San Dimas, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
San Dimas, California
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City Hall (2017)
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Location within California and Los Angeles County
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  California |
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| County | Los Angeles | |
| Incorporated | August 4, 1960 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | City council/city manager | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 15.43 sq mi (39.96 km2) | |
| • Land | 15.04 sq mi (38.95 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.39 sq mi (1.01 km2) 2.53% | |
| Elevation | 955 ft (291 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 34,924 | |
| • Estimate
(2021)
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34,064 | |
| • Density | 2,322.07/sq mi (896.64/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) | |
| ZIP code |
91773
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| 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 term meaning "Saint Dismas". Saint Dismas is a figure from the Bible.
In 2020, about 34,924 people lived in San Dimas. The city got its name from San Dimas Canyon. This canyon is in the San Gabriel Mountains north of where the city is today.
San Dimas is surrounded by mountains and other cities. To the north are the San Gabriel Mountains. To the west are Glendora and Covina. La Verne is to its north and east. Pomona is to its south and east. Walnut and Ramona are to the southwest. There is also a small area called West San Dimas inside the city.
Contents
History of San Dimas
The first Europeans explored this area in 1774. Juan Bautista de Anza traveled through on his way from Mexico to Monterey Bay. The land was first developed in 1837. This happened when the Mexican government gave a large piece of land, called a land grant, to Ygnacio Palomares and Ricardo Vejar. This land was called Rancho San Jose and was part of Alta California (which is now California).
The area was known as La Cienega Mud Springs. It got this name because of mud springs that formed a marsh. Palomares and Vejar raised sheep and cattle on their ranch. They also grew crops for their families. In the early 1860s, a bad drought killed many of their animals. Ygnacio Palomares died in 1864. His wife started selling parts of the ranch in 1865. Vejar lost his share because he couldn't pay his debts. Two merchants bought his land in 1864. In 1866, they sold the ranch to Louis Phillips.
In 1887, the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley Railroad arrived. This railroad was later bought by the Santa Fe Railroad. When the railroad came, La Cienega Mud Springs was mapped for the first time. A company called the San Jose Ranch Company planned out streets. Soon, small businesses opened. The city then got its new name: San Dimas.
San Dimas grew quickly and became a farming town. Farmers first planted Wheat and other crops like those grown in the Midwestern United States. Later, orange and lemon groves covered the town and the San Gabriel Valley. At one time, San Dimas had four citrus packing houses. It also had a marmalade factory. The famous Sunkist name started here, first spelled "Sunkissed." Oranges were the main crop and business in San Dimas until the mid-1900s.
San Dimas officially became a city in 1960. Today, it is known for its Western art, small-town feel, and 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. In 1972, the San Dimas Community Hospital opened. It had 92 beds for patients. In 1981, the San Dimas Swim and Racquet Club was built next to San Dimas High School.
Geography and Climate
San Dimas is a suburb of Los Angeles County. It is located at the base 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 United States Census Bureau says the city covers 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 reaches Cinnamon Falls near San Dimas Avenue.
San Dimas is located along and south of historic U.S. Route 66. This road helped the city grow in the early 1900s. Other important roads include Arrow Highway (east to west) and San Dimas Avenue (north to south). The Foothill Freeway (I-210) connects the city to Pasadena and the San Fernando Valley. California State Route 57 connects San Dimas to Orange County and the beaches.
Local Climate
San Dimas has hot and dry summers. The average monthly temperature does not go above 71.6°F (22°C). This type of weather is called a warm-summer Mediterranean climate.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| 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% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 34,064 | 2.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 Census Information
The 2020 United States Census showed that San Dimas had 34,924 people. There were 11,396 households. The city had 13,033 housing units. The population density was about 2,322 people per square mile (897 per km²).
Here's a look at the different groups of people living in San Dimas:
- 49.5% White (40.8% were non-Hispanic White)
- 3.8% Black or African American
- 1.1% Native American
- 14.3% Asian
- 0.1% Pacific Islander
- 12.4% from other races
- 18.6% from two or more races
People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 37.0% of the population.
