Pomona, California
Pomona is the seventh largest city in Los Angeles County, California. Pomona is located in between the Inland Empire and the San Gabriel Valley. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 149,058.[3]
The city is the site of the Fairplex, which hosts the L.A. County Fair and the NHRA Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, (formerly known as Pomona Raceway) Powerade Winternationals Drag Racing competition.[4] The city also hosts the Pomona Swap Meet and Classic Car Show is considered by many to be a Southern California classic. It is one of seven major events hosted at the Fairplex each year.[5]
Since the 1980s, Pomona's newest neighborhood Phillips Ranch, experienced rapid growth with homes still being built in the hilly area between Downtown and Diamond Bar. Today, Phillips Ranch is nearly all residential.[6] Northern Pomona has seen some gentrification with additional housing units added and revamped streetscapes.
History
The area was originally occupied by the Tongva or Gabrielino Native Americans. The city is named for Pomona, the ancient Roman goddess of fruit. For Horticulturist, Solomon Gates, "Pomona" was the winning entry in a contest to name the city in 1875, before anyone had ever planted a fruit tree[7] The city was first settled by Ricardo Vejar and Ygnacio Palomares in the 1830s, when California and much of the now-American Southwest were part of Mexico. The first Anglo-Americans arrived in prior to 1848 when the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo resulted in California becoming part of the United States. [1] By the 1880s, the arrival of railroads and Coachella Valley water had made it the western anchor of the citrus-growing region. Pomona was officially incorporated on January 6, 1888.[1]
Religious institutions are deeply embedded in the history of Pomona. There are now more than 120 churches,representing most religions in today's society. The historical architecture of these churches provide glimpses of the European church design and architecture from other eras.[7]
In 2005, Pomona citizens elected Norma Torres, the first woman of Guatemalan heritage to be elected to a mayoral post outside of Guatemala.[8]
Geography
Pomona is a suburb of Los Angeles in the Pomona Valley, located at (34.060760, -117.755886).[9] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.964 square miles (59.48 km2), over 99% of it land.
Pomona is approximately 27 miles (43 km) east of Los Angeles, 25 miles (40 km) north of Santa Ana, 31 miles (50 km) west of Riverside, and 37 miles (60 km) west of San Bernardino.
Pomona is bordered by the cities of San Dimas on the northwest, La Verne and Claremont on the north, Montclair and Chino on the east, Chino Hills and Diamond Bar on the south, and Walnut, South San Jose Hills, and Industry on the southwest. The Los Angeles/San Bernardino county line forms most of the city's southern and eastern boundaries.
Demographics
| Historical populations |
| Census |
Pop. |
|
%± |
| 1890 |
3,634 |
|
—
|
| 1900 |
5,526 |
|
52.1% |
| 1910 |
10,207 |
|
84.7% |
| 1920 |
13,505 |
|
32.3% |
| 1930 |
20,804 |
|
54.0% |
| 1940 |
23,539 |
|
13.1% |
| 1950 |
35,405 |
|
50.4% |
| 1960 |
67,157 |
|
89.7% |
| 1970 |
87,384 |
|
30.1% |
| 1980 |
92,742 |
|
6.1% |
| 1990 |
131,723 |
|
42.0% |
| 2000 |
149,473 |
|
13.5% |
| 2010 |
149,058 |
|
−0.3% |
2010
The 2010 United States Census[10] reported that Pomona had a population of 149,058, a slight decline from the 2000 census population.[11] The population density was 6,491.2 people per square mile (2,506.3/km²). The racial makeup of Pomona was 71,564 (48.0%) White, 10,924 (7.3%) African American, 1,763 (1.2%) Native American, 12,688 (8.5%) Asian, 282 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 45,171 (30.3%) from other races, and 6,666 (4.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 105,135 persons (70.5%).
The Census reported that 144,920 people (97.2% of the population) lived in households, 2,782 (1.9%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 1,356 (0.9%) were institutionalized.
There were 38,477 households, out of which 19,690 (51.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 19,986 (51.9%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 6,960 (18.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 3,313 (8.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 2,823 (7.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 299 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 5,810 households (15.1%) were made up of individuals and 2,010 (5.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.77. There were 30,259 families (78.6% of all households); the average family size was 4.15.
The population was spread out with 43,853 people (29.4%) under the age of 18, 20,155 people (13.5%) aged 18 to 24, 42,311 people (28.4%) aged 25 to 44, 31,369 people (21.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 11,370 people (7.6%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29.5 years. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.4 males.
