Paramount, CA

Paramount sits at the crossroads of southeast Los Angeles County, with Compton across the river to the west, Downey and Bellflower to the east and Long Beach a short drive south. Before the tract houses came, this was dairy and hay country, and an 1883 camphor tree by the civic center still stands where buyers and growers once haggled over hay. The housing varies more than a first drive suggests. The south end near Long Beach feels more suburban, while the north end is closer to the freeway and industry. Salud Park on Somerset Boulevard is the busiest open space, where people run laps on the track and play volleyball in the sand. Other city parks spread across town, and the certified farmers market at Progress Park draws a steady crowd. Food in Paramount leans Sinaloan and seafood-heavy. Horchata and coffee come from the local horchateria, and SteelCraft, the container food hall just east in Bellflower, is the pick when a group can't agree. Paramount Boulevard is the retail spine, with two supermarkets, chain restaurants and the Paramount Swap Meet, where hundreds of vendors set up. The Los Angeles County Fire Museum is a short trip east in Bellflower. The 105 and the 710 cover commutes, and Long Beach Airport is close for flights. The tradeoff is freeway sound. Living here means keeping two calendars, the city's own run of farmers markets and street fairs and the regional one that pulls you toward Long Beach and downtown every week.