San Gabriel, California

Prior to the arrival of the Spanish to Alta California, the area that is San Gabriel were inhabited by the Tongva, whom the Spanish called the Gabrieleño. The Tongva village of Shevaanga was located at the original site of Mission San Gabriel, before being moved to the site of another village, Toviscanga in 1776 after being destroyed by a flood. These villages were part of an extensive trade network and were interconnected by a series of trails.[11][12]

Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, founded by Father Junípero Serra in 1771, is the fourth of twenty-one California Missions, and is known as the "Pride of the California Missions."[13] Dissidence and rebellions against the mission by the Tongva, who were forced to labor at the mission, were common.[14] After the Spanish missionaries banned converts to Christianity from dancing and participating in ceremony, a major rebellion of eight villages was staged against the mission in 1785 led by Toypurina and Nicolás Josè.[15]

The Mission San Gabriel Arcángel served a pivotal role in the Californio society, with many of the area's first Mexican settlers being baptized at the mission, including future governor Pio Pico, who was born in 1801 at the mission and baptized there the same year. He was appointed as California's governor twice, serving briefly in 1832 and again from 1845 through the Mexican–American War. Later in life, he was elected as a Los Angeles City councilman.[16] The city of Pico Rivera was named to honor him as the last governor of California to be born in Mexico.[17]

In 1853, a company of Army Engineers, which included the geologist William P. Blake, passed by the mission in search of the best route for an intercontinental railroad. Blake observed that the once great vineyards had fallen into wild disarray. Fences were in disrepair and animals roamed freely through the property. But the mission bells were ringing and the church was still in use. Blake predicted, "I believe that when the adaptation of that portion of California to the culture of the grape and the manufacture of wine becomes known and appreciated, the state will become celebrated not only for its gold and grain, but (also) for its fruits and wines."[18]

In the first United States census made in California in 1860, 586 people lived in the San Gabriel township, an area encompassing the mission lands and several adjacent ranchos stretching north to what is now Pasadena. By 1870, the population had shrunk to 436.[19][20]

San Gabriel incorporated as a city April 24, 1913, with a population of 1,500.[18]

View of the San Gabriel Mountains from the city of San Gabriel

The Parks and Recreation Department offers an after school sports program and a summer playground program for San Gabriel youth. Along with these programs, the department provides a variety of trips and special events throughout the year for youth of all ages.

Parks include:

• Adult Recreation Center and Senior Center, 324 South Mission Drive
• Bovard-Wilson-Hayes House and Jail
• Grapevine Park and Arbor, 324 South Mission Drive
• Smith Park and Pool, 232 West Broadway,
• Vincent Lugo Park, Corner of Wells and Ramona Streets

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, San Gabriel has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csa" on climate maps. Summers are hot and very dry, and winters are mild.

Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, designed by Antonio Cruzado

The 2010 United States Census[24] reported that San Gabriel had a population of 39,718. The population density was 9,581.5 inhabitants per square mile (3,699.4/km²). The racial makeup of San Gabriel was 24,091 (60.7%) Asian, 10,076 (25.4%) White (11.4% Non-Hispanic White), 388 (1.0%) African American, 220 (0.6%) Native American, 43 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 3,762 (9.5%) from other races, and 1,138 (2.9%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10,189 persons (25.7%).

The Census reported that 39,266 people (98.9% of the population) lived in households, 34 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 418 (1.1%) were institutionalized.

There were 12,542 households, out of which 4,542 (36.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 6,668 (53.2%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,961 (15.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 965 (7.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 481 (3.8%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 76 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 2,121 households (16.9%) were made up of individuals, and 800 (6.4%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.13. There were 9,594 families (76.5% of all households); the average family size was 3.47.

The population was spread out, with 7,866 people (19.8%) under the age of 18, 3,555 people (9.0%) aged 18 to 24, 11,335 people (28.5%) aged 25 to 44, 11,388 people (28.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 5,574 people (14.0%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.

There were 13,237 housing units at an average density of 3,193.3 per square mile (1,232.9/km²), of which 6,168 (49.2%) were owner-occupied, and 6,374 (50.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.7%. 19,974 people (50.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 19,292 people (48.6%) lived in rental housing units.

San Gabriel City Hall

St. Sava Orthodox Church

As of the census[25] of 2000, there were 39,804 people, 12,587 households, and 9,566 families residing in the city. The population density was 9,639.3 inhabitants per square mile (3,721.8/km²). There were 12,909 housing units at an average density of 3,126.2 per square mile (1,207.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 33.40% White, 1.06% African American, 0.83% Native American, 48.91% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 12.36% from other races, and 3.34% from two or more races. Those identifying as Hispanic or Latino (of any race) were 30.71% of the population.

There were 12,587 households, out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.0% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.10 and the average family size was 3.52.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.5% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 33.3% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $56,720, and the median income The per capita income for the city was $24,816. About 9.5% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.

These were the ten neighborhoods in Los Angeles County with the largest percentage of Asian residents, according to the 2000 census:[26]

Businesses on Valley Blvd.

Shops near the intersection of Abbot Ave and Valley Blvd.

According to the city's 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:[27]

Five Councilmembers are elected by the voters to serve a four-year term. The Mayor is appointed annually by the Council in a rotation among its members. The City Council is also the Redevelopment Agency Board of Directors. The current members are Tony Ding (D), John R. Harrington (L), Denise Menchaca (D), Carina Rivera, and John Wu.[2]

The city's first Chinese American mayor was Chi Mui in 2006. He symbolized San Gabriel's rise as the new center of the region's Chinese community. He died of cancer three months later.[29] Mui was replaced by Albert Y. M. Huang, who served as mayor during his term. Huang submitted his resignation October 19, 2010 following a late-night domestic dispute with his girlfriend and subsequent arrest. Huang has since been cleared of all charges.[30]