Rowland Heights, California

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rowland Heights is an unincorporated community, in Los Angeles County, California, located in the San Gabriel Valley. The population was 48,533 at the 2000 census.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 Nearby Education Institutions With Over 2000 Students
5 Transportation
6 Statistics
7 Political Representation - Government
8 Community Representation - Public
9 External links

[edit] History

Rowland Heights was originally part of the Workman Temple Homestead in California's rancho days. Rowland Heights is an unincorporated community (not a city) dependent upon County of Los Angeles representation (County Board of Supervisors). Rowland Heights has grown significantly during the 1990s. Originally built on a pig farm that covered the whole area of Rowland Heights, the Rowland Homestead was mostly orange farms until the 60 freeway was built. Development soon followed on the land directly next to the freeway. The original homestead is now behind the 99 Ranch Market near the corner of Gale Avenue and Nogales Street.

This area of the Los Angeles basin was once an inland sea before the last ice age. Many fossils can still be found around the area. One place that still has exposed fossils from ancient sea life that once swam this prehistoric sea is located behind the McDonalds on Stoner Creek Road across from the Stoner Creek Car Wash, which locals called fossil hill. Local kids would go there to find treasures, such as sea life encrusted in sand dollars. Another interesting site to locals was the Nike Missile Base nestled in the hills overlooking the city, which was formally known as LA29. The site spanned nearly two miles in length across the hilltop between Rowland Heights and Brea, but the magazines, firing control site, radar pedestals, and tunnels are only ruins now.

Since the 1980s, many upper-middle-class immigrants from Taiwan and South Korea have settled heavily in the hillside homes of Rowland Heights (and in neighboring regions such as Hacienda Heights, Walnut, and Diamond Bar). Additionally, working-class Latinos have settled in the lower, flat sections. The city has developed an eclectic suburban "Chinatown" and "Koreatown", mostly in the form of upscale strip malls mostly on Colima Road, with another concentration around Nogales St. There are several large Asian supermarkets - such as a 99 Ranch Market (billed as the chain's largest location during the late 1980s, but no longer), Hong Kong Supermarket, and Monterey Park-based Shun Fat Supermarket (a relatively recent development that replaced Von's market) - in the area.

Once a predominantly white and hispanic population, this area has gradually become one of the Chinese centers in the greater Los Angeles. Originally formed by the stream of business expansions from Monterey Park (now a heavily Mainland Chinese enclave), which is the undisputed "Chinatown" of Los Angeles, Rowland Heights has become an area comparable to a "Chinatown" by itself largely populated by Taiwanese. Locals refer to Rowland Heights as "Little Taipei", due to its high concentration of Taiwanese restaurants and businesses. It has become the center for Chinese commercial and cultural activity in the south-eastern region of the San Gabriel Valley. While Rowland Heights and adjacent areas are still predominantly 49er Taiwanese (Mandarin: wai sheng ren or external-province person), in recent years many Mainland Chinese emigres have too been increasingly purchasing homes and starting small businesses in the area. As an example, some eateries of Taiwanese cuisine are now actually opened by Mainland Chinese. Additionally, there are several popular eateries in the area, including Supreme Dragon (serving Mainland Chinese noodle and dumplings), a Taiwanese-style food court inside a strip mall, and Hong Kong Chinese-style Richmond, British Columbia-based Sea Harbour Seafood Restaurant (inside of the 99 Ranch Market center) as well as several trendy restaurants geared towards the young and affluent Asian population. More recently, a popular branch of the Taco Bell fast-food franchise very close to a local high school was replaced by a Vietnamese beef noodle soup (or Pho) restaurant, located at the corner of Colima Road and Otterbein Avenue.

Perhaps owing to Rowland Heights as the cultural center for the Chinese diaspora - thus far, mostly 49er Taiwanese with a growing number of Mainland Chinese - and as the connection to and from northern Orange County (mostly to the city of La Habra), Fullerton Road in Rowland Heights is among the heavily traversed roads in the region with frequent gridlocks.

