The City of Industry is a city in the San Gabriel Valley in eastern Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is almost entirely industrial, containing over 3,000 businesses employing 67,000 people, with only 264 residents as of the 2020 census, making it the third least populous city in the state. It was incorporated on June 18, 1957, and has become the economic hub for the San Gabriel Valley.
History
In 1841, William and Nicolasa Workman, who migrated from elsewhere in Mexico with John Rowland and others, received a land grant for Rancho La Puente from the governor of Alta California, Juan Bautista Alvarado. The ranch eventually grew to almost 49,000 acres. The Workmans quickly established themselves as cattle ranchers and did well financially during the Gold Rush, supplying fresh beef to the gold fields. Following the discovery of oil by their son on land they owned in the Montebello hills, the Workmans' grandson, Walter P. Temple, and his wife, Laura, bought the Workman House and surrounding land in 1917. This property is now known as the Workman and Temple Family Homestead Museum and is a museum and heritage site in present-day City of Industry that is free and open to the public. In the 1910s, Tract 1343 was created and shows a large portion of 2017's City boundaries.
In the late 19th and early 20th century, both the Southern Pacific and Union Pacific Railroad were built through the San Jose Creek valley in what is now Industry. The Union Pacific would establish a major railyard at the Marne siding in what is now Industry. Valley Boulevard, a major artery connecting Los Angeles with points east, was also laid through what would become the City of Industry. The presence of the railroads and Valley Boulevard would lead to the development of warehouses that became a large part of Industry's economy.
The City of Industry was incorporated as a charter city on June 18, 1957, after an election in the previous December where voters approved incorporation, with 118 in favor and 28 against.City of Industry Gains Approval, p. 25 A little under fifteen years from its incorporation, the City of Industry created a general plan as required by state law to guide its future development. The 1971 document remains in effect in an amended form as of 2020, nearly a half century later. The plan was overseen by planning consultants Gruen Associates, a firm established in 1950 by Austrian-born Victor Gruen, an architect and urban planner.
The city's first mayor, John Ferrero (1912–1996), was elected to the City Council at Industry's incorporation, and served in such capacity for 39 years, becoming the longest serving mayor in California.
The City of Industry was named for the goals and objectives section of the general plan which identified the primary goal of the city as "creating and maintaining an ideal setting for manufacturing, distribution and industrial facilities."
In 1962, the City of Industry Chamber of Commerce formed and in 1974, the Workman House became a historical landmark. In 1979/1980 a former landfill near Azusa Avenue was converted into the Industry Hills Golf Club, including a hotel and the Eisenhower golf course.Montgomery, David (Orange Coast Magazine - September 1980). "Industry Hills Erupts From a Former Refuse Site". In 1981, the Industry Hills Expo Center opened as a community multi-purpose event facility.
In 1985, the inaugural Charity Pro Rodeo took place, to raise funds for youth in the San Gabriel Valley. The Rodeo still takes place annually. In 1991, in partnership with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the Youth Activities League was formed to offer sports to at-risk children as an alternative to gang activity.
In recognition of the importance of mass transit, the city invested heavily in the development of a Metrolink transit station near the confluence of the 60 and 57 freeways and in 1993, the City of Industry Metrolink Station opened. In 2004, the Environmental Impact Report and Design for the 57/60 Confluence Project was completed. The three-phased program of improvements consists of ramp and interchange reconfigurations as well as the addition of bypass lanes to reduce weaving, resulting in less congestion for the sixth-worst congested and dangerous freeway interchange in the nation.
In the late 2000s, Edward P. Roski, part-owner of the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Kings, announced plans for a new NFL stadium in the City of Industry. The intended purpose was to attract a team to the Los Angeles region which was without any NFL team at the time. Roski, who built the Staples Center, stated that the new 75,000-seat stadium, a part of a 600-acre entertainment and retail project, would all be privately financed and be the centerpiece of a new entertainment complex in the City of Industry.Seifert, Kevin – Los Angeles developer seeks team for stadium. Real estate billionaire Ed Roski hopes to entice a team with stadium issues, such as the Vikings, to move in by 2011. Star Tribune, April 17, 2008Farmer, Sam – NFL in L.A. gets a new blueprint. Roski unveiling his plan for a stadium in the City of Industry, but is the league interested? Los Angeles Times, April 17, 2008 In June 2008, reports surfaced that the City of Industry could become the home of the San Francisco 49ers or the Oakland Raiders as early as 2010 when both teams' stadium leases expired, or could become home to another team.Niners, Raiders to move to Los Angeles? June 2, 2008 The project was cleared to begin construction, though it kept waiting on the negotiations of the NFL's commitment to move a team (or possibility two) to Los Angeles. The NFL eventually returned to the LA area, with the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers moving into SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
City of Industry will host the mountain bike competition at the 2028 Summer Olympics, with the competition taking place adjacent to the Pacific Palms Resort.LA28 Olympic Games: mountain bike to take place at City of Industry
Geography The City of Industry is located east of Los Angeles. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which of it is land and of it (2.32%) is water.
