Rowland Heights, California | |
|---|---|
 Rowland Unified School District headquarters | |
 Location of Rowland Heights inLos Angeles County,California | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | Los Angeles |
| Named after | John A. Rowland |
| Area | |
• Total | 13.085 sq mi (33.889 km2) |
| • Land | 13.077 sq mi (33.868 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0077 sq mi (0.020 km2) 0.06% |
| Elevation | 520 ft (160 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 48,231 |
| • Density | 3,688.4/sq mi (1,424.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code | 91748, 92821 |
| Area codes | 562,626, and909 |
| FIPS code | 06-63218 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1661344 |
Rowland Heights is anunincorporated community andcensus designated place (CDP) in and below thePuente Hills in theSan Gabriel Valley, inLos Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 48,231 at the2020 census.[3] Rowland Heights is in theLos Angeles metropolitan area and represented by the County of Los Angeles (County Board of Supervisors)[4] and is the second largest census designated place in Los Angeles County by area, behindTopanga, and the county's fifth largest CDP by population.[5] The area has a high Taiwanese population and was known as "Little Taipei" in the 1980s and 1990s, when it saw an influx of wealthy immigrants fromTaiwan.
A number of corporations, such asNewegg,FedEx,DIRECTV, andFashion Nova, as well as other technology and import and export businesses, are located in neighboringCity of Industry. Many business owners and employees reside in Rowland Heights as well as neighboringHacienda Heights andWalnut due to their proximity.
The Mexican land grantRancho La Puente was granted by Governor Juan B. Alvarado toJohn Rowland in April 1842, totaling about 18,000 acres (7,284 ha). Three years later, Governor Pio Pico amended the grant, enlarging it to nearly 49,000 acres (19,830 ha) and addingWilliam Workman as a co-owner. In 1868, after they received their federal land patent the prior year, Rowland and Workman divided Rancho La Puente, with Workman largely taking the western and central portions and Rowland the northern, southern and eastern sections, including what became most of Rowland Heights.[6][7] The east section of Rowland Heights, between Nogales Street and Brea Canyon Road, falls within Rancho Rincon de la Brea. The ranch of Rowland's grandson, John A. Rowland III was behind the99 Ranch Market near the corner of Gale Avenue and Nogales Street and the Rowland family owns part of that property today, leasing most of it for commercial use.[4]
Rowland Heights grew significantly during the 1990s.[4] Originally built on a pig farm that covered much of modern-day Rowland Heights, the Rowland Homestead was mostlyorange groves until the eastward sprawl from Los Angeles spawned working-class communities and affordable housing developments then formed. As the60 freeway was extended beyond the western boundary, the community continued growth equal to that of most communities in Southern California. Development next to the freeway, zoned for industrial investment, eventually helped to support the housing developments that continue well into the 21st century.
Since the 1990s, there has been a significant demographic shift as many upper-class immigrants fromTaiwan,China, andSouth Korea have settled in the hillside homes of Rowland Heights (and in neighboring regions such asHacienda Heights,Walnut, andDiamond Bar). Also, Rowland Heights has also attracted immigrants from mainland China because the area is advertised in China as having high-end homes and convenient shopping centers. Many work at or own businesses in the nearbyCity of Industry.[8] Additionally,Latinos have maintained a long-standing presence in the lower sections. The city has developed an eclecticsuburban "Chinatown", "Little Tokyo", and "Koreatown", mostly in the form of upscale strip malls. There are several large Asian product supermarkets in the area.
Once predominantly Anglo and Hispanic since inception in 1842, this area has gradually become one of the Chinese centers in the greater Los Angeles beginning in the 1990s. Originally formed by the stream of business expansions fromMonterey Park (now a heavily mainland Chinese enclave), Rowland Heights has become an area largely populated by Taiwanese. Local Taiwanese refer to Rowland Heights as "Little Taipei", due to its high concentration ofTaiwanese restaurants and businesses. It has become the center for Chinese commercial and cultural activity in the southeastern region of the San Gabriel Valley. While Rowland Heights and adjacent areas are still predominantlyWaishengren (mainland Chinese refugees who retreated to Taiwan in1949), in recent years many mainland Chinese emigres have also been increasingly purchasing homes and starting small businesses in the area. Some eateries of Taiwanese cuisine are operated by mainland Chinese. Additionally, there are restaurants geared toward the young and affluent Chinese population.
