Skip to main content
Donate

El Monte/South El Monte

As far as cities go, El Monte and South El Monte are not very old -- each founded in 1910 and 1958 respectively. But the history of this place starts several thousands of years ago with the arrival of the first Tongva people, followed by the arrival of Spanish explorers and missionaries in the 18th century, and westbound weary pioneers a century later. Large influxes of American mid-west migrants and Mexican and Asian immigrants accelerated the shifting demographic throughout much the 20th century.

El Monte and South El Monte, located just a few minutes east of the City of Los Angeles, have experienced freedom and neglect, for better and for worse, from the centralized reach of the city. While South El Monte and El Monte are often referred to as a single entity, they are in fact two separate cities with communities that are closely intertwined, yet distinct. While El Monte was heavily regulated by racialized ordinances that segregated Mexican and Asian residents into barrios or camps, separate from white, home-owning residents, South El Monte was founded as a city where Mexican residents could own property.

The stories of El Monte are embodied by real, imaginary and forgotten landmarks. A dilapidated covered wagon replica at Pioneer Park commemorating the End of Santa Fe Trail wanes like a fading ghost in the public imaginary. The El Monte Legion Stadium remains vibrant in the collective memory despite having been razed to the ground more than four decades ago; the dances where Art Laboe shared the stage with legends such as Ritchie Valens, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Chuck Higgins have been immortalized in the song by The Penguins', "Memories of El Monte."

In South El Monte, stories are squeezed between backyards of bungalows and submerged beneath soft riverbank soil. The Whittier Narrows parks in South El Monte provide an oasis for nature aficionados, families and sports lovers. Low rider car shows gather at the Legg Lake parking lot, while young lovers hide away at the Nature Center among curtains of wild grape serenaded by rare songbirds.

Today, as you descend from the hills of Montebello on the eastbound 60 freeway you know you have arrived to a unique place, however briefly. A stretch of dense green foliage of elm and willow seem like an unlikely break in the now suburban landscape; in the evenings, this basin is blanketed in a sudden fog perfumed with the woodsy, moist breath of the Rio Hondo. This is an entryway into the Greater Los Angeles peripheral world that speaks in its own way, to both to Los Angeles' age and regenerative newness.

starlite.jpg
Support Provided By

Featured
Vietnamese-American Community Welcomes the New Year
Vietnamese community celebrates cultural heritage and Lunar New Year in the San Gabriel Valley.
EMP_Group.jpg
El Monte is a Shining Light for Education
"It's about saving one or two dollars here and there, but most importantly, about sharing the message and creating dialogue within families about going to college,"
Making Progress in South El Monte with Local Craft Beer
Progress Brewing is a welcome haven for local craft beer lovers and Bud lifers alike in the San Gabriel Valley.
EMChangeTopMedia.jpg
Urban Approach to Suburban Living: New Developments in El Monte
El Monte, as investors and developers are figuring out, is a place of great opportunity. But as city officials are often reminded, it is also a place of great need.
00059468.jpg
El Monte's Wild Past: A History of Gay's Lion Farm
Gay's Lion Farm in El Monte has been called the "Disneyland of the 1920s and '30s," but few traces of its wild past remain.
amigos11.jpg
Diversifying Green Spaces with Amigos de los Rios
In park-poor communities such as Boyle Heights and El Monte, the creation of more green spaces is necessary for a healthy population.
Event.png
The Beautiful Side of Civic Service in El Monte
The Professional Institute of Beauty is more than just a school, in fact it has devoted much of its time, energy, and beauty secrets to helping various members of the community.
DSC_4040.JPG
Shaping the Landscape at Whittier Narrows Nature Center
Built in 1939, the Whittier Narrow's Nature Center has served as a natural oasis for locals, but recent controversial plans seek to transform it into an ambitious educational center.
earthworks01.jpg
Quenching the Thirst in a Food Desert at Earthworks Farm
El Monte has been labeled a "food desert" -- and the 4.9-acre farm aims to put an end to that by providing the community with access to affordable and organic food.
Tamales and Scholarships: El Monte's Annual Tamalada Renews a Commitment to Education
El Monte community gathers for a night of tamales in celebration of education, honoring teachers and the memory of civic leader Bobby Salcedo.
PlanesAndSGMountainsTopMedia.jpg
When They First Took to the Sky: Learning to Fly at the El Monte Airport
One of the last remaining local airports in the San Gabriel Valley, the San Gabriel Valley Airport was originally a project of inspiration by its founders. It survives today as a monument to aviation despite shifting community interests and needs.
El Monte's Visions for a Healthier Community
El Monte and South El Monte residents share their ideas about how their community can become a healthier place to live, work and go to school.
Show more
Active loading indicator