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San Dimas, California
City Hall (2017)
City Hall (2017)
Flag of San Dimas, California
Flag
Location within California and Los Angeles County
Location within California and Los Angeles County
Country  United States
State  California
County Los Angeles
Incorporated August 4, 1960
Named for St. Dismas
Government
 • Type City council/city manager
Area
 • Total 15.42 sq mi (39.94 km2)
 • Land 15.03 sq mi (38.93 km2)
 • Water 0.39 sq mi (1.01 km2)  2.53%
Elevation
955 ft (291 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 34,924
 • Estimate 
(2024)
33,226
 • Density 2,323.3/sq mi (897.0/km2)
Time zone UTC-8 (PST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
91773
Area code 909
FIPS code 06-66070
GNIS feature IDs 1652785, 2411784

San Dimas is a city in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles County, California, United States. Its name comes from a Spanish word meaning "Saint Dismas". In 2020, about 34,924 people lived there. The city got its name from San Dimas Canyon, which is in the San Gabriel Mountains nearby.

San Dimas is surrounded by mountains and other cities. To the north are the San Gabriel Mountains. Glendora and Covina are to the west. La Verne is to the north and east. Pomona is to the south and east. Walnut and the area of Ramona are to the southwest. There's also a small area called West San Dimas inside the city.

History of San Dimas

Rancho San José was given in 1837 to Californio rancheros Ygnacio Palomares (left) and Ricardo Vejar (right). This land included all of modern San Dimas.
SanDimas-1915
San Dimas in 1915, showing its early look.

Early Beginnings

Long ago, Tongva Native Americans lived in the area that is now San Dimas. The first Europeans arrived in 1774. This was during an expedition led by Juan Bautista de Anza.

In 1837, the land became part of a large Mexican land grant. Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado gave the land to Ygnacio Palomares and Ricardo Vejar. This area was called Rancho San Jose. It was also known as La Cienega Mud Springs. This name came from the muddy springs and marshy areas. Palomares and Vejar raised sheep and cattle there. They also grew crops for their families.

Growth and New Name

In the early 1860s, a big drought caused many animals to die. Ygnacio Palomares passed away in 1864. His family started selling parts of the ranch. Ricardo Vejar also lost his share of the land. In 1866, a man named Louis Phillips bought the ranch.

In 1887, the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley Railroad arrived. This led to the area being mapped for the first time. A company called San Jose Ranch Company planned out streets. Small businesses started to open. The town then got its new name: San Dimas.

Farming and Citrus Groves

San Dimas grew quickly and became a farming town. Farmers first planted crops like wheat. Later, orange and lemon groves covered the town. At one point, San Dimas had four places to pack citrus fruits. It also had a factory that made marmalade. The famous Sunkist name actually started here. Oranges were the main crop and business until the mid-1900s.

Modern San Dimas

San Dimas officially became a city in 1960. Today, it is known for its Western art and small-town feel. It is also known for its horse-riding activities. In the 1990s, San Dimas hosted the Miss Rodeo California State Pageant. This event was part of the city's Western Days and Rodeo.

In 1971, the city bought the San Dimas Golf Course. The San Dimas Community Hospital opened in 1972. In 1981, the San Dimas Swim and Racquet Club was built.

Geography of San Dimas

San Dimas is a suburb of Los Angeles County. It is located near the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. The city is about 28 miles (45 km) east of downtown Los Angeles. It is also north of the Pacific Ocean.

The city covers about 15.4 square miles (39.9 km2). About 0.39 square miles (1.01 km2) of this area is water. Cinnamon Creek flows through the city. It runs near Arrow Highway and goes to Cinnamon Falls.

Transportation in San Dimas

San Dimas is located along historic U.S. Route 66. Other important roads include Arrow Highway and San Dimas Avenue. The Foothill Freeway (I-210) connects the city to Pasadena. California State Route 57 connects to Orange County and the beaches.

The Los Angeles Metro Rail A Line train is being extended to Pomona. This extension includes a San Dimas station. The station is currently being built. It is expected to open in early 2025.

Climate in San Dimas

San Dimas has hot and dry summers. The average monthly temperature is not above 71.6°F (22°C). This type of weather is called a warm-summer Mediterranean climate.

People of San Dimas

Population Changes Over Time

Historical population
Census Pop.
1970 15,692
1980 24,014 53.0%
1990 32,397 34.9%
2000 34,980 8.0%
2010 33,371 −4.6%
2020 34,924 4.7%
2024 (est.) 33,226 −0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census
1860–1870 1880–1890
1900 1910 1920
1930 1940 1950
1960 1970 1980
1990 2000 2010
2020

San Dimas first appeared as a city in the 1970 U.S. Census.

