text:
Arcadia, California

Arcadia is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, located about 13 mi northeast of downtown Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley and at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. It contains a series of adjacent parks consisting of the Santa Anita Park racetrack, the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, and Arcadia County Park. The city had a population of 56,364 at the 2010 census, up from 53,248 at the 2000 census. The city is named after Arcadia, Greece.

Native American
For over 8,000 years, the site of Arcadia was part of the homeland of the Tongva people ("Gabrieliño" tribe), a Californian Native American tribe whose territory spanned the greater Los Angeles Basin, and the San Gabriel and San Fernando Valleys. Their fluid borders stretched between the Santa Susana Mountains, San Bernardino Mountains, and San Gabriel Mountains in the north; the Santa Monica Mountains and Simi Hills in the west; the San Jacinto Mountains and Santa Ana Mountains in the east; and the coast and Catalina Island (Pimu) in the south. A Tongva settlement site within present-day Arcadia was known as Alyeupkigna (or Aluupkenga).

Rancho period
The town's site became part of the Spanish Mission San Gabriel Arcángel lands in 1771. After Indian Reductions to become Mission Indians, the Tongva were known as the Gabrieliños after the Mission's name. and under whose control these people worked during the mission period in California. Currently there are 1,700 people self-identifying as members of the Tongva or Gabrieliño tribe.

The Mexican land grant for Rancho Santa Anita was issued to Perfecto Hugo Reid and his Tongva wife, Victoria Bartolomea Comicrabit, in 1845. It was named after a family relation, Anita Cota, on his wife's side. Reid documented the Gabrieliño Native Americans in a series of letters written in 1852, and served as a delegate to the 1849 California Constitutional Convention. In 1847, Reid sold Rancho Santa Anita to his Rancho Azusa neighbor, Henry Dalton.

Lucky Baldwin
The rancho changed owners several times before being acquired by Gold Rush immigrant, businessman, and major regional land owner Elias Jackson "Lucky" Baldwin in 1875. Baldwin purchased 8000 acre of Rancho Santa Anita for $200,000. Upon seeing the area, he gasped "By Gads! This is paradise!" Upon buying the land, Baldwin chose to make the area his home and immediately started erecting buildings and cultivating the land for farming, orchards, and ranches. Baldwin built the Queen Anne Cottage for his fourth wife and himself in 1885–1886, now preserved within the Arboretum. In 1885, the main line of the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley Railroad, in which Baldwin was a stockholder, was opened through the ranch, making subdivision of part of the land into a town site practical. Later, this rail line became a Santa Fe Railroad line. In 1889, on a site just north of the corner of First Avenue and St. Joseph Street, adjacent to the Santa Fe tracks, Baldwin opened the 35-room Hotel Oakwood to be the centerpiece of his new town. In 1890, the extant Rancho Santa Anita Depot was built.

20th century until World War II
By the turn of the 20th century, Arcadia had a population nearing 500 and an economy that was coming to be based on entertainment, sporting, hospitality, and gambling opportunities, the latter including an early version of the Santa Anita race track. Baldwin oversaw the incorporation of Arcadia into a city in 1903, and was its first mayor.

Anoakia

In 1913 Anita Baldwin, Lucky's daughter, built a 50-room mansion on 19 acre of the Baldwin Ranch she inherited from him, and named it "Anoakia" (a portmanteau of Anita and oak). The 17,000 sqft residence was in the Italian Renaissance Revival style, with murals by Maynard Dixon. The estate had a significant Greek Revival-style colonnaded "Parthenon" bathhouse/gymnasium beside a large pool, an apiary and aviaries, kennels and stables, tennis courts and pergolas, and preserved the native oak woodlands.

After her death in 1939 the estate became the Anoakia School for Girls, which became the coeducational Anoakia School in 1967, then moved to Duarte in 1990 as the Anita Oaks School. The school owner's efforts to develop the property into a village of homes with the old mansion as its centerpiece were rejected by the city. After an extended debate, with local citizens and regional preservationists efforts to preserve the historic main house, the city council voted to approve demolition for a real estate development by new owners in 1999. The "Anoakia" mansion, all other significant estate structures and outbuildings, garden features, and numerous California sycamore and Coast live oak trees were demolished for 31 luxury home sites in 2000. Some of the mansion's architectural elements were salvaged and removed. The gatehouse, on the estate's former southeast corner at Foothill and Baldwin, and the perimeter walls remain after the "Anoakia Estates" development was built. The bas-relief fountain was moved to just inside the new gated entrance.

Inter-war decades

During World War I, Arcadia was home to the U.S. Army's Ross Field Balloon School, at the present-day Santa Anita Park site. Army observers were trained here in techniques to observe enemy activity from hot air balloons.

After World War I, Arcadia's population grew and local businesses included many chicken ranches and other agricultural activities. During the 1920s and 1930s, Arcadia began its transition to the residential city that it is today, as small farms and chicken ranches gave way to homes and numerous civic improvements, including a city library and a city hall. Scenes of many of Arcadia's interesting older sites can be viewed in a series of historic watercolors painted by local artists Edna Lenz and Justine Wishek. The city was on historic U.S. Route 66, present-day Colorado Boulevard, with businesses serving travelers on it.

Thoroughbred horse racing had flourished briefly under Lucky Baldwin, who founded a racetrack adjacent to the present site, until it was outlawed by the state of California in 1909. It returned to Arcadia when racing was legalized again, with the opening of Santa Anita Park in December 1934. Architect Gordon Kaufmann designed its various buildings in a combination of Colonial Revival and Streamline Moderne styles.

Santa Anita Assembly Center
The Santa Anita Assembly Center site is California Historical Landmark #934. In 1942 during World War II, the racetrack grounds were used as a processing and holding site for Japanese Americans who had been removed from their homes and communities for forced relocation and internment under President Franklin Roosevelt's Executive Order 9066. The Civilian Assembly Center at the racetrack became the largest and longest operating one of the eighteen, holding citizens until the Relocation Center camps were completed in interior areas of California and other states. More than 18,000 persons resided at the racetrack in primitive conditions. Four hundred temporary tarpaper barracks were constructed on the racetrack grounds to house many of the detainees, where they lived three families per unit. 8,500 detainees lived in converted horse stalls. Bachelors were housed in the grandstand building. They had group showers, non-private bathrooms, and 24-hour armed surveillance. Each resident was given an "Army manufacture bed, one blanket and one straw tick." The Assembly Center held people from late March through the end of October 1942, when the internees were relocated inland to permanent internment camps at Manzanar and Tule Lake in California, and eight others in Western states and Arkansas.

In November 1942 the center was turned over to the United States Army Ordnance Corps for training purposes and was officially renamed Camp Santa Anita. Later in the war it served as a prisoner of war—POW camp, holding several thousand of Rommel's German Afrika Korps soldiers.

Postwar period
Arcadia largely grew up as the well-to-do suburb of neighboring Pasadena, with many early residents being the sons and daughters of long-established Southern California families. A large tract of estate homes was developed by Harry Chandler, the scion of the Los Angeles Times, who lived in adjacent Sierra Madre, California. The city became the residence of choice for many corporate chief executives, including those in the aerospace, horse-racing, and finance industries.

The postwar boom saw Arcadia grow rapidly into a suburban residential community, with many of the chicken ranches being subdivided into home lots. Between 1940 and 1950, the population grew by more than two and a half times. The housing boom continued through the 1950s and 1960s and along with that growth came the necessary infrastructure of schools, commercial buildings, and expanded city services.

During the postwar boom, a modern commercial district developed along Baldwin Avenue south of Huntington Drive in west Arcadia. In 1951 this strip, called the West Arcadia Hub, was anchored by a new, locally owned Hinshaw's department store. This was the first large department store to be built in Arcadia, and the largest in the western San Gabriel Valley outside the city of Pasadena. This development marked the beginning of Arcadia's gradual transformation into one of the leading shopping districts of the San Gabriel Valley.

In 1947, 111 acre that comprised the heart of the Baldwin Ranch were deeded to the State of California and the County of Los Angeles, and developed into Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden.

In October 1975, the Santa Anita Fashion Park was opened to the public on the corner of Baldwin Avenue and Huntington Drive, on part of the former Santa Anita Assembly Center site. The center court featured a very large "Blue head" by artist Roy Lichtenstein, which was later removed. The mall expanded in 2004, and renamed Westfield Santa Anita. It was affected by the late 2000s Great Recession.

James Dobson, a former Arcadia resident, founded the nonprofit Christian ministry Focus on the Family in the city in 1977. Focus on the Family is now based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, but still has thousands of members in Arcadia.

In the 1980s, the Asian population in Arcadia began to grow. The city had remained 99% white until the late 1970s, but in 1985, the Los Angeles Times reported that the Asian population had grown from 4% in 1980 to an estimated 9%, overtaking Latinos, who accounted for roughly 7% of the population. By the 2010 census, Asians consisted of 59.2% of the population.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.1 sqmi. 10.9 sqmi of it is land and 0.2 sqmi of it (1.87%) is water.

Demographics
In 2016, Arcadia was ranked the fifth most expensive housing market in the United States by Business Insider, with an average listing price of $1,748,680 for a four-bedroom home.

In 2012, Arcadia was ranked seventh in the nation on CNN Money magazine's list of towns with highest median home costs.

Arcadia's Upper Rancho neighborhood was ranked the 23rd richest neighborhood in Southern California by Business Insider in 2014, with a mean household income of $310,779.

2020
The 2020 United States Census reported that Arcadia had a population of 56,681 people. This corresponds to a density of 5,187.2 people per square mile. The racial breakdown was 36,772 (64.9%) Asian, 11,378 (20.1%) White, 959 (1.7%) Black or African American, 233 (0.4%) American Indian and Alaska Native, 46 (0.1%) Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 3,158 (5.6%) Some Other Race, and 4,135 (7.3%) two or more races.