Possibly owing to Rowland Heights as evolving into the cultural center for the Chinese diaspora,[9] many49er Taiwanese and a growing number of mainland Chinese now live in the area. In 1992, a connection (Harbor Boulevard) from northern Orange County (mostly to the city ofLa Habra) opened in Rowland Heights, making Fullerton Road among the heavily traversed roads in the region.[9]
In March 2012, a 750,000 pounds (340 t), two-story granite rock was parked on Pathfinder Road as it journeyed from Riverside County to theLos Angeles County Museum of Art as part ofMichael Heizer’sLevitated Mass exhibition.[10]
InMarch 2015, a bullying incident involving Chinese nationals occurred in Rowland Heights. This incident involved Chinese nationals, who assaulted a 16-year-old girl at a restaurant and at a park in Rowland Heights. Later in the month, another incident began at the Honeymee, an ice cream parlor in Yes Plaza on Colima and Fullerton Roads. The perpetrators forced her to clean up ice cream smears and cigarette butts with her hand before taking her to Rowland Heights Park, where she was stripped of her clothing, slapped, burned with cigarettes, beaten, and forced to eat her own hair, which her assailants cut from her head. The attack lasted for over five hours.[11]
Rowland Heights is located inLos Angeles County adjacent toOrange County. The census definition of the area was created by the Census Bureau for statistical purposes and may not precisely correspond to local understanding of the area with the same name. According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 13.1 square miles (34 km2).
Rowland Heights is bordered by Hacienda Heights to the northwest, Diamond Bar to the east,Brea to the south,La Habra Heights to the southwest, and the City ofIndustry to the north.
According to theKöppen Climate Classification system, Rowland Heights has awarm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csa" on climate maps.[12]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 16,881 | — | |
| 1980 | 28,252 | 67.4% | |
| 1990 | 42,647 | 51.0% | |
| 2000 | 48,553 | 13.8% | |
| 2010 | 48,993 | 0.9% | |
| 2020 | 48,231 | −1.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[13] 1860–1870[14][15] 1880-1890[16] 1900[17] 1910[18] 1920[19] 1930[20] 1940[21] 1950[22] 1960[23][24] 1970[25] 1980[26] 1990[27]2000[28] 2010[29] 2020[30] | |||
For statistical purposes, theUnited States Census Bureau has defined Rowland Heights as a 13.1 square miles (34 km2)census-designated place (CDP). Rowland Heights first appeared as an unincorporated place in the1970 U.S. census as part of the East San Gabriel Valley census county division;[25] and as acensus designated place in the1980 United States census.[26]
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[31] | Pop 2010[32] | Pop 2020[30] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 7,899 | 5,045 | 3,467 | 16.27% | 10.30% | 7.19% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,163 | 683 | 655 | 2.40% | 1.39% | 1.36% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 45 | 43 | 45 | 0.09% | 0.09% | 0.09% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 24,308 | 29,135 | 29,583 | 50.06% | 59.47% | 61.34% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | 133 | 60 | 53 | 0.27% | 0.12% | 0.11% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 64 | 28 | 144 | 0.13% | 0.06% | 0.30% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 1,193 | 770 | 769 | 2.46% | 1.57% | 1.59% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 13,748 | 13,229 | 13,515 | 28.32% | 27.00% | 28.02% |
| Total | 48,553 | 48,993 | 48,231 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
The2020 United States census reported that Rowland Heights had a population of 48,231. The population density was 3,688.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,424.0/km2). The racial makeup of Rowland Heights was 11.1%White, 1.5%African American, 0.9%Native American, 61.8%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 15.3% fromother races, and 9.3% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino of any race were 28.0% of the population.[33]
The census reported that 99.7% of the population lived in households, 0.3% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.[33]
There were 14,889 households, out of which 31.7% included children under the age of 18, 56.7% were married-couple households, 3.7% werecohabiting couple households, 24.6% had a female householder with no partner present, and 15.0% had a male householder with no partner present. 13.2% of households were one person, and 6.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.23.[33] There were 12,245families (82.2% of all households).[34]
The age distribution was 17.7% under the age of 18, 8.8% aged 18 to 24, 25.8% aged 25 to 44, 27.6% aged 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.4 males.[33]
There were 15,484 housing units at an average density of 1,184.1 units per square mile (457.2 units/km2), of which 14,889 (96.2%) were occupied. Of these, 61.9% were owner-occupied, and 38.1% were occupied by renters.[33]
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $85,202, and theper capita income was $39,842. About 9.2% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line.[35]
The2010 United States census[36] reported that Rowland Heights had a population of 48,993. The population density was 3,745.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,446.0/km2). The racial makeup of Rowland Heights was 29,284 (59.8%)Asian, 11,506 (23.5%)White (10.3% Non-Hispanic White),[37] 772 (1.6%)African American, 175 (0.4%)Native American, 61 (0.1%)Pacific Islander, 5,658 (11.5%) fromother races, and 1,537 (3.1%) from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 13,229 persons (27.0%).
The Census reported that 48,831 people (99.7% of the population) lived in households, 148 (0.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 14 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 14,520 households, out of which 5,557 (38.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 9,137 (62.9%) wereopposite-sex married couples living together, 2,080 (14.3%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,097 (7.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 424 (2.9%)unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 69 (0.5%)same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,585 households (10.9%) were made up of individuals, and 638 (4.4%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.36. There were 12,314families (84.8% of all households); the average family size was 3.54.