Surrounding areas West Puente Valley / La Puente / Valinda / South San Jose Hills / West Covina / Walnut El Monte / Baldwin Park Pomona South El Monte / Avocado Heights Diamond Bar Pico Rivera / Rose Hills Diamond Bar Hacienda Heights / Rowland Heights
Demographics
Industry first appeared as a city in the 1960 U.S. census. Prior to 1960, it was part of unincorporated El Monte and San Jose townships.
+Industry city, California – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010% 2000% 2010White alone (NH)209838226.90%37.90%31.06%Black or African American alone (NH)32184.12%0.46%3.03%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)13001.67%0.00%0.00%Asian alone (NH)3018333.86%8.22%12.50%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)0000.00%0.00%0.00%Other race alone (NH)0020.00%0.00%0.76%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)25293.22%0.91%3.41%Hispanic or Latino (any race)46811513060.23%52.51%49.24%Total777219264100.00%100.00%100.00%
2020 The 2020 United States census reported that Industry had a population of 264. The population density was . The racial makeup of Industry was 119 (45.1%) White, 9 (3.4%) African American, 0 (0.0%) Native American, 37 (14.0%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 55 (20.8%) from other races, and 44 (16.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 130 persons (49.2%).
The census reported that 152 people (57.6% of the population) lived in households, 16 (6.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 96 (36.4%) were institutionalized.
There were 57 households, out of which 21 (36.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 19 (33.3%) were married-couple households, 11 (19.3%) were cohabiting couple households, 13 (22.8%) had a female householder with no partner present, and 14 (24.6%) had a male householder with no partner present. 12 households (21.1%) were one person, and 3 (5.3%) were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.67. There were 40 families (70.2% of all households).
The age distribution was 50 people (18.9%) under the age of 18, 11 people (4.2%) aged 18 to 24, 55 people (20.8%) aged 25 to 44, 54 people (20.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 94 people (35.6%) who were 65years of age or older. The median age was 51.0years. For every 100 females, there were 82.1 males.
There were 74 housing units at an average density of , of which 57 (77.0%) were occupied. Of these, 9 (15.8%) were owner-occupied, and 48 (84.2%) were occupied by renters.
2010 At the 2010 census, the City of Industry had a population of 219. The population density was . The population was 58.9% White (37.9% Non-Hispanic White), 0.5% Black or African American, and 8.2% Asian. Hispanics or Latinos of any race made up 52.5% of the population.
The census reported that 214 people (98% of the population) lived in households, 5 (2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and none were institutionalized.
There were 69 households, 32 (46%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 37 (54%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 7 (10%) had a female householder with no husband present, 9 (13%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 3 (4%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 2 (3%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. Twelve households (17%) were one person and 6 (9%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.1. There were 53 families (77% of households); the average family size was 3.6.
The population was spread out by age with 59 people (27%) under the age of 18, 25 people (11%) aged 18 to 24, 51 people (23%) aged 25 to 44, 62 people (28%) aged 45 to 64, and 22 people (10%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 37.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.5 males.
There were 73 housing units at an average density of 6.1 per square mile, of the occupied units 22 (32%) were owner-occupied and 47 (68%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0%; the rental vacancy rate was 6%. Sixty-six people (30% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 148 people (68%) lived in rental housing units.
According to the 2010 United States Census, the City of Industry had a median household income of $49,329, with 1.0% of the population living below the federal poverty line.
Government and infrastructure
In the California State Legislature, the City of Industry is in , and in .
In the United States House of Representatives, the City of Industry is split between and .
The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Pomona Health Center in Pomona, serving Industry."Pomona Health Center." Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Retrieved on March 27, 2010.
The United States Postal Service City of Industry Post Office is located at 15559 Rausch Rd.
City of Industry's City Council members, composed of five members, are elected at large and the elections are held on a Tuesday after the first Monday in June of odd-numbered years.
Transportation The City of Industry is served by Metrolink’s Riverside Line which stops at Industry station. The Riverside Line offers service to Los Angeles Union Station and Riverside–Downtown station.
Emergency services The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department operates the Industry Station in the City of Industry." The Los Angeles County Fire Department provides Fire Suppression and Emergency Medical First Response Services from three stations. As of 2016 Care Ambulance is the Ambulance Provider for the City of Industry. Industry Station ." Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Retrieved on January 21, 2010.
Economy