La Verne, California

History

The history of the area dates back to the 1830s when Ygnacio Palomares received the 15,000-acre (61 km²) Rancho San Jose land grant from Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado in 1837. The land included the present day cities Pomona, Claremont, San Dimas, Glendora, and La Verne. The adobe which Palomares built in 1837 is still preserved in Pomona as La Casa Primera de Rancho San Jose (The First House). Palomares soon moved a mile or so northeast and constructed the Ygnacio Palomares Adobe. He ensured that a nephew, Jose Dolores Palomares, secured a tract of land a mile west. In the mid-1880s, entrepreneur Isaac W. Lord purchased a tract of Jose Palomares' land and convinced the Santa Fe Railroad company to run its line across towards Los Angeles. Lord had the land surveyed for building lots and in 1887 had a large land sale, naming the new town 'Lordsburg' after himself. He also had a large Lordsburg Hotel constructed, but the land boom was over by the time it was completed. It sat empty for several years, until sold to four members of the German Baptist Brethren Church, who persuaded others of that denomination that it would be an excellent site for a new institution of higher learning. Lordsburg College was founded in 1891. In 1906 the town was incorporated as "La Verne." Residents grew field crops, then began planting citrus trees, which flourished. Lordsburg became known as the "Heart of the Orange Empire." The city of La Verne flourished as a center of the citrus industry until after World War II, when the citrus industry slowly faded away. Today the last two orange groves are on the grounds of the La Verne Mansion and Heritage Park.

Geography

La Verne is a suburb 30 miles (48 km) east of Los Angeles, located in the Pomona Valley below the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.562 square miles (22.18 km²).

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, La Verne has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.

2010

The 2010 United States Census reported that La Verne had a population of 31,063. The population density was 3,628.0 people per square mile (1,400.8/km²). The racial makeup of La Verne was 23,057 (74.2%) White (55.4% Non-Hispanic White), 1,065 (3.4%) African American, 265 (0.9%) Native American, 2,381 (7.7%) Asian, 61 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 2,822 (9.1%) from other races, and 1,412 (4.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9,635 persons (31.0%).

The Census reported that 30,387 people (97.8% of the population) lived in households, 501 (1.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 175 (0.6%) were institutionalized.

There were 11,261 households, out of which 3,582 (31.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 6,286 (55.8%) were married couples living together, 1,438 (12.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 489 (4.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 420 (3.7%) unmarried couples living together, and 74 (0.7%) homosexuual partners living together. 2,517 households (22.4%) were made up of individuals and 1,429 (12.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70. There were 8,213 families (72.9% of all households); the average family size was 3.16.

The population was spread out with 6,605 people (21.3%) under the age of 18, 3,106 people (10.0%) aged 18 to 24, 6,678 people (21.5%) aged 25 to 44, 9,417 people (30.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 5,257 people (16.9%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.9 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.

There were 11,686 housing units at an average density of 1,364.9 per square mile (527.0/km²), of which 8,388 (74.5%) were owner-occupied, and 2,873 (25.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.4%. 22,995 people (74.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 7,392 people (23.8%) lived in rental housing units.

During 2009–2013, La Verne had a median household income of $77,040, with 7.9% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2000

As of the census of 2000, there were 31,638 people, 11,070 households, and 8,346 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,805.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,470.0/km²). There were 11,286 housing units at an average density of 1,357.6 per square mile (524.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.06% White, 3.21% African American, 0.64% Native American, 7.20% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 7.42% from other races, and 4.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.12% of the population.

There were 11,070 households out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.0% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.6% were non-families. 19.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the city, the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.

As of 2007, the median income for a household in the city was $75,444, and the median income for a family was $87,915. The per capita income for the city was $31,689. About 2.5% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

La Verne is located in the 5th district of Los Angeles County, and is represented by supervisor Michael D. Antonovich.

In the state legislature, La Verne is in the 25th Senate District, represented by Democrat Anthony Portantino, and in the 41st Assembly District, represented by Democrat Chris Holden.

In the United States House of Representatives, La Verne is in California's 32nd congressional district, represented by Democrat Grace Napolitano.

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Pomona Health Centre in Pomona, serving La Verne.

Education

The University of La Verne is located on 3rd Street in La Verne.

The Bonita Unified School District serves the city. Bonita High School is located on D Street.

Lutheran High School is located on Fruit Street. Damien High School is a Catholic boys' school located at the intersection of Damien and Bonita Avenues. Calvary Baptist Schools is located at the intersection of Damien Avenue and Forestdale Street.

In popular culture

In the 1967 film The Graduate, the finale wedding scene was shot in La Verne (not Santa Barbara as presented in the movie) at the United Methodist Church of La Verne. There, Ben creates the well-known outburst, convincing Elaine to escape both the church and the life her parents planned for her. They run off onto a nearby bus (which travels southbound on D Street), not sure what they are going to do next.

Law enforcement

The La Verne Police Department provides law enforcement services for the city of La Verne.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department provides law enforcement services for the unincorporated communities of La Verne.

Fire Department

The La Verne Fire Department provides fire protection services for the city of La Verne.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department provides fire protection services for the unincorporated communities of La Verne.

Notable people