Downey City is a charming city in Los Angeles County, California with a rich history and vibrant culture. It has inspired many riddles over the years that test your knowledge about this wonderful place. Below are 43 riddles about Downey City along with their answers.
Riddles about Downey City’s History
Riddle 1
I was founded in the 1870s as a small farming town originally called Downey Landing. What am I?
Answer: Downey City
Riddle 2
I was originally part of Rancho Santa Gertrudes, a Spanish land grant in California. Downey City was later established on part of my former territory. What am I?
Answer: Rancho Santa Gertrudes
Riddle 3
We were Downey City’s first settlers who came in the 1870s to farm the land. Who are we?
Answer: The McDonalds and the Crawfords
Riddle 4
I am Downey City’s oldest surviving building, constructed in 1879. I was originally a farmhouse and later became the home of Governor Downey’s widow. What am I?
Answer: The Old Downey House/McDonald House
Riddle 5
I am a former Governor of California for whom Downey City was named after. Who am I?
Answer: John Gately Downey
Riddles about Downey City’s Culture & Entertainment
Riddle 6
Built in 1951, I hosted live acts by Johnny Cash, Dick Clark, and Lawrence Welk back in the day. What venue am I?
Answer: The Downey Civic Theatre
Riddle 7
I am a hugely popular fast food chain that opened its first restaurant in Downey in 1948, which is still operating today. What restaurant am I?
Answer: McDonald’s
Riddle 8
We are a minor league baseball team that played at the Downey Ballpark from 1957 to 1993. What team are we?
Answer: The Downey Dodgers
Riddle 9
Opened in 1957, I hosted auto races featuring legends like A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti. What famous racetrack am I?
Answer: The Downey Speedway
Riddle 10
Established in 1964, I am Downey’s Greek food and culture festival held every September. What event am I?
Answer: The Greek Festival
Riddles about Downey City’s Parks & Recreation
Riddle 11
Opened in 1958, I am Downey’s first public park located downtown. What am I?
Answer: Griffin Park
Riddle 12
I am a large regional park in Downey with a lake, golf course, nature center, and museums. What am I?
Answer: Rio Hondo Golf Club and Recreation Area
Riddle 13
Located in Goller Park, I am Downey’s skatepark opened in 2012. What am I?
Answer: Goller Skate Park
Riddle 14
I am a 10.5 mile trail along the Rio Hondo River channel that goes through Downey. What public trail am I?
Answer: The Rio Hondo Bike Path
Riddle 15
I am a major street in Downey renowned for having many fun bars, restaurants, and shops. What street am I?
Answer: Firestone Boulevard
Riddles about Downey City’s Education
Riddle 16
Established in 1957, I am the main public school district for Downey. What am I?
Answer: Downey Unified School District
Riddle 17
I am Downey’s oldest high school, opened in 1893. Many famous alumni like Bob Bolen and Karen Carpenter graduated from me. What high school am I?
Answer: Downey High School
Riddle 18
Established in 1960, I am one of Downey’s top community colleges. What institution am I?
Answer: Rio Hondo College
Riddle 19
I am a private Christian college affiliated with the Churches of Christ that relocated to Downey in 1957. What college am I?
Answer: Columbia College Hollywood
Riddles about Downey City’s Transportation
Riddle 20
I am a major north-south freeway that goes through Downey. Opened in the 1950s, parts of me appeared in famous chase scenes from Speed. What freeway am I?
Answer: Interstate 405
Riddle 21
I am the light rail line that serves Downey and connects it to downtown LA. What transit line am I?
Answer: The Metro Green Line
Riddle 22
Now decommissioned, I was the Pacific Electric railway line that connected Downtown LA to Downey from the 1910s to 1950s. What railway was I?
Answer: The Red Car
Riddle 23
I was the main airport for Downey and southeast LA county from the late 1920s until my closure in 1989. What historic airfield am I?
Answer: Downey Landing Field
Riddles about Downey City’s Economy & Industry
Riddle 24
I was founded in Downey in 1929 and am a legendary airplane manufacturer known for buildings iconic aircraft. What company am I?
Answer: North American Aviation
Riddle 25
I am the birthplace of Taco Bell, founded by Glen Bell in Downey in 1962. What fast food chain am I?
Answer: Taco Bell
Riddle 26
Founded in Downey in 1957, I am a major aerospace and defense company famous for the Apollo program. What company am I?
Answer: North American Rockwell
Riddle 27
I am Downey’s largest employer, a major hospital established in 1955. What medical center am I?
Answer: Downey Medical Center
Riddles about Downey City’s Geography & Climate
Riddle 28
I am the major river that runs through Downey. Spanish explorers originally called me “Rio Hondo” or “deep river”. What river am I?
Answer: The Rio Hondo River
Riddle 29
Located northwest of Downey is this 20,000+ acre protected habitat area and wildlife sanctuary. What is it called?
Answer: The Whittier Narrows Recreation Area
Riddle 30
Before being drained in the 1950s, I was a large seasonal swamp near Downey nicknamed “Alligator Alley”. What was I called?
Answer: Laguna Amarga
Riddle 31
With a 2010 population of over 111,000 people, I am the 13th largest city in LA county. What city am I?
Answer: Downey
Riddle 32
At approximately 12 miles southeast of downtown LA, I am Downey’s location relative to Los Angeles. What am I?
Answer: Southeast of downtown Los Angeles
Riddles about Downey City’s Demographics
Riddle 33
With over 30% of residents in 2010, I am the largest ethnic group in Downey. Who am I?
Answer: Hispanic/Latino
Riddle 34
Making up over 25% of Downey’s population in 2010, I am the city’s second largest ethnic group. Who am I?
Answer: Non-Hispanic White
Riddle 35
With a median household income of over $60,000 in 2010, Downey is considered one of my suburban working class communities. What am I?
Answer: Gateway Cities
Riddle 36
Downey has one of the oldest and largest communities of me in Southern California. I settled here starting around 1900. Who am I?
Answer: Mexican Americans
Riddle 37
Compared to LA County overall, Downey has one of the largest percentages of this Asian ethnic group. Who are we?
Answer: Filipino Americans
Riddles about Downey City’s Politics & Government
Riddle 38
First incorporated in 1956, Downey uses this form of government with separately elected legislative and executive branches. What is it?
Answer: Council-Manager
Riddle 39
We are Downey’s five member elected city council who appoint a professional city manager. What are we?
Answer: Downey City Council
Riddle 40
I am Downey’s current and longest serving mayor first elected in 2010. Who am I?
Answer: Rick Rodriguez
Riddle 41
Located in the California’s 44th congressional district since 2013, Downey is represented by this Democratic U.S. Representative. Who is he?
Answer: Nanette Diaz Barragán
Riddle 42
Part of California’s 63rd State Assembly district, Downey is represented by this Democratic assemblymember first elected in 2016. Who is he?
Answer: Anthony Rendon
Riddles about Downey City’s Nicknames
Riddle 43
Due to Downey’s association with the aerospace industry, it is known by this nickname comparing it to the U.S. space program location. What is the nickname?
Answer: The Cape of Southern California
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed these 43 riddles about the wonderful city of Downey! Exploring the history, culture, people and places through riddles is a fun way to learn more about this dynamic city in LA county. Let me know if you have any other riddles about Downey you’d like me to try and solve!
