West Covina, California


West Covina is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Located east of downtown Los Angeles in the eastern San Gabriel Valley, it is part of Greater Los Angeles. The population for the city was 109,501 at the 2020 census.
West Covina is bordered by Covina to the northeast, Baldwin Park and Irwindale to the northwest, La Puente and Valinda to the southwest, Industry to the south, Ramona to the east, and Walnut to the southeast.
WWW westcovina.org

History

The Tongva were the earliest inhabitants of the San Gabriel Valley.
Governor Pío Pico sold much of the land of West Covina to John Rowland and William Workman in 1845.
The first permanent settlers arrived in West Covina in 1905. Most famous among them were William Payne, Bob Dancer, Bender, Robinson and Larsen. They cleared the land of sagebrush and cactus. They also planted the first walnut trees in the area.
West Covina was incorporated as an independent city in 1923 to prevent the city of Covina from building a sewage farm in the area. Benjamin Franklin Maxson Jr. initiated the incorporation process and was the first mayor. Walnut groves and orange groves continued to flourish. The population in 1930 was 769 and blossomed to 1,549 in 1940. As a result of remarkable expansion during the post–World War II building boom, West Covina became one of the fastest-growing U.S. cities between 1950 and 1960, experiencing a growth in population of 1,025.69%, going from less than 5,000 to more than 50,000 citizens. The decades 1960 and 2000 demonstrated steady growth for West Covina, which had slowed significantly by the time of the 2010 census.
A 2020 ranking of the fiscal health of California cities issued by State Auditor Elaine Howle's office placed West Covina as the ninth-worst in the state. The city was also audited by the state the same year, as the state auditor had determined that the city's poor finances put it at high risk for default.
The world's largest collection of shoehorns is housed in the Shoehorn Museum in West Covina. The state of California's largest hazardous waste landfill is also in the city. The California Department of Toxic Substances Control currently estimates clean up of the landfill will cost nearly $1 billion.

Geography

Climate

The San Gabriel Valley region has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate, with summer temperatures averaging above.

Demographics

West Covina first appeared as a city in the 1930 U.S. Census.
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2000Pop 2010% 2000% 2010
White alone 24,12416,19611,79322.96%15.27%10.77%
Black or African American alone 6,3144,2603,7136.01%4.02%3.39%
Native American or Alaska Native alone 3042322170.29%0.22%0.20%
Asian alone 23,54326,83433,09722.40%25.29%30.23%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone 1721421490.16%0.13%0.14%
Other Race alone 1961885410.19%0.18%0.49%
Mixed race or Multiracial 2,3761,7751,8892.26%1.67%1.73%
Hispanic or Latino 48,05156,47158,10245.73%53.23%53.06%
Total105,080106,098109,501100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020

The 2020 United States census reported that West Covina had a population of 109,501. The population density was. The racial makeup of West Covina was 20.1% White, 3.7% African American, 1.6% Native American, 30.7% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 25.3% from other races, and 18.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 53.1% of the population.
The census reported that 99.5% of the population lived in households, 0.3% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.2% were institutionalized.
There were 33,627 households, out of which 35.2% included children under the age of 18, 51.1% were married-couple households, 6.5% were cohabiting couple households, 26.9% had a female householder with no partner present, and 15.5% had a male householder with no partner present. 15.8% of households were one person, and 7.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.24. There were 26,380 families.
The age distribution was 19.7% under the age of 18, 10.1% aged 18 to 24, 27.0% aged 25 to 44, 26.7% aged 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65years of age or older. The median age was 39.4years. For every 100 females, there were 94.3 males.
There were 34,834 housing units at an average density of, of which 33,627 were occupied. Of these, 59.9% were owner-occupied, and 40.1% were occupied by renters.
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $98,570, and the per capita income was $38,100. About 7.7% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line.

