Prior to the arrival of the Spanish, the area around Rosemead was populated by Native Americans of the Tongva, or as the Spaniards renamed them, the Gabrielinos. In 1771, the Spanish founded the first San Gabriel mission in the area that is now known as Whittier Narrows on the border between Montebello and Rosemead. In 1775, the mission moved to avoid the spring floods that ruined the first crops, to its present location in San Gabriel.[7]
During the Spanish Colonial era, the area that is now the City of Rosemead, was part of the land administered by the San Gabriel Mission. As part of the Mexican government's Secularization Act of 1833, the land, formerly held by the Mission, was generously distributed to private citizens, requiring only that they build a house and graze cattle, brought to an end the Mission Era [8] Following the Mexican-American War and the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe which transferred sovereignty over the territory now known as the State of California to the United States, Anglo-American immigration began to flow to the area. The southern part of Rosemead was part of Rancho Potrero Grande (Large Pasture) which was originally granted to a Native American man named Manuel Antonio, [citation needed] who was a "mayordomo" (overseer) at the San Gabriel Mission. The 4,431-acre (18 km2) ranch was later transferred to Juan Matias Sánchez.[citation needed]
In 1852, John and Harriet Guess moved cross-country in an ox drawn wagon, to the San Gabriel Valley from Conway County, Arkansas.[9] In 1855, the couple camped where present-day Savannah Elementary School is located on Rio Hondo Avenue. They rented the land until 1867, John Guess purchased 100 acres (0.4 km2) of a 1,164-acre (5 km2) ranch and named it Savannah. The land stretched from Valley Boulevard to Marshall Street, and from Rosemead Boulevard to the Eaton Wash.
Other pioneers, Frank Forst and Leonard J. Rose, also settled in this valley. Rose and his wife Amanda bought about 600 acres (2.4 km2) of land between what is now Rosemead Boulevard and Walnut Grove Avenue. Rose bred and trained horses for a living. He named his ranch "Rose's Meadow" which was eventually shortened to Rosemeade and gave the city its name.[9] Rosemeade was once again shortened to Rosemead. The peaceful, pastoral community flourished with small truck farms and rabbit and chicken farms. Settlers moved in and also raised vegetables, fruits, grain and feed for the animals.
It wasn't until August 4, 1959, the citizens elected to incorporate Rosemead into a city.[9]
Recent history
Demographics in Rosemead changed significantly in the 1990s. Chinese and Vietnamese immigrants in large numbers started moving in and opening businesses: ethnic restaurants and stores. The Whittier Daily News stated "The atmosphere certainly became more urban, in a Hong Kong way." [10] The small town ambience changed dramatically. The formerly conservative government changed when young John Tran was elected to the city council. The more seasoned portion of the city council supported keeping a safe and secure quality in the small town while rejecting some of Tran's more radical ideas such as a five story city hall, high density development and ushering out the Sheriff's Department and establishing a Rosemead Police Department, a move that would have cost the city millions of dollars, especially during the recession that followed during that period.[10] Tran also supported a ballot initiative to change to a Charter city, (like Bell, CA.), which the voters soundly rejected. Tran lost in the next city election by one vote.[10]
The Census reported that 53,351 people (99.2% of the population) lived in households, 135 (0.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 278 (0.5%) were institutionalized.
There were 14,247 households, out of which 6,267 (44.0%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 8,028 (56.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 2,502 (17.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,373 (9.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 571 (4.0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 74 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,739 households (12.2%) were made up of individuals and 844 (5.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.74. There were 11,903 families (83.5% of all households); the average family size was 3.99.
The population was spread out with 12,231 people (22.7%) under the age of 18, 5,225 people (9.7%) aged 18 to 24, 14,952 people (27.8%) aged 25 to 44, 14,392 people (26.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 6,964 people (13.0%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.1 years. For every 100 females there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.
There were 14,805 housing units at an average density of 2,860.4 per square mile (1,104.4/km²), of which 6,972 (48.9%) were owner-occupied, and 7,275 (51.1%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.2%. 26,324 people (49.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 27,027 people (50.3%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 53,505 people, 13,913 households, and 11,632 families residing in the city. The population density was 10,398.3 inhabitants per square mile (4,011.3/km²). There were 14,345 housing units at an average density of 2,787.8 per square mile (1,075.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 26.57% White, 0.68% African American, 0.85% Native American, 48.76% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 19.69% from other races, and 3.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 41.30% of the population.