Including all responses for people of two or more races, 38,078 (67.2% of population) were Asian alone or in combination with one or more other races, 15,068 (26.6%) were White alone or in combination with one or more other races, 1,386 (2.4%) were Black or African American alone or in combination, 578 (1.0%) were American Indian and Alaska Native alone or in combination, 173 (0.3%) were Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone or in combination, and 5,852 (10.3%) were some other race alone or in combination with one or more other races.

7,401 (13.1%) were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of those, 1,410 (2.5% of total population) were white alone, 91 (0.2%) were Black or African American alone, 180 (0.3%) were American Indian and Alaska Native alone, 164 (0.3%) were Asian alone, 6 (0.0%) were Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, 2,919 (5.1%) were some other race alone, and 2,631 (4.6%) were two or more races.

Arcadia was reported to have 20,511 housing units. 19,377 (94.5%) were occupied. Of the occupied units, 11,372 (58.7% of occupied units) were owner-occupied and 8,005 (41.3%) were renter-occupied. Of the vacant units, 347 (1.7% of total) were for rent, 51 (0.2%) were rented but not occupied, 169 (0.8%) were for sale only, 94 (0.5%) were sold but not occupied, 146 (0.7%) were for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use, and 327 (1.6%) were otherwise vacant.

The median household income between 2017 and 2021 was $99,588 (2021 dollars), with 8.9% of people living in poverty. 96.7% of households had a computer between 2017 and 2021, and 94.0% had a broadband internet subscription.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Arcadia had a population of 56,364. The population density was 5,062.5 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Arcadia was 33,353 (59.2%) Asian, 18,191 (32.3%) White, (25.7% Non-Hispanic White), 681 (1.2%) African American, 186 (0.3%) Native American, 16 (0.03%) Pacific Islander, 2,352 (4.2%) from other races, and 1,585 (2.8%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6,799 persons (12.1%).

The census reported that 55,502 people (98.5% of the population) lived in households, 639 (1.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 223 (0.4%) were institutionalized. There were 19,592 households, out of which 7,336 (37.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 11,703 (59.7%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 2,437 (12.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 865 (4.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 469 (2.4%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 92 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 3,855 households (19.7%) were made up of individuals, and 1,926 (9.8%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83. There were 15,005 families (76.6% of all households); the average family size was 3.26.

The population was spread out, with 12,290 people (21.8%) under the age of 18, 4,102 people (7.3%) aged 18 to 24, 13,409 people (23.8%) aged 25 to 44, 17,349 people (30.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 9,214 people (16.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males according to the census.

There were 20,686 housing units at an average density of 1,858.0 /sqmi, of which 12,371 (63.1%) were owner-occupied, and 7,221 (36.9%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.7%. 37,000 people (65.6% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 18,502 people (32.8%) lived in rental housing units.

Economy
Arcadia's economy is driven by wholesale trade, retail trade, manufacturing, health care and social assistance, arts, entertainment, and recreation. Revenue from the Santa Anita Racetrack has long supported capital improvements for the City of Arcadia, resulting in the city having very little bonded indebtedness.

The Westfield Santa Anita mall (formerly the Santa Anita Fashion Park) is a major shopping center in the city. In 2005, the Westfield Santa Anita completed its first phase of expansion, featuring a new food court, numerous smaller retailers, various full-service eateries in an area known as Restaurant Square, and a 16-screen AMC Theatres megaplex. In 2008, expansion of the mall continued as the Promenade outdoor structure was completed, with new high-end retailers.

In 2004, citing success from regional shopping malls such as The Grove and The Americana, Caruso Affiliated and Magna Entertainment (the owners of the Santa Anita Park racetrack) proposed to build a second large shopping mall adjacent to Westfield Santa Anita on the grounds of the Santa Anita Park south parking lot, which would have made Arcadia the largest retail shopping district in Los Angeles County. The controversial project, known as "The Shops at Santa Anita", originally included signature retail, restaurants, condominium projects, a decorative water display, and a horse-drawn trolley. Arcadia City Council unanimously approved the project in 2007 after much heated debate between some residents in the community and corporate interests, which included ballot initiatives such as free parking for Arcadia residents, prevention of retail signage installations, and downsizing the project by the removal of condominiums from the project. Magna Entertainment filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy during the Great Recession in 2009 and dissolved the partnership with Caruso Affiliated, with Caruso Affiliated a filing a $21 million bankruptcy claim in 2010 to cover damages Caruso Affiliated incurred as a result of the inability to complete the project. The plan to build "The Shops at Santa Anita" was ultimately terminated on May 20, 2011.

Top employers
According to the city's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top private employers in the city are:

Tourism
The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden is located in Arcadia across from the Santa Anita mall and racetrack. The peafowl that roam free on the grounds and in the neighborhoods near the arboretum are a remainder of the former Baldwin ranch. When the peafowl were brought from India, they helped control snakes and snails on his farm. They are considered an attraction to some residents and a nuisance to others due to their loud cries and the droppings they leave on residents' properties.

Local government
Arcadia is a charter city governed by a five-member City Council, with each member serving a four-year term. The Council elects from its membership a Mayor to serve as its presiding officer for a one-year term.

Effective with the 2018 elections, Arcadia voters elect a City Council member by geographical district instead of at-large.

The current city council members are:
 * Mayor: April Verlato
 * Mayor Pro Tem: Michael Cao
 * City Council: Paul P. Cheng, Sharon Kwan, and Eileen Wang

List of mayors
This is a list of Arcadia mayors by year.
 * 1927-1930 A. N. Multer
 * 1930-1931 John M. Walshe
 * 1931-1932 Harry A. Link
 * 1932 John J. Bottema
 * 1932 Earl Busse
 * 1932-1936 Richard Krebs, Jr.
 * 1936-1937 Grant W. Corby
 * 1937-1938 J. R. Griffitts
 * 1938-1939 A. F. Malin
 * 1939-1940 J. F. Griffitts
 * 1940-1942 A. H. Perkins
 * 1942-1948 M. H. Ormsby
 * 1948-1950 C. Loree Russell
 * 1950-1952 Thomas C. Sullivan
 * 1952-1954 John A. Schmocker
 * 1954 Raymond M. Kennett
 * 1954-1955 Robert Dow
 * 1955-1956 Dwight L. Hulse
 * 1956-1957 Donald S. Camphouse
 * 1957-1958 Robert F. Dennis
 * 1958-1959 Elton D. Phillips
 * 1959-1960 Conrad T. Reibold
 * 1960-1961 Donald S. Camphouse
 * 1961-1962 Jesse Balser
 * 1962-1963 Edward L. Butterworth
 * 1963-1964 Elton D. Phillips
 * 1964-1965 Dale E. Turner
 * 1965-1966 Conrad T. Reibold
 * 1966-1967 George Forman
 * 1967-1968 Robert J. Considine
 * 1968-1969 Don W. Hage
 * 1969-1970 C. Robert Arth
 * 1970-1971 Edward L. Butterworth
 * 1971-1972 James R. Helms
 * 1972-1973 Don W. Hage
 * 1973-1974 C. Robert Arth
 * 1974-1975 Alton E. Scott
 * 1975-1976 Charles E. Gilb
 * 1976-1977 Floretta K. Lauber - First woman mayor of Arcadia.
 * 1977-1978 Jack Saelid
 * 1978-1979 David E. Parry
 * 1979-1980 Robert G. Margett
 * 1980-1981 Donald D. Pellegrino
 * 1981-1982 Charles E. Gilb
 * 1982-1983 Donald D. Pellegrino
 * 1983-1984 Dennis A. Lojeski
 * 1984-1985 David S. Hannah
 * 1985-1986 Donald D. Pellegrino
 * 1986-1987 Mary B. Young
 * 1987-1988 Charles E. Gilb
 * 1988-1989 Robert C. Harbricht
 * 1989-1990 Roger Chandler
 * 1990-1991 Mary B. Young
 * 1991-1992 Charles E. Gilb
 * 1992-1993 George Faching
 * 1993-1994 Joseph Ciraulo
 * 1994-1995 Mary B. Young
 * 1995-1996 Dennis A. Lojeski
 * 1996-1997 Barbara D. Kuhn
 * 1997-1998 Robert C. Harbricht
 * 1998-1999 Gary A. Kovacic
 * 1999-2000 Roger Chandler
 * 2000-2001 Gary A. Kovacic
 * 2001-2002 Mickey Segal
 * 2002-2003 Gail A. Marshall
 * 2003 Sheng Chang
 * 2003 Gary A. Kovacic
 * 2003-2004 John Wuo
 * 2004 Mickey Segal
 * 2004-2005 Gary A. Kovacic
 * 2005-2006 John Wuo
 * 2006-2007 Roger Chandler
 * 2007-2008 Mickey Segal
 * 2008-2009 Robert C. Harbricht
 * 2010 Peter Amundson
 * 2011-2012 Gary A. Kovacic
 * 2015-2016 Gary A. Kovacic
 * 2016-2017 Tom Beck
 * 2017-2018 Peter Amudson
 * 2018-2019 Sho Tay
 * 2019-2020 April Verlato
 * 2020-2021 Rodger Chandler
 * 2021-2022 Sho Tay
 * 2022-2023 Paul P. Cheng
 * 2023-2024 April Verlato

County government
In the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Arcadia is in the Fifth District, represented by Kathryn Barger.

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Monrovia Health Center in Monrovia, serving Arcadia.

State and federal representation
In the California State Legislature, Arcadia is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, Arcadia is in.

