Below is some general information about Wilmington:
Wilmington is a neighborhood in the South Los Angeles area of Los Angeles, California, covering 9.14 square miles. Featuring a heavy concentration of industry and the third-largest oil field in the United States, it is considered sparsely populated in comparison with the city as a whole. It is notable for its youthful population and its high percentage of Latino and foreign-born residents. It is the site of Los Angeles Harbor College, Banning High School and ten other primary and secondary schools. Wilmington has six parks, including one on the waterfront.
A total of 53,815 people were living within Wilmington’s 9.14 square miles, according to the 2010 U.S. census averaging 5,887 people per square mile, among the lowest population densities in the city as a whole. The median age was 28. The percentages of people from birth through age 34 were among the county’s highest. Population was estimated at 54,512 in 2008.
The Port of Los Angeles district of Wilmington was included in the 1784 Spanish land grant of Rancho San Pedro. Phineas Banning acquired the land that would become Wilmington from Manuel Dominguez, heir of the original concession holder Juan Jose Dominguez, in 1858 to build a harbor for the city of Los Angeles. Known as New San Pedro from 1858 to 1863, it was subsequently named Wilmington by “Father of the Harbor” Phineas Banning after his Delaware birthplace.
The City of Los Angeles annexed Wilmington in 1909. Today, Wilmington and neighboring San Pedro form the waterfront of one of the world’s largest import/export centers. Wilmington is also adjacent to the Wilmington Oil Field, discovered in 1932. It is the third largest oil field in the continental United States. Consequently there are at least 8 major refineries in the Wilmington area.
During World War II the United States Military operated the Los Angeles Port of Embarkation in Wilmington, from which soldiers and sailors were sent abroad to battle zones. The LAPE was controlled by the San Francisco Port of Embarkation from its inception in 1942 until late 1943 when it became autonomous. The California Shipbuilding Corporation, famous for building victory ships during the war (although usually associated with Terminal Island), operated in Wilmington as well.
Source: Wilmington on Wikipedia