La Puente, California

La Puente is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The city had a population of 39,816 at the 2010 census and is approximately 20 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. The city name is Spanish for "The Bridge".[7]

La Puente, California
City
City of La Puente
La Puente's Star Theater in May 2008
Seal
Motto(s): 
Where the Past Meets the Future
Location of La Puente in Los Angeles County, California.
La Puente, California
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 34°1′57″N 117°57′19″W
Country United States
State California
County Los Angeles
IncorporatedAugust 1, 1956[1]
Government
 • MayorVioleta Lewis[2]
Area
 • Total3.48 sq mi (9.01 km2)
 • Land3.48 sq mi (9.01 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0.02%
Elevation
351 ft (107 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total39,816
 • Estimate 
(2019)[4]
39,614
 • Density11,386.61/sq mi (4,396.64/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP codes
91744-91749[5]
Area code626[6]
FIPS code06-40340
GNIS feature IDs1660865, 2411581
Websitewww.lapuente.org
Symbols
FlowerGolden hibiscus
ColorGreen and white

History

The original inhabitants of the area now occupied by the city of La Puente were the Kizh. They lived in a village called Awingna, which linguists translate as "abiding place." The Awingna chief Matheo (who also held sway over several other nearby villages) was baptized at Mission San Gabriel in 1774.[8]

La Puente Valley Women's Club is listed on the National Register of Historic Places

In 1769, the Spanish Portolá expedition became the first Europeans to see inland portions of Alta California. On July 30, the party camped on the east side of the San Gabriel River, in today's unincorporated area of Bassett. Father Juan Crespi wrote in his diary that, the next day, they had to build a bridge (Spanish "puente") to cross the miry San Gabriel River.[9]

With the establishment of Mission San Gabriel, the area encompassing Awingna and what is now the city of La Puente became part of Rancho La Puente, established as a mission outpost and ranch. The rancho was visited by the Jedediah Smith party in November 1826, the first Americans to travel overland to California.[10]

Following secularization of the missions in the 1830s, former mission ranchos passed into private ownership. In 1842, John Rowland and William Workman were granted the 48,000-acre (190 km2) Rancho La Puente. In 1884, the area was named Puente (bridge in Spanish; in old Spanish the noun was often feminine,[11] as opposed to modern Spanish el puente). In Crespi's diary, it's written as "la puente",[12] and that spelling has persisted.

The area was known for its fruit and walnut groves during the 1930s. The city was even home to the world's largest walnut packing plant. Today, the city is heavily urbanized, but the area still has some historical landmarks from its founding days nearby, for instance, the Workman and Temple Family Homestead Museum in neighboring City of Industry.

Redevelopment of the business districts in La Puente have been ongoing. However, the local government has been relatively unsuccessful in its attempts to attract big-box retailers and restaurant chains. La Puente retains many aging 1950s-era strip malls.

Geography

La Puente is located at 34°1′57″N 117°57′19″W (34.032410, -117.955195).[13] The city, which is mostly flat, covers about 3.5 square miles (9.1 km2) of land in the San Gabriel Valley.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
196024,723—
197031,09225.8%
198030,882−0.7%
199036,95519.7%
200041,06311.1%
201039,816−3.0%
2019 (est.)39,614[4]−0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]
The Donut Hole

2010

The 2010 United States Census[15] reported that La Puente had a population of 39,816. The population density was 11,443.2 people per square mile (4,418.2/km2). La Puente is 49.4% White (4.6% Non-Hispanic White), 1.4% Black or African American, 1.1% Native American, 8.4% Asian, and 0.1% Pacific Islander. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 33,896 persons (85.1%).[16]

The Census reported that 39,773 people (99.9% of the population) lived in households, 43 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 9,451 households, out of which 5,186 (54.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 5,367 (56.8%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,824 (19.3%) had a female householder with no husband present, 930 (9.8%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 584 (6.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 65 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 989 households (10.5%) were made up of individuals, and 472 (5.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.21. There were 8,121 families (85.9% of all households); the average family size was 4.34.

The population was spread out, with 11,423 people (28.7%) under the age of 18, 4,640 people (11.7%) aged 18 to 24, 11,468 people (28.8%) aged 25 to 44, 8,619 people (21.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 3,666 people (9.2%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.8 males.

