San Fernando (Spanish for "St. Ferdinand") is a general-law city in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles County, California, in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. It is an enclave in the City of Los Angeles. As of the 2020 census the population of San Fernando was 23,946.

History

Prior to the arrival of Spanish missionaries and soldiers, the area of San Fernando was in the northwestern extent of Tovaangar, or the homelands of the Tongva. The nearby village of Pasheeknga was a major site for the Tongva, being the most populous village in the San Fernando Valley at the time. The homelands of the Tataviam could be found to the north and the Chumash to the west.

Spanish colonial period The Mission San Fernando Rey de España (named after St. Ferdinand) was founded in 1797 at the site of Achooykomenga, an agricultural rancho established by Juan Francisco Reyes for Pueblo de Los Ángeles worked by Ventureño Chumash, Fernandeño (Tongva), and Tataviam laborers.

In 1833, the mission was secularized by the Mexican government. During its time as a mission, 1,367 native children were baptized at San Fernando, of which 965 died in childhood. The high death rate of children and adults at the missions sometimes led those kept at the mission to run away.

Rancho land grant In 1846, the area became part of the Mexican land grant of Rancho Ex-Mission San Fernando. In 1874, Charles Maclay, bought of the Rancho.

In 1882, cousins George K. Porter and Benjamin F. Porter, of future Porter Ranch, each received one-third of the total land. In 1885, Maclay founded the Maclay School of Theology, a Methodist seminary in San Fernando. After his death it became an affiliate and moved to the campus of the University of Southern California and then the Claremont School of Theology.

In August 1911, a motion to incorporate as an independent city passed by eight votes. While most of the towns in the surrounding San Fernando Valley agreed to annexation by Los Angeles in the 1910s, eager to tap the bountiful water supply provided by the newly opened Los Angeles Aqueduct, San Fernando's abundant groundwater supplies allowed it to remain a separate city.

Geography and climate

San Fernando is completely surrounded by the city of Los Angeles, with the neighborhoods of Sylmar to the north, Lake View Terrace to the east, Pacoima to the south, and Mission Hills to the west. It is served by the Golden State (Interstate 5), Foothill (Interstate 210), Ronald Reagan (State Route 118), and San Diego (Interstate 405) freeways.

Demographics

San Fernando first appeared as a city in the 1920 U.S. census which was coterminous with the now defunct San Fernando Township.

Racial and ethnic composition +San Fernando city, California – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010White alone (NH)5,0363,3221,8551,2591,23428.40%14.71%7.87%5.32%5.15%Black or African American alone (NH)1042061761462820.59%0.91%0.75%0.62%1.18%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)916512266660.51%0.29%0.52%0.28%0.28%Asian alone (NH)1592322091923530.90%1.03%0.89%0.81%1.47%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)719110.03%0.08%0.05%Other race alone (NH)122721614760.69%0.32%0.07%0.06%0.32%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)xx14182154xx0.60%0.35%0.64%Hispanic or Latino (any race)12,21918,68321,03821,86721,77068.91%82.74%89.28%92.48%90.91%Total17,73122,58023,56423,64523,946100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020 census As of the 2020 census, San Fernando had a population of 23,946. The median age was 35.4 years. 23.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 11.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.0 males age 18 and over. San Fernando had a population density of 10,086.80/sq miles or 26,124.69/km2.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 6,358 households in San Fernando, of which 46.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.5% were married-couple households, 16.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 13.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 6,503 housing units, of which 2.2% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 1.3%.

Other demographics The City of San Fernando's Annual Report states that the median household income was $77,334 with a total of 6,504 households. City of San Fernando 2022 Annual Report The same report states that 73.1% of residents speak a language other than English at home, that 71.2% of residents speak Spanish at home, and 28.1% of residents have limited English-speaking abilities.

2010 census At the 2010 census San Fernando had a population of 23,645. The population density was . The racial makeup of San Fernando was 12,068 (51.0%) White (5.3% Non-Hispanic White), 'United States Census Bureau 222 (0.9%) African American, 314 (1.3%) Native American, 248 (1.0%) Asian, 33 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 9,877 (41.8%) from other races, and 883 (3.7%) from two or more races. There were 21,687 Hispanic or Latino residents, of any race (92.5%).

The census reported that 23,531 people (99.5% of the population) lived in households, 46 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 68 (0.3%) were institutionalized.

