City in California, United States
San Gabriel is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 39,804 at the 2000 census. It is named after the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, one of the original Spanish missions in California.
History
Prior to the arrival of the Spanish to Alta California, the area that now comprises San Gabriel was inhabited by the Tongva ethnic group, which came to be called the Gabrieleno by the Spanish.
Spanish colonial history of the City of San Gabriel dates back to 1771 with the founding of the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, a California State historical landmark. The founding of the mission establishes San Gabriel as the birthplace of the modern Los Angeles region. The Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, "Pride of the California Missions," founded by Father Junipero Serra, is the third of twenty-one California Missions, and has long been a center for culture and art.
The Mission San Gabriel Arcángel served a central role in Spanish colonial society, with many of the area's first Mexican settlers being baptized at the mission, including
Pio Pico, who was born and baptized at the mission in 1801. He became governor of California twice, in 1832 and in 1845 and the city of Pico Rivera was named honoring him as the last Mexican governor of California.
By 1852, after American occupation, San Gabriel became one of the first townships in the County of Los Angeles.
In 1853, with a contingent of Army Engineers passing through searching for the best route to build the railroad, Geologist William P. Blake observed, that the once-extensive vineyards were falling to decay, with fences broken down and animals roaming freely through it.
- But the bells were ringing, and the church was in use.
Prophetically, he wrote, "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 for it fruits and wines. [6]
When the 1860 census was taken, there were only 586 persons listed. The city was incorporated as a general law city on April 24, 1913. At the time, the city's population was 1,500.
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Geography
San Gabriel is located at 34°5′39″N 118°5′54″W / 34.09417°N 118.09833°W / 34.09417; -118.09833Invalid arguments have been passed to the ((#coordinates:)) function (34.094176, -118.098449).Template:GR
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.7 km² (4.1 mi²), all land.
The city is bordered on the north by San Marino, on the east by Temple City and Rosemead, to the south by Rosemead and to the west by Alhambra.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 39,804 people, 12,587 households, and 9,566 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,721.2/km² (9,639.3/mi²). There were 12,909 housing units at an average density of 1,206.8/km² (3,126.2/mi²). 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 $85,807, and the median income for a family was $96,262. Males had a median income of $61,642 versus $59,302 for females. The per capita income for the city was $46,807. 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.
Government and infrastructure
In the state legislature San Gabriel is located in the 21st Senate District, represented by Democrat Jack Scott, and in the 49th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Mike Eng. Federally, San Gabriel is located in California's 29th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of D +12[7] and is represented by Democrat Adam Schiff.
In 1989, Vice-Mayor Frank Blaszcak lost his City Council seat by nine votes after a free-for-all campaign that included allegations of drug dealing and mooning residents at a City Council meeting.[8][9] Blaszcak ultimately hired renown attorney Melvin Belli and sued eleven well-known city developers and real estate brokers and cleared his name.[citation needed]
The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Monrovia Health Center in Monrovia, serving San Gabriel.[10]
Education
San Gabriel is served by the San Gabriel Unified School District. "It is the mission of the San Gabriel School District, in partnership with the Community, to prepare its students for their future as productive citizens and lifelong learners..." [2]
The 2009 API school reports has recognized the San Gabriel Unified school district as one of the top school districts in California. Joined by nearby city districts such as San Marino Unified School District, which is the top performing school district in California, followed by La Cañada Flintridge, and Palo Alto, Gabrielino High School consistently ranks as achieving one of the highest API scores possible among public high schools in California.cn
Elementary schools
There are five public elementary schools in San Gabriel, all of which are named after former Presidents.:
- Calvin Coolidge Elementary School.
- McKinley Elementary School
- Roosevelt Elementary School
- Washington Elementary School
- Wilson Elementary School
Each of its public schools have been honored as a California Distinguished School.[citation needed]
Two other elementary schools within the city limits, Dewey Elementary, and Marshall Elementary, are operated by the Garvey School District, in the southern portion of San Gabriel.
Middle school
Jefferson Middle School is located in the San Gabriel Unified School District. In l968 the school was restructured as the only intermediate school in the elementary school district with a seven and eighth grade student population. Jefferson became part of the San Gabriel Unified School District in 1993-94. The five K-6 elementary schools serve as feeder schools. It is recognized as a California Distinguished School.[3]
High Schools
Gabrielino High School has been named by US News and World Report as one of "America's Best Public High Schools". This puts it in the top 2.8% of the schools in the nation. [11]
Del Mar High School, "Where Second Chances Happen", provides an alternative educational opportunity for the students of the San Gabriel Unified School District. It was opened in 2005 and the newly constructed Del Mar High School opens in September, 2010. [4]
San Gabriel High School is located n the Alhambra Unified School District, which serves residents from San Gabriel, Alhambra, and Rosemead.
San Gabriel Mission High School, a Catholic, all girls high school, grades 9-12. It was named after and is located in the same block as the historical Mission San Gabriel Arcángel.
Private schools
There are several private schools in the city of San Gabriel including:
- Saint Anthony School, Grades PreK -8.
- San Gabriel Mission Elementary School
- San Gabriel Academy is a coeducational Seventh-day Adventist college preparatory school, grades K-12. [5]
- Little Flower Montessori School
- San Gabriel Christian School