There were 40,685 housing units at an average density of 1,771.8 per square mile (684.1/km²), of which 21,197 (55.1%) were owner-occupied, and 17,280 (44.9%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.9%. 80,968 people (54.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 63,952 people (42.9%) lived in rental housing units.
Financial report
According to the city’s most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city’s various funds had $220.3 million in Revenues, $225.5 million in expenditures, $818.3 million in total assets, $520.0 million in total liabilities, and $80.6 million in cash and investments.[12]
Also in the City's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[12] the top employers in the city and number of employees are Pomona Unified School District (3,424), Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center (3,230), California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (2,316), Lanterman Developmental Center (1,283), City of Pomona (810), Casa Colina Rehabilitation Center (688), Verizon (596), County of Los Angeles Department of Social Services (383), First Transit (320) and Cal Spas (315).
Government
Local government
Mayor Elliott Rothman
City Council
- Danielle Soto
- Freddie Rodrigues
- Cristina Carrizosa
- Paula Lantz
- Ginna Escobar
- Stephen Atchley
- City manager Linda Lowry
County representation
The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Pomona Health Center in Pomona.[13]
Politics
In the state legislature Pomona is located in the 32nd Senate District, represented by Democrat Gloria Negrete McLeod, and in the 61st Assembly District, represented by Democrat Norma Torres. Federally, Pomona is located in California's 38th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of D +20[14] and is represented by Democrat Grace Napolitano.
Education
Most of Pomona and some of the surrounding area are served by the Pomona Unified School District. The Claremont Unified School District is zoned for the students in the northern section of the city.[15] The Pomona School District has been criticized by some Pomona residents for its construction of the acclaimed expressionist modern [16] Diamond Ranch High School in the city's more affluent area of Phillips Ranch.[17]
There are two parochial schools located in Pomona: St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School, K-8, and Pomona Catholic High School. The School of Arts and Enterprise is a charter high school located on Monterey Ave. and Garey Ave. Village Academy High School is also located on E. Holt Blvd and East End Ave. It is a high school that focuses on technology.
Colleges and universities
- California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) is located southwest of the junction of the 10 and 57 freeways. The university was established on the site of breakfast cereal magnate W.K. Kellogg's ranch located on the city's western corner. The majority of the campus is not incorporated within the city. The university has over 21,000 students and covers an area of over 1,437 acres (5.82 km2), which makes it the second largest land-holding university in the California State University system. The university is known for its engineering[18] and architectural[19] programs which are very selective and nationally ranked.[18][20]
- Western University of Health Sciences, (formerly known as College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific) is located south of Highway 10 off Towne Avenue. It is one of the largest health sciences universities in California, offering degrees in Osteopathic Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Pharmacy, Nurse Practitioning, and as of 2010, Dentistry, Optometry, and Podiatry. WesternU's new Patient Care Center opened in May 2010, and serves more than 10,000 patients per year [21].
Transportation
Pomona is connected to downtown Los Angeles, and to downtown Riverside via Metrolink. In addition, with the Gold Line foothill extension, Pomona will be connected to Los Angeles and eastern Los Angeles county via light rail when the project is completed in 2018.
Freeways
Airports
Pomona is serviced by:
Buses
The Silver Streak is Foothill Transit's bus rapid transit line operating between eastbound to montclair transcenterMontclair and westbound to Downtown Los Angeles.
The service runs much more frequently than other area mass transit, and operates around the clock. 60-foot NABI articulated buses are used on this route, like the ones used on the Metro Orange Line, Metro Local, and Metro Rapid.
Local sites of interest
References in popular culture
- Pomona is mentioned in the lyrics to Ronny & the Daytonas' 1964 hit song "G.T.O." (the Pomona Raceway at Fairplex being a well-known venue for drag racing). Also Pomona is mentioned in the lyrics to "Honey Bee" by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers.
- In an I Love Lucy episode, the main characters of the show "go out to the country" on a day trip to Pomona. This is now seen as odd due to Pomona since becoming quite urban. In 1940, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz spent their honeymoon in downtown Pomona.
- In the 1940 Disney animated short Mr. Mouse Takes A Trip, Mickey is taking a train vacation from Burbank to Pomona. The conductor, Black Pete, won't let him bring Pluto, so he hides Pluto in his suitcase, and tries to hide him all throughout the trip without much luck. Pete thinks he's won when Pluto is hooked by a mail hook, and Mickey follows, but the twist is they actually got off the train in Pomona, as Mickey said "Look Pluto, Pomona, we're here".
