Irwindale, California Facts for Kids

Irwindale is a city in the San Gabriel Valley, located in Los Angeles County, California. In 2020, about 1,472 people lived there. The city is known for its many rock quarries, which are a big part of its economy.

Irwindale is also home to the annual Renaissance Pleasure Faire of Southern California, a fun event that moved here in 2005. Most homes in Irwindale are found in the southeastern part of the city.

History of Irwindale
Geography and Environment
- Water Safety in Irwindale
- Irwindale's Climate
Population and People
Economy and Jobs
City Services and Transportation
See also

History of Irwindale

Irwindale's land was once part of large Mexican land grants. Families like the Fraijos and Ayons settled here in the 1850s. The city really started to grow when cars became popular. This created a high demand for rocks and sand from the area to build roads.

Irwindale officially became a city on August 6, 1957. In the 1970s and 80s, the city used special laws to help it grow. This brought in big companies like the Miller Brewing Company and Home Savings of America.

In 1987, there was a plan to build a new stadium for the NFL team, the Los Angeles Raiders. The city council and the Raiders' owner, Al Davis, made a deal. However, due to lawsuits and environmental concerns, the stadium was never built.

Geography and Environment

Irwindale covers about 9.6 square miles (24.9 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Water Safety in Irwindale

Irwindale, like some nearby cities, has had issues with its underground water. This water, called groundwater, became contaminated over many years. This happened because some businesses didn't properly get rid of chemicals.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency is working to clean up this water. They are making sure that the water is safe for everyone.

Irwindale's Climate

Irwindale has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate. This means it has warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The average monthly temperatures usually stay below 71.6°F (22°C).

Population and People

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1960	1,518	—
1970	784	−48.4%
1980	1,030	31.4%
1990	1,050	1.9%
2000	1,446	37.7%
2010	1,422	−1.7%
2019 (est.)	1,446	1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2010, Irwindale had a population of 1,422 people. Most of the people living in Irwindale are of Hispanic or Latino background. Many families live in the city, and a good number of households have children.

The average age of people in Irwindale in 2010 was 34 years old. Most people live in homes they own.

Economy and Jobs

Even though Irwindale has a small population, it's a busy place for businesses. The main source of income for the city comes from its many rock quarries. These quarries dig up rocks and sand used in construction.

Other important places in Irwindale include the Irwindale Event Center, the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, and a large Miller Brewing Company plant. The city is also home to the Huy Fong Foods factory, famous for its sriracha sauce.

Major Employers in Irwindale

Here are some of the top companies that provide jobs in Irwindale:

#	Employer	Number of Employees
1	Southern California Edison	2,528
2	Ready Pac Foods	1,900
3	MillerCoors	530
4	Asplundh Tree Expert Company	400
5	Mariposa Horticultural Enterprise	382
6	R Ranch Markets	344
7	Biosense Webster	390
8	Charter Communications	331
9	Best Overnite Express	268
10	Superior Communications	243

Note: Molson Coors, which owns MillerCoors, announced it would stop making beer at its Irwindale brewery by September 2020, affecting about 470 jobs.

The Huy Fong Sriracha Factory

The city of Irwindale helped Huy Fong Foods build its sriracha sauce factory here in 2010. The factory makes a lot of sriracha, which is a popular spicy sauce.

However, the factory faced some challenges. Neighbors and the city complained about strong smells of jalapeño pepper and garlic coming from the plant. This led to a court order for the factory to temporarily stop some of its operations.

Sand and Gravel Mining

The sand and gravel mining industry is very important to Irwindale. The city's Chamber of Commerce sees it as a key part of Irwindale's economic strength.

CleanTech Environmental Inc.

In 2015, a company called CleanTech Environmental Inc. opened a new facility in Irwindale. This facility recycles used oil. Some groups and residents were concerned because the facility is next to the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, which is an important natural area.

CleanTech's owner stated that the facility was designed to be safe for the environment. All waste is handled inside the building to prevent pollution. Recycling oil also helps reduce California's carbon footprint and turns waste into useful products.

City Services and Transportation

Irwindale offers many services to its residents. These include a public library, a skate park, a teen center, a senior center, a gym, and a swimming pool.

For health services, residents can visit the Monrovia Health Center, run by the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.

Public transportation is available through Foothill Transit. The city also has its own train station, the Irwindale station, on the Metro A Line.

Irwindale has its own police department to keep the city safe. Fire services are provided by the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Irwindale, California facts for kids

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