Wilmar, California facts for kids

Wilmar was once the name of a community in the San Gabriel Valley in California. It was located about eight miles east of downtown Los Angeles. In 1940, about 11,590 people lived there. Wilmar was not a city on its own; it was an "unincorporated district," meaning it was part of a larger county area and not governed by its own local city council.

Wilmar got its name from Wilmar, Arkansas. Many people from Arkansas, sometimes called "Arkies," moved to this area. They named their new home after their roots back in Arkansas.

How Wilmar Became South San Gabriel

In the early 1950s, Wilmar joined with two other nearby communities: Garvey (which was east of Wilmar) and Potrero Heights (which was south of Wilmar). Together, these areas became a new, larger unincorporated community called South San Gabriel.

Wilmar's Main Streets and Services

Wilmar had several important streets that ran through it. These included Del Mar Avenue, Graves Avenue, Hellman Avenue, Ramona Boulevard, and Garvey Avenue.

The community also had public services for its residents. There was a branch library from Los Angeles County, which meant people could borrow books and learn. Wilmar was also home to three schools that were part of the Garvey School District, helping to educate the children living there.

Wilmar's Changing Borders

Over time, most of the area that was once South San Gabriel (including much of what used to be Wilmar) became part of the city of Rosemead. This happened mostly in the mid-1960s.

However, not all of Wilmar joined Rosemead. Some parts were added to other nearby cities. For example, one section of Wilmar, located north of the San Bernardino Freeway, was annexed by the city of San Gabriel. A small part of the original Wilmar area still remains unincorporated today, meaning it's not part of any city.