There were 14,110 households out of which 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.7% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.1% were non-families. 16.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.70 and the average family size was 4.19.
In the city the population was spread out with 6.5% under the age of 5, 76.9% over the age of 18, and 15.2% over the age of 65. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 102.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,115, and the median income for a family was $46,327. Males working full time had a median income of $31,599 versus $28,456 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,072. About 11.6% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.6% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.
Edison International, the international family of companies providing electric services, is headquartered in the city.[16]Southern California Edison and serves Rosemead, as well as much of Southern California.[17] The University of the West moved from its location from Hsi Lai Temple in Hacienda Heights to its current location in Rosemead in 1996. It is one of the very first Buddhist funded universities in the United States. Rosemead School of Psychology was named after its original location in Rosemead. This school was the first independent professional school of psychology in the nation to be accredited by regional accrediting association. Rosemead School of Psychology is now located in La Mirada, but still keeps the city name.[18] The Chinese cuisine fast food chain Panda Restaurant Group is headquartered in Rosemead.[19] The Chinese-Vietnamese Sriracha red chili sauce (known to many as Rooster sauce) manufacturer Huy Fong Foods, Inc. (匯豐食品公司) is also based in the city.[20]
Top employers
According to the City's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[21] the top employers in the city are:
Controversies over the development of a Wal-Mart Supercenter, in a residential section in the southern portion of the city, had been bitterly longstanding. After some political maneuvering, it opened on September 13, 2006. A recall election to remove two council members that supported the Wal-Mart, Jay Imperial and Gary Taylor, was held on September 19, 2006. The voters defeated the recall in a 60 to 40 percent majority vote. However, in the general elections that followed shortly thereafter on March 6, 2007, Polly Low defeated incumbent and former recall target, Jay Imperial, garnering the highest vote count among the five candidates vying for the two open seats on the council.
City Council
Elections for the four year terms, are held every two years in the odd-numbered years. The Council elects from its membership a Mayor to serve as its presiding officer for a one-year term. Margaret Clark, Steven Ly, and Sandra Armenta, swept the election in March 2009. In March 2011, Gary Taylor, who sat on the City Council for 37 years,[22] retired after serving his fourth term as mayor,[23] Steven Ly then became mayor and Sandra Armenta, mayor pro-tem. Polly Low was re-elected and William Alarcon, formerly of the Rosemead Planning Commission, came on board as city councilman.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.2 square miles (13.3 km²). 5.2 square miles (13.3 km²) of it is land and 0.19% is water.
In the State Legislature Rosemead is located in the 24th Senate District, represented by Democrat Gloria Romero, and in the 49th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Mike Eng. Federally, Rosemead is located in California's 32nd congressional district, which has a Partisan Voting Index of: Cook PVI D +17.[24] When Representative Hilda Solis was confirmed as President Obama's Secretary of Labor, her position became vacant. Her successor, Judy Chu was determined in a runoff election on July 14, 2009. Chu was sworn in on July 16, 2009, and was re-elected to a full term on November 2, 2010.
University of the West has also been located in Rosemead since 1996. The Buddhist-founded campus is located at 1409 N. Walnut Grove Ave. UWest is Rosemead's only WASC accredited campus.
