Glendora, California | |
|---|---|
 Glendora Village withFicus trees | |
 Flag  Seal | |
| Motto: Pride of the Foothills | |
 Location of Glendora in Los Angeles County, California. | |
  Glendora, California Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates:34°8′10″N117°51′55″W / 34.13611°N 117.86528°W /34.13611; -117.86528 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Los Angeles |
| Founded | April 1, 1887 |
| Incorporated | November 13, 1911[1] |
| Named after | Leadora Bennett Whitcomb |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | David Fredendall |
| • Mayor Pro Tem | Michael Allawos |
| • Councilmember | Karen K Davis Shaunna Elias Mendell Thompson |
| • City Manager | Adam Raymond |
| Area | |
• Total | 19.66 sq mi (50.92 km2) |
| • Land | 19.51 sq mi (50.52 km2) |
| • Water | 0.15 sq mi (0.40 km2) 0.84% |
| Elevation | 774 ft (236 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 52,558 |
| • Density | 2,582/sq mi (996.9/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 91740 and 91741[5] |
| Area codes | 626,909[6] |
| FIPS code | 06-30014 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1652713 |
| Website | www |
Glendora is a city in theSan Gabriel Valley inLos Angeles County, California, 26 miles (42 km) east ofLos Angeles.[7] As of the2020 census, the population of Glendora was 52,558. World-famousRoute 66 runs through the city.
Known as the "Pride of the Foothills", Glendora isnestled in the foothills of theSan Gabriel Mountains. Its downtown area, locally known as the Glendora Village, hosts dozens of restaurants, cafes, shops, and boutiques along Glendora Avenue with many community events scheduled throughout the year.
Neighborhoods and residences in Glendora reflect the city's history and range fromQueen Annes, toFolk Victorians, early 20th-centurybungalows, toranch style homes, to mid-risemulti-family residential complexes, to modern mansions.[8] Glendora's most expensive neighborhoods contain many very large, secluded, estate homes with views across the San Gabriel Valley toDowntown Los Angeles.
Glendora is bordered byAzusa and the unincorporated community ofCitrus to the west,San Dimas to the east and south,Covina and the unincorporated community ofCharter Oak to the south, and theSan Gabriel Mountains, including protected areas within theSan Gabriel Mountains National Monument, to the north.
The first archaeological evidence of human settlement in Glendora dates fromc. 6000 BCE.[9] Around 3500 BCE, theTakic people moved into the area.[10] By the time Europeans arrived in present-day Los Angeles County, theTongva, also known as theKizh or the Gabrieleños, were the dominant group.[11]
In the foothills and inland areas (such as present-day Glendora), Tongva settlement patterns included both permanent village sites and seasonal camps, usually located near reliable water sources like streams or springs.[12] The nearest villages to modern Glendora wereAsuksa-nga (meaning "Skunk-place") along theSan Gabriel River in present-dayAzusa andDuarte, and Momwamomutn-gna (meaning "Place of many springs") in present-day San Dimas.[13] What is now Glendora was the site of seasonal camps and hunting grounds, particularly near theintermittent streams around Dalton Canyon.