2010

The 2010 United States Census reported that West Covina had a population of 106,098. The population density was. The racial makeup of West Covina was 42.8% White, 4.5% Black, 1.0% Native American, 25.8% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 21.3% from other races, and 4.4% from two or more races. Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin were 53.2%.
The Census reported that 105,424 people lived in households, 351 lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 323 were institutionalized.
There were 31,596 households, out of which 13,670 had children under the age of 18 living in them, 17,650 were opposite-sex married couples living together, 5,402 had a female householder with no husband present, 2,308 had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,664 unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 202 same-sex married couples or partnerships. 4,795 households were made up of individuals, and 2,164 had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.34. There were 25,360 families ; the average family size was 3.68.
The population was spread out, with 26,075 people under the age of 18, 11,326 people aged 18 to 24, 28,860 people aged 25 to 44, 26,974 people aged 45 to 64, and 12,863 people who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.
There were 32,705 housing units at an average density of, of which 20,703 were owner-occupied, and 10,893 were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.8%. 70,474 people lived in owner-occupied housing units and 34,950 people lived in rental housing units.
During 20092013, West Covina had a median household income of $67,088, with 10% of the population living below the federal poverty line.
In 2017, there were more than 10,000 Filipino Americans living in West Covina; they make up the majority population in the south side of the city.
West Covina is broken up into five districts.
Most of the foreign-born population in West Covina were born in Mexico 27.3%,
Philippines 18.9%, Mainland China 13.7%, Vietnam 9.6%
Taiwan 5.5%, El Salvador 3.1%, Hong Kong 2.7%, Guatemala 1.5%, Korea 1.3% and Indonesia 1.2%.
According to the 2000 Census, Mexicans and Filipinos were the most common ancestries in West Covina. Mexico and Philippines were the most common foreign places of birth.
The most common ancestries in West Covina are Irish, German, English, Italian, and French. The most common non-English languages spoken are Spanish and Chinese.

Homelessness

In 2022, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority's Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count counted 112 homeless individuals in West Covina.

Economy

Top employers

According to the city's 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:
#Employer# of Employees
1Citrus Valley Medical Center – Queen of the Valley Campus1,464
2West Covina Unified School District1,398
3Target455
4City of West Covina372
5Merakey Allos335
6Porto's Bakery298
7Walmart249
8Interspace/Concorde Battery Corporation231
9The Home Depot198
10JCPenney165

Retail

There are three major shopping centers in West Covina: Plaza West Covina, Eastland Center, and The Heights at West Covina.

Plaza West Covina

Plaza West Covina is a regional mall that has 208 shops, stores, and restaurants. The mall is two levels and is anchored by Macy's to the east, JC Penney to the south, Sears to the west, Best Buy to the north, and the XXI Forever flagship store, also to the north. There is a food court on the second level as well as other restaurants, and food and drink kiosks throughout the mall. The mall is known for its many fashion shops and high-end fashion boutiques.

Eastland Center

The Eastland Center is a power center which has undergone major renovations since it opened in 1957. Eastland is two levels, with parking for the lower level on south side of the center and parking for the upper level on the north side. It has many department stores and is anchored by Target. to the east.

The Heights at West Covina

The Heights at West Covina is a retail shopping center located just south of the Sportsplex. It is anchored by The Home Depot to the north, and Target to the south. The center has many other stores and restaurants.

Jollibee

Jollibee opened headquarters in West Covina in 2019.

Parks and recreation

West Covina Sportsplex

The West Covina Sportsplex is a commercial and recreational center opened in 2007. Built on a former landfill, the center includes a sports park, commercial development, and public golf course.

Government

In the California State Legislature, West Covina is split between and. In the California State Assembly, it is in. In the United States House of Representatives, West Covina is in.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools in West Covina administered by the Covina-Valley Unified School District include:
  • Grovecenter Elementary School
  • Mesa Elementary School
  • Rowland Avenue Elementary School
  • Workman Avenue Elementary School
  • Traweek Middle School
  • South Hills High School
Public schools in West Covina administered by the Rowland Unified School District include:
Public schools in West Covina administered by the West Covina Unified School District include:
Charter School

Infrastructure

Transportation

Foothill Transit, based in West Covina, provides service connecting the city to the rest of the San Gabriel Valley. The Silver Streak bus rapid transit services West Covina at four stops: West Covina City Hall, Plaza West Covina, Vincent Avenue/Lakes Drive, and Interstate 10/Azusa Avenue. The city operates the Go West shuttle between Cortez Park in the central part of the city and Valley Boulevard on the southern part and microtransit serving the northern half of the city.

Healthcare

Emanate Health Queen of the Valley Hospital in West Covina offers the following services: emergency room, surgery, maternity care, pediatrics, neurology, and diagnostic imaging.

Notable people

In popular culture

West Covina and the San Gabriel Valley are the setting for the US television series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
The 1997 Nickelodeon film Good Burger was mostly filmed in West Covina.
The USS West Covina was a Federation California-class starship operated by Starfleet in the late 24th century featured in Star Trek: Lower Decks.

Sister cities

West Covina's sister cities are: