convicted of two murders in 1998 was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole …
Mar 16, 2026
Study: Cannabis Ineffective for Most Mental Disorders
A major review of past studies has delivered a clear verdict on the role of cannabis-based medicines in treating mental health and…
Mar 16, 2026
Investigator Exposes $170M Fraud in California
Investigator Nick Shirley has brought to light a massive $170 million fraud scheme operating within California, representing a sig…
Mar 15, 2026
NYPD Captain Arrested for Assaulting Alleged Child Predator
NYPD Captain Kai Bowen is now facing serious legal repercussions following an off-duty incident that escalated into violence. Repo…

Complete Historical Timeline

1873 Culture
Founded
1953 Science
Apollo Spacecraft
1953 Culture
Oldest McDonald's
1962 Culture
Carpenters Hometown
2010 Culture
Modern Era

Did You Know?

1
Oldest surviving McDonald's is in Downey (1953).
2
Apollo spacecraft built here.
3
Carpenters grew up in Downey.
4
Downey is located in Los Angeles County, California.
5
Downey was founded in 1873.

Famous People from Downey, California

"Y
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Actor, Comedian · Born Oct 23, 1959 · Age 66
JH
James Hetfield
Composer, Singer · Born Aug 3, 1963 · Age 62
AT
Aimee Teegarden
Actor, Television Actor · Born Oct 10, 1989 · Age 36
AU
Alanna Ubach
Singer, Voice Actor · Born Oct 3, 1975 · Age 50
WR
Wayne Rainey
Motorcycle Racer, Motorcyclist · Born Oct 23, 1960 · Age 65

Other Cities in California

View all California cities →
LA
Los Angeles
Pop. 3,898,747
SD
San Diego
Pop. 1,386,932
SJ
San Jose
Pop. 1,013,240
SF
San Francisco
Pop. 873,965
F
Fresno
Pop. 542,107
S
Sacramento
Pop. 524,943
See something that needs correcting?
We take accuracy seriously. Help us keep Downey's history right.