Tongva daily life was closely tied to the land’s resources. They were primarily hunters and gatherers rather than farmers.[14] The abundant oak woodlands of the San Gabriel foothills provided acorns as a dietary staple; acorns were shelled, ground on stone mortars, and leached to make a nourishing acorn mush.[15] Along rivers and marshes, Tongva people gathered wild seeds such aschia sage, berries, and herbs. In inland communities like the Glendora area, protein came from hunting and trapping local game like deer, rabbits, and birds. Trade with neighboring tribes was well-developed; the Tongva were notable as one of the wealthiest and most influential indigenous groups in Southern California, exchanging goods like steatite (soapstone) bowls, shells, and other items in a far-reaching trade network.[16] This network connected them with peoples as far away as theYokuts of the Central Valley and the tribes of the Colorado River, illustrating how Tongva economic and cultural influence extended beyond their immediate homeland.[17]
Daily life in a Tongva village was structured around communal and familial activities. Tongva dwellings (calledkich orkiiğa) were dome-shaped structures made of willow branches and thatched with tule or other grasses.[18] These homes had a central fire pit and a smoke hole at the top for ventilation. Villages typically ranged from a few dozen to a hundred people, and early Spanish observers noted that each village was politically autonomous under its own chief, yet linked to others by kinship and language. Men and women both had important economic roles: men often did most of the hunting and fishing, while women were expert foragers and skilled in processing plant foods and weaving baskets. Both sexes wore their hair long and adorned their bodies with tattoos and paint.[19] Clothing was minimal in the warm Southern California climate—men often wore little more than a breechcloth, and women wore skirts made of deer hide or woven fiber. In cooler weather, they draped themselves in capes or cloaks made from animal skins, and sandals woven from yucca fiber or hide protected their feet.[20] Tongva spiritual life was rich, with ceremonies marking events like the summer solstice and communal mourning rituals for the dead. They had deep knowledge of local plants for food, medicine, and materials, reflecting a relationship with the land that was both practical and spiritual.[21]
When theSpanish arrived in the 1770s, the Tongva population in the entire Los Angeles Basin, including the San Gabriel Valley, is estimated to have been between 5,000 and 10,000 people.[22][23]
Following the discovery of islands in what we now call the Caribbean byChristopher Columbus in 1492, a dispute arose betweenCastille (Spain) andPortugal about which kingdom would own new lands discovered to the west of the Atlantic Ocean. This was resolved by theInter caeteraPapal bull fromPope Alexander VI, which divided all newly discovered lands outside Europe between the Kingdom of Portugal and the Crown of Castile, along a meridian 100leagues (370 miles/600 kilometers) west of the Cape Verde islands. This gave Portugal most of Africa and Asia, and most of theAmericas to Castille (Spain). Although theoretically already granted this land by the Pope, California's Spanish colonial era began in 1542 whenJuan Rodríguez Cabrillo, commissioned by ViceroyAntonio de Mendoza, became the first European to explore and claim the entire California coast for Spain. Thereafter, Spain took no action to solidify its claims overAlta California (the present-day U.S. states of California, Nevada, and neighboring areas) for over two centuries. By the late 1760s, concerned about Russian and French colonial ambitions, Spain began efforts to establish permanent settlements and fortifications in Alta California. In 1769, an expedition underGaspar de Portolá, appointed "Governor of the Californias," commenced the founding of a network ofmissions,pueblos (civilian settlements), andpresidios (military outposts).Junípero Serra, leader of the Franciscan missionaries, managed the religious conversion and daily activities at these missions. To strengthen the sparse colonial population, Spanish authorities allowed and encouraged non-Spanish settlers to establish themselves in California.[24]
Spain’s colonial system in California, including land grants (ranchos), missions, and presidios, followed a pattern of indirect governance and religious conversion inspired by theIqta' system used by Muslim conquerors during theirrule in Spain (711–1492). The area of modern Glendora fell under the jurisdiction ofMission San Gabriel Arcángel, founded in 1771, which had direct ecclesiastical and administrative oversight, including managing local affairs, overseeing agricultural production, and compelling local Tongva peoples into labor under harsh, slave-like conditions. The indigenous population had no natural immunity toOld Worlddiseases introduced by settlers, in particularsmall pox, or by theirlivestock (which broughtinfluenza,anthrax,leptospirosis, andbovine tuberculosis), resulting in major population declines.
The nearest colonial civilian settlement to present-day Glendora wasEl Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles (present-day Los Angeles), founded in 1781. Beyond the relatively small contingents of soldiers at the pueblo and at the mission, military protection for the region was provided by presidios atSan Diego (founded in 1769) andSanta Barbara (founded in 1782).[25] Glendora during this period was sparsely-populated except for free-roaming cattle and seasonal use by the dwindling population of Tongva who had not been forcibly brought to live near, and put in service of, the San Gabriel Mission.
