Glendora, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Glendora, California
City
Glendora Village with Ficus trees
Flag Seal
Motto(s):  Pride of the Foothills
Location of Glendora in Los Angeles County, California.
Glendora, California Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	California
County	Los Angeles
Incorporated	November 13, 1911
Named for	Leadora Bennett Whitcomb
Area
• Total	19.66 sq mi (50.92 km2)
• Land	19.51 sq mi (50.52 km2)
• Water	0.15 sq mi (0.40 km2)  0.84%
Elevation	774 ft (236 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	52,558
• Density	2,582/sq mi (996.9/km2)
Time zone	UTC−8 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP Codes	91740 and 91741
Area codes	626, 909
FIPS code	06-30014
GNIS feature ID	1652713

Glendora is a city in the San Gabriel Valley in Los Angeles County, California. It is about 26 miles (42 km) east of Los Angeles. In 2020, Glendora had a population of 52,558 people.

Glendora is known as the "Pride of the Foothills." It is located near the San Gabriel Mountains. The downtown area, called Glendora Village, has many restaurants, cafes, shops, and boutiques. Many community events happen there all year.

Homes in Glendora show the city's history. You can find Queen Anne and Folk Victorian houses. There are also early 1900s bungalows and ranch style homes. Some neighborhoods have large, private mansions with views of Downtown Los Angeles.

Glendora is next to Azusa and Citrus to the west. To the east and south, it borders San Dimas. Covina and Charter Oak are to the south. The San Gabriel Mountains National Monument is to the north.

History of Glendora

Rancho San José was granted in 1837 to Californio rancheros Ygnacio Palomares (left) and Ricardo Vejar (right), encompassing modern-day Glendora.

The first signs of people living in Glendora date back to around 6000 BCE. Around 3500 BCE, the Takic people moved into the area. When Europeans first arrived in Los Angeles County in 1542, the Tongva people were the main group living there.

In 1837, Ygnacio Palomares received a large piece of land. This land grant was called Rancho San Jose. It covered about 22,340 acres (90.4 km²) and included what is now Glendora. It also included cities like Pomona and Claremont.

Glendora started as farmland, like many cities in the San Gabriel Valley. It became a town when the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley Railroad was finished in 1887. This railroad connected Los Angeles to Chicago.

Founding the City

George D. Whitcomb started Glendora in March 1887. He divided about 300 acres of land to sell. On the first day of sales, April 1, 1887, 300 lots were sold. The first building built after Glendora became a town was a barn. It was built by the Suydam family.

Whitcomb named the city Glendora by combining his wife's name, Leadora, with the word "glen." His home was in a glen (a small valley) of the San Gabriel Mountains.

In 1907, Glendora grew more when the Pacific Electric Railway opened a new line. This line offered direct train service from downtown Glendora to Downtown Los Angeles. Glendora officially became a city on November 13, 1911.

Glendora's Downtown Area

The downtown area you see today has been updated over many years. Old buildings like the opera house and movie theater were changed into modern shops. You can learn about the original town by reading signs along Glendora Avenue. This street was once called Michigan Avenue.

Glendora used to have several military academies. These schools are now churches or private schools. For example, Brown Military Academy is now St. Lucy's Priory High School.

Glendora's Creative Side

From 1960 to 1978, Clokey Productions was in Glendora. They made 85 episodes of Gumby and 65 episodes of Davey and Goliath here. To celebrate this history, Glendora hosted the first Gumby Fest in 2014. Thousands of people came from all over. The second GumbyFest was held at Citrus College in 2015.

Community and Challenges

Glendora has faced several wildfires. The Colby Fire caused many residents to leave their homes. A concert called "Glendora Band Aid" was held to help those who lost their homes.

The Glendora Chamber of Commerce was started in 1903. It helps local businesses grow and adapt. They also encourage people to buy from local stores.

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  Glendora, 1920.

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  Early Alosta-Glendora Map 1888. View looking north from present-day South Hills Park Wilderness Area

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  Present day view from the South Hills

Geography and Climate

Glendora with the San Gabriel Mountains in the background

Glendora is located at the eastern end of the San Gabriel Valley. It sits between the San Gabriel Mountains to the north. To the south, it has the South Hills.