Education
For primary and secondary education the city is served by the Arcadia Unified School District. Reading scores for the AUSD are 76.6% higher than the state average and math scores are 67.9% higher than the state average. It is estimated that 88% of Arcadia students are at public schools and 12% in private and/or parochial institutions.

Arcadia Unified School District has one highly ranked and prestigious high school, Arcadia High School. It is among the few public high schools in California to receive a distinguished GreatSchools Rating of 10 out of 10. There are three middle schools, and six elementary schools, two which are winners in the United States Department of Education's Blue Ribbon Schools program. Approximately five percent of California schools are awarded this honor each year following a rigorous selection process. Eligibility is based on federal and state criteria including the No Child Left Behind program, Academic Performance Index (API), and Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). The requirements are many and strict, and are based on such areas as a strong curriculum, solid library media services, professional teachers, and counseling programs at all grade levels. In 2010, BusinessWeek ranked Arcadia as the best place to raise children in the state of California for the second year in a row, citing the city's excellent school system as one of the factors in addition to the low crime rate.

Elementary schools

 * Baldwin Stocker Elementary	422 West Lemon Ave.,	grades K–5,	 673 students
 * Camino Grove Elementary	700 Camino Grove Ave.,	K–5,	 635 students
 * Highland Oaks Elementary	10 Virginia Dr., K–5, 698 students
 * Holly Avenue Elementary	360 West Duarte Rd., K–5,	 692 students
 * Longley Way Elementary	2601 Longley Way, K–5,	 485 students
 * Reid (Hugo) Elementary	1000 Hugo Reid Dr.,	K–5,	634 students

Middle schools

 * Dana (Richard Henry) Middle,	1401 South First Ave., grades 6–8, 731 students
 * First Avenue Middle, 301 South First Ave., grades 6–8, 809 students
 * Foothills Middle,	171 East Sycamore Ave., grades 6–8, 734 students

High school

 * Arcadia High School

The Academic Performance Index measures the academic performance and growth of schools on a variety of points. Arcadia High School scored 890, making it the highest-performing large high school in California. In 2010, Arcadia High had 29 National Merit Award finalists. Arcadia is also home to the two-time National Championship boys cross-country team (2010 and 2012).

Police and fire
The Arcadia Police Department and Arcadia Fire Department serves the city of Arcadia. Arcadia hired its first Asian American Police Chief, Roy Nakamura, on January 9, 2021, and its first Asian American Fire Chief, Chen Suen, on November 9, 2022. Both Chiefs were promoted from within their respective organizations.

Transportation
Arcadia has several arterial roads that traverse the city. The major east–west streets include Foothill Boulevard, Huntington Drive, Duarte Road, Las Tunas Drive, and Live Oak Avenue. The major north–south streets include Baldwin Avenue and Santa Anita Avenue. It is also served by the Foothill Freeway (I-210).

Arcadia Transit
The city of Arcadia operates three fixed route services, as well as a Dial-A-Ride that provides curb-to-curb service throughout city limits.

Metro A Line
In 2016, Metro opened a new at-grade light rail station in Arcadia. Arcadia Station is located northwest of the intersection of 1st Avenue and Santa Clara Street, and is served by the Metro A Line.

Healthcare
Located at 300 W. Huntington Drive, USC Arcadia Hospital (formerly Methodist Hospital of Southern California ) sits on 22 acre of land. The 460-bed hospital opened in Arcadia in 1957, after moving from downtown Los Angeles. USC Arcadia Hospital was the state's first community hospital to have a psychiatric unit. Its nursery school was one of the first corporate daycare facilities in the U.S. It was an Official Hospital of the 1984 Olympic Games.

To keep up with the changing needs of the community, several upgrades have been made to the original facility. In 1998, the Berger Tower was completed, adding 169 beds. USC Arcadia Hospital underwent a major renovation and expansion in 2006, and in the fall of 2011, a new five-story patient tower and new emergency department were opened.

The Methodist Hospital School of Nursing
A School of Nursing opened at the hospital in 1915, with a class of 30 students. Ten years later, a residence was built to accommodate 150 graduate and student nurses. This four-story brick building, known as Philomena Hall, was connected to the hospital by an underground corridor and provided accommodations, classrooms and a gymnasium for the nurses. Beginning in 1944 (after a nine-year school closure), additional housing for nurses was provided in a refurbished residential house adjacent to Philomena Hall. After more than 40 years of operation and the graduation of hundreds of talented young nurses, the School of Nursing closed. Times had changed, and the practice of nursing education had moved into the domain of the formal education system. The school was phased out in 1958 with the graduation of the last nursing class.

Water & Sewer
The City of Arcadia provides services for water and sewer to its residents. The city operates its own water distribution system via the Public Works Services Department. Arcadia's water supply comes from groundwater from municipal owned water pumps from the Main San Gabriel Basin and the Raymond Basin, both which are replenished with local rainwater and imported water.

In popular culture
U.S. Route 66, immortalized in song and literature, passes through Arcadia, on Huntington Drive in Downtown Arcadia, before turning off onto Colorado Place and then Colorado Street. After intersecting the 210 freeway, Route 66 runs parallel to and south of the freeway, cutting across the middle section of Arcadia.

The city is mentioned by Jack Kerouac in his novel On the Road: Sal, the protagonist, is put off by "preppy" teens when he stops for food at a local drive-in restaurant with a young Mexican woman. The vignette demonstrates the culture clash between the "Beatnik" way of life and that of 1950s conservative America.

In a motel located in Arcadia across the street northeast from Santa Anita Racetrack, author Hunter S. Thompson wrote much of his novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas in the 1970s. In Michael Cunningham's novel The Hours, Laura Brown mentions that she heard of a man who died in nearby Arcadia.

The McDonald brothers, who later began the McDonald's hamburger restaurant chain, opened their first restaurant, The Airdrome, near Monrovia Airport, on the Arcadia–Monrovia border in 1937. The restaurant was located on historic Route 66, now Huntington Drive, but later moved to San Bernardino, California, in 1940.

The main setting of the DreamWorks' franchise Tales of Arcadia took place in Arcadia Oaks, a fictionalized version of Arcadia, California.

The 2021 single "Arcadia" by singer Lana Del Rey is named after the city. The first music video also features scenes of the streets of the town.

Filming locations
Many films on location (including Tarzan and the Bing Crosby On the Road movies), television series, most notably Fantasy Island were filmed in Arcadia. A popular visiting site is the house with the bell tower, where Tattoo rang the bell, is the Queen Anne Cottage, located in the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden in Arcadia. The plane, "arriving" with the guests, was filmed in the lagoon behind the Queen Anne Cottage. Occasionally, outdoor scenes and commercials are filmed at the Arboretum have been filmed on the grounds of the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden.

The Santa Anita Park Racetrack is another popular filming locations. The true story film Seabiscuit (2003) was filmed and takes place at the Santa Anita race track. A commercial for Claritin allergy medicine, a Lexus commercial, and three episodes of Grey's Anatomy have used it as a location ("Walk on Water", "Drowning on Dry Land" and "Some Kind of Miracle").

This city was one of the filming locations for Columbia Pictures' comedy film North (1994).

The fantasy-comedy film Matilda was shot here in 1996.

A scene from Step Brothers (2008) was shot at the nearby Derby restaurant.

Scenes from Mission: Impossible III (2006) were shot at Methodist Hospital.

In the movie Cloverfield, the scene in which the survivors walk inside Bloomingdale's was actually filmed inside a Robinsons-May store under reconstruction inside the Westfield Santa Anita in Arcadia. The film Eagle Eye (2008) was also filmed in this location.

Scenes from Kicking & Screaming (2005) were shot at Foothill Middle School and in Arcadia homes.

The movie The Lone Ranger (2013) filmed their train scenes here within the Santa Anita Race Track parking lot by building an elevated 'roller coaster' like track.

The comedy film Deal of a Lifetime (1999) was filmed entirely at Arcadia High School.

The movie Moxie (2021) was filmed at Arcadia High School's North Gym and Salter Stadium.

Notable people

 * Michael Anthony, bassist of the band Van Halen, graduated from Arcadia High School in 1972
 * Marty Barrett (born 1958), baseball player
 * Ryan Bergara, cohost on Buzzfeed Unsolved and cofounder of Watcher Entertainment
 * Tracy Caldwell Dyson, astronaut. Born in Arcadia.
 * Jason Chen, singer
 * David Cohen (born 1984), jockey
 * Jimmy Conrad, former soccer defender. Born in Arcadia.
 * Sven Davidson, tennis player who won the French Open and Wimbledon
 * John Grabow, major league baseball pitcher
 * Jeff Grosso (1968–2020), professional skateboarder
 * Phil Hendrie, radio personality, grew up in Arcadia and graduated from Arcadia High School in 1970
 * Colleen Kay Hutchins, Miss America 1952, was raised in Arcadia
 * Maren Jensen, actress, was born in Arcadia
 * Brittany Klein, soccer player
 * Rudy Kurniawan, wine swindler
 * Jimmy Lambert, baseball player
 * Ted Leonard of band Enchant was born in Arcadia
 * Jet Li, international film star and martial artist, resided in Arcadia with his wife, a former Miss China
 * Johnny Lindell, Major League Baseball player
 * Bruce McNall, owned NHL's Los Angeles Kings, was born in Arcadia
 * Mirai Nagasu, Olympic figure skater, 6-time medalist in U.S. championships
 * Lindsay Price, actress and wife of Curtis Stone
 * Jason Robertson, professional hockey player
 * Nick Robertson, professional hockey player
 * John Speraw, Head Coach US Men's Olympic Volleyball Team
 * Mark Tuan, member of South Korean boy-band GOT7, attended Arcadia High School
 * Rena Wang, badminton player
 * Steve Westly, politician and venture capitalist
 * Wil Wheaton, actor, Star Trek: The Next Generation
 * George Woolf, horse jockey, owner of The Derby restaurant in Arcadia and rider of Seabiscuit
 * Tim Worrell, professional baseball pitcher
 * Todd Worrell, professional baseball relief pitcher
 * Erica Wu, table tennis Olympian
 * Genie, a feral child

Sister cities
Arcadia has one sister city (Newcastle, Australia), as designated by Sister Cities International. Consequently, Newcastle Park can be found on Colorado Boulevard. There is also an Arcadia Park in Newcastle.

title: Arcadia, California


text:
Artesia, California

Artesia (Spanish for "artesian aquifer") is a city in southeast Los Angeles County, California. Artesia was incorporated on May 29, 1959, and is one of Los Angeles County's Gateway Cities. The city has a 2010 census population of 16,522. Artesia is surrounded on the west, south, and east sides by Cerritos, with Norwalk to the north. Artesia is the home of the East West Ice Palace, an ice rink which is co-owned by Michelle Kwan. It was also the childhood home of former First Lady Pat Nixon, who lived there from 1914 to 1931, though the property on which she grew up is now part of neighboring Cerritos.

