The city of El Monte, CA

San Gabriel Valley Master Key Podcast

About The City of El Monte, CA

About El Monte, California

El Monte is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The city lies in the San Gabriel Valley and was first settled in 1851. It has a rich history of organized labor, with the El Monte Berry Strike of 1933 being one of the largest labor strikes to challenge the agricultural industry of Southern California.

 El Monte has a rich history of native peoples and culture to the Spanish colonization of the area. 

El Monte is beloved for strengthening its people and proved so by opening California Baptist College, founded in 1950. El Monte is a vibrant city with a diverse culture and history.

 

El Monte, CA FAQ

What is El Monte Known for?

El Monte was once referred to as “The End of the Santa Fe Trail,” and now the city’s vibrant transit history is a bustling transit hub. The state-of-the-art El Monte Bus Station, which connects the San Gabriel Valley to Downtown Los Angeles, is the largest west of Chicago.

What State is El Monte in?

El Monte is located in California and the San Gabriel Valley region.

Is El Monte urban or suburban?

With some light industry, the city is now a residential suburb of Los Angeles. In the latter half of the 20th century, El Monte’s population increased significantly as the urban region surrounding Los Angeles flourished.

Is El Monte considered LA County?

El Monte the ninth-largest city (out of 88) in Los Angeles County, with a population of over 120,000 and is situated about 12 miles east of the center of Los Angeles. El Monte is the San Gabriel Valley’s hub, where Interstates 605 and 10 cross.

Is El Monte a big city?

El Monte is about 9.65 square miles.

What city is El Monte close to?

In addition to Los Angeles, El Monte is near San Gabriel, Arcadia, West Puente Valley, and Baldwin Park.

El Monte Demographics

Age and Household Statistics in El Monte

Male Population: 57,511

Female Population: 56,406

El Monte Population: 113,917

Median Age: 35.6

Under 5 years old: approx. 6.3%

Under 18 years old: approx. 23.1%

Residents 65 or older: approx. 13.3%

Total Households: 29,077

Average People Per Household: 4

Marital Status Statistics 

Never Married: 38,872

Married: 42,724

Separated: 2,561

Widowed: 4,722

Divorced: 5,882

Racial Statistics (percentages) in El Monte

White: 25.9%

Black or African American: 0.6%

American Indian/Native American: 2.2%

Asian: 29.9%

Two or More Races: 12.0%

Hispanic or Latino: 65.0%

Income Statistics in El Monte

Average Household Income: $68,594

Median Household Income: $53,874

People below Poverty Level: 19,265

Blue Collar Positions: 18,297

White Collar Positions: 34,503

Education Level in El Monte

No High School: 18,836

Some High School: 37,210

Some College: 15,548

Associate Degree: 4,074

Bachelor’s Degree: 9,511

Graduate Degree: 1,786

  • El Monte is Spanish for “Super Mountain”
  • The city is known as the “End Of The Santa Fe Trail.”
  • “Welcome to Friendly El Monte” is the city slogan.
  • It was an important site from the New Deal in the 1930s as many immigrants from the Dust Bowl moved there.
  • El Monte is credited as the birthplace of variety TV Shows. In the 1950s, the Los Angeles-based show, Hometown Jamboree, was produced at the American Legion Stadium in El Monte.
  • El Monte Legion Stadium became the site of many rock and roll concerts in the 1950s when they were forced out of Los Angeles. 
  • The city is memorialized in the song “Memories of El Monte,” written by Frank Zappa.

Climate in El Monte

Mild, year-round Mediterranean climate:

80 F | 24 C average daytime

54 F | 12 C average nighttime

The summers are typically short; they feel warm and are particularly arid. 

El Monte has an average of 265 days of sunshine a year. 

The warmest season is from the end of June until mid-September, with temperatures between the 80s and 90s. 

The coolest season is from mid-November until mid-March. The average temperature in the cool time is between the 50s and mid-60s. The winters are also very mild. 

El Monte hardly ever has rain averaging only .2 inches per year, and virtually 0 snow. Most of its precipitation comes in the winter.

El Monte, CA Points of Interest

Santa Fe Trail Historical Park

Located at 3675 Santa Anita Ave, El Monte, CA 91731, it allows visitors to learn about pioneer-era history while enjoying the outdoors.

El Monte Historical Museum

Located at 3150 Tyler Ave, El Monte, CA 91731, the Museum has over 8500 square feet of space dedicated to the history and artifacts of El Monte. The Museum is open Monday through Thursday, 10 am to 4 pm.

The El Monte Art Walk

The El Monte Art in Public Places Program was developed to offer a collection of permanent outdoor artwork as a public benefit in the city.

The El Monte Aquatic Center

Located at 11001 Mildred St, El Monte, CA 91731, the aquatic center offers classes, programs, and sports throughout the year.

UAA Los Angeles Helicopter Tours

Located at 4233 Santa Anita Ave, El Monte, CA 91731, you can get panoramic views of El Monte. They are open from 8 am to 4 pm every day and offer helicopter rides of 25 – 30 minutes and 45 – 50 minutes.

La Historia Society Museum

Located at 3240 Tyler Ave, El Monte, CA 91731, visitors can see exhibitions that show the importance of the area’s history that has captured life in the past. It is open Sunday 1 pm to 4 pm, Monday from 9 am to 12 pm, and Thursday from 12 pm to 2 pm.