The city covers about 19.6 square miles (50.9 km²). Most of this area is land, about 19.4 square miles (50.5 km²). A small part, about 0.2 square miles (0.4 km²), is water.

Glendora's Climate

Glendora Village in 2009 with Morris Fire smoke plume

Glendora has a dry Mediterranean climate. This means it has hot summers and cooler winters than places right on the coast. Most of the year is dry, with rain mainly in the winter.

Hot summer temperatures and warm Santa Ana winds in the fall can increase the risk of wildfires. These fires happen in the mountains around the city. Recent examples include the 2009 Morris Fire and the 2015 Cabin Fire.

People of Glendora

In 2020, Glendora had 52,558 residents. There were 16,887 households, with about 3 people per household. The city's population density was about 2,582 people per square mile (996.9/km²).

Diversity in Glendora

Glendora is a diverse city. In 2020, about 70.4% of residents were White. About 11.6% were Asian, and 1.9% were Black. About 7.2% were from two or more races. A large part of the population, 34.4%, identified as Hispanic or Latino.

In 2020, the average household income in Glendora was $96,132. About 8.3% of the population lived below the poverty line.

Education in Glendora

Glendora has two public school districts: Glendora Unified and Charter Oak Unified. Both are known for being excellent schools in California. Many of their schools have won awards like California Distinguished Schools.

Elementary Schools

• Cullen Elementary School
• La Fetra Elementary School
• Sellers Elementary School
• Stanton Elementary School
• Sutherland Elementary School
• Washington Elementary School (COUSD)
• Willow Elementary School (COUSD)

Middle Schools

• Goddard Middle School
• Sandburg Middle School

High Schools

• Glendora High School
• Arrow Continuation High School (COUSD)
• Whitcomb Continuation High School

Private Schools

• Hope Lutheran Church and School (Preschool to 8th grade)
• Foothill Christian School (Preschool to 8th grade)
• St. Lucy's Priory High School (All-girls college-prep high school)
• St. Dorothy School (Kindergarten to 8th grade)

Colleges and Universities

• Citrus College

Fun Things to Do in Glendora

Cultural Places

• Haugh Performing Arts Center
• Glendora Historical Society Museum
• Rubel Castle, a unique castle built by Michael Rubel
• Glendora Public Library
• Glendora Public Market
• Glendora Big Tree Park

Parks and Trails

South Hills Wilderness Trail with Mt Baldy and Cucamonga Peak in the distance

Glendora has many parks, trails, and fun programs for the community.

• Big Dalton Canyon Wilderness Park: A park with a campground.
• Centennial Heritage Park: This park shows what a citrus ranch looked like long ago. It has the Hamilton House and old farm tools. You can also see the Orton Englehart workshop. Orton Englehart invented the Rain Bird sprinkler, which changed how farms watered their crops.
• Finkbiner Park: A popular community park.
• Big Tree Park: A small park with a very large, old tree. The tree is a 140-year-old Moreton Bay Fig tree.

Big Tree Park

• Louie Pompei Memorial Sports Park: A park for sports.
• Glendora Urban Trail System: Trails for walking and exploring the city.
• South Hills Park: A wilderness trail for hiking.
• Colby Trail: Another trail for outdoor activities.
• Lower Monroe Truck Trail: A trail for hiking and mountain biking.
• Punk Out Trail: A trail for outdoor fun.
• Mystic Canyon Trail: A scenic trail.
• Glendora bougainvillea: The largest growth of Bougainvillea flowers in the United States.
• Glen Oaks Golf and Learning Center: A place to practice golf and play a 9-hole course.
• Camp Cahuilla Summer Camp ("Dirt Camp"): A very popular summer camp for kids with many activities.

Glendora Mountain Road and Glendora Ridge Road are popular for cyclists. They offer great views through the San Gabriel Mountains. These roads have even been part of the international Tour of California bike race.

