In 2020, the city's population was 51,268. This was an increase from 47,796 people in 2010. Covina's old slogan was "One Mile Square and All There." This slogan came about because the city was only about one square mile when it was first created.

Covina is surrounded by several other cities. To its south and west is West Covina. Irwindale and Baldwin Park are to the west. To the north, you'll find Azusa and Glendora. San Dimas is to the east, and Pomona is to the southeast.

History of Covina

How Covina Began

The land where Covina now stands was originally home to the Tongva people. They lived here for thousands of years. Later, in the 1700s, the area became part of a large Spanish land grant called Rancho La Puente.

The city of Covina was started in 1882 by Joseph Swift Phillips. He bought 2,000 acres (8.1 km²) of land from John Edward Hollenbeck.

Naming the City

A young engineer named Frederick Eaton helped name Covina. He was hired by Phillips to survey the land. Eaton noticed how the valleys of the nearby San Gabriel Mountains formed a natural "cove" around the vineyards. These vineyards were planted by early settlers. So, in 1885, Eaton combined "cove" and "vine" to create the name "Covina."

Becoming an Official City

Covina officially became a city in 1901. Its first boundaries were Puente Street to the south and 1st Avenue to the east. The alley north of College Street was to the north, and 4th Avenue was to the west. The city's slogan, "One Mile Square and All There," was chosen in a contest in 1922. It described the city's small size at the time.

From Groves to Homes

Covina became famous for its orange and grapefruit groves. By 1909, it was the third largest orange producer in the world. People even said it had "the best oranges in the world" until the 1950s. After World War II, many orange groves were replaced by houses and apartments.

You can learn more about Covina's past at the Covina Valley Historical Society. They have a museum in the old 1911 Firehouse Jail.

Geography and Climate

Where is Covina Located?

Covina is located at 34°5′30″N 117°52′45″W / 34.09167°N 117.87917°W / 34.09167; -117.87917. It is found at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains in the San Gabriel Valley.

No major freeways go directly through Covina, except for a very small part of Interstate 10. However, the city is close to several important highways. These include Interstate 210 (Foothill Freeway) to the north and Interstate 10 (San Bernardino Freeway) to the south. Interstate 605 (San Gabriel River Freeway) is to the west, and California State Route 57 (Orange Freeway) is to the east.

The Southern Pacific Railroad reached Covina in 1884. The Metrolink San Bernardino Line also passes just north of downtown.

Land and Water

The city covers a total area of about 7.0 square miles (18.2 km²). Most of this area is land, with only a small amount (0.22%) being water.

What is Covina's Climate Like?

Covina has a Mediterranean climate. This means it has warm, hot, and dry summers. On climate maps, this type of weather is called "Csa."

Population and People

How Many People Live in Covina?

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1930	2,774	—
1940	3,049	9.9%
1950	3,956	29.7%
1960	20,124	408.7%
1970	30,395	51.0%
1980	32,746	7.7%
1990	43,207	31.9%
2000	46,837	8.4%
2010	47,796	2.0%
2020	51,268	7.3%
U.S. Decennial Census 1850–1870 1880-1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

According to the 2020 United States Census, Covina had a population of 51,268 people. The city's population density was about 7,286 people per square mile (2,813 per km²).

Who Lives in Covina?

The table below shows the different racial and ethnic groups in Covina. The US Census counts Hispanic/Latino people as an ethnic group, separate from racial categories.

**Covina city, California – Racial and ethnic composition**
*Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.*
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	19,801	14,288	10,051	42.28%	29.89%	19.60%
Black or African American alone (NH)	2,245	1,806	1,748	4.79%	3.78%	3.41%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	163	128	156	0.35%	0.27%	0.30%
Asian alone (NH)	4,490	5,492	7,571	9.59%	11.49%	14.77%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)	81	85	87	0.17%	0.18%	0.17%
Other race alone (NH)	88	73	268	0.19%	0.15%	0.52%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	1,098	894	1,279	2.34%	1.87%	2.49%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	18,871	25,030	30,108	40.29%	52.37%	58.73%
Total	46,837	47,796	51,268	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

The number of Hispanic residents in Covina has grown over the years. In 1980, they made up 13% of the population. By 2020, this group made up 58.8% of Covina's residents.

Economy

Major Employers in Covina

Here are the top employers in Covina, based on a 2023 report:

#	Employer	# of Employees
1	Covina Valley Unified School District	1,351
2	Citrus Valley Health Partners-Intercommunity	926
3	Charter Oak Unified School District	677
4	IKEA	292
5	Wal-Mart	287
6	City of Covina	252
7	Howard J. Chudler & Associates, Inc	232
8	The Home Depot	189
9	Bert's Mega Mall	165
10	Healthcare Partners Affiliates Medical Group	151

Education

School Districts Serving Covina

Covina is served by three different school districts:

Covina-Valley Unified School District: This district serves most of the city.
Charter Oak Unified School District: This district serves the eastern part of Covina.
Azusa Unified School District: This district serves a small area in the northwest.

Schools in Covina-Valley USD

Barranca Elementary School
Ben Lomond Elementary School
Cypress Valley Elementary School
Manzanita Elementary School
Merwin Elementary School
Las Palmas Middle School
Sierra Vista Middle School
Covina High School
Northview High School

Schools in Charter Oak USD

Badillo Elementary School
Cedargrove Elementary School
Glen Oak Elementary School
Royal Oak Middle School
Charter Oak High School

Schools in Azusa USD

Gladstone Middle School

Notable People from Covina

Many interesting people have connections to Covina:

Leo Baker – A professional skateboarder who went to Northview High School.
Rick Baker – A famous makeup artist who won seven Academy Awards for his work in movies like Men In Black.
Pamela Baird – A child actress from TV shows like My Friend Flicka and Leave It to Beaver. She graduated from Covina High School.
Tom Brunansky – A former Major League Baseball player and coach. He was born in Covina.
Jack Clark – A Major League Baseball player known for hitting many home runs.
Art Clokey – The creator of the popular character Gumby. He invented Gumby at his Covina home.
Donna Fargo – A country music singer who used to teach English at Northview High School.
Jason David Frank – An actor famous for playing Tommy Oliver in the Power Rangers series.
Roy Harris – A well-known composer who grew up on a strawberry farm in Covina.
Ward Kimball – One of the original Disney animators. He graduated from Covina High School.
Jeremy Miller – An actor from the TV comedy series Growing Pains. He was born and raised in Covina.
Vince Neil and Tommy Lee – Members of the rock band Mötley Crüe. They met while attending Royal Oak High School.
Alice Huyler Ramsey – The first woman to drive across America from coast to coast. She died in Covina.
Willie Shoemaker – A Hall of Fame jockey with many wins, including four Kentucky Derbys. He attended Covina High School.
Jean Stafford – A Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and short-story writer.
Tatiana Suarez – A mixed martial artist.
Michael Young – A Major League Baseball infielder and a 7-time All-Star. He was born in Covina.

Sister City

Covina has one sister city, which is a city that forms a special bond with another city in a different country to promote cultural ties:

Xalapa, Mexico

Covina, California facts for kids

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