There were 5,967 households, 3,247 (54.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,282 (55.0%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,098 (18.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 592 (9.9%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 476 (8.0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 34 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 731 households (12.3%) were one person and 295 (4.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.94. There were 4,972 families (83.3% of households); the average family size was 4.18.

The age distribution was 6,941 people (29.4%) under the age of 18, 2,659 people (11.2%) aged 18 to 24, 7,132 people (30.2%) aged 25 to 44, 4,920 people (20.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,993 people (8.4%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 30.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.

There were 6,291 housing units at an average density of 2,649.9 per square mile, of the occupied units 3,252 (54.5%) were owner-occupied and 2,715 (45.5%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.9%. 13,425 people (56.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 10,106 people (42.7%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, San Fernando had a median household income of $55,192, with 16.9% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2000 census At the 2000 census there were 23,564 people in 5,774 households, including 4,832 families, in the city. The population density was . There were 5,932 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 42.76% White, 0.98% African American, 1.69% Native American, 1.12% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 49.35% from other races, and 3.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 89.28%.

Of the 5,774 households 52.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.1% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.3% were non-families. 12.4% of households were one person and 5.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 4.07 and the average family size was 4.33.

The age distribution was 34.4% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 15.0% from 45 to 64, and 7.0% 65 or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.9 males.

The median household income was $39,909 and the median family income was $40,138. Males had a median income of $26,068 versus $22,599 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,485. 15.3% of families and 19.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.5% of those under age 18 and 15.6% of those age 65 or over. Economy

Top employers

According to the City of San Fernando's 2022 annual report, [Page 5] San Fernando Annual 2022 Report the top ten employers in the city (not including the city itself as an employer) are:

# Employer # of Employees 1Los Angeles Unified School District21452Pharmavite LLC3433Pepsi Bottling Company3204Home Depot3005County of Los Angeles2506PureTek1967Production Resource Group LLC1518Northeast Valley Health Group1509Vallarta Supermarkets14410Ricon Corp118

As of 2021, the City of San Fernando has a total labor force of 11,000 with 3,943 (35.85%) working for the top ten employers listed. The City of San Fernando also employs 132 people as of 2021.https://ci.san-fernando.ca.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/ACFR-FY-2020-2021.pdf[Page 149]

Arts and culture The city hosts public celebrations such as July 4 festivities and summer movie nights in city parks. Mexican-American culture is prevalent and the city hosts Día de los Muertos festivals and community classes teaching "Aztec" and Folklórico dances.

Sport This city is home to an ulama team, Oceyolotl de San Fernando Valley, who play ulama de cadera in the AJUPEME USA league.

Parks and recreation The San Fernando Recreation and Community Services (RCS) Department maintains multiple parks and recreation centers in the city and provides residents with recreational amenities, programs and services. Various social clubs cater to senior residents providing them with crafting and gardening programs and social events. +List of city parks in San FernandoNameAddressNotesCasa de López Adobe1100 Pico StreetSmall park on a historic siteCésar E. Chávez Memorial ParkWolfskilll Street & Truman StreetMemorial park honoring César E. Chávez at an entrance to the cityLas Palmas Park505 South Huntington StreetNeighborhood park with sports and recreational facilitiesLayne Park120 North Huntington StreetSmall neighborhood park with recreational facilitiesPioneer Park828 Harding StreetNeighborhood park with sports facilitiesRudy Ortega Sr. Park2025 Fourth StreetNeighborhood park with walking trails and a tea houseSan Fernando Recreation Park208 Park Avenue San Fernando Regional Park; includes sports facilities and a recreation centerSan Fernando Regional Pool300 Park AvenuePublic pools adjacent to the San Fernando Recreation ParkCindy Montañez Natural Park801 8th StreetFormerly Pacoima Wash Natural Park; built by the MRCA with walking trails and a picnic area

Government

Municipal government

The City of San Fernando is governed by a city council. Members of the City Council are elected at-large and serve four year terms. The mayor is appointed every year, on a rotating basis, by a majority vote of the council. The Council meets on the first and third Monday of each month at 6:00 pm in the Council Chambers.

State and federal representation In the California State Legislature, San Fernando is in , and in .

In the United States Senate, San Fernando is represented by California's senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff.California Senators accessed November 7, 2018 In the United States House of Representatives, San Fernando is in .

Education

San Fernando is served by the Los Angeles Unified School District.https://ci.san-fernando.ca.us/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Zoning-Map.pdf elementary and middle schools in the city limits are on this map

San Fernando is served by the following LAUSD schools: O'Melveny Elementary School Morningside Elementary School