San Marino, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
San Marino, California
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.jpg)  ,_San_Marino.jpg) Counter-Clockwise: Huntington Library, Huntington Gardens, El Molino Viejo.
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Location of San Marino in Los Angeles County, California
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 San Marino, California
Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
San Marino, California
Location in California
San Marino, California
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | Los Angeles |
| Incorporated | April 25, 1913 |
| Named for | Republic of San Marino |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council Manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.77 sq mi (9.77 km2) |
| • Land | 3.77 sq mi (9.75 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) 0.18% |
| Elevation | 564 ft (172 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 12,513 |
| • Density | 3,319/sq mi (1,280.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP codes |
91108, 91118
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| Area code | 626 |
| FIPS code | 06-68224 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1652789 |
San Marino is a city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. It became an official city on April 25, 1913. In 2020, the city had a population of 12,513 people. This number was a bit lower than its population in 2010.
Contents
History of San Marino
How San Marino Got Its Name
The city of San Marino, California, is named after the ancient Republic of San Marino. This small country is in Europe, on the Italian Peninsula. It was founded by Saint Marinus in 301 A.D. He fled his home in modern-day Croatia to escape the persecution of Christians. He built a chapel on Monte Titano, which grew into the world's oldest surviving republic.
The city's official seal in California looks like the one from the Republic of San Marino. It shows three towers with bronze plumes. The crown on the original seal was replaced with five stars. These stars represent the five members of San Marino, California's city government.
In 2013, the city celebrated its 100th birthday. A special book called San Marino, A Centennial History was published. It won an award for its great historical leadership.
Early Days of San Marino
Long ago, the area where San Marino is now was home to the Tongva people. Their village was near where the Huntington School stands today. This land was also part of the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel's property. The "Old Mill" was actually the Mission's grist mill, used for grinding grain.
In 1838, a large piece of land was given to Victoria Bartolmea Reid, a Tongva woman. She called her property Rancho Huerta de Cuati. Later, in 1854, she sold it to Don Benito Wilson. In 1873, Wilson gave about 500 acres (2.0 km2) to his son-in-law, James DeBarth Shorb. Shorb named this land "San Marino" after his grandfather's plantation in Maryland. That plantation was also named after the Republic of San Marino in Europe.
In 1903, Henry E. Huntington bought the Shorb rancho. He built a large mansion there. Today, this area is home to the Huntington Library. It has a famous art collection, a library with rare books, and beautiful botanical gardens. In 1913, several ranchos and smaller areas joined together to form the city of San Marino.
The first mayor of San Marino was George Smith Patton. His son, George S. Patton, Junior, became a famous general in World War II.
Over the years, many different groups of people have moved to San Marino. Today, people of Chinese and Taiwanese backgrounds make up more than 60% of the population. This is partly because the city is in the San Gabriel Valley, which is a popular place for East Asian immigrants.
Geography and Location
San Marino is located in the San Rafael Hills. The city has strict rules about how land can be used and how houses can be built. This helps keep the city's unique look. Most homes were built between 1920 and 1950.
The city covers about 3.8 square miles (9.8 km2), and almost all of it is land. San Marino also has strict rules for businesses. For example, commercial vehicles need special permits to work in the city.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 584 | — | |
| 1930 | 3,730 | 538.7% | |
| 1940 | 8,175 | 119.2% | |
| 1950 | 11,230 | 37.4% | |
| 1960 | 13,658 | 21.6% | |
| 1970 | 14,177 | 3.8% | |
| 1980 | 13,307 | −6.1% | |
| 1990 | 12,959 | −2.6% | |
| 2000 | 12,945 | −0.1% | |
| 2010 | 13,147 | 1.6% | |
| 2020 | 12,513 | −4.8% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 12,039 | −8.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
San Marino's Population in 2020
The 2020 United States census showed that San Marino had 12,513 residents. This was a slight decrease from 13,147 people in 2010.
Most residents in 2020 were Asian Americans, making up 64.4% of the population. White Americans were the second-largest group at 35.8%. About 7.1% of residents identified as Hispanic or Latino American.
The largest age group was 15-19 year olds. Most residents, 79.1%, were 18 years old or older.
In 2020, the average household income in San Marino was $174,253. About 9.0% of the population lived below the federal poverty line. Homes in San Marino are quite expensive, with an average price of $2,699,098.
San Marino's Population in 2010
In 2010, San Marino had 13,147 people. The population density was about 3,483 people per square mile (1,345/km2). The racial makeup included 41.3% White and 53.5% Asian. About 6.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Most people, 99.4%, lived in homes with their families. There were 4,330 households in total. About 42% of these households had children under 18 living there. The average household had 3.02 people.
The population was spread out by age. About 26% of people were under 18. The median age was 45.3 years.
Most homes, 91.4%, were owned by the people living in them. The average household income in 2010 was $131,758. About 5.4% of the population lived below the federal poverty line.