There were 9,761 housing units at an average density of 2,805.3 per square mile (1,083.1/km2), of which 5,693 (60.2%) were owner-occupied, and 3,758 (39.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.9%. 24,961 people (62.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 14,812 people (37.2%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, La Puente had a median household income of $53,794, with 14.3% of the population living below the federal poverty line.[16]

2000

As of the census of 2000, there were 41,063 people, 9,461 households, and 8,183 families living in the city. The population density is 4,542.8/km2 (11,757.3/mi2). There were 9,660 housing units at an average density of 1,068.7/km2 (2,765.9/mi2). The racial makeup of the city was 39.11% White, 1.96% African American, 1.28% Native American, 7.16% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 45.14% from other races, and 5.19% from two or more races. 83.10% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,461 households, out of which 50.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.4% were married couples living together, 17.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.5% were non-families. 10.1% of all households were someone living alone and 4.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.34 and the average family size was 4.48.

The population age distribution was 33.8% under the age of 18, 11.6% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 15.9% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,222, and the median income for a family was $41,079. Males had a median income of $26,381 versus $22,018 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,336. 18.9% of the population and 16.3% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 24.6% were under the age of 18 and 9.3% were 65 or older.

Government

In the California State Legislature, La Puente is in the 22nd Senate District, represented by Democrat Susan Rubio, and in the 48th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Blanca Rubio and the 57th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Lisa Calderon.[17]

In the United States House of Representatives, La Puente is in California's 32nd congressional district, represented by Democrat Grace Napolitano.[18]

Infrastructure

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department operates the Industry Station in the City of Industry, serving La Puente.[19]

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Pomona Health Center in Pomona, serving La Puente.[20]

The city is served by Los Angeles County Fire Department Battalion 12's Fire Stations 26 and 43.

Economy

The income per capita of the city of La puente is $16,899, which includes all children and adults. The city's median household income is $62,709.

Top employers

According to the City's Annual Budget for FY2020–21,[21] the top employers in the city are:

Rank Employer No. of employees
1 Northgate González Markets 120
2 Bodega Latina Corp (El Super) 111
3 Alert Insulation Co., Inc. 88
4 Walmart 80
5 Food 4 Less 75
6 McDonald's 68
7 Big Saver Foods 60
8 Ed Butts Ford 59
9 Ross Dress for Less 46
10 El Sushi Loco 43

Education

School districts include:

Elementary (primary) schools: Lasallette Elementary School, Temple Academy, Nelson Elementary School, Sparks Elementary School, Sunkist Elementary School, Northam Elementary School

Private (primary) schools: Saint Joseph School, Saint Louis of France, Saint Martha's Catholic School

High (secondary) schools: Bassett High School, La Puente High School, Nogales High School, William Workman High School (in the City of Industry)

Private high schools: Bishop Amat Memorial High School

Notable people

References
  1. "California Cities by Incorporation Date". California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions. Archived from the original (Word) on November 3, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  2. "Mayro & City Council". Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  3. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  4. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  5. "USPS - ZIP Code Lookup - Find a ZIP+ 4 Code By City Results". Retrieved January 18, 2007.
  6. "Number Administration System - NPA and City/Town Search Results". Archived from the original on February 5, 2012. Retrieved January 18, 2007.
  7. "History | la Puente, CA".
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on August 9, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. Bolton, Herbert E. (1927). Fray Juan Crespi: Missionary Explorer on the Pacific Coast, 1769-1774. HathiTrust Digital Library. p. 144. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
  10. Smith, J. S., & Brooks, G. R. (1977). The Southwest expedition of Jedediah S. Smith: His personal account of the journey to California, 1826-1827, p.96. Glendale, Calif: A. H. Clark Co. ISBN 0870621238
  11. "Diccionario de la Real Académia Española." Online edition.
  12. Crespí, J., Brown, A. K., & San Diego State University. (2001). A description of distant roads: Original journals of the first expedition into California, 1769-1770, p.328. San Diego, CA: San Diego State University Press.
  13. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  14. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  15. "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - La Puente city". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  16. "Census data". quickfacts.census.gov. Archived from the original on November 6, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  17. "Statewide Database". UC Regents. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  18. "California's 32nd Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC.
  19. "Industry Station Archived January 21, 2010, at the Wayback Machine." Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Retrieved on January 21, 2010.
  20. "Pomona Health Center." Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Retrieved on March 27, 2010.
  21. "City of La Puente Annual Budget for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30th, 2021" (PDF). City of La Puente. September 30, 2020. p. 16. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
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