Compton is situated in southern Los Angeles County, bordered by unincorporated communities such as Willowbrook to the north and West Rancho Dominguez to the west. The city shares borders with the cities of Carson to the south, Long Beach to the southeast, Paramount to the east, and Lynwood to the northeast.
The city rests on a flat, highly urbanized coastal plain. The most prominent natural feature is Compton Creek, a tributary of the Los Angeles River. The Los Angeles River itself forms the eastern boundary of the city, acting as a concrete-lined flood control channel. Because it is highly developed, the natural landscape has largely been replaced by residential neighborhoods, commercial strips, and industrial zones.