West Covina, California

Infobox Settlement
official_name = West Covina, California
settlement_type =
center|West Covina Seal

---

mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of West Covina in Los Angeles County, California


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = California
subdivision_name2 = Los Angeles
government_type = Council-Manager
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Sherri Lane
leader_title1 = Mayor Pro Temp
leader_name1 = Roger Hernandez
leader_title2 = City Manager
leader_name2 = Andrew Pasmant
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = February 17, 1923
area_magnitude = 1 E7
area_total_sq_mi = 16.1
area_total_km2 = 41.7
area_land_sq_mi = 16.1
area_land_km2 = 41.7
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_water_percent = 0.00
area_urban_sq_mi =
area_urban_km2 =
area_metro_sq_mi =
area_metro_km2 =
population_as_of = 2004
population_note = [http://www.westcovina.org/ www.westcovina.org]
population_total = 110,525
population_footnotes =
population_metro =
population_urban =
population_density_km2 = 2518.4
population_density_sq_mi = 6524.6
timezone = PST
utc_offset = -8
timezone_DST = PDT
utc_offset_DST = -7
latd = 34 |latm = 03 |lats = 24 |latNS = N
longd = 117 |longm = 55 |longs = 07 |longEW = W
elevation_m = 110
elevation_ft = 362
website = [http://www.westcovina.org/ www.westcovina.org]
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 91790-91793
area_code = 626
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 06-84200
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1652809
footnotes =

West Covina is a city located in eastern Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 105,080. As of 2002, it is the 50th largest city in California.

History

West Covina was incorporated as an independent city in 1923 to prevent the city of Covina from building a sewage farm in the area.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 105,080 people, 31,411 households, and 25,254 families residing in the city. The current approximate population as of 2004 is 111,404. The population density was 2,518.4/km² (6,524.6/mi²). There were 32,058 housing units at an average density of 768.3/km² (1,990.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 23.0% White, 6.0% African American, 0.3% Native American, 22.0% Asian, 0.6% Pacific Islander, .2% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino mainly Mexican of any race were 45.7% of the population.

There were 31,411 households out of which 41.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples living together, 15.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.6% were non-families. 14.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.32 and the average family size was 3.67.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.5% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $53,002, and the median income for a family was $57,614. Males had a median income of $38,160 versus $31,138 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,342. About 6.8% of families and 9.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.1% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.

Over the past two decades, West Covina has experienced significant demographic change. The Hispanic proportion of its population has increased from 21% in 1980 to 45.7% in 2000, while the white non-Hispanic proportion has decreased from 64.8% to 23% in that period. The proportion of the population that is Asian or Pacific Islander increased from 3.8% to 22.6% from 1980 to 2000. At the same time, the population of the city as a whole has grown:

*1980 - 80,291
*1990 - 96,086
*2000 - 105,080
*2004 - 111,404
*2006 - 111,400 (estimate)

Politics

In the state legislature West Covina is located in the 24th Senate District, represented by Democrat Gloria Romero, and in the 57th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Edward P. Hernandez. Federally, West Covina is located in California's 32nd congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of D +17 [cite web | title = Will Gerrymandered Districts Stem the Wave of Voter Unrest? | publisher = Campaign Legal Center Blog | url=http://www.clcblog.org/blog_item-85.html | accessdate = 2008-02-10] and is represented by Democrat Hilda Solis.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools

West Covina is mostly served by the West Covina Unified School District, which has 13 public and seven private elementary schools; three middle schools; one high school, West Covina High School; one continuation high school (coronado high); and one adult school (Coronado Alt. High School). Coronado High School has moved to a new location at 1500 E Francisquito ave, West Covina,CA 91791. Approximately 35,000 students were enrolled in West Covina public schools during the 2001-2002 school year.West Covina High School is 50 years old at this time and South Hills high is 40 years old.South Hills High School has dominated West Covina High School in state API scores for 49 years (not in a row).Half of the residents of the South Hills area have the option of both West Covina High School or South Hills High School, but the the rest are required to go to South Hills High School. Some portions of West Covina are also served by the Covina Valley Unified School District (including students who attend South Hills High School, Traweek Middle School, and Mesa Elementary School). Some students from West Covina—those who attend Nogales High School, Rincon Intermediate, Giano Intermediate, and Hollingworth Elementary Schools—are served by the Rowland Unified School District.