Places of interest
The Dinsmoor Heritage House is a bijou museum that houses, preserves and displays a showcase of the colorful and rich history of the City of Rosemead. Once a private home, it was built in the late 1920s by Adelberrt Dinsmoor, son of one of Rosemead's pioneers, Raphael Dinsmoor. Currently closed to undergoing refurbishing, it will again conduct monthly tours and host a variety of special events when completed. It is located at 9642 Steele Street.[27]
The Marinelli Stadium, named in memory of Rod Marinelli, formerly the head coach of the Detroit Lions, is located at Rosemead High School. "Rod Marinelli Stadium" appears in lights above the scoreboard and an encrypted bronze marker is placed at the southern edge of the field on a large stone.[28]
There are two Community Centers in Rosemead that offer multi-purpose facilities for a large variety of occasions as well as senior activities, adult education programs, youth and adult classes, as well as two preschools.[27]
The City has completed plans to completely renovate, from the ground up, both city aquatic centers to bring them into "the 21st century." Rosemead Aquatic Center, located in Rosemead Park, features swim, water polo and diving facilities as well as swim classes and recreation areas. Garvey Aquatic Center will be a state of the art recreational aquatic facility featuring water slides, interactive play areas and a lesson pool. Showers at both pools have been updated for resource efficiency. The city completed these plans on schedule for the summer of 2011.[29] Garvey Aquatic Center was funded entirely through a grant from the State of California. Rosemead Aquatic Center was funded by bond proceeds.[30]
City Parks
Garvey Park offers a number of shelters with barbecues for picnics. It features a gymnasium, baseball/softball diamonds, two playgrounds, restrooms, and lighted tennis courts. Tennis courts are available to the community on a first-come, first-served basis. Located at 7933 Emerson Place
Rosemead Park and 1/2-Mile Fitness Trail located at 4343 Encinita Avenue. It is Rosemead's largest park and includes the new swimming pool, three playground areas, a number of picnic shelters with barbecues, two lighted softball/baseball fields, restroom facilities, a 1/2-mile trail, and expansive open space. Picnic shelters are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Klingerman Park has picnic facilities and a playground. Located at 8800 Klingerman Avenue
Sally Tanner Park is complete with open space, a playground, gazebo, and restroom facility. 8343 E Mission Drive
Zapopan Park provides 7 acres of green space with picnic shelters, an outdoor basketball court, and 2 playgrounds. 3018 N. Charlotte Avenue
Rosemead spokeswoman Aileen Flores said that in June 2011, city officials dedicated a future park site to honor six-time Mayor, the late Jay Imperial. Jay Imperial Park will be situated in the Southern California Edison right of way near Garvalia Avenue and San Gabriel Boulevard. Construction on the park will begin in 2012.[31]
Savannah Pioneer Cemetery=
Before the Civil War, many Southern families settled in El Monte, then
called Lexington. The community of Rosemead, then called Savannah, [citation needed] is located adjacent to El Monte and is situated above the water table. The slightly elevated land made it the logical alternative as the burial site for residents of swampy Lexington. The first known burial was in 1846, five years before most of the settlers arrived. Today the 51/2 acre cemetery, with 200 plots remaining of its original 3,000, is privately owned by
the El Monte Cemetery Association. When the City of Rosemead started to widen Valley Boulevard in the 1920s, construction crews unearthed dozens of corpses outside the fence of the cemetery. The majority of the skeletons were reburied in a mass grave inside the cemetery proper, but some were so deteriorated that the workers left them
undisturbed and simply paved over them so that there are more graves scattered under Valley Boulevard and beneath adjacent area businesses. The area also was an Indian burial ground before the bodies of settlers filled the cemetery.[32]
Savannah Pioneer Cemetery is located at the intersection of Mission and Valley Blvds.[33] It is reputed to be the oldest Protestant cemetery in Los Angeles County.[34] The El Monte Cemetery Association, incorporated in 1920, is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the cemetery. The association's funding comes from private donations and fundraising activities.[32]
Shopping
A small portion of the Montebello Town Center is actually located within Rosemead city limits. It features major department stores, smaller shops and a small food court. The boundary line between Montebello and Rosemead runs through the eastern end of the mall.[35] Policing is provided by the City of Montebello.
There is an Asian Shopping Center in Rosemead, formerly The Diamond Square Shopping center it features many restaurants and many Chinese shops. It is located on Garvey Blvd. Also nearby, is The Square Supermarket featuring Korean and Vietnamese foods.[36] Rosemead Square Shopping Center is located on Rosemead Boulevard near the South El Monte and El Monte City limits.[37]
Salary schedule, City officials
In light of the recent scandals involving neighboring towns, Rosemead has publicly posted its salary schedule for the city officials.
[2]
Rosemead Kiwanis Club Community information resource including links to schools, spiritual organizations etc. for service club active in promoting after school, community health and similar programs.
Rosemead PRIDE a group that promotes business and community development; leads the pro-Wal-Mart camp
United States
California