As with most housing patterns in the Southlands, the wealthy homes are usually found on the nearby hills, while the more economical housing are located close to the freeways. In this case, these are located near Highway 60 by the City of Industry.

As part of an unincorporated community, Rowland Heights residents, circa 1980, formed a series of community based organizations, including the Rowland Heights Community Coordinating Council (or RHCCC; www.rhccc.netfirms.com) to give input to their government representatives (the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors) and their State and Federal legislators. Among the items of concern for the residents was the growth of the community away from a semi-rural setting to a more highly congested area. As a result, the Rowland Heights General Plan was formed to govern the growth of the community. Over the years these Rowland Heights community based organizations slowly disbanded until approximately 2000, when the Rowland Heights residents reestablished the RHCCC to take on the issues of unmitigated and unplanned growth (increased building density), traffic, crime, lack of community services, among other items. Through hardwork, the residents were able to work with their County of Los Angeles representatives to put in place building density and design standards to control growth to some extent. To this day, the RHCCC continues to exist as a community-based organization of resident volunteers consisting of a Nine Person Board of Directors, a Development Committee, Community Improvement Committee, Membership Committee and other committees and task forces. The RHCCC is dedicated to provide a forum and a conduit for the flow of information for the residents of Rowland Heights regarding issues that affect the community and quality of life. It conducts a general meeting to present information to the public (including proposed development projects), a Board meeting to analyze community input and concerns and formulate a plan regarding how to address the same, a Development Committee to study proposed projects and their impact on the community, a Membership Committee to promote and increase awareness of community issues, and a Community Improvement Committee to address concerns with items such as graffiti abatement and community beautification.

Unlike its unincorporated neighbor to the west (Hacienda Heights), Rowland Heights has never held a cityhood election. However, recent grumblings about the County shortchanging the area in terms of basic services, the narrow-minded views of the RHCCC whose membership remain mostly old, Caucasian and direly out-of-touch with the rest of the community, the potential development of the hills above Rowland Heights along with annexation from the ever-encroaching Diamond Bar - concerned residents have banded together to research the possibility of becoming a city. Stay tuned..

[edit] Geography

Rowland Heights is located at 33°58′51″N, 117°53′23″W (33.980962, -117.889791)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 23.4 km² (9.0 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

Rowland Heights CDP Population by year [1]
2000 48,553 1990 42,647 1980 28,252 1970 16,881

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 48,553 people, 14,175 households, and 11,963 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,078.3/km² (5,380.7/mi²). There were 14,543 housing units at an average density of 622.5/km² (1,611.7/mi²). The racial distribution of the CDP was 29.26% White, 2.61% African American, 0.46% Native American, 50.32% Asian, 0.31% Pacific Islander, 12.83% from other races, and 4.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 28.32% of the population.

There were 14,175 households out of which 41.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.4% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.6% were non-families. 11.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.41 and the average family size was 3.64.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.5 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $52,270, and the median income for a family was $56,065. Males had a median income of $40,669 versus $30,432 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $19,315. About 9.5% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.9% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.

For population 25 years and over in Rowland Heights:

High school or higher: 82.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 33.3%
Graduate or professional degree: 10.9%
Unemployed: 5.3%
Mean travel time to work: 34.1 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Rowland Heights CDP:

Never married: 28.2%
Now married: 58.8%
Separated: 2.0%
Widowed: 4.3%
Divorced: 6.7%

52.6% of the population is foreign born (39.8% Asia, 10.7% Latin America).

