San Marino, California
San Marino is a small, affluent city in Los Angeles County, California. Incorporated in 1913, the City founders designed the community to be uniquely residential, with expansive properties surrounded by beautiful gardens, wide streets, and well maintained parkways. In 2010, Forbes Magazine ranked the city's 91108 ZIP code as the 63rd most expensive area to live in the United States. Most homes were built between 1920 and 1950. The median list price of a single family home is US$1,987,500, as of July 2010.
Origin of name
The city takes its name from the ancient Republic of San Marino, founded by Saint Marinus who fled his home in Dalmatia (modern Croatia) at the time of the Diocletianic Persecution of Christians. Marinus took refuge at Monte Titano on the Italian peninsula, where he built a chapel and founded a monastic community in 301 A.D.. The state which grew from the monastery is the world's oldest surviving republic.The seal of the City of San Marino, California is modeled on that of the republic, depicting the Three Towers of San Marino each capped with a bronze plume, surrounded by a heart-shaped scroll with two roundels and a lozenge (of unknown significance) at the top. The crown representing the monarchy on the original was replaced with five stars representing the five members of the City's governing body. Beneath the city's seal are crossed palm fronds and orange branches.
Early history
The site of San Marino was originally occupied by a village of Tongva (Gabrieleño) Indians. The area was part of the San Gabriel Mission. Principal portions of San Marino were included in an 1830 Mexican land grant to Señora Victoria Reid, a Native-American woman and the widow of Hugo Reid, who called it Rancho Huerta de Cuati. In 1852, Señora Reid deeded her rancho to Don Benito Wilson, the first Anglo owner of Rancho San Pascual. In 1873, Don Benito conveyed to his son-in-law, James DeBarth Shorb, 500 acres (2.0 km2) which Shorb named 'San Marino' after his grandfather's plantation in Maryland. The site of the Shorb home is today occupied by the Huntington Library.In 1903, the Shorb estate was purchased by Henry E. Huntington (1850–1927), and in 1913 the three primary ranchos of Wilson, Patton, and Huntington, together with the subdivided areas from those and smaller ranchos, such as Stoneman, White, and Rose, were incorporated as the city of San Marino.The first mayor of the city of San Marino was George S. Patton, Senior. The son of a slain Civil War general, Patton graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1877, just before moving west. He married Ruth Wilson, the daughter of Don Benito Wilson. Their son was the famous World War II general, George S. Patton, Junior.To a prior generation of southern Californians, San Marino was known for its old-money wealth and as a bastion of the region's WASP gentry. By mid-century, other European ethnic groups had become the majority; in recent decades, immigrants of Chinese (especially Taiwanese) ancestry have come to represent nearly half the population.
Landmarks
San Marino is the location of the renowned Huntington Library and gardens, on the former estate of In 1919 Henry Huntington opened to the public limited access to the art collections, and to the rare books and historical documents, housed in the library and in his large Neoclassical-Palladian mansion, as well as to the surrounding botanical gardens, all collectively known as 'The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens', or 'The Huntington.' In the film, The Wedding Singer, the big wedding finale, was filmed on the grassy mall at The Huntington Library & Gardens.El Molino Viejo ('The Old Mill'), completed about 1816 as a grist mill for Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, is in San Marino. The original two-story structure measured 53 by 26 feet (7.9 m). It is the oldest commercial building in Southern California. The town is located on the former lands of the historic Rancho Huerta de Cuati.The Edwin Hubble House, From 1925 to 1953, this two story stucco home was the residence of one of America's greatest 20th-century astronomers who, among other accomplishments, discovered extragalactic nebulae and their recession from each other. Edwin Hubble, is a National Historic Landmark.The Michael White Adobe House, is located on the high school campus and houses the San Marino Historical Society archives.The University of Southern California owns a house in San Marino which is used as the residence of the President of the University. The residence and grounds are often used for University Presidential events.In the middle of San Marino lies Lacy Park, a huge 30-acre (120,000 m2) expanse of lush grass and trees rare for urban areas. Originally named Wilson Lake in 1875, the land was purchased by the city in 1925 and dedicated as a park. Families in San Marino have enjoyed the park for years, and it remains one of San Marino's best kept secrets. A picnic area is often the site of musical concerts, civic events and pancake breakfasts. Within the park are two walking loops: an inner loop