Monrovia, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Monrovia, California
City
I-210 in Monrovia with San Gabriel Mountains in the background
Flag Seal
Location of Monrovia in Los Angeles County, California
Monrovia, California Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	California
County	Los Angeles
Incorporated	December 15, 1887
Government
• Type	Council-Manager
Area
• Total	13.74 sq mi (35.59 km2)
• Land	13.63 sq mi (35.31 km2)
• Water	0.11 sq mi (0.28 km2)  0.79%
Elevation	571 ft (174 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	37,931
• Density	2,782/sq mi (1,074.2/km2)
Time zone	UTC−8 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP Codes	91016–91017
Area code	626
FIPS code	06-48648
GNIS feature ID	1661049

Monrovia is a city in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles County, California. It is located in the San Gabriel Valley. In 2020, about 37,931 people lived there.

History of Monrovia

Monrovia, 1886 (Myrtle Avenue, looking north)

Monrovia is one of the oldest cities in Los Angeles County. It was officially made a city in 1887. It started as a small area with orange farms. Now, it is a busy community with over 37,000 residents.

Monrovia, 1892 (Myrtle Avenue, looking north)

In 1769, a Spanish group called the Portolà expedition explored California. This was the first time Europeans explored this land. A priest named Juan Crespí was with them. He wrote down many details about early California.

In 1771, Spanish priests built the Mission San Gabriel Arcangel nearby. Later, in 1833, the Mexican government took over the mission lands. They sold these lands to private owners.

In 1841, parts of the land that would become Monrovia were given as grants. These grants were called Rancho Azusa de Duarte and Rancho Santa Anita.

Later, a man named William Norton Monroe bought parts of these ranches. Monrovia is named after him!

Pacific Electric in Monrovia, 1903

In 1875, a rich rancher named Elias Jackson Baldwin bought Rancho Santa Anita. He started selling off parts of his land. In 1883, William N. Monroe bought a large piece of land from Baldwin. Other people also bought land nearby.

In 1887, a railroad came to Southern California. This brought many new people looking for homes. Monroe and the other landowners decided to combine their land. They formed the Monrovia Land and Water Company in 1886. This company created the first town plan for Monrovia.

In 1903, the Monrovia News newspaper started. Also, the Pacific Electric train line opened. This train connected Monrovia to Los Angeles. It made it easy for people to live in Monrovia and work in Los Angeles.

Monrovia, 1914 (Myrtle Avenue, looking north)

In 1905, money from Andrew Carnegie helped Monrovia build a public park and buy a building for its city hall. The city hall building also housed the fire and police departments for many years. In 1956, a new library was built. In 2007, the people of Monrovia voted for an even newer library. Today, the library has many books and special areas for kids, teens, and adults.

In 1923, Monrovia started using a city council–manager system. This means the city has a council that makes laws and a city manager who runs the city's daily business.

In 1930, the Monrovia Airport opened. It was a small airport that was very friendly. Many famous pilots used it, and it was even used to film movies! Movies like The Fighting Pilot and The Big Noise (with Laurel and Hardy) were filmed there. The airport closed in 1953 because the land became too valuable.

Monrovia was also home to the very first version of McDonald's! In 1937, Patrick McDonald opened a food stand called "The Airdrome" near the old airport. Hamburgers cost ten cents! Later, he and his sons moved the stand and renamed it "McDonald's."

In 1995, Monrovia won the All America City Award. This award recognizes cities that work together to solve problems and improve their communities.

Geography and Wildlife

Monrovia covers about 13.74 square miles (35.5 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.

The city is right next to the San Gabriel Mountains. Many wild animals live in these mountains. You might see black bears, bobcats, coyotes, gray foxes, mountain lions, and mule deer. These animals sometimes wander into neighborhoods and even visit backyards! In 2024, a mother bear and her cubs became famous for regularly visiting a home in Monrovia to swim in their pool.

Population Information

The city's population has grown a lot over the years. In 2010, there were 36,590 people living in Monrovia. About 23.3% of the people were under 18 years old. The average age was about 37.9 years.

In 2000, there were 36,929 people. About 27.4% of the people were under 18. The average age was 34 years.

Economy and Jobs

Many companies have their main offices in Monrovia. These include Original Tommy's, Trader Joe's, Green Dot, and Naked Juice. Monrovia also has a "Technology Corridor" with companies like AeroVironment and Parasoft.

Top Employers in Monrovia

Here are some of the biggest employers in Monrovia:

Arts and Culture

Upton Sinclair House

The Upton Sinclair House is in Monrovia. This was the home of the famous author Upton Sinclair. It is now a National Historic Landmark.

Education in Monrovia

Public Schools

Monrovia High School

The Monrovia Unified School District runs the public schools in the city. Monrovia High School is the main high school.

Colleges and Universities

Monrovia is part of the Citrus Community College District.

Media

You can read local news in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune and Monrovia Weekly newspapers. KGEM-TV provides local television programs, mostly for cable viewers.

Transportation

Monrovia Trolley Bus in front of the Krikorian Theater (2005)

Major roads in Monrovia include Foothill Boulevard and Huntington Drive. Huntington Drive is part of the historic Route 66. The Foothill Freeway (I-210) also runs through the city.

In 2016, a new light rail station opened in Monrovia. It is called Monrovia station and is served by the Metro A Line. This station is where the old Santa Fe Depot used to be.

Notable People from Monrovia

• Ashley Sanchez Professional Soccer Player

See also

In Spanish: Monrovia (California) para niños