- It was rumored that Walt Disney originally planned on having Disneyland built in Pomona, but the city council declined his offer, fearing that the park would not succeed and would cause the city to go into debt. According to Matthew Tresaugue, former reporter for the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, it was one of 71 considered cities, but was ruled out due to temperature extremes, i.e. too hot in summer and too cold at night. It is interesting to note, however, that author James Ellroy used Pomona as the setting for the fictional amusement park Dream-a-Dreamland in his novel L.A. Confidential. Dream-a-Dreamland and its fictional owner, the cartoon magnate Ray Dieterling, were based very closely on Disneyland and Walt Disney.
- In the 1979 Steven Spielberg film 1941, the following takes place. Hollywood Boulevard, 7:35 p.m.: Stilwell goes to see Dumbo. By 9:05 p.m., Birkhead and Donna are headed toward the 501st Bomb Disbursement Unit at Barstow, where Maddox shows them the unit's dilapidated aircraft. Maddox, convinced the Japanese are sending parachutists into the hills near Pomona, lets Birkhead and Donna borrow his aircraft, assuming they are going on reconnaissance.
- In the 2006 comedy Grandma's Boy, an American stoner film produced by Adam Sandler's production company Happy Madison, Peter Dante's permanently-stoned character decides to buy a lion in order to protect his stash of marijuana. In one scene, Dante can be seen smoking weed with an African tribesman, Dr. Shakalu, in his basement. When the main character, played by Allen Covert, asks Dante about the nature of his relationship with Dr. Shakalu, Dante indicates that he met the doctor at a cockfight in Pomona.
- In the "Treehouse of Horror XVI" episode of The Simpsons, during the introductory scene, during the Springfield Isoptopes's game Pomona was used in a parody of 'The OC'. A poster background dipicting the word Pomona in a 'The OC' template. The announcer prompts Fox's newest endeavor 'Pomona' "it's even hotter away from the beach."
Media
The major daily newspaper in the area is The Los Angeles Times. La Opinión is the city's major Spanish-language paper. There are also a wide variety of smaller regional newspapers, alternative weeklies and magazines, including:
Notable residents
- Hamza Abdullah, football player[23]
- Husain Abdullah, football player[24]
- Above the Law, rap group[25]
- Jessica Alba, Actress[26]
- Richard Armour, author (d.)[27]
- Guy Vernon Bennett, school superintendent in 1914
- Jeanne Black, country singer[28]
- Jim Chandler, Author[29]
- Cold 187um, Rapper [30]
- Dan Cortes, baseball player[31]
- Alberto Davila, boxer[32]
- Ron English, football coach[33]
- Al Ferguson, football player[34]
- Suga Free, rapper [35]
- Britney Gallivan, best known for debunking a myth about paper folding[32][36]
- Donnie Hill, professional baseball player[37]
- Bruce Hines, baseball coach[38]
- Jim Keith, author [39]
- Will Keith Kellogg, industrialist [40]
- Kokane, rapper, actor[41]
- Dan McGwire, football player [32]
- Mark McGwire, baseball player[32]
- Daniel Keys Moran-Science fiction author [42]
- "Sugar" Shane Mosley, boxer[43]
- Ed Nelson, actor[44]
- Kem Nunn, Author, surfer[45]
- Norma Torres, American Politician
- Orlando Perez, Major League Soccer player[46]
- Scott Reeder, bass player[47]
- Richie Sandoval, boxer[32] champion
- Bob Seagren, pole vaulter [32]
- Millard Sheets, painter[32]
- Bill Singer, baseball pitcher
- Michael Efevberha, basketball player for the Nigeria national basketball team
- Jerry E. Smith, author [32]
- Randy Stein, baseball player
- Brian Stokes, baseball pitcher
- Mike Frank, baseball player
- Robert Tarjan, computer scientist[32]
- Jimmy Verdon, football player and coach,[48]
- Tom Waits, singer-songwriter, composer, and actor[32]
- Delanie Walker, professional football player
- Melissa Barrera, television personality
- Jill Kelly, porn actress
- Celeste Star, porn actress
- Mr. Marcus, porn actor
- Todd Field, actor
- Cameron Morrah, football player for the Seattle Seahawks
- Gabriel P. Disosway, United States Air Force General
- Rozz Williams, singer[32]
- Trevor Wright, actor [49]
- Rich Yett, professional baseball player[50]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d William D. Halsey, ed (1976). "Pomona". Collier's Encyclopedia. 19. Macmillan Educational Corporation. p. 232.
- ^ U.S. Census
- ^ Most Populous Cities in Los Angeles County Populations of 100,000+ (1990 - 2010 Census). Los angeles Almanac. Retrieved 2011-05-27.