of approximately 3/4 mile in length, and an outer loop of approximately 1-mile (1.6 km) in length. Dogs are welcome with their owners, providing they are on a leash. The park includes six championship tennis courts and pro shop, administered by the San Marino Tennis Foundation. At the west entrance of the park is the Rose Arbor, which is of special significance for the people of San Marino. It is sixty years old and has long been a source of beauty and tranquility to many residents. In recent years the care and upkeep of the Rose Arbor itself has been augmented by private donations from dedicated residents who have chosen to sponsor individual posts. The park recently built a memorial to General George S. Patton (a native of San Marino) and also a large memorial to Armed Forces along with a statue of a sad soldier. The memorial includes the names of all military personnel from San Marino.The city's local newspaper office is located in the heart of town near the city's most prominent street, Huntington Drive. 'The San Marino Tribune' has been the official newspaper of the city since 1929. There are two sections of the weekly paper, an 'A' section and a 'B' section, the distinction being that it covers not only San Marino news but also the Pasadena, San Gabriel, Alhambra, Arcadia and South Pasadena news.
City politics
Governing the City of San Marino is a city council of five members, elected by the people for a four-year term, at elections held in March of odd calendar years. These five Council members serve without any financial compensation and elect one of their own members as Mayor. The current Mayor is Dennis Kneier. The Vice Mayor is Dr. Allan Yung and council members are: Dr. Richard Sun, Richard Ward and Eugene Sun.The San Marino City Council page states: 'San Marino was formed to protect your personal rights and to control the growth and activities of the City in such a way that each individual resident will be guaranteed a pleasant place in which to live with a minimum of nuisance, with assurance that his property values will be protected by stringent zoning regulations.It is your City Council's desire to acquaint the old and new residents with the history and background of San Marino, its many advantages and some of your responsibilities as a citizen. ' This community consists only of single family residences and there are no apartment buildings, condominiums or townhouses in the city. All homes have to have a 2-car garage No fast food, drive-through restaurants are allowed in San Marino. 'The responsibilities of being a citizen in San Marino are many and rules are strictly enforced.'
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,945 people, 4,266 households, and 3,673 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,430.5/mi² (1,325.8/km²). There were 4,437 housing units at an average density of 1,175.8/mi² (454.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 51.98% White, 0.15% African American, 0.05% Native American, 47.7% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.04% from other races, and 2.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.25% of the population. More than one-third of the city's population, 33.3%, is Chinese.There were 4,266 households out of which 42% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.9% were non-families. 12% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.29.In the city the population is spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 43 years. (this is older than average age in the U.S.). For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.The median income for a household in the city was $147,267, and the median income for a family was $155,708. Males had a median income of $98,928 versus $51,853 for females. The per capita income for the city was $59,150. About 3.7% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over. The vast majority, 69.7% of persons, had a Bachelor's degree or higher, compared to 27.2% at the national average.
Zoning
The city is divided into seven zones, based on minimum lot size. The smallest lot size is about 4,500 square feet (420 m2), with many averaging over 30,000 square feet (2,800 m2). Because of this and other factors, most of the homes in San Marino, built between 1920 and 1950, do not resemble the houses in surrounding Southern California neighborhoods (with the exception, perhaps, of neighboring portions of Pasadena). San Marino has also fostered a sense of historic preservation among its homeowners. With minor exceptions, the city's strict design review and zoning laws have thus far prevented the development of large homes found elsewhere in Los Angeles. No apartment buildings or townhouses exist in the city.[citation needed]San Marino is located at 34°7′22″N 118°6′47″W / 34.12278°N 118.11306°W / 34.12278; -118.11306 (34.122658, -118.112964).According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.8 mi² (9.8 km²), all land.San Marino is highly restrictive of commercial operations in the city. It is one of the few cities that requires commercial vehicles to have permits to work in the City.
