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§ A CITY OF FIRSTS1888 — 2023
Generations of resilience, creativity, and cultural impact that changed the world.
1888
Compton incorporates
Founded by a group of 30 families led by Griffith Dickenson Compton, the city is incorporated as one of the oldest in Los Angeles County.
1924
Compton/Woodley Airport opens
One of the oldest airports in the LA basin opens its doors. It will go on to host Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum, a youth-focused aviation program.
1948
Shelley v. Kraemer
The Supreme Court strikes down racially restrictive housing covenants — opening the door for Black families to begin moving into Compton in larger numbers throughout the 1950s.
1969
First Black mayor in California
Douglas F. Dollarhide is elected mayor of Compton — the first Black mayor of any sizable city west of the Mississippi.
1986
N.W.A forms
Eazy-E founds Ruthless Records and N.W.A in Compton. The 1988 album Straight Outta Compton will reshape American popular music and the city's place in the global imagination.
1995
Williams sisters turn pro
Venus and Serena Williams — trained on Compton's public courts — both turn professional. Together they will rewrite the modern era of women's tennis.
2012
good kid, m.A.A.d city
Kendrick Lamar releases his major-label debut, a concept album about coming of age in Compton. It will be widely regarded as one of the great American records about a single American city.
2023
Compton Art & History Museum opens
A community-centered museum opens at 306 W Compton Blvd, bringing together art, history, and gathering space for the city's cultural renaissance.
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