By the end of the Spanish period (circa 1820–1821), the Tongva population of the Los Angeles Basin, including the San Gabriel Valley, had dramatically declined from an estimated 5,000–10,000 in pre-contact times to approximately 1,500 individuals, largely due to the introduction of Old World diseases, the disruption of traditional ways of life, and harsh conditions under missionization.[26]
After 11 years of struggle, Mexico gainedindependence from Spain on September 27, 1821. California remained a remote frontier territory with minimal oversight from the newly established Mexican government. Due to political instability and administrative difficulties, Mexico did not formally appoint a fully recognized governor for California until 1824, whenLuis Antonio Argüello took office; however, his authority was initially limited by poor communication, political uncertainty across Mexico, and California’s geographic isolation, leaving local communities largely responsible for their own governance. The management of land and settlement remained informal, with boundaries defined loosely by natural landmarks, and taxation often fulfilled through contributions of livestock or goods rather than uniform cash payments. This informal governance set the stage for significant challenges when California later transitioned to American rule.[27]
The lack of oversight and clear governance proved ominous for the prosperity of the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, which presided over present-day Glendora. Controlling approximately 1.5 million acres of some of the richest land with the best water supplies in the region, it was one of the wealthiest of the California missions. Between 1829 and 1833, due to inadequate supervision, corruption among local authorities, and widespread cattle rustling, the Mission’s livestock declined dramatically from over 25,000 head of cattle to fewer than 15,000. Soldiers, ranchers, and settlers took advantage of the weakening authority of the Franciscan priests, who had few means to protect Mission resources without effective military support from the Mexican troops, many of whom participated in or overlooked the theft.[28]
In August 1833, this deteriorating situation culminated in theDecree for the Secularization of the Missions of California. Motivated by concerns that the missions, still operated by Spanish-born Franciscan clergy presumably loyal to Spain and the Catholic Church, could perpetuate Spanish influence and undermine independence, the Mexican government transferred control of Church land holdings to the territorial government inMonterey. The decree officially intended to emancipate Indigenous peoples from conditions resembling slavery and redistribute mission lands to them.[29] However, in practice, very few Indigenous Californians received any land anywhere in the Alta California territory.[30] The Mexican government allowed the padres to keep only the church, priests' quarters, and priests' garden. The army troops guarding the Mission were dismissed.
With the Franciscans' oversight removed, Mission San Gabriel’s remaining herds of cattle rapidly disappeared, taken by local rancheros, settlers, soldiers, and even former mission administrators. The few remaining priests were powerless to stop them as they now lacked both the authority and manpower to enforce control.[31] This chaotic transition facilitated the ambitions of influential settlers, soldiers, and rancheros with connections to the Mexican authorities in Monterey, resulting in large ranchos owned by a few powerful families.[32]
In 1837, GovernorJuan Bautista Alvarado granted theRancho San José (approximately 22,000 acres) to Ygnacio Palomares and Ricardo Vejar, encompassing southern portions of present-day Glendora as well as areas now known as Pomona and San Dimas. In 1841, another tract including the western parts of present-day Glendora,Rancho El Susa, was granted to Luis Arenas. In 1844, English immigrant Henry Dalton purchased Rancho El Susa from Arenas and acquired a one-third stake in Rancho San José. Dalton renamed his property Rancho Azusa de Dalton, establishing vineyards, orchards, and livestock herds. Central and northern Glendora remained public land foropen range cattle grazing.[33]
By the end of the Mexican period in 1848, the Tongva population in the entire Los Angeles Basin, including the San Gabriel Valley, had further declined to approximately 800 individuals, reflecting continued displacement, harsh labor conditions on ranchos, epidemics, and marginalization under Mexican governance.[34]
The conclusion of theMexican–American War in 1848 and the cession of California to the United States brought severe challenges for ranchero landowners, including theCalifornio families in the Glendora area. The 1848Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo pledged that Mexican-era land grants would be respected, but a significant challenge soon arose because Spanish and Mexican authorities in California had used informal systems to define land boundaries, relying on personal relationships and natural landmarks such as hills, streams, and trees. Formalcadastral surveying techniques were viewed as unnecessary in the sparsely populated region. When California became part of the United States, American authorities required precise land surveys and uniform taxation, creating substantial legal and financial burdens for Californio rancheros, who were accustomed to the earlier informal methods. Many rancheros, including local landowner Henry Dalton, faced protracted legal disputes as they struggled to prove ownership of lands previously informally documented.[35]