Schools
On September 9, 1913, the first San Marino school was opened at the corner of Monterey Road, (then called Calle de Lopez) and Oak Knoll, in what was known as the Old Mayberry Home. There were three teachers and thirty-five pupils, grades kindergarten through the eighth; High School students attended South Pasadena High until San Marino High School was founded in 1955 after 50 years of utilizing South Pasadena High School in nearby South Pasadena. San Marino High School graduated its first class in 1956. The High School nickname, 'The Titans,' comes from Mt. Titano, in the Republic of San Marino.San Marino High School is situated on the former site of Carver Elementary School. In 1996, the high school reconstruction was begun and the school is now equipped with new laboratories, classrooms, and ethernet connections, supported mainlyly by bond issues and rigorous fund-raising by the San Marino Schools Endowment. The new buildings include a brand new cafeteria, orchestra and band room, dance studio, journalism lab, and renovated auditoriums, as well as a renovated baseball field and a brand new football field/track.San Marino High School is part of the San Marino Unified School District. Its public funding is supplemented by private donations raised through the San Marino Schools Endowment Foundation. Each year, the Foundation raises funds necessary to balance the District’s budget. To date, the San Marino Schools Foundation has contributed $18,268,485 to our schools since their inception in March 1980.As of the 2009 Academic Performance Index, API school reports, the San Marino Unified School District is the top performing school district in California. Its high school consistently ranks as one of the highest API scores among public high schools in California. Each of its public primary schools have been honored as a California Distinguished School and the United States National Blue Ribbon School.There are four public schools in San Marino Unified School District:Valentine Elementary School,
Carver Elementary School,
Huntington Middle School
San Marino High School.
The two elementary schools offer instruction for grades K-5, the middle school for grades 6-8 and the high school for grades 9-12. The middle school was named Henry E. Huntington School, after San Marino’s “first citizen.” In 1953, a new K. L. Carver Elementary was completed at its current location on San Gabriel Boulevard and was named after a school board member of 19 years – K. L. Carver. Stoneman Elementary School, named for Governor George Stoneman, who had resided in San Marino, is no longer used for instruction by San Marino School District. The former school is now leased by the San Marino City Recreation Department and houses San Marino Unified School District special education staff.Six consecutive years, 2004, through 2009, the San Marino Unified School District ranked first among all 328 California unified school districts based on the California Academic Performance Index. San Marino High School is considered one of the best-performing public schools on Standardized Achievement Tests in Southern California. It was also named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2006. Some of San Marino's schools' funding comes from private donors and organizations. In November 2007, San Marino High School was ranked 82nd on a list of the best high school in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Private schools
Southwestern Academy, a private college preparatory school, was founded on April 7, 1924 . The campus was part of an original Spanish grant (the old ranch grew orange and avocado trees) and the land was subsequently legalized by Abraham Lincoln. “Southwestern Academy” was named to capture the distinctive spirit of the Southwestern United States. Pioneer Hall, which was Southwestern’s original campus building, was the home of then Governor, George Stoneman.
Saints Felicitas and Perpetua grammar school, grades K-8. The city took the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to the Supreme Court to block the opening of this school. Saints Felicitas & Perpetua School was completed and dedicated in 1950.