Colleges and universities

While there are no universities within the city, there are several colleges and universities within a few miles of the city including Azusa Pacific University; Citrus College; Mt. San Antonio College; Pasadena City College; Whittier College; University of the West; and California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Business

As part of the pro-active redevelopment efforts of the city's business districts, it has successfully attracted many popular restaurant chains (Hooters, Elephant Bar, TGI Friday's, Chili's), big-box retailers, and auto dealers (Chevrolet, Ford, Toyota, Honda, Hummer, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar). The city also contains two fairly large shopping malls, Westfield West Covina and Westfield Eastland, both of which are owned by Westfield Shoppingtown. A Hong Kong Supermarket replaced a Ralphs supermarket and strip mall and was completely remodeled to include many Asian cuisine restaurants — mostly Chinese with some Filipino, Indonesian, Malaysian, Thai, and Vietnamese — and shops. Similar developments have occurred in other parts of the city, albeit with more Filipino businesses centered in the intersection of Amar and Azusa Ave. The BKK Landfill on Azusa Avenue was closed in the early 1990s. The former BKK Landfill is now home to the Big League Dreams Sportsplex and the Heights at West Covina Shopping Center. The shopping center includes a Home Depot store and a Target store.

West Covina's Restaurant Row, located east of Citrus Avenue and north of the San Bernardino Freeway, contains a mixture of restaurants, including Hooter's. The city's Farmers Market is held every week in the parking lot of West Covina Parkway strip mall (where chain stores Good Guys and Pier 1 Imports used to anchor before now a Fresh&easy), across from Westfield Shoppingtown and Firestone Tire.

The City operates the Go West shuttle system [http://westcov.org/events/transit.html GO WEST] that provides transportation to several West Covina destinations. The City also provides a free shuttle to the Baldwin Park Metrolink station.

Trivia

* US jockey Aaron Gryder was born in West Covina in 1970.
* According to local historian Donald Pflueger, around the time of World War II, West Covina received much of its revenue from a speed trap on the main highway that went through town.
* Martin Lawrence's character in the movie Blue Streak is said to have worked in West Covina.
* West Covina is the birthplace of Hall of Fame Quarterback Troy Aikman.
* Stan Ridgway of the band Wall of Voodoo is from West Covina.
* Major League baseball players Jason Giambi, Jeremy Giambi, Shawn Wooten, Aaron Small, and the late Cory Lidle attended South Hills High School in West Covina.
* Nia Peeples was raised in West Covina and is a graduate and was homecoming Queen for West Covina High School, Class of 1980.
* Nickelodeon's Good Burger was filmed in West Covina.
* Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee attended South Hills High School, but did not graduate. He also attended Royal Oak High School and Covina High School.
* Minnesota Twins 3rd baseman Mike Lamb is from West Covina.
* West Coast Rapper, G-Mo was born & raised in West Covina.
* Actor Tim Robbins was born in West Covina.
* Professional football running back Wendell Tyler, who played for UCLA and the Los Angeles Rams resided in West Covina.
* Major league baseball pitcher Rick Aguilera, who played for the 1986 World Series champions New York Mets, attended Edgewood High School in West Covina.
* Major league baseball pitcher Joey Eischen attended West Covina High School, Class of 1988.
* Major league baseball outfielder Tom Brunansky, who played for the 1987 World Series champions Minnesota Twins, attended West Covina High School, Class of 1978.
* Actress Dylan Jones, who played a small role in Ghost World (2001), attended West Covina High School, Class of 1989.
* Actress Deeny Dakota (a.k.a. Deena Consiglio) attended West Covina High School, Class of 1988.
* Character Animator Sean Springer attended West Covina High School. He animated such films as Shrek 2, The Iron Giant, Stuart Little 2, Prince of Egypt, Quest for Camelot, and Curious George; television series The Maxx and Mr. Digital Tokoro; music video "Survival"; as well as other projects in United States, Japan, and South Korea.

References

External links

* [http://www.westcovina.org The City of West Covina]