History
The village of Artesia was established upon the completion of the Artesia School District on May 3, 1875. It was named for the many flowing artesian wells in the area, which made the village ideal for farming and agriculture.

In the 1920s and 1930s, Dutch and Portuguese farmers developed Artesia into one of the most important dairy districts in Southern California. After World War II, as with many other cities in the region, Artesia was pressured by developers to build residential tracts. The city of Dairy Valley was incorporated in 1956, and later became the city of Cerritos. As the demand for housing continued, dairymen moved their operations further east into Chino and north into the Central Valley. Artesia finally incorporated on May 29, 1959.

Before Artesia was incorporated, some rural areas, like Hawaiian Gardens, were considered part of Artesia for mapping and postage purposes.

In 1993, the Artesia Historical Society was formed, with the mission of preserving and protecting the archives and historic sites of the city. In 2002, the Historical Society salvaged and restored one of the last remaining Spanish-styled homes in the city into a historical civic museum open to the public.

Artesia Water Tower

One of the more familiar landmarks in the city is the Artesia water tower. Not much is known about its active past or when it was constructed. The City of Artesia is currently trying to have the tower declared as a Historical Landmark and is asking its citizens for historical information and photos of the tower.

Cultural Shopping District
There are a large number of Indian-owned stores and restaurants along Pioneer Boulevard in Artesia. Despite this concentration of Indian-owned businesses, Asian Indians made up only 7.9% of the population of Artesia in the 2010 Census.

Proposals have often been made to designate a portion of the city as "Little India" (along the lines of Little Saigon in nearby Westminster and Garden Grove). Another proposal has been for a "Little India" sign at the Pioneer Boulevard exit off of the Artesia Freeway. Opposition, primarily from other ethnicities in the city, has so far balked such plans.

According to the Los Angeles Times article "Artesia Thinks the World of Itself," four of five City Council members were outraged at Assemblyman Rudy Bermudez's attempt to make the designation without consulting the local council. The council members won a bill requiring local approval of proposed freeway sign designations. Mayor Larry Nelson said that Indian Americans constituted less than 1% of the city's population and that East Asian markets outnumber Indian ones 3 to 1. Thus, the name is the "International and Cultural Shopping District."

Geography
Artesia is located at 33.86722°N, -118.08056°W (33.867215, -118.080622).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.6 sqmi, all land.

2010
At the 2010 census Artesia had a population of 16,522. The population density was 10,194.7 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Artesia was 6,446 (39.0%) White (21.3% Non-Hispanic White), 589 (3.6%) African American, 94 (0.6%) Native American, 6,131 (37.1%) Asian, 40 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 2,630 (15.9%) from other races, and 592 (3.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5,910 persons (35.8%).

The census reported that 15,909 people (96.3% of the population) lived in households, 69 (0.4%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 544 (3.3%) were institutionalized.

There were 4,535 households, 1,933 (42.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 2,673 (58.9%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 670 (14.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 334 (7.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 150 (3.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 30 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 661 households (14.6%) were one person and 306 (6.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.51. There were 3,677 families (81.1% of households); the average family size was 3.80.

The age distribution was 3,719 people (22.5%) under the age of 18, 1,680 people (10.2%) aged 18 to 24, 4,421 people (26.8%) aged 25 to 44, 4,454 people (27.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,248 people (13.6%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 38.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.

There were 4,697 housing units at an average density of 2,898.2 per square mile, of the occupied units 2,523 (55.6%) were owner-occupied and 2,012 (44.4%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.7%. 8,930 people (54.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 6,979 people (42.2%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Artesia had a median household income of $59,845, with 13.5% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2000
At the 2000 census there were 16,380 people in 4,470 households, including 3,625 families, in the city. The population density was 10,126.1 PD/sqmi. There were 4,598 housing units at an average density of 2,842.5 /mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 44.18% White, 3.55% Black or African American, 0.78% Native American, 27.41% Asian, 0.54% Pacific Islander, 18.47% from other races, and 5.07% from two or more races. 38.29% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 4,470 households 40.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.4% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.9% were non-families. 15.3% of households were one person and 6.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.54 and the average family size was 3.87.

The age distribution was 27.2% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.

The median income per household in the city was $44,500, and the median income per family was $47,017. Males had a median income of $34,447 versus $25,256 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,763. About 8.7% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.

Ancestry and ethnicity
45.8% of the residents of Artesia are foreign-born, and 25.2% are not US citizens.

For Europeans, 9.4% of Artesia is of Portuguese ancestry, with 49.4% of those foreign-born. Dutch is the second most commonly reported European ancestry at 4.6%.

27.4% of Artesia is of Asian ancestry. The most commonly reported ancestries are Filipino 10.4%, Chinese 5.1%, Indian 4.6%, and Korean 4.5%.

3.6% of Artesia is Black or African American.

38.3% of Artesia is Hispanic or Latino, with most of those being of Mexican descent (32.4%).

According to Mapping L.A., Mexican and Filipino were the most common ancestries in 2000. Mexico and the Philippines were the most common foreign places of birth.

City Council
The City Council is composed of five members elected at large by the citizens of Artesia to serve for four-year overlapping terms. The City Council is responsible to the residents of Artesia for the implementation of all programs and services provided by the city.

City Council Meetings
The regular meetings of the Artesia City Council are held on the second Monday of each month beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Artesia City Hall, Council Chambers, 18747 Clarkdale Ave. Artesia, CA 90701.

Commissions
There are four commissions serving the City of Artesia, composed of five individuals who serve voluntarily. Each member of the City Council appoints one person to each commission for a term of four years.

Disaster Council
The Disaster Council is an advisory body to the City Council which provides policies and suggestions to the City Council to adopt for emergency circumstances like earthquakes, fires, flooding, or terrorist attack.

State and Federal Representation
In the California State Legislature, Artesia is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, Artesia is in.

Education
Artesia residents are served by the ABC Unified School District.

Infrastructure
Fire protection in Artesia is provided by the Los Angeles County Fire Department with ambulance transport by Care Ambulance Service.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department operates the Lakewood Station in Lakewood, serving Artesia.

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Whittier Health Center in Whittier, serving Artesia.

The United States Postal Service Artesia Post Office is located at 11721 183rd Street. Los Cerritos Community News serves the city.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Artesia, California


text:
Avalon, California

Avalon is the only incorporated city on Santa Catalina Island, in the California Channel Islands, and the southernmost city in Los Angeles County. The city is a resort community with the waterfront dominated by tourism-oriented businesses. The older parts of the town on the valley floor consist primarily of small houses and two and three-story buildings in various traditional architectural styles.

In 1919, William Wrigley Jr. gained control of Avalon and oversaw much of its development, including the construction of the landmark Catalina Casino. From the late 19th century to the early 20th century, several different developers tried to develop Avalon into a resort destination community, but most before Wrigley went bankrupt.

The population was 3,460 at the 2020 census. Avalon attracts about 1 million visitors a year and is frequently visited by cruise ships. Before European colonization, the island was inhabited by the Tongva people.

History
Prior to the modern era, Avalon Bay was inhabited by people of the Gabrielino/Tongva tribe. The island was a major source of soapstone to the Tongva, who used the material to make stone vessels for cooking. The Tongva called the island Pimu or Pimugna and referred to themselves as the Pimugnans. However, by the 1830s, the entire island's native population had either died off, or had undergone forcible relocation to the mainland to work in the missions or as ranch hands for the many private land owners.

In the 1860s, German immigrant Augustus William Timms ran a sheep herding business on Catalina Island. One of his vessels, the Rosita, would also ferry pleasure seekers across the channel to Avalon Bay for bathing and fishing. The settlement in Avalon was then referred to as Timms's Landing in his honor. By the summer of 1883, there were thirty tents and three wooden buildings at Timms's Landing.

The first owner to try to develop Avalon Bay into a resort destination was George Shatto, a real estate speculator from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Shatto purchased the island for $200,000 from the estate of James Lick at the height of a real estate boom in Southern California in 1887. Shatto created the settlement that would become Avalon, and can be credited with building the town's first hotel, the original Hotel Metropole, and pier. Though early maps labeled the town Shatto, Shatto's sister-in-law Etta Whitney came up with the permanent name of Avalon in reference from a poem by Lord Tennyson called "Idylls of the King" about the legend of King Arthur (which features an island of the same name). Shatto laid out Avalon's streets, and introduced it as a vacation destination to the general public. Despite Shatto's efforts, in a few years he had to default on his loan and the island went back to the Lick estate.

