Compton has been notorious for gangs and gang violence since the late 1960s. That is a long time by any standards, but most importantly that is a long time for active violence and wars on the streets. For those that don’t know, Compton is a city in Los Angeles County, that was known as South Central.

Compton is actually one of the oldest cities in LA county. The city has a very high poverty rate and is generally known as a working class community. Nevertheless Compton is known for its dangerously high crime rate, which is attributed to the gangs in Compton.

Demographics

Race	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2010	% 2020
White (NH)	782	856	0.81%	0.89%
Black or African American (NH)	30,992	24,342	32.13%	25.43%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	175	132	0.18%	0.14%
Asian (NH)	222	365	0.23%	0.38%
Pacific Islander (NH)	684	544	0.71%	0.57%
Some Other Race (NH)	140	440	0.15%	0.46%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)	791	1,270	0.82%	1.33%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	62,669	67,791	64.97%	70.81%
Total	96,455	95,740	100.00%	100.00%

Crime Rates in the City

The Watts Riots happened in 1965, and ghettos around Los Angeles were severely impacted. Compton and others areas in South Central saw a rise in Crime. A lot of middle class residents moved out of these areas which left most low income families in the area. Compton was hit hardest by the riots, and by 1969 Compton had the highest crime rates in all of California.

With the rise of Gangster Rap, rap groups were able to shine a light on what it was like living these ghettos, and they truly showed what it was like growing up South Central LA. Compton became synonymous to gang violence. Groups like NWA showed the rest of the world about the Crips and Bloods.

Compton did see a decline in crime through the years, but reached an all time high in 2004 when black gangs and latino gangs started fighting.

2005 was the deadliest year with 72 killings that year.

Compton’s gangs kept a steady stream of gang violence and in 2013 the city’s homicide rate was 36.8 per 100,000 residents, with guns being the number 1 cause for most homicides in Compton. From 2000-2015, most homicides were due to guns.

List of Gangs in Compton

Blood Gangs

• 135 Pirus
• 900 Block Bloods
• Bartender Pirus [defunct]
• Butler Block Piru [defunct]
• Campanella Park Pirus
• Cedar Block Pirus
• Cross Atlantic Pirus
• East Compton Piru
• East Side Pirus
• Elm Street Pirus
• Fruit Town Pirus
• Holly Hood Pirus
• Leuders Park Pirus
• Lime Hood Pirus
• Neighbor Hood Pirus, 145
• Mob Piru
• Original Block Pirus, 151
• Tree Top Pirus
• West Side Pirus
• Village Town Pirus

Crip Gangs

• Acacia Block Compton Crips
• Anzac Grape Compton Crips
• Atlantic Drive Compton Crips
• Butler Blocc Compton Crips [defunct]
• Burris Blocc Compton Crip [defunct]
• Chester Street Compton Crips
• Ducky Hood Compton Crips
• Farm Dog Compton Crips
• Grandee Compton Crips [defunct]
• Kelly Park Compton Crips
• Latana Blocc Compton Crips
• Mayo Ave Compton Crips
• Neighbor Hood Compton Crips
• Nestor Ave Compton Crips
• Nutty Blocc Compton Crips
• Original Front Hood Compton Crips
• Palmer Blocc Compton Crips
• Park Village Compton Crips
• Poccet Hood Compton Crips
• Raymond Street Hustler Compton Crip
• Santana Blocc Compton Crips
• South Side Compton Crips
• Spook Town Compton Crips
• Tragniew Park Compton Crips
• Ward Lane Compton Crips

Hispanic Gangs

• Compton Varrio 117
• Compton Varrio 118
• Compton Varrio 119
• Compton Varrio 124
• Compton Varrio 125
• Compton Varrio 132 [inactive]
• Compton Varrio Alondra
• Compton Varrio Best Known Mexicans
• Compton Varrio Chicano Gang
• Compton Varrio KAM
• Compton Varrio La Cinco, 155
• Compton Varrio Largo, 36
• Compton Varrio Las Tres, 133
• Compton Varrio Locos 13
• Compton Varrio Mobbin 4 Life
• Compton Varrio OFA
• Compton Varrio Segundo
• Compton Varrio Setentas, 70(Eastside)
• Compton Varrio Setentas, 70(Westside)
• Compton Varrio Tiny Gangster
• Compton Varrio Tokers
• Compton Varrio Tortilla Flats
• Compton Varrio Vatos Locos
• Compton Varrio Willow Street