The population was spread out, with 9,960 people (20.3%) under the age of 18, 4,854 people (9.9%) aged 18 to 24, 12,918 people (26.4%) aged 25 to 44, 14,819 people (30.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 6,442 people (13.1%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.
There were 15,152 housing units at an average density of 1,158.3 units per square mile (447.2 units/km2), of which 9,811 (67.6%) were owner-occupied, and 4,709 (32.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.2%. 33,167 people (67.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 15,664 people (32.0%) lived in rental housing units. The estimated median house or condo value in 2009 was $461,614. In 2018, this number has increased; the median home value in Rowland Heights is now at $669,600 with the median listing price at $788,500.
According to the 2010 United States census, Rowland Heights had a median household income of $62,631, with 10.6% of the population living below the federal poverty line.[37] According to Los Angeles Times research regarding median income ranking, Rowland Heights is ranked at 87 at $72,638; 6.6% of households in Rowland Heights make over $200,000 a year.
Updated information showed that the average household income in Rowland Heights was $99,354, while the median household income was $83,606; compared to Los Angeles, where the average household income was $81,225, and the median household income was $56,993. The average household net worth was at $807,328.
Peter F. Schabarum, a Republican, represented the 49th district in theCalifornia State Assembly from 1967 to 1972. He was appointed to theLos Angeles County Board of Supervisors in March 1972 by Gov.Ronald Reagan following the death of incumbentFrank G. Bonelli and elected to the position three months later in a hotly contested special election that pitted him against his former roommate and colleague Assemblyman William Campbell. Schabarum was re-elected in 1974, 1978, 1982 and 1986. He did not seek re-election in 1990, but served three extra months until Feb. 28, 1991, to allow a special election to be held following a court ruling that redrew the boundaries of his district to create a majority-Latino district, later occupied byGloria Molina.[38] Schabarum was noted for opposing governmentunions, supporting privatization of certain county duties, and supporting the decentralization of County government.[39] In addition, he was the leading backer of California's Proposition 140 on the 1990 ballot, which imposed term limits on the California Legislature.[40]
His legacy lives on through the Peter F. Schabarum Regional Park, locally known as Schabarum Park.[41] It is in his former supervisorial district and named after him. The regional park offers playgrounds, picnic areas, and horseback riding and trails in the surroundingPuente Hills.
Schabarum Regional Park is also known forume andsakura Cherry blossoms. 500 ume trees were donated byKairaku-en inMito,Ibaraki,Japan when the two parks established a "sister-park" relationship in 1992.[42]
Los Angeles County Library operates the library branch. The library went under renovation in 2015 and reopened in 2018.
The community is part of District 1 of theLos Angeles County Board of Supervisors, represented by SupervisorHilda Solis.
In theCalifornia State Legislature, Rowland Heights is inthe 30th senatorial district, represented byDemocrat Bob Archuleta andthe 56th Assembly district, represented byDemocrat Lisa Calderon. In theU.S. House of Representatives, it is located inCalifornia's 38th congressional district, represented byDemocrat Linda Sánchez.[43]
TheLos Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Pomona Health Center inPomona, serving Rowland Heights.[44]
TheLos Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) operates the Walnut/Diamond Bar Station in Walnut. It is spread out over 260 square miles (670 km2), encompassing the contract cities of Diamond Bar and Walnut, and the unincorporated area of Rowland Heights.[45] In addition the LASD operates the Rowland Heights Asian Community Center.[46][47] The California Highway Patrol (CHP), Santa Fe Springs Area office, is responsible for traffic enforcement matters and traffic collision investigations throughout unincorporated area of Rowland Heights, unincorporated Hacienda Heights, and State Route 60 freeway, which is a major thoroughfare between the city of Los Angeles and the Inland Empire.
Rowland Unified School District is the school district for thecensus-designated place.[48]
Pathfinder Road, Colima Road, and Gale Avenue/Walnut Drive are the main west–east arterials. Nogales Street, Fairway Drive/Brea Canyon Cut-off Road, and Fullerton Road/Harbor Boulevard are the main north–south arterials.
Foothill Transit and theMetro provide bus transit services throughout theSan Gabriel Valley. The main Metro Bus Terminal is inEl Monte. In addition, theMetrolink commuter train runs west towards DowntownLos Angeles and east toSan Bernardino through the Valley；the station that serves Rowland Heights isIndustry station. Metro may possibly extend the Metro Expo Line to Rowland Heights in the second half of the 21st century in the future.
The San Gabriel Valley is served by several majorinterstate highways. Those in proximity to Rowland Heights include theSan Bernardino Freeway (Interstate 10),Foothill Freeway (I-210),San Gabriel River Freeway (I-605), and theLong Beach Freeway (I-710). State freeways include theOrange Freeway (State Route 57), thePomona Freeway (State Route 60).
China Airlines, one of the major airline companies in Taiwan, operates private bus services toLos Angeles International Airport from Hk 2 Food District in Rowland Heights to take residents toTaipei,Taiwan.[51]
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