Downey Cemetery District

The Downey Cemetery District operates one of the oldest burial grounds in the Southeast Los Angeles region, with origins dating to 1868 when landowner W.A. Spurlock donated one acre following the death of his young daughter. The cemetery expanded through subsequent land donations, including contributions from William H. Pendleton and the Downey Masonic Lodge, which established an adjacent graveyard between 1873 and 1880. In 1928, the County of Los Angeles formally created the Downey Cemetery District, consolidating the original cemetery and Masonic grounds into a single public entity. Today, the cemetery serves as the final resting place for more than 9,000 individuals, including veterans spanning from the Civil War to the Gulf War. The District operates under a three-member Board of Trustees appointed by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, with day-to-day management handled through the City of Downey Parks and Recreation Department.