The sons of Phineas Banning bought the island in 1891 from the Lick estate and established the Santa Catalina Island Company to develop it as a resort. The Banning brothers fulfilled Shatto's dream of making Avalon a resort community. They built a dance pavilion in the center of town, made additions to the Hotel Metropole and steamer-wharf, built an aquarium, and created the Pilgrim Club (a gambling club for men only). Just as the Bannings were anticipating the construction of a new, Hotel Saint Catherine, their efforts were set back on November 29, 1915, when a fire burned half of Avalon's buildings, including six hotels and several clubs. In 1919, due to debt related to the 1915 fire and a general decline in tourism during World War I, the Bannings were forced to sell the island in shares.

In February 1919, chewing gum magnate William Wrigley, Jr. bought a controlling interest in Santa Catalina Island and its associated properties from the Banning Brothers. Wrigley devoted himself to preserving and promoting it, investing millions in needed infrastructure and attractions, including the construction of the new Catalina Casino, completed May 29, 1929. In order to encourage growth, Wrigley purchased additional steamships to service Avalon, including the SS Virginia (renamed the SS Avalon) and the SS Catalina which was launched on the morning of May 3, 1924. Wrigley also brought attention to the town of Avalon by having his Chicago Cubs use the island for the team's spring training from 1921 to 1951, absent the war years of 1942–45. The ball field was at the southwest border of Avalon, between Tremont Street and the golf course.

Following the death of William Wrigley, Jr. in 1932, his son Philip K. Wrigley took over the Santa Catalina Island Company. Philip continued his father's work in the improvement of the infrastructure of the City of Avalon. During World War II, the island was closed to tourists and used for military training facilities, including a U.S. Maritime Service training facility in Avalon. Catalina's steamships were expropriated for use as troop transports, and the U.S. Maritime Service set up a training facility in Avalon. The Maritime Service announced on September 19, 1945, that the facility would soon be abandoned and all apprentice seaman on the west coast trained aboard three ocean-going vessels at Long Beach.

In 1975, Philip Wrigley deeded the Wrigley shares in the Santa Catalina Island Company to the Catalina Island Conservancy that he had helped create. The Conservancy now stewards 88 percent of the island, primarily outside of the City of Avalon. The Santa Catalina Island Company maintains control of much of its resort properties and operations within the City of Avalon. It still owns and operates many of the main tourist attractions in Avalon, including the Catalina Visitors Country Club, Catalina Island Golf Course, Descanso Beach Club and the Casino Ballroom.

In May 2007, the Island Fire burned 4750 acre of land just outside Avalon's city limits. Over 200 firefighting recruits were brought over by U.S. Marine hovercraft and helicopter to protect the city. Ultimately, only one residence and six commercial structures were destroyed.

In February 2011, water regulators cited the city for letting tens of thousands of gallons of sewage reach the ocean in six spills since 2005. A report in June 2011 by the Natural Resources Defense Council listed Avalon as having one of the 10 most chronically polluted beaches in the United States. The pollution was caused by the city's sewer system, made of century-old clay and metal pipes. By 2011, the city had spent $3.5 million testing and rehabilitating sewer lines, but the water was no cleaner. In February 2012, a cease and desist order was issued against the city for illegally discharging polluted water into the bay. After the cease and desist order, the city invested an additional $5.7 million on sewer main improvements and inspection and tracking systems. As a result of these efforts, the 2014 report showed that water quality had improved, and Avalon Beach was removed from the list of the most polluted beaches.

In the 2010s, the Santa Catalina Island Company began a series of projects to upgrade the tourist amenities in Avalon, including the installation of a zip line at Descanso Beach. By 2014, the Santa Catalina Island Company was working on a number of redevelopment and remodeling projects, including a spa, aquatic facility, community center, new hotel, and 120 new homes. The largest project was a new $6-million museum building on Metropole Street to replace the old location in the Casino building. Some community members, including a member of the City Council, expressed concerns about the pace of the changes to the town.

Geography
Avalon is located on Santa Catalina Island, approximately 22 mi south-by-southwest of the Los Angeles Harbor breakwater. It is the only incorporated city to be located on one of the eight Channel Islands of California. Due to its location on Catalina Island, it is the southernmost city in Los Angeles County. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.9 sqmi on land and 58975 sqft on water.

Cityscape
The City of Avalon is oriented around Avalon Bay, with the harbor and beaches forming the center of the town's activity. The Cabrillo Mole, located at the south end of the harbor, acts both as a breakwater and the main docks for the cross-channel passenger boats. Many of the commercial businesses dedicated to serving visitors are located along the Crescent Street pedestrian mall, which runs just behind the three main beaches of Avalon Bay. The pedestrian walkway is adorned throughout with decorative pavers, fountains, palm trees, and a decorative serpentine seawall. Many of these features were introduced to Avalon during an extensive re-design undertaken by Philip K. Wrigley in 1934. Extending out into the center of the harbor is the green Pleasure Pier. The north end of the harbor is dominated by the Catalina Casino. Built in a style described as a cross between Art Deco and Mediterranean Revival, the Casino serves as Avalon's most distinctive landmark.

Outside of the bay and just north of the Casino is Descanso Beach, a private beach, entertainment and meetings venue run by the Santa Catalina Island Company. At the farthest north end of town are the Hamilton Cove condominiums, a gated community consisting mostly of second homes. South of the bay is Lovers Cove dive park, a marine reserve frequented by both snorkelers and the classic glass-bottom boat tours. Further south still is Pebbly Beach, an industrial area home to the Pebbly Beach Seaplane Base & Heliport and Pebbly Beach Generating Station, where Avalon gets its power.

Most of the residential units in Avalon are tucked away off of the beachfront, either in the flat lands further back into the canyon or on the hills that constitute the sides of Avalon Valley. Many of the major municipal amenities are located even further into the canyon, including City Hall, the fire station, the Catalina Island Medical Center, and Avalon Schools. The William Wrigley Jr. Summer Cottage, also known as Mount Ada, is now a hotel. The Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Gardens are located at the farthest end of town away from the bay. The Memorial prominently features native Catalina Island building materials, including the famous pottery and tile that were made on the island from 1927 through 1937.

Climate
Avalon has a semi-arid climate (Koppen: BSk), with mild temperatures year-round. The National Weather Service maintained a cooperative station at the Avalon Pleasure Pier from 1909 through 1988. Average January temperatures are a maximum of 64.6 F and a minimum of 49.3 F and average August temperatures are a maximum of 75.4 F and a minimum of 64.1 F. The highest recorded temperature was 105.1 F on July 6, 2018, during a major Southern California heatwave, and the lowest recorded temperature was 29 F on January 2, 1973.

Annual average precipitation is 11.88 in and there are 34 days with measurable precipitation. The wettest year was 1983 with 34.54 in and the driest year was 1953 with 4.10 in. The most rainfall in one month was 11.68 in in May 1921. The most rainfall in 24 hours was 6.75 in on October 22, 1941. Weather records are still maintained at the Santa Catalina airport.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Avalon had a population of 3,728. The population density was 1,269.2 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Avalon was 2,313 (62.0%) White (41.1% Non-Hispanic White), 20 (0.5%) African American, 22 (0.6%) Native American, 49 (1.3%) Asian, 13 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 1,137 (30.5%) from other races, and 174 (4.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2,079 persons (55.8%).

The Census reported that 3,721 people (99.8% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 7 (0.2%) were institutionalized.

There were 1,473 households, out of which 488 (33.1%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 641 (43.5%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 160 (10.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 90 (6.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 110 (7.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 5 (0.3%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 461 households (31.3%) were made up of individuals, and 125 (8.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53. There were 891 families (60.5% of all households); the average family size was 3.25.

The population was spread out, with 960 people (25.8%) under the age of 18, 316 people (8.5%) aged 18 to 24, 953 people (25.6%) aged 25 to 44, 1,093 people (29.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 406 people (10.9%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.6 males.

There were 2,266 housing units at an average density of 771.5 /sqmi, of which 383 (26.0%) were owner-occupied, and 1,090 (74.0%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 10.7%. 801 people (21.5% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,920 people (78.3%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Avalon had a median household income of $65,433, with 12.5% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,127 people, 1,158 households, and 719 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,112.4 PD/sqmi. There were 1,839 housing units at an average density of 654.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 71.6% White, 0.7% Black, 1.0% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 20.4% from other races, and 5.4% from two or more races. 46.0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,158 households, out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.9% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.38.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 30.3% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,327, and the median income for a family was $46,406. Males had a median income of $30,789 versus $24,643 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,032. About 9.2% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.5% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
Avalon is a resort community and has a primarily tourist-based economy. As of 2016, 38.4% of the employed population worked in the arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services industries. An additional 13% worked in retail trade and 7% in real estate, rental, and leasing. Other major sources of employment in Avalon included education and healthcare (8%), construction (3%), transportation and warehousing (9%), and other services except public administration (8%) Overall, there were a total of 202 establishments with a combined annual payroll of $90 million as of 2012. The Love Catalina Island Tourism Authority operates as the official Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for the island and hosts a Visitor Center open 364 days a year on the Green Pleasure Pier.

The city's poverty rate is 14.0% and the number of families in poverty stands at 11.9%. The unemployment rate stood at 3.7% as of October 2014, compared to 7.9% in Los Angeles County as a whole.

Government
The municipal government of the City of Avalon is of the council–manager type. The Mayor is elected to serve a two-year term while the City Councilors are elected to four-year terms. The City Manager is the executive officer of the city and is appointed directly by the City Council. The new City Hall was completed June 8, 2004. It contains local government offices as well as the council chambers.

In the California State Legislature, Avalon is located in, and in. Federally, Avalon is in.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) operates the Avalon Station in Avalon. Several deputies are stationed on the island full-time with additional units brought from the mainland on an as-needed and seasonal basis. The city has its own full-time and volunteer fire departments for incidents within the city limits, while the Los Angeles County Fire Department serves the rest of the island. The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Torrance Health Center in Harbor Gateway, Los Angeles, near Torrance and serving Avalon. The City of Avalon also provides additional services such as the Avalon Harbor Patrol.