Getting Around Glendora

Public Transportation

Glendora uses Foothill Transit buses to help people get around the city. These buses also offer express service to Downtown Los Angeles. The Metro A Line train has a station nearby at APU/Citrus College in Azusa. This connects Glendora to the wider Metro train and bus system.

A new A Line station is being built in Glendora. It will be located at Ada Avenue and Vermont Avenue. This new station is expected to open in the summer of 2025. It will offer a direct ride to downtown Los Angeles and Long Beach.

Glendora also has its own Mini Bus service on weekdays. It connects to the Metrolink train station in Covina and the APU/Citrus College Metro station. The Mini Bus also helps senior and disabled residents get around.

Roads and Highways

210 Freeway through Glendora

Glendora is located where two major freeways meet: the 210 and the 57. These freeways make it easy to travel to other parts of Southern California. Historic U.S. Route 66 also runs through Glendora from east to west. Other important roads include Foothill Boulevard and Grand Avenue.

Airports Near Glendora

There are no airports in Glendora itself. However, several major airports are within 45 miles (72 km) of the city. These include Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), and Ontario International Airport (ONT).

Glendora's Economy

The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) and Armstrong Garden Centers have their main offices in Glendora.

Top Employers

Here are some of the biggest employers in Glendora:

News and Media

Television

KGLN TV is a local public TV channel for Glendora. It shows city meetings, city events, and information from the city.

News Outlets

The San Gabriel Valley Tribune is a newspaper that covers news for Glendora and nearby cities. It provides current articles and historical information.

Library Happenings is a newsletter from the Glendora Public Library. It comes out every two months and shares information about local programs and events. You can also find it online.

Glendora City News

Glendora City News is a local news website. It focuses on topics important to Glendora residents. It covers local crime, real estate, social events, and city politics. The news outlet also shares detailed information about upcoming events and public meetings.

For elections, Glendora City News provides information about ballot measures. This helps residents make informed decisions. It also shares updates on wildfires and mudslides that affect the northern parts of the city. They often help residents find lost pets. The news outlet also has a Community Calendar for local events.

Residents can send news tips and comments to Glendora City News. This has led to community efforts, like cleaning up public places.

Famous People from Glendora

Many notable people have lived in Glendora, California:

• Michael Anthony – Bassist for the band Van Halen
• LaVar Arrington – Former NFL football player
• Steven Barnes – Science fiction author
• Bryan Clay – Olympic gold medalist in Decathlon (2008)
• Rocky Dennis – The person whose life inspired the movie Mask
• Soleil Moon Frye – Actress, known for Punky Brewster
• Jacob Gonzalez – Baseball player
• Jajaira Gonzalez – Boxer
• Howard Hawkes – Famous American film director
• Casey Jacobsen – Basketball player
• Tamra Judge – TV personality from The Real Housewives of Orange County
• David Klein – Inventor of Jelly Belly candy
• D. Wayne Lukas – Horse trainer
• Gabrial McNair – Keyboardist for the band No Doubt
• José Mota – Baseball announcer
• Tracy Murray – Former basketball player
• Anna Nalick – Singer
• Vince Neil – Singer for the band Mötley Crüe
• DJ Peters – Baseball player
• Adam Plutko – Baseball player
• Sally Rand – Actress and dancer
• Tony Robbins – Motivational speaker
• Aaron Rowand – Baseball player
• Misty Rowe – Actress
• Julie Smith – Olympic softball gold medalist
• Esther Snyder – Co-founder of In-N-Out Burger
• Lynsi Snyder – Owner of In-N-Out Burger
• Alex Solis – Jockey
• Woody Strode – Actor and football player
• The Surfaris – Surf music band
• Philip Shahbaz – Voice actor for Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad in the Assassin’s Creed games
• Deontay Wilder – World Heavyweight Boxing Champion
• Shawn Wooten – Baseball player

Sister Cities

Glendora has two sister cities:

• Moka, Japan
  • Goddard Middle School and Moka Higashi Junior High School have a student exchange program.
  • Sandburg Middle School and Nakamura Junior High School also have a student exchange program.
• Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico

See also

In Spanish: Glendora (California) para niños