Compton, CA

Compton sits in the flat middle of Los Angeles County's south side, halfway between downtown Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach, with freeways on nearly every edge. It is one of the county's oldest cities, and it still carries a detail from its founding that no neighbor can match. That piece is Richland Farms, a few blocks of deep lots in the center of town where horses, goats and chickens live behind ordinary houses and the Compton Cowboys ride down the street. Gated streets and homeowners associations barely exist, since nearly everything predates that model. Gonzales Park, with the public pool, is the main community park, and the creek park beside it keeps a rare natural stretch of creek bottom. Lueders Park on Rosecrans hosts city events. Food runs to longtime counters. Sr. Cliff's on Alondra has been rolling Texas-style burritos since 1990, including the Soul Man, which can stretch past two feet. Loreto's Fried Turkey deep-fries whole Cajun-seasoned turkeys in peanut oil. For coffee, Patria Coffee Roasters on Alameda Street roasts organic beans in town and doubles as a gathering spot. Two A Line stations put downtown Los Angeles and Long Beach a train ride away, and the 105, 710, 110 and 91 are all close. The Towne Center and the Alondra and Rosecrans corridors handle most shopping. Green space is the honest shortfall. Many parks are pocket-sized, large parts of the city sit beyond an easy walk to one, and traffic and rail noise are constant. What stays with people is how local Compton feels, a place where a horse trailer, a passing train and a line at a burrito window share the same afternoon.