The United States Postal Service Avalon Post Office (ZIP 90704) is located at 118 Metropole Street.

Politics
Avalon has voted for Democrats in the last four presidential elections, and has also displayed some independent leanings. In 2016, both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton received a lower percentage of the vote than the previous nominees of their respective parties had received. In 1992, independent candidate Ross Perot carried the city with 323 votes to George H.W. Bush's 315.

Education
There are two preschools within the City of Avalon, Catalina Kid Ventures and Pre-School Learning for Avalon Youth (P.L.A.Y.). Kid Ventures is located next to City Hall and is funded through the city support, tuition payments, and charitable donations. P.L.A.Y. is a cooperative preschool that is tucked further back into the canyon at 4 Bird Park Canyon Road. It is located at the site of the former Bird Park, which itself was built from materials left over from the demolition of the original Sugarloaf Casino.

For K-12 education, children attend Avalon School. Avalon Schools are part of the Long Beach Unified School District. It is divided into an elementary, middle, and high school, but a single principal administers all three levels of education. The campus is composed of three Mission Style buildings, a gymnasium, four secondary bungalows, and sixteen elementary bungalows. For high school sports, Avalon is a member of the CIF Southern Section. The school mascot is the Lancer. The teams are referred to either as the "Avalon Lancers" or "Lancers". Home games are played in Avalon, and visiting teams must travel by boat to the island in order to make the games. In turn, the Lancers travel to the mainland for away games.

Children in Avalon have one other option for elementary education. Children may also study at the private Avalon Christian School, located on 346 Catalina Avenue. Students then attend Avalon Schools for junior high and high school education. In 2014, LBUSD closed their long-time one-room school, Two Harbors Elementary School, at Two Harbors in unincorporated Los Angeles County, citing that just two 4th grade students remained within Two Harbors.

Transportation
The city is served by several high-speed passenger boats with daily services such as the Catalina Express to San Pedro in Los Angeles; Long Beach; and Dana Point. Daily service is also provided by the Catalina Flyer to Newport Beach in Orange County. Private vessels that come to Avalon Harbor are assigned a mooring by the Avalon Harbor Patrol on a first-come, first-served basis. Boaters can get from their vessels to shore either by mooring their dinghies at one of the dinghy docks, or by catching a ride on a private shoreboat.

Several helicopter companies serve the city, with most landing at the Pebbly Beach Heliport, located south of Avalon Bay. Small planes can also land at the Catalina Airport, known as the "Airport in the Sky", located 7 mi northwest of Avalon. Historically, during the early 1970s, scheduled passenger seaplane service was operated by Catalina Air Lines, a division of Golden West Airlines, between Avalon Harbor and both Long Beach Airport and the Orange County Airport (now John Wayne Airport). Golden West Airlines also operated de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter STOL turboprops with scheduled passenger service at this same time between Airport in the Sky and both Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Long Beach Airport.

The main method of transportation within the city is by small gasoline or electric powered motorcars referred to locally as "autoettes". These include numerous golf carts and similarly sized vehicles. Vehicles under 55 in wide, 120 in long, and less than 1800 lbs may qualify as an autoette. Any resident may acquire an autoette permit with the restriction of one permit per household. It is very difficult for a private citizen to get a permit to have a full-size vehicle in Avalon. The permit is issued to the individual as opposed to a specific vehicle, is surrendered when residency on the island ends, and is not transferable except through petition before the city council. Only one new vehicle permit is issued for every two permits that become ineligible to be renewed or are voluntarily surrendered. For purposes of vehicle registration, Catalina Island is divided into two classifications: within Avalon and "Interior" (areas outside the city limits). The city has its own strict permit program with which local vehicle owners must comply, in addition to the usual requirements imposed by the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Because of these restrictions, there is no regular vehicle ferry service for visitors to take their car to Avalon and the rest of Catalina Island. A taxi service is available to provide transportation in Avalon and throughout the island.

In popular culture

 * The city was the inspiration for the 1920 popular song Avalon, sung by Al Jolson.
 * It is the port of embarkation for the narrator in the Crosby, Stills, & Nash song Southern Cross
 * The 10-year-old protagonist of Nell Zink's novel, Avalon (2022), visits the island with her mother.

title: Avalon, California


text:
Avocado Heights, California

Avocado Heights is an unincorporated census-designated place (CDP) in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is almost entirely surrounded by the City of Industry with only a small strip of unincorporated Los Angeles County separating it from South El Monte. It is in close proximity to both the Pomona (SR-60) and San Gabriel (I-605) freeways. To the west is the San Gabriel River and the California Country Club. Avocado Heights is approximately 15 mi from the downtown Los Angeles Civic Center. The population was 15,411 at the 2010 census, up from 15,148 at the 2000 census.

A significant portion of Avocado Heights remains equestrian and semi-rural, with many homes on lots of 0.5 acres 21,780 sqft or more. The proximity of polluting industries in what became the City of Industry, as well as the Puente Hills Landfill, suppressed property values throughout the post-World War II era—discouraging the development that transformed most of the San Gabriel Valley into a relatively densely developed suburban area.

Geography
Avocado Heights is located at 34.03861°N, -118.00444°W (34.038610, −118.004575), or about 1.7 miles (2.7 km) southeast of El Monte. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.8 sqmi. 2.7 sqmi of it is land, and 0.1 sqmi of it (4.77%) is water.

The primary thoroughfare is Don Julian Road, named for the nickname given to early Anglo settler William Workman by local Californios; his homestead lies on Don Julian Road just to the east in Industry. The community is served by Don Julian Elementary School, which is part of the Bassett Unified School District.

Culture
Avocado Heights is known for its private ranches with horse riding.

From the 1920s until the early 2000s, there was a tall, single white tower on 3rd Avenus and Starlight Lane.

From the 2010s a skatepark was built in Avocado Heights.

Climate
Avocado Heights is classified as Hot Summer Mediterranean climate. It is characterized by warm winters and very hot summers and receives a shielding effect from nearby hills to the south which keeps it warmer than other cities nearby.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Avocado Heights had a population of 15,411. The population density was 5,423.8 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Avocado Heights was 8,564 (55.6%) White (7.8% Non-Hispanic White), 136 (0.9%) African American, 107 (0.7%) Native American, 1,359 (8.8%) Asian, 13 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 4,726 (30.7%) from other races, and 506 (3.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12,648 persons (82.1%).

The Census reported that 15,332 people (99.5% of the population) lived in households, 79 (0.5%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 3,813 households, out of which 1,900 (49.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 2,351 (61.7%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 622 (16.3%) had a female householder with no husband present, 331 (8.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 205 (5.4%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 23 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 368 households (9.7%) were made up of individuals, and 181 (4.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.02. There were 3,304 families (86.7% of all households); the average family size was 4.16.

The population was spread out, with 4,210 people (27.3%) under the age of 18, 1,676 people (10.9%) aged 18 to 24, 4,277 people (27.8%) aged 25 to 44, 3,575 people (23.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,673 people (10.9%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.

There were 3,922 housing units at an average density of 1,380.3 /sqmi, of which 2,934 (76.9%) were owner-occupied, and 879 (23.1%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.1%. 11,422 people (74.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 3,910 people (25.4%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Avocado Heights had a median household income of $72,240, with 14.1% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2000
As of the 2000 census, the population was 15,148, with 3,758 households, and 3,280 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 5,675.7 PD/sqmi. There were 3,839 housing units at an average density of 1,438.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 51.43% White, 1.47% Black or African American, 1.16% Native American, 9.12% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 33.06% from other races, and 3.66% from two or more races. 77.74% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 3,758 households, 45.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.0% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.7% were non-families. 9.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.00 and the average family size was 4.16.

The age range was 30.9% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.5 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $48,712, and the median income for a family was $48,939. Males had a median income of $30,837 versus $26,481 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $14,570. About 13.2% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.0% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government
In the California State Legislature, Avocado Heights is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, Avocado Heights is in.

Education
Students in the northern portion of Avocado Heights are zoned to Don Julian Elementary School in the Bassett Unified School District and to Bassett High School while students in the southern portion are zoned to Wallen Andrews Elementary School in the Whittier City School District and to Pioneer High School in the Whittier Union High School District.

title: Avocado Heights, California


text:
Azusa, California

Azusa (Tongva: Asuksa-nga) is a city in the San Gabriel Valley region of Los Angeles County, California, United States, at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains and located 20 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.

Its population was 50,000 in 2020, an increase from 46,361 at the 2010 census. Azusa is located along historic Route 66, which passes through the city on Foothill Boulevard and Alosta Avenue.

Azusa is bordered by the San Gabriel Mountains range to the north, Irwindale to the west, the unincorporated community of Vincent to the southwest, Glendora and the unincorporated community of Citrus to the east, and Covina to the south.

History
The place name Azusa dates to the Mexican Alta California era in the 19th century when Azusa was used to refer to the San Gabriel Valley and the San Gabriel River. It appears to have been derived from the Tongva place name Asuksa-nga, meaning "skunk place," with asuksa meaning skunk and -nga denoting place. The area was part of the homeland of the indigenous Tongva people (Gabrieleño Indians) since at least 55 BC. A backronym, "Azusa stands for everything from A to Z in the U.S.A.", has been a phrase used for many years by organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce to promote the city.

