La Crescenta-Montrose () is an unincorporated area in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The community is bordered by Glendale to the south and west, La Cañada Flintridge to the east, and Angeles National Forest to the north. According to the United States Census Bureau, the La Crescenta-Montrose Census-Designated Place (CDP) measures about , and the population was 19,997 at the 2020 census, up from 19,653 in 2010 and 18,532 in 2000.

Geography La Crescenta-Montrose encompasses those parts of the Crescenta Valley, northwestern San Rafael Hills, and northeastern Verdugo Mountains not within the cities of Glendale or La Cañada Flintridge. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined La Crescenta-Montrose as a CDP.

La Crescenta-Montrose is bordered on the north by the San Gabriel Mountains and Angeles National Forest, on the east by La Cañada Flintridge, on the south by the Verdugo Mountains and central Glendale, and the northwest by the Sunland-Tujunga community of Los Angeles. The Foothill Freeway (I-210) runs through the southern portion of the area. Climate Summers have highs of 90-100°F and lows of 60-70°F, and winters have highs of 60-70°F and lows of 35-45°F generally. It is cooler than Santa Clarita, California.

Demographics Racial and ethnic composition +La Crescenta-Montrose CDP, California – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010% 2000% 2010White alone (NH)12,41711,37610,46167.00%57.88%52.31%Black or African American alone (NH)831301390.45%0.66%0.70%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)4735260.25%0.18%0.13%Asian alone (NH)3,4415,3395,63218.57%27.17%28.16%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)59120.03%0.05%0.06%Other race alone (NH)1730860.09%0.15%0.43%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)6855029333.70%2.55%4.67%Hispanic or Latino (any race)1,8372,2322,7089.91%11.36%13.54%Total18,53219,65319,997100.00%100.00%100.00%

U.S. Census

La Crescenta-Montrose first appeared as an unincorporated community in the 1970 U.S. census; and as a census designated place in the 1980 United States census.

2020 census As of the 2020 census, La Crescenta-Montrose had a population of 19,997 and a population density of . The census reported that 99.9% of residents lived in households and 0.1% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, with none institutionalized. 100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 7,200 households, of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them; 59.4% were married-couple households, 3.5% were cohabiting couple households, 24.0% had a female householder with no partner present, and 13.1% had a male householder with no partner present. About 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78. There were 5,384 families (74.8% of all households).

The age distribution was 21.7% under the age of 18, 7.5% aged 18 to 24, 23.5% aged 25 to 44, 30.5% aged 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65years of age or older. The median age was 43.2years. For every 100 females, there were 92.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.4 males.

There were 7,452 housing units at an average density of , of which 3.4% were vacant. Of the 7,200 occupied units, 63.0% were owner-occupied and 37.0% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 2.2%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 11,070 55.4% Black or African American 155 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native 55 0.3% Asian 5,677 28.4% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 13 0.1% Some other race 846 4.2% Two or more races 2,181 10.9% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 2,708 13.5%

2010 census The 2010 United States census reported that La Crescenta-Montrose had a population of 19,653. The population density was . The racial makeup of La Crescenta-Montrose was 12,807 (65.2%) White (57.9% Non-Hispanic White), 142 (0.7%) African American, 70 (0.4%) Native American, 5,375 (27.3%) Asian, 12 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 533 (2.7%) from other races, and 714 (3.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2,232 persons (11.4%).

The Census reported that 19,652 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 1 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 7,088 households, out of which 2,700 (38.1%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 4,190 (59.1%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 784 (11.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 298 (4.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 212 (3.0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 42 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,533 households (21.6%) were made up of individuals, and 555 (7.8%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77. There were 5,272 families (74.4% of all households); the average family size was 3.26.

The population distribution was 4,612 people (23.5%) under the age of 18, 1,635 people (8.3%) aged 18 to 24, 4,590 people (23.4%) aged 25 to 44, 6,388 people (32.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,428 people (12.4%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.

There were 7,350 housing units at an average density of , of which 4,568 (64.4%) were owner-occupied, and 2,520 (35.6%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.1%. 13,478 people (68.6% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 6,174 people (31.4%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States census, La Crescenta-Montrose had a median household income of $89,375, with 7.4% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2023 American Community Survey In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $119,775, and the per capita income was $57,075. About 4.4% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line.

Mapping L.A. In 2009, the Los Angeles Timess Mapping L.A. project supplied these neighborhood statistics based on the 2000 census.

The percentages of Asian and white people in La Crescenta-Montrose were high for the county. Median income at $82,693 was high for the county, The percentages of households that earned $60,000 to $125,000 and $125,000 and up were high for the county. 40.8% of residents 25 and older had a four-year degree, high for the county. The percentages of residents ages 35 to 49 and 50 to 64 were among the county's highest. The single-parent rate was 8.8 percent, low for the county. The percentage of veterans who served during Vietnam was among the county's highest.