The federalLand Act of 1851 required all holders of Spanish or Mexican land grants to file claims and prove their titles before a specialPublic Land Commission and U.S. courts, or else forfeit their lands. This process proved lengthy and costly, often lasting over a decade and involving significant expenses for attorneys, translators, and surveyors.[36] Moreover, California's new state government imposed property taxes on large landholdings, a sharp departure from Mexican rule, which had not taxed land ownership. Many Californio rancheros, being land-rich but cash-poor, struggled to pay these taxes and mounting legal fees, leading them to mortgage, sell, or cede large portions of their ranchos.[37][38][39]
In the Glendora area, by the time of American rule, British-born ranchero Henry Dalton owned a 4,431-acre land grant encompassing parts of present-day Azusa, Glendora, and surrounding communities, and had also purchased adjacent ranchos includingSan Francisquito andRancho Santa Anita, creating a vast land holding stretching from San Dimas to the eastern boundary of present-day Pasadena.[40] After U.S. annexation, Dalton filed his land claim with the Land Commission in 1852 and eventually received a federal patent in 1876. Despite this legal victory, the cost was significant. Dalton disputed an 1860 federal survey that substantially reduced the size of his rancho, opening it to homesteaders. Dalton's efforts to challenge this survey involved decades of costly litigation and required loans from creditors such as Los Angeles bankerJonathan S. Slauson. Ultimately, Dalton was forced to relinquish nearly all his land to settle debts, retaining only a 55-acre homestead near the modern boundary between Azusa and Glendora. Dalton died nearly penniless in 1884, exemplifying the challenges Californio rancheros faced as legal disputes and financial burdens reshaped land ownership across Southern California.[41][42][43]
Like many cities in the San Gabriel Valley, Glendora was established on previously remote agricultural land during theSouthern California real estate boom of the 1880s. Real estate values rose especially quickly in areas connected to the outside world upon the completion of theLos Angeles and San Gabriel Valley Railroad in May 1887, later purchased by theSanta Fe Railway, connecting Los Angeles to Chicago. Located at the foot of theSan Gabriel Mountains, Glendora was started on approximately 300 acres (120 ha) that were subdivided for sale byGeorge D. Whitcomb in late March 1887. On the first day of sale, April 1, 1887,[44] 300 lots were sold.[45] Later that month, the Suydam family built the first building erected after Glendora officially became a town – a barn at 645 N Vista Bonita Avenue, which served as their home until their house was completed in October.[46]
Whitcomb was the founder of theWhitcomb Locomotive Works inChicago andRochelle, Illinois and had moved to California in the early 1880s. He devised the nameGlendora by combining the name of his wife, Leadora Bennett Whitcomb (1839–1929), with the location of his home in aglen of the San Gabriel Mountains. In December 1907, the development of Glendora got a boost when passenger service opened on a new extension of thePacific Electric Railway'sMonrovia–Glendora Line which provided hourly, direct service from downtown Glendora to thePacific Electric Building at Sixth and Main inDowntown Los Angeles. Prior to its 1911 incorporation, Glendora's administrator officially occupied the office of President of Glendora.
Glendora experienced significant growth during Southern California’s citrus boom in the early 20th century, becoming a thriving hub for citrus production. At its peak in 1947, the local citrus industry encompassed over 5,000 acres of orange and lemon orchards, supported by sixpacking houses processing approximately 78,000 tons of fruit annually, valued between $4 million and $8 million (roughly $60-120 million in 2025 dollars).[47]
The downtown area as it appears now is the product of years of renovation and maintenance by the city. The former opera house, movie theatre, Pacific Electric station, banks, hotels, grocery and department stores were converted for modern uses. The original layout can be read about on the Downtown Glendora Historical Walk, by reading placards placed along Glendora Avenue (previously called Michigan Avenue). The original townsite was bounded by Sierra Madre Avenue on the north, Minnesota Avenue on the east, Ada Avenue and the railroad on the south, and Pennsylvania Avenue on the west.
Glendora used to be home to several military academies, which have since been converted into either churches or private school facilities. These academies included Brown Military Academy,[48] now St. Lucy's Priory High School and Church of the Open Door on Sierra Madre, and Harding Military Academy,[49] whose property is now home to North Glendora Private, a prestigious private community adjacent to Easley Canyon atop Glendora Avenue.
From 1960 to 1978, Glendora was home toClokey Productions which produced 85 episodes ofGumby and 65 episodes ofDavey and Goliath in town.[50] In celebration of this history, Glendora hosted the first Gumby Fest in 2014 which brought thousands of people from around the country and Canada. In 2015 the 2nd GumbyFest[51] was held atCitrus College over an entire weekend.
Several wildfires have affected the city in recent years, the most notable being the campfire triggeredColby Fire, which displaced hundreds of Glendora residents. A relief concert titled "Glendora Band Aid"[52] was held shortly after the fire to help raise funds to assist the homeowners who lost their homes in the fire.