The first Mexican settlement in Azusa was at the Rancho el Susa in 1841, a Mexican land grant from the Alta California Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado to Luis Arenas. In 1844, Arenas sold the rancho's land to Henry Dalton, an English immigrant and wealthy merchant from the Pueblo of Los Angeles, for $7,000. He renamed it Rancho Azusa de Dalton, and had built a winery, distillery, vinegar house, meat smokehouse, and flour mill. Also, a vineyard was planted. Dalton built a house here on a place known as Dalton Hill, near 6th Street and Cerritos Avenue in Azusa.

Dalton was also the owner of the large, adjacent Rancho San Francisquito and Rancho Santa Anita properties. In the end, Dalton owned an unbroken expanse of land from present-day San Dimas to the eastern edge of Pasadena. A portion of Azusa west of the San Gabriel River was within adjacent Rancho Azusa de Duarte.

With the cession of California to the United States following the Mexican–American War, the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo provided that the land grants would be honored. As required by the Land Act of 1851, a claim for Rancho San Francisquito was filed with the Public Land Commission in 1852 and confirmed by the Commission in 1853, but rejected by the US District Court in 1855, on the grounds that Henry Dalton was not, at the time of the grant, a citizen of Mexico. The decree was reversed by the US Supreme Court, and the grant was patented to Henry Dalton in 1867.

Azusa was listed in the 1860 census as a township (encompassing the Azusa de Dalton and Azusa de Duarte ranchos) with a population of 363. The 1870 US Census listed the area as the township of Azusa – El Monte Township and 1880 US Census listed the area as the township of San Jose and Azusa. There were a few corrections to cross out the San Jose name on most of the census pages, but this was done sporadically and there remain many index errors in the online census due to these errors. Dalton had borrowed money from Los Angeles banker Jonathan S. Slauson to fund 24 years of litigation, and had to sign the land over to him in 1880. Slauson laid out the plan for the city in 1887 and the city was officially incorporated in 1898.

The completion of the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley Railroad in January 1887, later sold to the Santa Fe railroad, brought new people looking for homes and investment opportunities to Azusa. The A Line Foothill light rail line was built on the old rail right-of-way. Part of this land boom was the short-lived town of Gladstone in 1887, which merged into Azusa in 1905.

Geography
The city is located at the entrance to the San Gabriel Canyon, giving the city its nickname "The Canyon City." It is on the east side of the San Gabriel River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.7 sqmi; over 99% of it is land.

Climate
This region experiences warm, dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Azusa has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Azusa had a population of 46,361. The population density was 4,794.9 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Azusa was 26,715 (57.6%) White (19.3% Non-Hispanic White), 1,499 (3.2%) African American, 562 (1.2%) Native American, 4,054 (8.7%) Asian, 87 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 11,270 (24.3%) from other races, and 2,174 (4.7%) from two or more races. There were 31,328 people of Hispanic or Latino origin, of any race (67.6%).

The Census reported that 43,559 people (94.0% of the population) lived in households, 2,691 (5.8%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 111 (0.2%) were institutionalized.

There were 12,716 households, out of which 5,955 (46.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 6,310 (49.6%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 2,275 (17.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,014 (8.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 891 (7.0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 104 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 2,238 households (17.6%) were made up of individuals, and 761 (6.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.43. There were 9,599 families (75.5% of all households); the average family size was 3.85.

The population was spread out, with 12,407 people (26.8%) under the age of 18, 7,724 people (16.7%) aged 18 to 24, 13,185 people (28.4%) aged 25 to 44, 9,469 people (20.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 3,576 people (7.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.

There were 13,386 housing units at an average density of 1,384.4 /mi2, of which 6,802 (53.5%) were owner-occupied, and 5,914 (46.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.6%. 22,805 people (49.2% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 20,754 people (44.8%) lived in rental housing units.

During 2009–2013, Azusa had a median household income of $52,001, with 20.1% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 44,712 people, 12,549 households, and 9,298 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,023.7 PD/sqmi. There were 13,013 housing units at an average density of 1,462.1 /mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 52.35% White, 3.78% Black or African American, 1.31% Native American, 6.14% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 30.52% from other races, and 5.73% from two or more races. 63.79% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 12,549 households, out of which 43.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. 18.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.41 and the average family size was 3.90.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 30.8% under the age of 18, 15.5% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 15.3% from 45 to 64, and 6.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,191, and the median income for a family was $40,918. Males had a median income of $30,845 versus $26,565 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,412. About 15.1% of families and 18.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.9% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

Mexican and German were the most common ancestries. Mexico and the Philippines were the most common foreign countries of birth.

Economy
According to the City of Azusa's FY 2014-15 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

Azusa was the former home of the Lucky Lager brewery and its successor, General Brewing. Built in 1949, the facility was purchased and converted to production by Miller Brewery in May 1966. A decade later, Miller relocated its operations to the nearby city of Irwindale and the Azusa facility ceased production in 1980, eventually being demolished.

 * Professional sports teams

Superfund site
Aerojet, a rocket engine manufacturer, had a plant in Azusa from World War II to 2001. In 1980, it was determined that under Aerojet's facility there was TCE water contamination in the groundwater, whose plume was entering the aquifer under the city and of the San Gabriel Valley groundwater basin. The San Gabriel Valley aquifer is very valuable, providing most of the drinking water in the area at a fraction of the cost of water imported by aqueducts. In 1985, the U.S. EPA declared it a Superfund Site.

In 1997, additional chemical contamination, mostly NDMA and ammonium perchlorate, was found in the site's groundwater. Aerojet was named the Responsible Party for the groundwater remediation (cleanup) work and expenses. Aerojet sold the property in 2001 to Northrop Grumman Corporation, but remained the Responsible Party for the pollution.

In a 2002 court decision, Aerojet and seven other San Gabriel Valley groundwater polluters agreed to provide funding to build and operate six water-treatment facilities. One of the main contaminants is perchlorate, a carcinogenic component of rocket fuels produced by Aerojet.

Government
City Council elections were held on a Tuesday after the first Monday in March in odd-numbered years until the 2017 election. Effective with the 2020 California Primary election, it will be held on a Tuesday after the first Monday in March of even-numbered years. The Mayor is elected to a two-year term, City Council members are elected to a four-year term and elected at-large.

In the California State Legislature, Azusa is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, Azusa is in.

The city mayor is Robert Gonzales. On March 9, 2011, Azusa voters approved an agreement between Azusa Rock, Inc. and the city to address environmental issues associated with hillside mining in the area. The benefits of the proposed agreement has been questioned by several groups.

Education
Azusa is served by the Azusa Unified School District. Its schools include:
 * Public schools
 * Seven traditional elementary schools: Dalton, Hodge, Lee, Magnolia, Murray, Paramount, and Valleydale
 * One Kindergarten-only elementary school: Longfellow
 * Gladstone Middle School
 * Azusa High School
 * Sierra (Continuation) High School — a model continuation school
 * Azusa Adult School

 * Private schools
 * St. Frances of Rome Elementary School (grades K–8) — part of St. Frances of Rome Catholic Church, in the Los Angeles Archdiocese
 * Azusa Pacific University — a private Christian university
 * Dhammakaya Open University — a private Buddhist university

Transportation
Azusa lies along the Foothill Freeway (I-210) between the San Gabriel River Freeway (I-605) and the Orange Freeway (SR 57). Azusa Avenue (SR 39) extends from the Angeles National Forest starting at San Gabriel Canyon Road/Sierra Madre Avenue south through Orange County.

Azusa serves as the terminus for the Los Angeles Metro Rail A line light rail, which stops at Azusa Downtown station adjacent to Azusa City Hall before terminating at APU/Citrus College station at the eastern border of Azusa by Citrus College. On March 5, 2016, Azusa became the eastern terminus of the first phase of the Foothill Extension of the L Line (now the northeastern terminus of the A Line) which previously operated between Los Angeles Union Station and Sierra Madre Villa station in eastern Pasadena.

The A Line operates along former Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway right-of-way purchased by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority in 1993. MTA is currently pre-constructing and planning to extend the line to the end of its reserved right-of-way in Montclair, just across the San Bernardino County line. In October 2009, the MTA Board unanimously voted to include the Foothill Extension in its long-range plan, and approved funding for the construction and operation of the Foothill Extension's first phase to Azusa. This phase of the extension broke ground in June 2010.

The Metrolink San Bernardino Line stops nearby at Covina station and Baldwin Park station several times each day.

Principal streets
Azusa's main arterial streets are:
 * Azusa Avenue (State Route 39) — begins in the Angeles National Forest, proceeds down from the San Gabriel Mountains and south crossing the Foothill Freeway (I-210) and I-10, and continues through Orange County to the Pacific Coast Highway.
 * Foothill Boulevard — this section begins at the San Gabriel River crossing into Irwindale, and enters Azusa, passes Azusa Pacific University, and jogs north at Citrus Avenue. Continuing straight past Citrus, the street becomes Alosta Avenue, where at Amelia Avenue, it turns back into Foothill Boulevard. Irwindale and turns into Alosta Avenue and travels in front of Azusa Pacific University. The Azusa section of Foothill Boulevard was on historic U.S. Route 66.
 * San Gabriel Avenue — begins at Sierra Madre Avenue, and travels south, connecting into Azusa Avenue. San Gabriel Avenue is used for the annual Azusa Golden Days Parade.

Healthcare
The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Monrovia Health Center in Monrovia, serving Azusa.

In popular culture
A popular running gag on the long-running radio comedy The Jack Benny Program involved a character voiced by Mel Blanc announcing the arrival or departure of a train to or from "Anaheim, Azusa, and Cuc-a-monga," all three then being small towns without rail service at the time.

Azusa boasted the world's first Go Kart factory as of 1958. The product proved very popular. Go Kart went into bankruptcy in 1963.

The city's name appeared in the title of the Jan and Dean song "Anaheim, Azusa, & Cucamonga Sewing Circle, Book Review and Timing Association" in 1964.