[edit] Nearby Education Institutions With Over 2000 Students

[edit] Colleges/Universities

Mount San Antonio College (about 4 miles Walnut, CA; Full-time enrollment: 23,592 [2004])
Fullerton College (about 9 miles; Fullerton, CA; FT enrollment: 11,158)
California State University, Fullerton (about 10 miles; Fullerton, CA)
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (about 10 miles; Pomona, CA; FT enrollment: 15,527)
DeVry Institute of Technology-Pomona (about 10 miles; Pomona, CA; FT enrollment: 3,006)
Azusa Pacific University (about 11 miles; Azusa, CA; FT enrollment: 5,285)
Rio Hondo College (about 11 miles; Whittier, CA; FT enrollment: 8,996)
Western University of Health Sciences (about 11 miles; Pomona, CA; FT enrollment: 2,137)
Whittier College (about 11 miles; Whittier, CA; FT enrollment: 2,224)

[edit] Public High Schools

John A. Rowland High School (Students: 2,522; Location: 2000 S. Otterbein St.; Grades: 09 - 12)
Santana Continuation High School (Students: 242; Location: 1006 Otterbein St.; Grades: 09 - 12)
Rowland Unified Community Day School (Students: 57; Location: 1830 S. Nogales; Grades: 07 - 12)

[edit] Public Primary/Middle Schools

Giano Intermediate (Students: 987; Location: 3223 S. Giano Ave.; Grades: 07 - 08)
Alvarado Intermediate (Students: 1,134; Location: 1901 S. Desire Ave.; Grades: 07 - 08)
Rincon Intermediate (Students: 752; Location: near Hollingsworth; Grades: 07-08)
Blandford Elementary (Students: 640; Location: 2601 Blandford Dr.; Grades: KG - 06)
Farjardo Elementary (Students: 608; Location: 18550 E. Farjardo; Grades: KG - 06)
Jellick Elementary (Students: 573; Location: 1400 S. Jellick Ave.; Grades: KG - 06)
Killian Elementary (Students: 662; Location: 19100 E. Killian St.; Grades: KG - 06)
Rowland Elementary (Students: 585; Location: 2036 S. Fullerton Rd.; Grades: KG - 06)
Shelyn Elementary (Students: 669; Location: 19500 E. Nacora St.; Grades: KG - 06)
Ybarra Elementary (Students: 483; Location: 1300 S. Brea Canyon Cutoff Road; Grades: KG - 06)

[edit] Comparative National Educational Results

Black race population percentage significantly below state average.
Hispanic or Latino population percentage above state average.
Foreign-born population percentage significantly above state average.
Length of stay since moving in below state average.
House age significantly below state average.

[edit] Transportation

Foothill Transit and the Metro provide bus transit services throughout the San Gabriel Valley. The main Metro Bus Terminal is in El Monte. In addition, the Metrolink commuter train runs west towards Downtown Los Angeles and east to San Bernardino through the Valley.

Several cities such as Monterey Park and West Covina provide their own in-city transportation shuttles. The fare is usually 25 cents.

The San Gabriel Valley is served by several major freeways, including the San Bernardino Freeway (Interstate 10), Foothill Freeway (I-210), San Gabriel River Freeway (I-605), and the Long Beach Freeway (I-710). State highways include the Orange Freeway (California 57), the Pomona Freeway (California 60), Ventura Freeway (California 134), and the Pasadena Freeway (California 110).

The Long Beach Freeway (I-710) ends abruptly (or begins, depending on one's perspective) on the western border of Alhambra, near California State University, Los Angeles. For several years, the extension of the 710 Freeway to the 110 Freeway in Pasadena has generated a long, controversial, and contentious debate. Many residents in South Pasadena fear losing their homes and businesses to clear the way for construction. The MTA, an ardent proponent of the extension, has proposed the idea of constructing an underground tunnel connecting the two freeways.

In 2002, the Foothill Freeway was extended beginning from San Dimas and La Verne, just outside of the San Gabriel Valley area. It replaced the California 30 and it reaches into San Bernardino County.

California State Highway 39 (Azusa Avenue and San Gabriel Canyon Road) leads north into the San Gabriel Mountains to the Crystal Lake Recreation Area. The portion connecting to the Angeles Crest Highway (California 2) is inaccessible and has been closed off since the early 1970s due to rockslides.