- ^ http://www.nhra.com/tickets/pomona.aspx
- ^ "Pomona Swap Meet". George Cross & Sons, Inc.. http://www.pomonaswapmeet.com/. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
- ^ Los Angeles Times, November 15, 1964, “Historic Ranch to Be Big Community”[1]
- ^ a b A Brief History of Pomona
- ^ http://www.citymayors.com/mayors/pomona-mayor.html
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ All data are derived from the United States Census Bureau reports from the 2010 United States Census, and are accessible on-line here. The data on unmarried partnerships and same-sex married couples are from the Census report DEC_10_SF1_PCT15. All other housing and population data are from Census report DEC_10_DP_DPDP1. Both reports are viewable online or downloadable in a zip file containing a comma-delimited data file. The area data, from which densities are calculated, are available on-line here. Percentage totals may not add to 100% due to rounding. The Census Bureau defines families as a household containing one or more people related to the householder by birth, opposite-sex marriage, or adoption. People living in group quarters are tabulated by the Census Bureau as neither owners nor renters. For further details, see the text files accompanying the data files containing the Census reports mentioned above.
- ^ Most Populous Cities in Los Angeles County Populations of 100,000+ (1990 - 2010 Census). Los angeles Almanac. Retrieved 2011-05-27.
- ^ a b City of Pomona CAFR
- ^ "Pomona Health Center." Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Retrieved on March 27, 2010.
- ^ "Will Gerrymandered Districts Stem the Wave of Voter Unrest?". Campaign Legal Center Blog. http://www.clcblog.org/blog_item-85.html. Retrieved 2008-02-10.
- ^ http://www.cusd.claremont.edu/stu/images/boundary_main.gif
- ^ Diamond Ranch High School - Thom Mayne - Morphosis - Great Buildings Online
- ^ Pomona, California | TripAtlas.com
- ^ a b http://www.calpoly.edu/
- ^ "The Top U.S. Architecture Schools". Architect Magazine - online version. http://www.architectmagazine.com/industry-news.asp?sectionID=1006&articleID=602885. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
- ^ "Cal Poly Pomona Rankings". Visitor & Information Centers at Cal Poly Pomona. http://www.dsa.csupomona.edu/visitors/rankings.asp. Retrieved 2008-08-27.
- ^ "Pomona Healthcare - Western University of Health Sciences." Village Profile. Community Profile Network. Web. 27 Dec. 2011. <http://www.villageprofile.com/california/pomona/09/topic.html>.
- ^ DeVry Pomona Community Home Page
- ^ Hamza Abdullah, DB for the Arizona Cardinals at NFL.com
- ^ Husain Abdullah, SS for the Minnesota Vikings at NFL.com
- ^ Above The Law on Yahoo! Music
- ^ The Jessica Alba Picture Pages
- ^ Flint, Peter B. (March 2, 1989). "Richard Armour, 82, an Author Of Whimsical Free Verse, Is Dead". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DEED71F3DF931A35750C0A96F948260.
- ^ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jeanne-black-p24117
- ^ Poet's Musings: SMOKE AND THUNDER by Jim Chandler
- ^ Above the Law - Download Above the Law Music on iTunes
- ^ Dan Cortes Minor League Statistics & History - Baseball-Reference.com
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k People From Pomona, California
- ^ Eastern Michigan University Athletics - 2009 Football Coaching Staff
- ^ Al Ferguson athletic career, photos, articles, and videos | Fanbase
- ^ Pomona Pimpin - Suga Free
- ^ Muse: Champion Paper-Folder
- ^ Donnie Hill Baseball Stats by Baseball Almanac
- ^ http://connect.in.com/bruce-hines/profile-43775.html
- ^ http://www.valsfa.com/valhalla/earlyday.htm
- ^ W. K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Library
- ^ Kokane - True Knowledge
- ^ Daniel Keys Moran Web Page
- ^ Shane Mosley is Stripped, Senchenko Full WBA Champ - Boxing News
- ^ Ed Nelson News, Ed Nelson Bio and Photos | TVGuide.com
- ^ Kem Nunn | Official Publisher Page
- ^ Orlando Perez | Major League Soccer
- ^ Scott Reeder
- ^ Eastern Michigan University Athletics - Jimmy Verdon Jr. Named Graduate Assistant Football Coach
- ^ V52 Spring 2008
- ^ Rich Yett Statistics and History - Baseball-Reference.com
External links
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
^Mayor selected from city council
- Other states: AL
- AZ
- CA
- CO
- CT
- FL
- GA
- IL
- IN
- IA
- KY
- LA
- MA
- MI
- MN
- MO
- NV
- NJ
- NY
- NC
- OH
- OK
- OR
- PA
- TN
- TX
- UT
- VA
- WA
- WI
|
|