Arts and Culture in San Marino
Famous Places to Visit
San Marino is home to the amazing Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. In 1919, Henry E. Huntington first allowed people to see his collections. The Huntington's library has millions of manuscripts and rare books. Its art collections are in a large mansion and feature European and American art. The botanical gardens cover about 120 acres (0.49 km2) and have many different themed gardens. It's often called "The Huntington."
El Molino Viejo ("The Old Mill") is also in San Marino. It was built around 1816 as a mill for the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel. It is the oldest commercial building in Southern California.
The Edwin Hubble House was the home of Edwin Hubble from 1925 to 1953. He was a famous astronomer who discovered that galaxies are moving away from each other. This house is now a National Historic Landmark.
The Michael White Adobe House is on the campus of San Marino High School. It holds historical records for the San Marino Historical Society.
The University of Southern California (USC) has a house in San Marino. It is where the university president lives and is used for many university events.
Near City Hall, you can see the Centennial Clock. The Rotary Club of San Marino gave it to the city in 2005. It has a time capsule inside that will be opened in 2039.
In the middle of San Marino is Lacy Park, a 30-acre (0.12 km2) park with grass and trees. The city bought the land in 1925. It's one of the few parks that charges a small fee for non-residents on weekends. The park has picnic areas, tennis courts, and walking paths. There is also a memorial to General George S. Patton and a memorial to the Armed Forces.
The local newspaper, The San Marino Tribune, has been serving the city since 1929. It covers news from San Marino and nearby cities.
Education in San Marino
San Marino has excellent schools. On September 9, 1913, the first school opened with three teachers and 35 students. High school students went to South Pasadena High School until San Marino High School was built in 1952. The high school's mascot, "The Titans," is named after Monte Titano in the Republic of San Marino.
San Marino High School has modern facilities like new labs and classrooms. The San Marino Unified School District is known for being one of the best school districts in California. It has been ranked as the top unified school district for many years.
The San Marino Schools Foundation helps raise money for the schools. This money helps balance the district's budget.
There are four public schools in the San Marino Unified School District:
- Valentine Elementary School (grades K-5)
- Carver Elementary School (grades K-5)
- Huntington Middle School (grades 6–8)
- San Marino High School (grades 9–12)
Huntington Middle School is named after Henry E. Huntington, a very important person in San Marino's history.
Private Schools in San Marino
- Southwestern Academy is a private school founded in 1924. Its main building, Pioneer Hall, was once the home of Governor George Stoneman.
- Saints Felicitas and Perpetua School is a Catholic school for grades K-8. It was completed in 1950.
Media and News
The city has two weekly community newspapers:
- The San Marino Tribune
- The San Marino Outlook
City Services
The city is protected by the San Marino Police Department. The Crowell Public Library opened in 2008, providing a great resource for residents.
Notable People from San Marino
- Lee Baca, former sheriff of Los Angeles County
- John Bryson, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce
- Henry Bumstead, Oscar-winning production designer
- Drucilla Cornell, author and professor
- Peter B. Dervan, awarded the National Medal of Science in Chemistry
- Darren Dreifort, former MLB pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers
- James G. Ellis, dean at the USC Marshall School of Business
- Jim Gott, former MLB pitcher
- Pat Haden, former USC athletic director and pro quarterback
- John Hart, actor
- Stephen Hillenburg, creator of SpongeBob SquarePants
- Edwin Hubble, famous astronomer
- Henry E. Huntington, founder of The Huntington Library
- Jaime Jarrín, Spanish-language broadcaster for the Los Angeles Dodgers
- Jane Kaczmarek, actress
- Howard Kazanjian, film producer for Raiders of the Lost Ark
- Herman Leonard, jazz photographer
- Thomas Mack, former NFL player for the Los Angeles Rams
- Robert A. Millikan, Nobel Prize winner in Physics
- Nancy O'Dell, television personality
- Merlin Olsen, former NFL player and actor
- Stephan Pastis, comic artist
- George S. Patton Sr., first mayor of San Marino
- George S. Patton Jr., World War II general
- Steven B. Sample, former president of USC
- Tim Sloan, former CEO of Wells Fargo
- Joachim Splichal, chef and founder of Patina Restaurant Group
- George Stoneman, former governor of California
- Bradley Whitford, actor
- Joseph Wambaugh, writer
- Ahmed H. Zewail, Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry
Activities in San Marino
- Lacy Park - A large park with walking paths and green spaces.
- Huntington Library - A popular library with rare books and art.
- Huntington Gardens - Beautiful botanical gardens to explore.
- El Molino Viejo - A historic old mill.
- San Marino Bridge - A famous bridge in the city.
- San Marino Cafe - A local restaurant.
- Colonial Kitchen - Another restaurant option.
- Julienne Fine Foods - A grocery store.
- Pizzanista - A pizza restaurant.
- Tony’s Pizza - Another pizza place.
- Noodle World - A restaurant serving noodles.
Images for kids
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Huntington Art Gallery
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Rose Garden Temple of Love at Huntington Library
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El Molino Viejo (The Old Mill)
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Location of San Marino in Los Angeles County
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See also
In Spanish: San Marino (California) para niños