In 1971 Life magazine ran a cover story on teen pregnancy featuring a unique program for pregnant high school teens. The story focused on teenage mothers attending Citrus High School in Azusa. At a time when many pregnant teens were shunned by their schools and families, Citrus High School sought to help the teen mothers continue their studies while pregnant.

In Hold Back the Dawn (1941), Emmy Brown (Olivia de Havilland), a schoolmarm from Azusa, recites the claim that it "stands for everything from A to Z in the U.S.A." The same happens in A Woman's Secret (1949), with Susan Caldwell (Gloria Grahame), born and raised in Azusa, describing the town's name as "kind of a made-up name".

Sister cities
Azusa has one sister city:
 * Zacatecas, State of Zacatecas, Mexico

Notable people

 * Hank Aguirre, major league baseball pitcher
 * Rocky Dennis, born with craniodiaphyseal dysplasia and subject of the motion picture Mask
 * Mack Ray Edwards (1918–1971), Heavy equipment operator, and child sex abuser/serial killer
 * Adore Delano, Season 7 American Idol semi-finalist, Season 6 RuPaul's Drag Race finalist, Season 2 RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars contestant, YouTube personality
 * Billy Kilmer, NFL quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, the New Orleans Saints, and the Washington Redskins
 * Shinya Kimura, motorcycle builder
 * Zack Padilla, world champion boxer
 * Anthony Robbins, life coach and author
 * Lizette Salas, professional golfer
 * Judson Scott, actor
 * Greggy Soriano, cake designer and reality TV personality
 * Tatiana Suarez (born 1990), mixed martial artist
 * Ruth Wysocki, track athlete, 1978 U.S. champion in 800 meters
 * Members of Silent Planet, metalcore band
 * Scheana Shay, television personality and singer

title: Azusa, California


text:
Baldwin Park, California

Baldwin Park is a city located in the central San Gabriel Valley region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 72,176, down from 75,390 at the 2010 census.

History
Baldwin Park began as part of cattle grazing land belonging to the San Gabriel Mission. It eventually became part of the Rancho Azusa de Dalton and the Rancho La Puente properties. The community became known as Vineland in 1860. By 1906, it changed to Baldwin Park. It was named after Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin. In 1956, Baldwin Park became the 47th incorporated city in the State of California.

As of September 1882, the first school house was built on the southeast corner of North Maine and Los Angeles Avenues in 1884. It contained two rows of double seats, a central aisle leading to the teacher's desk, and a heating stove at the north end. Mr. Frazier was the first teacher. In April 1888, the Vineland School District was established according to county records.

The first Board of Trustees took office on July 1, 1888, and elected Miss Jessie Washburn to teach the district school that fall. The building was sold in 1890 and moved to another site for a private residence. The district built the second school in 1890 and hired two teachers, Miss Ellen Lang and Miss Venna O. Finney. The second school house was relegated to the past in 1912. It later became a private Japanese school and stood as a landmark until it caught fire on September 5, 1936, and burned to the ground. Today, the Baldwin Park Unified School District lies contiguously with the city's borders. There are 23 schools within this district. The budget is well over $100 million. Currently, the district is building new school structures to accommodate growth. The district is adopting data driven strategies to help students achieve better scores in the API tests.

In the 1950s, Vias Turkey Ranch was about one mile (1.6 km) from the now 10 Freeway just off of Frazier Avenue. This huge commercial turkey ranch was famous in the Valley for a huge outdoor aviary with a unique selection of birds. The ranch had two or three types of deer species. When the value of the land escalated, the property was sold and the Ranch moved to Apple Valley.

Popular pastimes in the 1950s included riding at the horse stables across the bridge of the San Gabriel River, which was an open sand and rock river bed, and ride one hour for the sum of $1.00, a hefty price at that time considering that the minimum wage was fifty cents an hour.

Baldwin Park is home to the first In-N-Out burger stand, opened on October 22, 1948. It was the first drive-thru in California and was replaced in November 2004 with a new building. The new In-N-Out University and company store opened in 2006 on Francisquito Avenue. Also, the company's first meatpacking plant is located down the street from the locations at the company headquarters on Hamburger Lane. In-N-Out now has a second meat processing plant in Texas to serve their Texas restaurants.

In summer 2005, Save Our State, an anti-illegal immigration group based in Ventura, launched a series of protests against the Danzas Indigenas, art at the Baldwin Park train station designed for the MTA in 1993 by artist Judy Baca. The monument bears several engraved statements whose origins are not attributed. At issue was one particular inscription--It was better before they came—that Save Our State claimed was directed against Anglo whites. According to Baca, that sentence was uttered by an Anglo white Baldwin Park resident in the 1950s; he was lamenting the influx of persons of Mexican ancestry into the San Gabriel Valley following World War II.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.6 km$2$ (6.8 mi$2$). 17.2 km$2$ (6.6 mi$2$) of it is land and 0.4 km$2$ (0.2 mi$2$) of it (2.28%) is water.

Climate
Baldwin Park experiences a mild winter and warm to hot summer. The highest recorded temperature ever is 118 F and the coldest being 21 F.

2020
The 2020 United States Census reported that Baldwin Park had a population of 72,176 people. This corresponds to a density of 10,883.0 people per square mile. The racial breakdown was 14,770 (20.5%) Asian, 11,332 (15.7%) White, 1,474 (2.0%) American Indian and Alaska Native, 742 (1.0%) Black or African American, 57 (0.1%) Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 30,277 (41.9%) Some Other Race, and 13,524 (18.7%) two or more races.

Including all responses for people of two or more races, 15,296 (21.2% of population) were Asian alone or in combination with one or more other races, 24,086 (33.4%) were White alone or in combination with one or more other races, 2,385 (3.3%) were American Indian and Alaska Native alone or in combination, 1,124 (1.6%) were Black or African American alone or in combination, 176 (0.2%) were Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone or in combination, and 43,184 (59.8%) were some other race alone or in combination with one or more other races.

53,683 (74.4%) were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of those, 8,941 (12.4% of total population) were White alone, 133 (0.2%) were Black or African American alone, 1,382 (1.9%) were American Indian and Alaska Native alone, 180 (0.2%) were Asian alone, 13 (0.0%) were Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, 30,011 (41.6%) were some other race alone, and 13,023 (18.0%) were two or more races.

Baldwin Park was reported to have 18,201 housing units. 17,882 (98.2%) were occupied. Of the occupied units, 10,437 (58.4% of occupied units) were owner-occupied and 7,445 (41.5%) were renter-occupied. Of the vacant units, 113 (0.6% of total) were for rent, 15 (0.1%) were rented but not occupied, 44 (0.2%) were for sale only, 19 (0.1%) were sold but not occupied, 15 (0.1%) were for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use, and 113 (0.6%) were otherwise vacant.

2010
At the 2010 census Baldwin Park had a population of 75,390. The population density was 11,110.3 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Baldwin Park was 33,119 (43.9%) White, (4.3% Non-Hispanic White), 913 (1.2%) African American, 674 (0.9%) Native American, 10,696 (14.2%) Asian, 85 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 27,079 (35.9%) from other races, and 2,824 (3.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 60,403 persons (80.1%).

The census reported that 74,984 people (99.5% of the population) lived in households, 88 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 318 (0.4%) were institutionalized.

There were 17,189 households, 10,027 (58.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 10,097 (58.7%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 3,358 (19.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,700 (9.9%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,093 (6.4%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 103 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,474 households (8.6%) were one person and 648 (3.8%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 4.36. There were 15,155 families (88.2% of households); the average family size was 4.45.

The age distribution was 22,571 people (29.9%) under the age of 18, 8,849 people (11.7%) aged 18 to 24, 21,588 people (28.6%) aged 25 to 44, 16,323 people (21.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 6,059 people (8.0%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 30.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.

There were 17,736 housing units at an average density of 2,613.8 per square mile, of the occupied units 10,353 (60.2%) were owner-occupied and 6,836 (39.8%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.3%. 45,844 people (60.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 29,140 people (38.7%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Baldwin Park had a median household income of $51,153, with 17.5% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2000
At the 2000 census there were 75,837 people in 16,961 households, including 15,061 families, in the city. The population density was 4,396.5/km$2$ (11,379.2/mi$2$). There were 17,430 housing units at an average density of 1,010.5/km$2$ (2,615.3/mi$2$). The racial makeup of the city was 40.18% White, 1.61% Black or African American, 1.45% Native American, 11.64% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 40.51% from other races, and 4.48% from two or more races. 78.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 16,961 households, 55.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% were married couples living together, 17.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 11.2% were non-families. 8.1% of households were one person, and 3.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 4.44 and the average family size was 4.53.

The age distribution was 34.9% under the age of 18, 11.9% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 16.4% from 45 to 64, and 6.2% 65 or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.

The median household income was $41,629 and the median family income was $41,256. Males had a median income of $26,873 versus $22,186 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,562. About 15.4% of families and 18.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.8% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.

Mexican (67.0%) and Filipino (5.4%) were the most common ancestries according to the 2000 census. Mexico (69.6%) and the Philippines (8.3%) were the most common foreign places of birth in 2000.

Top employers
According to the city's 2014 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

Government
In the California State Legislature, Baldwin Park is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, Baldwin Park is in.

On the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Baldwin Park is represented by 1st District Supervisor Hilda Solis.

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Monrovia Health Center in Monrovia, serving Baldwin Park.

Baldwin Park has a city police department of its own, but contracts for fire and rescue with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Notable people

 * Sutan Amrull (born 1974), make-up artist, drag performer
 * Bernardo Flores (born 1995), pitcher for Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League
 * Darren Hall (born 2000), cornerback for the Arizona Cardinals
 * Mike Munoz (born 1965), former pitcher for Detroit Tigers and Colorado Rockies

title: Baldwin Park, California