Carson was part of a Spanish Land Grant known as Rancho San Pedro deeded to Juan Jose Dominguez over 200 years ago. During the incorporation process, the community was named after George Henry Carson, a member of the Dominguez family. "Dominguez" was a close second to "Carson" as the name for the newly incorporated city. Incorporated as a general law city on February 20, 1968, the city adopted the motto of "Future Unlimited." Its strategic location and vacant land were part of the reason for that statement of unbridled optimism.

Located in the South Bay section of Los Angeles County, Carson has grown from a population of 61,000 in 1968 to 94,826 in 2003. Over the years, three annexations have increased the city's size to 19.2 square miles. Steady and continued growth has enabled Carson to become a city of regional significance. In fact, in FY 1997/1998, Carson's assessed valuation grew by the greatest percentage of any city in the county with an assessed valuation of $7.3 billion. By FY 2002/2003, the assessed valuation on secured and unsecured properties has grown to $9.6 billion.

While Carson is well known as an industrial center with unparalleled access to transportation and the Pacific Rim, it is also a culturally diverse community that is attractive place to live and work. The city has more than 120 acres of park land divided into 12 parks, 2 mini-parks and sports/recreational facilities that include 3 swimming pools, a boxing center, a state-of-the art sports complex and the Carson Community Center. These facilities allow the residents of Carson to enjoy a variety of sports, recreational and cultural programs. The city's educational needs are served by Los Angeles Unified School District, and the community has access to 47 church organizations.