[edit] Statistics

Population (year 2000): 48,553 Males: 23,883 (49.2%), Females: 24,670 (50.8%)

Elevation: 540 feet

County: Los Angeles

Land area: 9.0 square miles

ZIP code: 91748

Median resident age: 34.7 years Median household income: $52,270 (year 2000) Median house value: $221,000 (year 2000)

Races in Rowland Heights:

Chinese (29.0%)
Hispanic (28.3%)
White Non-Hispanic (16.3%)
Other race (12.8%)
Korean (7.7%)
Filipino (6.4%)
Two or more races (4.2%)
Other Asian (3.4%)
Black (2.6%)
Japanese (1.5%)
Asian Indian (1.3%)
Vietnamese (1.1%)
American Indian (1.1%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Ancestries: German (3.4%), Irish (3.4%), English (3.1%), Italian (2.0%), United States (1.3%)

For population 25 years and over in Rowland Heights High school or higher: 82.1% Bachelor's degree or higher: 33.3% Graduate or professional degree: 10.9% Unemployed: 5.3% Mean travel time to work: 34.1 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Rowland Heights CDP Never married: 28.2% Now married: 58.8% Separated: 2.0% Widowed: 4.3% Divorced: 6.7%

52.6% Foreign born (39.8% Asia, 10.7% Latin America).

Nearest city with pop. 50,000+: Diamond Bar, CA (5.0 miles, pop. 56,287).

Nearest city with pop. 200,000+: Anaheim, CA (10.0 miles, pop. 328,014).

Nearest city with pop. 1,000,000+: Los Angeles, CA (34.2 miles, pop. 3,694,820).

Nearest cities:

Hacienda Heights, CA (unincorporated County)
South San Jose Hills, CA (2.3 miles)
Walnut, CA (3.8 miles)
Brea, CA (4.0 miles)
La Habra Heights, CA (4.5 miles)
Valinda, CA (4.8 miles)
Industry, CA (4.8 miles)
Diamond Bar, CA (5.0 miles)
La Habra, CA (5.6 miles)

Industries providing employment: Educational,health and social services (16.1%), Manufacturing (15.7%), Retail trade (11.6%), Wholesale trade (10.3%).

Hospitals/medical centers near Rowland Heights:

Brea Community Hospital (about 4 miles; Brea, CA) [closed]
Kindred Hospital - Brea (about 4 miles; Brea, CA)
St. Jude Medical Center (about 6 miles; Fullerton, CA)

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Rowland Heights:

Los Alamitos AAF (about 18 miles; Los Alamitos, CA; ID: SLI)

Ontario International Airport (about 21 miles; Ontario, CA; ID: ONT)

Long Beach Municipal Airport /Daugherty Field/ (about 22 miles; Long Beach, CA; ID: LGB)

Other public-use airports nearest to Rowland Heights:

Fullerton Municipal (about 10 miles; Fullerton, CA; ID: FUL)

Brackett Field (about 12 miles; La Verne, CA; ID: POC)

El Monte (about 13 miles; El Monte, CA; ID: EMT)

[edit] Political Representation - Government

U.S. Senate: California
Barbara Boxer (Democrat)
URL: Senator Boxer's Homepage

U.S. Senate: California
Dianne Feinstein (Democrat)
URL: Senator Feinstein's Homepage

U.S. Congress: 42nd District
Gary G. Miller (Republican)
URL: Congressman Miller's Homepage

California State Senate: 29th District
Bob Margett (Republican)
URL: Senator Margett's Homepage

California State Assembly: 60th District
Bob Huff (Republican)
URL: Assemblyman Huff's Homepage

Los Angeles County: 4th Supervisorial District
Don Knabe (Republican)
URL: Supervisor Knabe's Homepage

[edit] Community Representation - Public

Rowland Unified School District URL: Tri-lingual Website
Regional Chamber of Commerce - San Gabriel Valley
URL: Homepage
Rowland Heights Community Coordinating Council
URL: RHCCC Homepage
Rowland Water District URL: Homepage
Walnut Valley Water District URL: Homepage
Three Valleys Municipal Water District URL: District Map