San Dimas Today (2020 Census)

San Dimas 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) 21,381 17,448 14,275 61.12% 52.28% 40.87%
Black or African American alone (NH) 1,114 1,015 1,200 3.18% 3.04% 3.44%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 117 77 89 0.33% 0.23% 0.25%
Asian alone (NH) 3,216 3,381 4,868 9.19% 10.13% 13.94%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) 63 36 26 0.18% 0.11% 0.07%
Other race alone (NH) 53 61 196 0.15% 0.18% 0.56%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 873 862 1,325 2.50% 2.58% 3.79%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 8,163 10,491 12,945 23.34% 31.44% 37.07%
Total 34,980 33,371 34,924 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

The 2020 United States census showed that San Dimas had 34,924 people. There were 11,396 households. The population density was about 2,322 people per square mile (897 per km2).

The city's population was 49.5% White, 3.8% Black or African American, and 14.3% Asian. About 37.0% of the people were Hispanic or Latino.

About 20.4% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.9 people. The average family had 3.36 people. The median age in the city was 42 years. About 53.5% of the population was female.

The median income for a household was $90,234. For families, it was $110,969. About 8.8% of the people lived below the poverty line.

Most people (58.1%) in San Dimas were employed. The average commute to work was 33.3 minutes. Most people (74.9%) drove alone to work.

Things to Do in San Dimas

Fun Places to Visit

  • Raging Waters Los Angeles: This is one of California's biggest water parks.
  • The Pacific Railroad Museum: You can find this museum and library in the old ATSF San Dimas Depot. It is run by the Pacific Railroad Society.
  • Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park: A large park with many outdoor activities.
  • San Dimas Dog Park: A place for dogs to play.
  • San Dimas Canyon Natural Area and Nature Center: This was the first nature center in Los Angeles County. It opened in the 1950s. You can learn about local animals and the area's history here.

Local Businesses

  • Headquarters of Magellan Navigation: This company was a leader in global positioning system (GPS) technology.
  • Headquarters of Curative: This healthcare company became well-known for its COVID-19 testing and COVID-19 vaccinations.

City Government

In the California State Legislature, San Dimas is part of the 25th Senate District and the 41st Assembly District.

For the United States House of Representatives, San Dimas is in the 31st Congressional District.

Education in San Dimas

Most students in San Dimas attend schools in the Bonita Unified School District. Many go to San Dimas High School. Some students in the Via Verde neighborhood attend South Hills High School. A few students go to schools in the Charter Oak Unified School District.

The city is also home to Life Pacific College. This college is connected to the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. It offers different college degrees.

City Services

Law Enforcement

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department provides police services for San Dimas. They operate the San Dimas Station.

Fire Department

The Los Angeles County Fire Department protects the city from fires.

Health Care

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services runs the Pomona Health Center. This center serves most of San Dimas. Some parts of the city are served by the Monrovia Health Center.

Famous People from San Dimas

Many notable people have lived in or have a connection to San Dimas.

  • Ewell Blackwell: A baseball player for the Cincinnati Reds.
  • Shannan Click: A fashion model.
  • Jamie Dantzscher: A gymnast who competed in the 2000 Olympics.
  • Bill Dwyre: A columnist for the Los Angeles Times.
  • D.J. Hackett: A wide receiver in football.
  • Ashley Hatch: A soccer player for the U.S. national team.
  • Christian Jimenez: A soccer player for Real Salt Lake.
  • Ian Johnson: A football player for the Detroit Lions.
  • Derek Klena: An actor known for musicals like Anastasia.
  • Peter Lambert: A baseball player for the Colorado Rockies.
  • Lela Lee: An actress and comic book writer.
  • Alex Morgan: A soccer player for the U.S. national team.
  • Wayne Moses: A football coach for many teams, including USC and UCLA.
  • Bre Payton: A writer for The Federalist.
  • Chris Pettit: A baseball player for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
  • P. J. Pilittere: A Major League Baseball coach.
  • Brett Pill: A Major League Baseball player.
  • Jeremy Reed: A baseball player for the New York Mets.
  • Esther Snyder: Co-founder of In-N-Out Burger.
  • Guy Snyder: Former president of In-N-Out Burger.
  • Harry Snyder: Co-founder of In-N-Out Burger.
  • Lynsi Snyder: The current owner of In-N-Out Burger.
  • Rich Snyder: Former president of In-N-Out Burger.
  • J. J. Spaun: A professional golfer.
  • Horace Jeremiah "Jerry" Voorhis: A U.S. Representative and founder of a school for boys.
  • Adam Wylie: An actor known for the TV series Picket Fences.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: San Dimas (California) para niños

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