Comparison of La Crescenta-Montrose with nearby neighborhoods Most percentages are rounded to the nearest whole figure. Tujunga, LA La Crescenta-Montrose CDP Glendale La CañadaFlintridge Pasadena Population 26,527 18,507 195,047 20,381 134,941 White 61% 66% 54% 71% 39% Latino 26% 10% 20% 5% 33% Asian 7% 20% 16% 20% 10% Black 2% 1% 1% 1% 14% Household income $58,001 $82,693 $57,112 $148,996 $62,825 College degree 22% 41% 32% 64% 42% Median age 36 38 37 41 34 Single parents 14% 9% 9% 7% 13% Veteran 10% 11% 6% 11% 8% Foreign born 30% 28% 54% 19% 32% Where? Mexico,Iran South Korea,Iran Armenia,Mexico South Korea,Iran Mexico,Philippines Ethnic diversityfor L.A. County Moderate Average High Moderate Average Home ownership 55% 65% 38% 90% 46% Education Public schools in La Crescenta-Montrose are a part of the Glendale Unified School District.Elementary schools La Crescenta Elementary School Dunsmore Elementary School John C. Fremont Elementary School (Glendale) Abraham Lincoln Elementary School Monte Vista Elementary School Mountain Avenue Elementary School Valley View Elementary SchoolMiddle schools Rosemont Middle SchoolHigh schools Crescenta Valley High School Anderson W. Clark Magnet High SchoolIndependent study Verdugo Academy (K-12) Options For Youth Public Charter Schools (7-12)Private''' Armenian Sisters' Academy (TK-8) Chamlian Armenian School (TK-8) Holy Redeemer-St. James Catholic School (TK-8) (Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles) St. Monica Academy (1-12) Montrose Christian Montessori School (PK-6)

History

The area is part of the homelands of the Tongva people. It became part of Rancho La Cañada, a Mexican land grant given in 1843 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to a Mexican schoolteacher from Pueblo de Los Ángeles, Ygnacio Coronel (1795–1862).

La Crescenta does not mean "the crescent," which in Spanish would be el creciente. From his home, early settler Benjamin B. Briggs "could see three crescent-shaped formations, which suggested to him the artificial name," accepted by the U.S. Post Office in 1888. Montrose was chosen "as the result of a contest for the subdivision established in 1913 on part of the La Crescenta development.California Place Names: The Origin and Etymology of Current Geographical Names, 40th Anniversary Edition, Erwin G. Gudde (Author), William Bright (Editor), William Bright (Revised), University of California Press, February 2010

The Great Flood of 1934

In November 1933, wildfires raged through the nearby San Gabriel mountains above the communities of La Crescenta, La Cañada and Montrose. During the last week of December of that year, a series of winter storms pounded the mountainside with of rain. On New Year's Eve, more heavy rains led to sporadic flooding.

Around midnight, hillsides in at least three mountain locations collapsed sending millions of tons of mud and debris into the Crescenta Valley neighborhoods below.

More than 400 homes were destroyed in La Cañada, La Crescenta, Montrose and Tujunga. Scores of people were killed, and hundreds were left homeless. Entire families were wiped out. The mudslides that began in the mountains above La Cañada and La Crescenta carved a path of destruction all the way to the Verdugo Wash and beyond.Some Montrose residents sought shelter from flooding at American Legion Post 288, which was destroyed, killing 12.Los Angeles Times, January 2, 3, 4, 5, 1934 Parts of Foothill Boulevard were buried under of mud, boulders and debris. The mud was deep enough to bury cars completely on Montrose Avenue. Miles of Honolulu Boulevard were inundated by several feet of sand and silt.

Two notable victims of the flood were silent-era identical-twin child actors Winston and Weston Doty, who died at the age of 19.San Antonio Light (San Antonio, Texas) January 20, 1934 pg. 3

Following the disaster, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the County of Los Angeles built a flood control system of catch basins and concrete storm drains, designed to prevent a repeat of the 1934 disaster.

The flood was commemorated in Woody Guthrie's song "Los Angeles New Year's Flood". To honor the victims of that New Year's calamity and to mark its 75th anniversary, a small monument was dedicated January 1, 2004, at Rosemont and Fairway avenues in Montrose, near where the American Legion Hall had stood.

In popular culture In the spring of 2012, a black bear wandered regularly from the Angeles National Forest into the La Crescenta-Montrose-Glendale residential area, rummaging through trash cans and showing a preference for Costco meatballs and tuna. The bear was subdued in La Crescenta and returned to the forest. A Twitter account from an individual posting as "GlenBearian" appeared with updates from the bear's perspective.