Montebello, California

Montebello is a city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 62,150.

History

Once upon a time there was a quiet land along the banks of the Rio Hondo river. The land was populated by the Tongva (Gabrielino) Indians before the arrival of the Spanish missionaries. They occupied the entire Los Angeles basin and the islands of Santa Catalina, San Nicholas, San Clemente and Santa Barbara. From Topanga Canyon to Laguna Beach, from the San Gabriel mountains to the sea. It was the Tongva people who canoed out to greet Spanish explorer Juan Rodrguez Cabrillo upon his arrival off the shores of Santa Catalina and San Pedro in 1542. Warfare was not frequent for the Tongva and robbery, murder and incest was rare. The Indians in this land spoke a language different from their neighboring Indians and this language was named Gabrielino by the Spanish. The Gabireilinos lived in domed, circular structures with thatched exteriors. Both men and women used long hair styles and tattooed their bodies. During warm weather, men rarely wore any external covering and women had minimal skirts made of animal pelt and during the cold and wet weather they used animal skin capes. They were known as friendly people by the spanish settlers. The Tongva Springs site (University High School and vicinity) was once a thriving self contained village and home of the Tongva people. Tongva means "people of the earth". [source:http://www.colapublib.org/history/sangabriel/faq.html#q2]

European diseases killed many of the local indians. Most of the Indians in the San Gabriel area died of smallpox by about 1870 [1] (http://www.losangelesalmanac.com) Recommended book: McCawley, William. The First Angelinos: The Gabrielino Indians of Los Angeles. Banning, CA: Malki Museum Press; Novato, CA: Ballena Press, 1996.

Link about Gabrielinos http://www.onionskin.com/gabrielino/ http://www.tongva.com/

Franciscan Missionaries, Fathers Angel Somera and Pedro Cambon, founded the original San Gabriel Mission on September 9, 1771, near where San Gabriel Boulevard now crosses the Rio Hondo River which is also near the present day Sanchez Adobe Mansion. This marked the beginning of the Los Angeles region's invasion by Spaniards.

The San Gabriel Mission was number three of 21 missions that were to be established along the Camino Real. The San Gabriel mission did well as a cattle ranch and farm. Six years later a great flood caused the mission to be relocated to its current location farther north in present day San Gabriel City. It was known by European settlers as the mother of agriculture in California.

During the early years of the mission, the region operated under a Rancho system. The city of Montebello was originally part of Rancho San Antonio, Rancho La Merced and Rancho Paso de Bartolo. The oldest house in Los Angeles county is the old San Antonio Ranch Gage Mansion located in present day Bell Gardens.[2] (http://www.losangelesalmanac.com/topics/History/hi05h.htm) The Juan Matias Sanchez Adobe mansion is also still standing at the center of old La Merced Rancho in Eastern Montebello in the La Merced area.

Another important event that took place in Montebello was the Battle of the Rio San Gabriel on January 8, 1847. It was this battle that gave the United States the opportunity to win California in the Mexican-American war. Today there are two old canons and a plaque commemorating the battle overlooking the river on Bluff Rd and Washington Blvd. Following the American Civil War, most of the East Los Angeles region was owned by Alessandro Repetto. The land was carved into smaller areas after his death. Montebello, meaning beautiful hills in the Italian language, was named at the suggestion of a gentleman named William Mulholland. It was Mulholland who developed the Los Angeles region water system, which was incorporated as the Montebello Land and Water Company in 1900.

Montebello was originally an agricultural community. The discovery of oil by Standard Oil Company on the Anita Baldwin property in 1917 brought about a revolutionary change to Montebello. The agricultural hills soon became a major contributor to oil production. By 1920, Montebello oil fields were producing one-eighth of California's crude oil. On October 19, 1920, Montebello was incorporated as the 35th of the present cities in Los Angeles County.

Geography

Montebello is located east of downtown Los Angeles, near Pico Rivera, California. Montebello is located at 34°0'52" North, 118°6'52" West (34.014412, -118.114501)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 21.6 km² (8.4 mi²). 21.4 km² (8.2 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.32% water.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 62,150 people, 18,844 households, and 14,867 families residing in the city. The population density is 2,908.6/km⊃ (7,536.9/mi²). There are 19,416 housing units at an average density of 908.7/km² (2,354.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 46.82% White, 0.90% African American, 1.23% Native American, 11.64% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 33.85% from other races, and 5.48% from two or more races. 74.57% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 18,844 households out of which 40.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% are married couples living together, 20.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 21.1% are non-families. 17.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.28 and the average family size is 3.67.

In the city the population is spread out with 28.6% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 18.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 31 years. For every 100 females there are 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 88.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $38,805, and the median income for a family is $41,257. Males have a median income of $30,423 versus $26,590 for females. The per capita income for the city is $15,125. 17.0% of the population and 14.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 24.3% of those under the age of 18 and 10.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Montebello is known for having a large Armenian American community. Members of the band, System of a Down are from the Montebello area. Other large communities are Hispanic, Italian, and Japanese.

Movie Star mentions

Edward James Olmos[3] (http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g1epc/is_bio/ai_2419200908) was a graduate of Montebello High School

Judi Evans Luciano[4] (http://daysofourlives.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.angelfire.com/tv2/jelonline/home.html) Born in Montebello, Star on "Days of Our Lives"

Whittier Narrows Dam, East Montebello

The Whittier Narrows area which is the border of eastern Montebello is full of Bike trails leading to Long Beach to the south or the Mountains in the north. Whittier Narrows serves as the lungs of Montebello and the immediate area.

This park provides fishing lakes, comfort stations, picnicking areas, playgrounds, a nature center, an equestrian facility, trails, a multipurpose athletic complex, a military museum, soccer fields, volleyball courts, and archery, skeet, pistol and trap ranges. Tennis courts are also provided and include a pro shop. Rentals are available for boats, surreys, bikes and group area picnics. Special events include carnivals, festivals and dog shows. Background for this section came from the US Govt website for Los Angeles Parks making the information public domain.[5] (http://parks.co.la.ca.us/whittier_rpark.html)

Whittier Narrows was also the epicenter for one of Los Angeles biggest quakes in 1987. See: Whittier Narrows earthquake This earthquake occurred on a previously unknown, concealed thrust fault approximately 20 km east of downtown Los Angeles, California. It resulted in eight fatalities and $358 million in property damage. Severe damage was limited to the city of Whittier 10 miles away, some effect on Alhambra and Pasadena, also 10 miles away was also had but nothing serious to the immediate area.[6] (http://www.data.scec.org/chrono_index/whittier.html)

It is in Eastern Montebello that the greatest attraction for children of all ages and families is located. This is Grant Rea Park or the Montebello Barnyard Zoo. The horse trails pass next to the Rio Hondo river and the Park.

External links

• Montebello official website (http://www.cityofmontebello.com/)

Template:Mapit-US-cityscale

Template:Cities of Los Angeles County, Californiaaf:Montebello de:Montebello (Kalifornien) fr:Montebello