Glendora has an active Chamber of Commerce,[53] established in 1903. The mission of the Glendora Chamber is to provide tools and resources to assist the business community in prospering and adapting to the economic climate, while growing membership and promotinglocal purchasing.[54]
The city lies in the eastern end of theSan Gabriel Valley between theSan Gabriel Mountains range to the north and, for most of the city, with theSouth Hills to the south.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.6 square miles (51 km2), of which 19.4 square miles (50 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2), or 0.84%, is water.
Glendora has a dryMediterranean climate (KöppenCsa) characterized by hotter summers and slightly cooler winters than coastal areas inCalifornia. The dry weather lasts for most of the year except for the rainy season in the winter. Hot summer temperatures and warmSanta Ana winds in the fall increase the risk of wildfires in the surrounding mountains. The 2009Morris Fire and 2015Cabin Fire are some of the most recent wildfires affecting Glendora and nearby cities.
| Climate data for Glendora, California (1981–2010 normals) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 68 (20) | 69 (21) | 71 (22) | 76 (24) | 79 (26) | 84 (29) | 90 (32) | 92 (33) | 89 (32) | 80 (27) | 74 (23) | 68 (20) | 78 (26) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 43 (6) | 45 (7) | 47 (8) | 49 (9) | 54 (12) | 58 (14) | 62 (17) | 62 (17) | 60 (16) | 55 (13) | 47 (8) | 42 (6) | 52 (11) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.78 (96) | 4.76 (121) | 2.66 (68) | 1.20 (30) | .33 (8.4) | .09 (2.3) | .01 (0.25) | .03 (0.76) | .18 (4.6) | 1.05 (27) | 1.62 (41) | 2.45 (62) | 18.16 (461) |
| Source:[55] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 2,028 | — | |
| 1930 | 2,761 | 36.1% | |
| 1940 | 2,822 | 2.2% | |
| 1950 | 3,988 | 41.3% | |
| 1960 | 20,752 | 420.4% | |
| 1970 | 31,380 | 51.2% | |
| 1980 | 38,500 | 22.7% | |
| 1990 | 47,828 | 24.2% | |
| 2000 | 49,415 | 3.3% | |
| 2010 | 50,073 | 1.3% | |
| 2020 | 52,558 | 5.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[56] 1860–1870[57][58] 1880–1890[59] 1900[60] 1910[61] 1920[62] 1930[63] 1940[64] 1950[65] 1960[66][67] 1970[68] 1980[69] 1990[70]2000[71] 2010[72] 2020[73] | |||
Glendora first appeared as a city in the1920 U.S. Census[62] as part of Azusa Township (pop 4,154 in 1910).[61]
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[74] | Pop 2010[75] | Pop 2020[73] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 33,564 | 28,565 | 23,384 | 67.92% | 57.05% | 44.49% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 704 | 834 | 1,021 | 1.42% | 1.67% | 1.94% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 158 | 102 | 120 | 0.32% | 0.20% | 0.23% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 3,003 | 3,898 | 6,656 | 6.08% | 7.78% | 12.66% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | 26 | 42 | 24 | 0.05% | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 88 | 106 | 274 | 0.18% | 0.21% | 0.52% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 1,132 | 1,178 | 2,062 | 2.29% | 2.35% | 3.92% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 10,740 | 15,348 | 19,017 | 21.73% | 30.65% | 36.18% |
| Total | 49,415 | 50,073 | 52,558 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of thecensus[76] of 2020, there were 52,558 people, 16,887 households, and 3.01 persons per household residing in the city. The population density was 2,582 inhabitants per square mile (997/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 70.4%White (47.9% Non-Hispanic White), 1.9%Black orAfrican American, 0.6%Native American, 11.6%Asian, 0.3%Pacific Islander, and 7.2% from two or more races. 34.4% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.[77]
According to the 2020 United States census, Glendora had a median household income of $96,132, with 8.3% of the population living below the federal poverty line.[78]
As of thecensus[79] of 2010, there were 50,073 people, 16,819 households, and 12,866 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,581.5 inhabitants per square mile (996.7/km2). There were 17,145 housing units at an average density of 895.7 per square mile (345.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 75.1%White (57.0% Non-Hispanic White), 1.9%Black orAfrican American, 0.7%Native American, 8.0%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 5.2% fromother races, and 4.8% from two or more races. 30.7% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.[78]
According to the 2010 United States Census, Glendora had a median household income of $74,615, with 7.8% of the population living below the federal poverty line.[78]
Mexican (16.3%) andGerman (11.3%) were the most common ancestries in Glendora.Mexico (22.1%) and thePhilippines (9.0%) were the most common foreign places of birth in Glendora.[80]
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 49,415 people, 16,819 households, and 12,866 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 996.8/km² (2,581.5/mi²). There were 17,145 housing units at an average density of 345.9/km² (895.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.3%White, 1.50%Black orAfrican American, 0.6%Native American, 16.2%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 7.2% fromother races, and 4.0% from two or more races. 11.7% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.[81]
There were 16,819 households out of which 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% weremarried couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.5% were non-families. 19.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.30.
