Long before European settlement, the land that is now Commerce was inhabited by the Tongva (Gabrielino) indigenous peoples, who thrived along the banks of the nearby Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers. During the Spanish and Mexican eras, the area became part of Rancho San Antonio, a massive land grant awarded to Antonio Maria Lugo in 1810. For much of the 19th century, the region was defined by agriculture, vast cattle ranches, and fertile plains.
The trajectory of the area shifted dramatically in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with the arrival of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, and later the Union Pacific. The reliable rail access transformed the quiet farmlands into a booming industrial corridor. In 1929, the magnificent Samsonite/Uniroyal tire factory was built—an imposing Assyrian-style fortress that would eventually become the Citadel Outlets, standing as a monument to the city's manufacturing golden age.
By the late 1950s, the residential and business communities in the area faced the looming threat of annexation by neighboring Vernon or Los Angeles. Seeking to maintain local control and utilize the massive industrial tax base for the benefit of local residents, citizens and business leaders banded together to incorporate. On January 28, 1960, the City of Commerce was officially born.
In its modern history, Commerce transitioned from a hub of heavy manufacturing (such as steel and auto parts) to a dynamic center for logistics, distribution, and retail. Through all its economic evolutions, the city has maintained its founding promise: using its commercial prosperity to provide exceptional, free civic amenities to its residents.