In June 1913, based on a study by a group of Los Angeles County Psychiatrists who had projected a need for a Los Angeles area hospital, Governor Hiram Johnson signed Senate Bill No.
739 on June 7, 1913 appropriating authority and funds to create a second state hospital in Southern California for the reception and treatment of California’s increasing population of persons with psychiatric disabilities.
 Three potential sites for the new facility were considered: Beverly Hills, Signal Hill, and Norwalk.
The decision to place the hospital in Norwalk was prompted primarily because of its location, with easy access to good roads and railroad service.
At its largest, the hospital had a total of 392.30 acres.

The hospital was self-sufficient in its early days.
A dairy, garden, pigs, and cows produced income and food products that could be used by the staff and patients.
The farm also kept food costs at a minimum, at a time when milk prices alone had increased from 17 cents per gallon in 1916 to 32 cents in 1918 due to the ongoing war.

As the area around the hospital became developed after World War II and the city of Norwalk grew around it, many changes have taken place.
 The biggest change in patient care has come from the development of psychotropic medications, increased therapies and new community standards.
The hospital has since consolidated its grounds and facilities of tudor styled dormitories into its present 162 acres (66 ha).

In 1975, the hospital was the subject of a black-and-white documentary from film makers Richard Cohen and Kevin Rafferty titled Hurry Tomorrow, which alleged coercive drugging of patients with the sedatives Chlorpromazine and Prolixin.

In December, 1976 The CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite ran a story about patient deaths at Metropolitan and Camarillo State Hospitals, and the story featured scenes from Hurry Tomorrow.
In June 1913, based on a study by a group of Los Angeles County Psychiatrists who had projected a need for a Los Angeles area hospital, Governor Hiram Johnson signed Senate Bill No. 739 on June 7, 1913 appropriating authority and funds to create a second state hospital in Southern California for the reception and treatment of California’s increasing population of persons with psychiatric disabilities.  Three potential sites for the new facility were considered: Beverly Hills, Signal Hill, and Norwalk. The decision to place the hospital in Norwalk was prompted primarily because of its location, with easy access to good roads and railroad service. At its largest, the hospital had a total of 392.30 acres.
The hospital was self-sufficient in its early days. A dairy, garden, pigs, and cows produced income and food products that could be used by the staff and patients. The farm also kept food costs at a minimum, at a time when milk prices alone had increased from 17 cents per gallon in 1916 to 32 cents in 1918 due to the ongoing war.
As the area around the hospital became developed after World War II and the city of Norwalk grew around it, many changes have taken place.  The biggest change in patient care has come from the development of psychotropic medications, increased therapies and new community standards. The hospital has since consolidated its grounds and facilities of tudor styled dormitories into its present 162 acres (66 ha).
In 1975, the hospital was the subject of a black-and-white documentary from film makers Richard Cohen and Kevin Rafferty titled Hurry Tomorrow, which alleged coercive drugging of patients with the sedatives Chlorpromazine and Prolixin.
In December, 1976 The CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite ran a story about patient deaths at Metropolitan and Camarillo State Hospitals, and the story featured scenes from Hurry Tomorrow.
Metropolitan State Hospital (California)