The age distribution of the city was as follows: 27.6% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24 years old, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $60,013, and the median income for a family was $66,674 (these figures had risen to $72,414 and $86,606 respectively as of a 2007 estimate[82]). Males had a median income of $49,548 versus $35,062 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,993. 5.9% of the population and 3.9% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 6.7% were under the age of 18 and 5.0% are 65 or older.
Founded as a community in 1887, Glendora was formally incorporated as a city on Nov. 13, 1911 making it the 25th oldest city in Los Angeles County out of a total of 88.[83] It is ageneral-law city with acouncil–manager government, meaning the administrative head of the city is a City Manager who is appointed and overseen by acity council of five members. The current City Manager is Adam Raymond.[84]
As of 2020, the members are electedby district and serve four-year (staggered) terms of office. Following each election, the council selects from its membership amayor andmayor pro tem. The current Mayor is David Fredendall.[85]
In order to avoid the kinds of costly lawsuits other cities had faced under theCalifornia Voting Rights Act of 2001, the City of Glendora reluctantly changed how council members are elected by transitioning from an at-large election system to a district-based election system.[86] This included switching the election cycle from odd years to even years. The first phase began in March 2020, when representatives from Council Districts 2, 3 and 5 were elected. The second phase took place in 2022 when representatives from Districts 1 and 4 were on the ballot.[87]
Public safety services are provided by the Glendora Police Department and theLos Angeles County Fire Department.
In theCalifornia State Legislature, Glendora is inthe 25th senatorial district, represented byDemocrat Sasha Renée Pérez, and inthe 48th Assembly district, represented byDemocrat Blanca Rubio.[88]
In theUnited States House of Representatives, Glendora is split betweenCalifornia's 28th congressional district, represented byDemocrat Judy Chu[89] andCalifornia's 31st congressional district, represented byDemocrat Gil Cisneros.[90]
The city has two public school districts:Glendora Unified andCharter Oak Unified School Districts (COUSD). These school districts are considered two of the best in the state and the country, consistently ranking in the top performing brackets.[91] Both districts have schools designated as California Distinguished Schools and Gold Ribbon Schools.[92][93]
There are two hospitals in the city:
Los Angeles County also offers community health services for Glendora residents at the Monrovia Health Center and Pomona Health Center.
Glendora is an active community and it has an extensive system of parks, trails, and recreational programs for the community.
The Glendora Mountain Road and Glendora Ridge Road are also common routes for cyclists and sightseers with views through theSan Gabriel Mountains. These roads have also hosted stages of the internationalTour of California.
Glendora is served byFoothill Transit which provides connections through the city and express service to downtownLos Angeles. TheMetro A Lineterminus station atAPU/Citrus College in the adjacent city ofAzusa also provides a transit link to theMetro system of trains and buses. A future extension of the A Line, from its current terminus inAzusa to the City ofMontclair inSan Bernardino County, will include astation in Glendora to be located in the southeast corner of the intersection of Ada Avenue and Vermont Avenue. The station dedication is planned for May 3, 2025 with train service expected to begin in the Summer.[102][103] Ahead of the station’s eventual opening, the rail line was renamed from theL Line to theA Line per Metro's new naming convention[104][105] and will connect to the former Blue Line via the newRegional Connector in downtownLos Angeles. It will provide a "one-seat ride" (no transfers) to the Financial District ofLos Angeles and downtownLong Beach.
