El Monte, California

About El Monte, California

El Monte is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The city lies in the San Gabriel Valley. 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.

History

El Monte 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. 

Demographic

Colleges

El Monte Education Center – Rio Hondo College

3017 Tyler Ave El Monte, CA 91731

Golden Bridge College

10423 Valley Blvd El Monte, CA 91731

Intech College

10012 Garvey Ave Ste 7, El Monte, CA 91733

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.

Notable People

The rich history of El Monte has produced several notable people that are proud to call El Monte their hometown. 

Actors/Actresses 

  • Timothy Carey, film and television actor
  • Glenn Corbett, actor
  • Virginia Gilmore, actress
  • Alexandra Hay, actress 
  • Emily Rios, Actress

 

Musicians

  • A.L.T., Chicano rapper
  • Mary Ford, vocalist and guitar musician

 

Athletics 

  • Cathy LeFrançois, IFBB professional bodybuilder 
  • Tom Morgan, Major League Baseball pitcher
  • Bill Piercy, Major League Baseball pitcher
  • Kim Rhode, Olympic shooter 
  • Willie Shoemaker, jockey

 

Writers

  • Cris Abrego, television producer
  • James Ellroy, author 
  • Salvador Plascencia, author

 

Politicians

  • Roger Hernández, politician
  • Andre Quintero, mayor 
  • Hilda Solis, politician 
  • Patricia A. Wallach, former mayor

Fun Facts

  • 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.

FAQs

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 is 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.