About 15 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, the city of Paramount is home to 55,000 residents and one historic Hay Tree. Despite its urban location, the community has a suburban feel to it and an agrarian past. “Paramount is an old city. It has been here about 135 years and is home to many families who have lived here for three or four generations,” says Mike McKown, historian of the Paramount Historical Society. The community was once two separate rural villages, Hynes and Clearwater, that merged in 1948. Paramount, which is not affiliated with Paramount Pictures 20 miles to the north, is a city defined by landscaped boulevards, artwork and tree-lined neighborhoods. “I love that the city has been designated a Tree City, USA, because of all the trees we have planted,” says McKown. Public works of art and sculptures like water fountains and abstract and lifelike forms adorn parks, plazas and street corners.
Paramount has some wide tree lined residential streets.
Paramount's has boulevards lined with majestic trees and is a designated Tree City, USA.
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Homes built to beat the heat
Gretta Sheffer Minnema, a Realtor with Re/Max College Park Realty, says the community is popular among families for its price and activities. Los Angeles homes sell for a median of $1.2 million, so Paramount is an appealing alternative to people who work in the area or want to live nearby but don’t want to purchase in LA proper. Homes in the city sell for a median of $552,500, but prices fluctuate depending on the property. Single-family homes range from $500,000 to $950,000. Many homes have outward aesthetic Spanish design motifs, like stucco siding and tile roofs. Ranch-styles and midcentury modern houses are very common. A few early 20th-century bungalows and some late 20th-century split-levels also fill out the residential streets of Paramount. Manufactured homes are also available, selling from $130,000 to $310,000.
Paramount has homes with Spanish accents and lush landscaping.
Manufactured homes are available gated communities in Paramount.
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Interstate access makes traveling quicker for commuters
Paramount is flanked by Interstates 105 and 710 with I-605 3 miles east. Central L.A. is 15 miles to the north via I-710. The Pacific coast can be reached within an hour’s drive west to Torrance or 30 minutes south in Long Beach. The city offers some fixed bus routes and trams operated by Long Beach Transit. The route to LA via bus and a connecting ride on the metro typically takes more than an hour. While some residents might be within walking distance of parks or retail, the city is primarily car-dependent.
Parks, pools and playgrounds in Paramount
Paramount is home to what is known as the Hay Tree. Planted in 1883 and still standing, the 50-foot camphor is where hay traders would gather each day to set the price of their product. That figure was then sent to New York mercantile markets and were used as the global standard for hay. The tree is the last remaining tie to the city’s farming roots and was designated a historic landmark in 2003. Paramount has 11 parks of varying sizes. One of the largest is Paramount Park, a 10-acre green space that features a public swimming pool, which is a sought-after spot in the heat of the LA County summer. Salud Park offers exercise stations, a walking track, a volleyball court and a multi-purpose field. All-American Park is known for its basketball court, playground and walking path. The city sponsors several youth sports leagues, which meet at parks throughout the city. Parents can enroll their children in baseball teams or dance lessons. “Longtime residents and new homebuyers find the many services the city offers very appealing,” McKown says. “There are a lot of things for people to do and lots of ways to get involved.”
Salud Park in Paramount has a walking track to get your steps in the fresh air.
During the summer you can go to the Pool at Paramount Park, a local spot to beat the heat.
The Hay Tree is a 50ft camphor and historic landmark in Paramount going back to the city's foundation.
All American Park is a leafy neighborhood park in Paramount.
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Restaurants and retail along Paramount Boulevard, Rosecrans Avenue and Alondra Boulevard
Most restaurants and retail cluster around Paramount Boulevard, Rosecrans Avenue and Alondra Boulevard. Minnema says Paramount has many great places to eat, mentioning Casa Gamino and Gus's Deli BBQ And Grill as particular favorites. Horchateria Rio Luna coffee shop blends traditional Mexican flavors with coffees and ice cream treats, like their churro sundae. Mariscos El Guicho is a local food truck specializing in fresh seafood.
According to McKown, there are few mom-and-pop stores in the city, and most retail is located in designated retail areas. Paramount Town Center is an outdoor shopping center with local and name-brand stores such as Ross, Converse and AT&T. Paramount Plaza, another shopping mall, located off Alondra Boulevard, home to grocery stores, salons and restaurants.
Paramount Plaza on Alondra is a shopping and dining destination for Paramount residents.
Grab your morning coffee at Horchateria Rio Luna in Paramount.
Mariscos el Guicho serves seafood delicacies from a mobile kitchen in Paramount.
Paramount Town Center has a great selection of stores and restaurants in Paramount.
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Iceland Ice Rink's famous Zamboni and family-friendly events in Paramount
“It’s got a lot of good family activities,” says Minnema, a Realtor with Re/Max College Park Realty. “There’s the Iceland Ice Rink, home of the famous Zamboni.” The Zamboni Company is based in Paramount, and the original machine can still be seen at the Iceland Rink. The rink is owned by the LA Kings and offers freestyle skating hours, adult hockey leagues and skating lessons for all ages.
The Paramount Drive-In Theaters is one of the few remaining in L.A. The theater has a pair of 75-foot screens and has multiple showings each day.
Every August, Paramount celebrates the Heritage Festival. The event includes a family-friendly parade and festival, and is held at Paramount Park. On the first Friday of every month in summer, the city hosts Friday Night Paramount. This evening extravaganza features musical entertainment, food trucks, artisans, local crafters and art exhibits. Other seasonal events include the annual Halloween Festival, Santa’s Snowfest, and the annual Tree Lighting.
The Iceland Rink in Paramount displays the jerseys of Kings hockey heroes over the ice.
Paramount has one of the last remaining drive in theaters with 2 screens.
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Crime in Paramount
Paramount Police Department serves the city. Rates of violent crime have been consistent for the past few years and are just under the national crime rate. Rates of property crime are typically higher than the national figure.
Kids can attend Paramount Unified School District
Paramount Unified School District serves the city and a few outlying communities. The district, comprised of 20 schools, earns an overall B from Niche and an A-minus in college prep. Parents and students can also pursue private schools, such as Our Lady of the Rosary School, which is unrated by Niche.
Zamboni Middle School is named after the Paramount resident and inventor.
Our Lady Of The Rosary Elementary School is one of several religiously affiliated private schools in Paramount.
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