City services
When the City of San Marino was first incorporated in 1913 it did not have its own police department. During its early years, the only police protection deemed necessary was a City Marshal. However, as the City began to grow and crime made its way into the community, two deputy City Marshals were added in October 1918. In 1924, then Deputy Marshal Ben Parker was appointed the Cities first police chief. He served until 1934. Currently, The Field Services Division, or Patrol Bureau, is the largest component of the Police Department division with a staff of 22, including 1 Lieutenant, 4 Sergeants, and 17 patrol officers. The San Marino Police Department's core values are Integrity, Hard Work, Support/Teamwork and Pride in Service. Their motto is 'Pride in Service.' The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Monrovia Health Center in Monrovia, serving San Marino.The Crowell Public Library, opened in 2008,and it the site of many and varied activities. Lectures, workshops, storytimes,and an assortment of classes, including those on health related issues, are offered at the library. Hours: Mon-Thurs 10-9, Fri - Sat 10-5, Sun 1-5
San Marino Tribune
The San Marino Tribune established in 1928. Back then, it was also published on Thursdays. Then, as it is now, it was the only newspaper of the city. It began as a tabloid back in the late 1920s, printed in Pasadena on East Colorado Boulevard. The paper’s location was the San Marino Pharmacy. Soon competition emerged in the form of the San Marino News, which failed because it was unable to get much advertising. The News was turned over to the Monterey Park Herald and then bought by Frank Collins, owner of the Tribune. A final competitor arrived at the scene called the Town Crier, which lasted just 11 weeks. On November 22, 1933, the Tribune improved its format, graduating to a full-sized newspaper and then moved its location to 2260 Huntington Drive. The community appreciated Collins for the newspaper, one that was devoted to the progress and prosperity of San Marino. He said, “A paper is different, never indifferent, only the news that’s fit to print, the public zeal our consistent aim.” And that was his goal. Collins died in 1943, before it was sold to owner and editor Herbert H. McCormick. The current publisher of the Tribune is Clifton Smith.
Cinema/television
San Marino may be recognizable to many Americans for the prevalence of movies and television shows filmed in the city. Location scouts turn to San Marino when they wish to make a film in southern California set elsewhere. Certain neighborhoods resemble the Atlantic seaboard because of the atypical housing stock in the city, including Georgian and faux antebellum mansions. Yet the design of many homes is inspired by California Spanish architecture. Television shows such as The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and movies such as Father of the Bride have been filmed in San Marino and Pasadena.The city of San Marino played a prominent role in Edward Bunker's 1996 novel Dog Eat Dog. The movie Father of the Bride with Steve Martin, although filmed in neighboring Pasadena and Alhambra, takes place in San Marino. Scenes for the movie Mr. & Mrs. Smith were filmed in San Marino, as were scenes from many other movies (like Memoirs of a Geisha (film), 'The Holiday', Monster-in-Law, Anger Management, 'The Wedding Singer, The Wedding Planner, Starsky & Hutch (film), Intolerable Cruelty, Beverly Hills Ninja, One Hour Photo, American Wedding, Mystery Men, S1m0ne, Enough, Men in Black II, Charlie's Angels (film), The Sweetest Thing) and TV shows, like Alias, The Office, The West Wing and Felicity. In the movie Mask, Rocky Dennis (played by Eric Stoltz) has a girlfriend from San Marino.Intrigued by the recently renovated campus, stellar academic program and wealthy community base, MTV scouted San Marino High School in early 2004 looking to cast students and shoot pilots for three different proposed television show concepts. The school administration agreed to hold a casting call on campus with students during school hours. Producers eventually shot two of the three proposed pilots, only one of which aired. The short-lived 'Borrow My Crew' series followed a high school senior around for a few weeks up until Prom Night—in which singer and actress Jennifer Lopez lent her personal hair dresser, make-up crew, and stylist to make her Prom Night extra special. Celebrity Fonzworth Bentley was her date to the event and later performed on the dance floor with the student body. The third show concept was for a documentary series that would follow a group of wealthy and privileged high school kids as they went about their everyday lives—intended as a reality spin-off homage to the show Beverly Hills, 90210 and in the format of MTV's long-time running The Real World. Producers eventually decided to create the show in Orange County, set amongst a liberal beach town to capitalize on the immense success of Fox Network's new teen-drama sitcom The O.C. The concept eventually came to be the first season of the now popular reality television program Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County.
