Gateway to San Gabriel Valley. That’s the motto of Alhambra. This city has a rich history. It is located in Los Angeles County.
Alhambra was incorporated on July 11, 1903. But its story begins long before that. The San Gabriel Mission was founded nearby in 1771. This was during the Spanish conquest.
The land Alhambra now occupies was part of a large grant. It was given to Armane Gutter. He was a soldier. In 1820, Mexico gained independence. The land became part of the Mexican Republic. Later, it became part of the United States. This followed the Mexican-American War.
Benjamin Davis Wilson, a wealthy developer, played a key role. He married Ramona Yorba. Her father, Bernardo Yorba, owned the land. Wilson’s daughter, Ruth, suggested the name Alhambra. She was reading “Tales of the Alhambra” by Washington Irving. Irving was inspired by the Alhambra palace in Spain.
Alhambra began as a suburb of Los Angeles. It remained unincorporated for many years. The first school was Ramona Convent Secondary School. It was built in 1890. Alhambra High School, the first public high school, was established in 1898.
The Alhambra Fire Department was established in 1906. The city promotes itself as a “city of homes”. Many homes have historical significance. You will find craftsman, bungalow, and Spanish-style houses here.
Alhambra’s main business district is at Main and Garfield. It has been a commercial center since 1895. The city has seen waves of immigrants. Italians arrived in the 1950s. Mexicans came in the 1960s. Chinese immigrants arrived in the 1980s. Valley Boulevard has become a hub for Asian-owned businesses.
The Garfield Theatre was a landmark. It operated from 1925 to 2001. It hosted vaudeville acts. Judy Garland may have performed here as a child. It later showed Chinese-language films.
In 2003, actress Lana Clarkson died in Phil Spector’s Alhambra home. Spector was convicted of her murder in 2009. His home was the Pyrenees Castle. It was built in 1926.
Alhambra is bordered by several communities. These include South Pasadena, San Marino, and San Gabriel. Its area is 7.6 square miles.
As of 2020, Alhambra had a population of 82,868. The city has a high percentage of Asian residents. Chinese and Mexican are common ancestries.
The city is governed by a city council. The council appoints a city manager. Jessica Binnquist is the current city manager.
The San Bernardino Freeway runs through Alhambra. Public transportation is provided by Metro and Alhambra Community Transit.
The local newspaper is the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Car dealerships contribute to the local economy. The Hat, a local restaurant chain, started in Alhambra in 1951.
Alhambra is home to several educational institutions. These include Platt College and Alliant International University. The University of Southern California also has a campus here.
Each year, Alhambra used to co-host the San Gabriel Valley Lunar New Year Parade and Festival. Now Alhambra alone runs the event within city limits without the parade.
Alhambra has a diverse history and culture. It continues to evolve. It is a vibrant city in the San Gabriel Valley.