Artesia is a city in southeastern Los Angeles County, California, and one of the Gateway Cities that lie between Los Angeles and Orange County. Incorporated on May 29, 1959, it takes its name from the Spanish word for artesian aquifer, a nod to the wells that once served the area. With a population of about 16,400 in a compact footprint, Artesia is a dense, diverse suburban community where single-family homes, apartments, and small commercial districts sit side by side. The city's defining feature is Little India, the largest Indian enclave in Southern California. Centered on Pioneer Boulevard between 183rd and 188th streets, the district holds a concentration of South Asian restaurants, grocery stores, clothing and jewelry shops, and cultural businesses that draw visitors and families from across the region. Little India gives Artesia a distinctive cultural and culinary identity within the otherwise low-key Southeast Los Angeles landscape, and it anchors the city's commercial life. Artesia is a largely residential, family-oriented community. Many residents are renters, and the population is notably diverse, with deep Mexican and Filipino roots alongside the Indian and South Asian communities centered on Pioneer Boulevard. The ABC Unified School District—serving Artesia, Bloomfield, and Cerritos—is consistently regarded for its strong public schools, a key draw for families. The city's location in the Gateway Cities corridor places it close to major freeways, including State Route 91 and Interstate 605, giving residents convenient access to jobs and amenities across Los Angeles County and northern Orange County. Neighboring Cerritos offers regional shopping and parks, while Long Beach lies a short drive to the south, rounding out Artesia's appeal as a central, culturally distinct suburban address.