Glendora also runs its own weekday transportation shuttle service, the Glendora Mini Bus, with shuttles serving theMetrolink Commuter Rail Station in nearbyCovina, theAPU/Citrus College Metro station, and an inter-school service connecting some of the city's schools. The Mini Bus also provides curb-to-curb transportation services for senior and disabled residents of Glendora.
Glendora lies at the intersection of two major freeways, the210 and the57, in what was formerly known as theGlendora Curve. These two freeways conveniently connect the city with the rest of theSouthern California region. HistoricU.S. Route 66 also traverses the city from east to west and it is an important corridor for businesses. Other major roads and highways includeFoothill Boulevard, Grand Avenue,Arrow Highway, and Lone Hill Avenue.
There are no airports within the city limits. Glendora is within forty-five miles from all major area airports includingLos Angeles International Airport (LAX),Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR),Ontario International Airport (ONT),Long Beach Airport (LGB), andJohn Wayne Airport (SNA) inOrange County.
TheNational Hot Rod Association andArmstrong Garden Centers are based in Glendora.
According to the city's 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[106] the top employers in the city are:
| Rank | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Citrus College | 807 |
| 2 | Glendora Unified School District | 798 |
| 3 | LA County Department of Children and Family Services | 600 |
| 4 | Foothill Presbyterian Hospital | 653 |
| 5 | Glendora Grand | 350 |
| 6 | Ormco Corporation | 350 |
| 7 | Walmart | 416 |
| 8 | Glendora Community Hospital | 334 |
| 9 | City of Glendora | 245 |
| 10 | Sam's Club | 196 |
KGLN TV is apublic-access channel under the exclusive editorial control of the City of Glendora. By law, programming and information appearing on this channel is limited to City-originated programming of Public Meetings, City-sponsored events/activities, City-originated information, and the California legislative network live cablecast for a portion of each program day.
The San Gabriel Valley Tribune, based inMonrovia, provides mainstream news coverage for Glendora.[107] and surrounding "Foothill cities." TheTribune carries a list of current articles as well as a history of articles concerning the City of Glendora[108] and cities immediately surrounding the City of Glendora.
Library Happenings is a bi-monthly newsletter published and distributed by the Glendora Public Library. It generally consists of 4 or 6 pages of information about local programs and events planned for the year. There is an online version of the newsletter[109] with issues going back to the year 2007.
Glendora City News is a local news outlet focused on issues and events that are relevant to residents of the city of Glendora, California. Founded in November 2014, the newspaper has covered local crime, real estate, social events, and political issues, including some high-profile, highly controversial actions taken by city managers which have resulted in contentious public meetings and citywide calls for the removal of city politicians. The news outlet provides detailed information about scheduled events, public meetings, and incidents of note that occur within the City of Glendora.
Of particular note for Glendora residents, the news outlet contains detailed information about ballot initiatives every time the city holds a vote, listing the ballot propositions without a discernible political bias, a stance that has earned the news outlet a moderately-large on-line subscriber base as well as 18 thousand “like” subscribers on Facebook out of a city population of 50 thousand. Consistently detailing measures on the ballot at every election has made the news source a secondary source of information, with the primary source being the City of Glendora's official web sites.
The news outlet also occasionally carries information about local employment openings that have social benefit (such as environmental jobs), and routinely carries updated information about the many foothill fires and mud slides that effect residents in the northern parts of the city during the year's fire and rain seasons. Lost and found dogs and cats also get covered fairly routinely at the news outlet, with residents contacting the newspaper asking for help locating either a found pet's guardians or their missing pets.
The news outlet also offers a Community Calendar series which covers up-coming events which include city meetings as well as local events created by local shops, fast food franchises, and volunteer organizations.
The news outlet asks local residents to provide news tips and commentary about anything that happens in the city, including information about what city planners and managers are up to. In the past such tips have led to volunteer efforts by residents who have organized clean-up efforts of public property, such as the South Hills Dog Park[110] where the drinking water facilities had been left in disrepair and needed cleaning.
Glendora has 2sister cities:
Glendora and Moka have been sister cities since 1988. Since about 2000, there has been an ongoing student exchange program between Goddard Middle School and Moka Higashi Junior High School.[146] There is an ongoing student exchange program between Sandburg Middle School and Nakamura Junior High School.[147][148]
The Bidwell Forum at the Glendora Public library features a mural painted by Mexican artists Manuel Lizama and Sergio Cuevas. They completed the work in July 1976 as a gift from the city of Mérida.
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