Of the households, 20.4% had children under 18. About 52.6% were married couples. About 26.9% had a female head of household with no spouse. Around 28.2% of all households were single people. The average household had 2.9 people. The average family had 3.36 people.
The age breakdown in the city was:
- 20.4% were under 18 years old (4.9% were 5 and under).
- 79.6% were over 18 years old.
- 19.2% were over 65 years old.
- The median age was 42 years old.
- 53.5% of the population was female.
The median income for a household in San Dimas was $90,234. For families with a married couple, the median income was $124,368. For all families, it was $110,969. About 8.8% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 6.9% of children and 11.3% of adults.
About 58.1% of people in San Dimas were employed. The average travel time to work was 33.3 minutes. Most people (74.9%) drove alone. Others carpooled (11.2%), used public transport (1.7%), or walked (1.7%). About 8.4% of people worked from home.
Fun Things to Do in San Dimas
Popular Attractions
- Raging Waters Los Angeles: This is one of California's biggest water parks.
- The Pacific Railroad Museum: This museum and library is 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 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 the Los Angeles County Park system. It opened in the 1950s. Visitors can learn about local animals and the area's history.
Local Businesses
- Headquarters of Magellan Navigation: This company was a leader in the global positioning system (GPS) industry.
- Headquarters of Curative: This healthcare company became known for its COVID-19 testing and COVID-19 vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Education in San Dimas
Most students in San Dimas attend schools in the Bonita Unified School District. They go to San Dimas High School. Students in the Via Verde neighborhood attend South Hills High School. This school is part of the Covina-Valley Unified School District. A small number of students go to schools in the Charter Oak Unified School District.
San Dimas is also home to Life Pacific College. This college is connected to the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. It offers college degrees.
City Services
Transportation
The Los Angeles Metro Rail A Line is being extended to Pomona. This new line will include a San Dimas station. The station is currently being built and should open in early 2025.
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 provides fire protection services for the city of San Dimas.
Famous People from San Dimas
Many notable people have lived in, were born in, or have a strong connection to San Dimas.
- Ewell Blackwell: A baseball player for the Cincinnati Reds (Born/Raised).
- Shannan Click: A fashion model (Born/Raised).
- Jamie Dantzscher: A gymnast who competed in the 2000 Olympics (Born/Raised).
- Bill Dwyre: A columnist for the Los Angeles Times (Resident).
- D.J. Hackett: A wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers (Born/Raised).
- Ashley Hatch: A soccer player for the U.S. national team (Born/Raised).
- Christian Jimenez: A soccer player for Real Salt Lake (Born/Raised).
- Ian Johnson: A football player for the Detroit Lions (Born/Raised).
- Derek Klena: An actor known for Broadway shows like Anastasia (Born/Raised).
- Peter Lambert: A baseball player for the Colorado Rockies (Born/Raised).
- Lela Lee: An actress and comic book writer (Born/Raised).
- Alex Morgan: A soccer player for the U.S. national team (Born/Raised).
- Wayne Moses: A football coach for many college and NFL teams (Born/Raised).
- Bre Payton: A writer for The Federalist (Born/Raised).
- Chris Pettit: A baseball player for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Los Angeles Dodgers (Born/Raised).
- P. J. Pilittere: A Major League Baseball coach for the Colorado Rockies (Born/Raised).
- Brett Pill: A Major League Baseball player for the San Francisco Giants (Born/Raised).
- Jeremy Reed: A baseball player for the New York Mets (Born/Raised).
- Esther Snyder: Co-founder of In-N-Out Burger (Resident).
- Guy Snyder: Former president of In-N-Out Burger (Born/Raised).
- Harry Snyder: Co-founder of In-N-Out Burger (Resident).
- Lynsi Snyder: Owner of In-N-Out Burger (Born/Raised).
- Rich Snyder: Former president of In-N-Out Burger (Born/Raised).
- J. J. Spaun: A professional golfer (Born/Raised).
- Horace Jeremiah "Jerry" Voorhis: A U.S. Representative and founder of Voorhis School for Boys (Connection to history).
- Adam Wylie: An actor known for the TV show Picket Fences (Born/Raised).
See also
In Spanish: San Dimas (California) para niños
