As an early adopter of modernity, San Dimas has now become renowned for its quaint evocation of early 20th-century small-town life, along with a lively equestrian subculture in recent decades. Demographically, those of Latine-descent account for over 1/3rd of the city’s current residents, and this shift has also played a vital vibrant role in much of local culture business during the 21st century.
San Dimas was originally inhabited by a Native American tribe called the Tongva. Their settlements were mostly along the coastline of Los Angeles County, northwest Orange County, and surrounding islands.
When the Spanish came to this area in 1771, they established the San Gabriel Mission. Indigenous inhabitants were converted and provided the Spanish labor. The land was hearty, and many orchards provided for the Spanish crown until 1833, when California fell into Mexico’s control and gave the San Gabriel Mission land to individuals.
In 1850, California became a state in the Union. San Dimas originated with Ygnacio Palomares and Ricardo Vejar, who were each given one of the aforementioned individual Mexican land grants. The two men used the land predominantly for sheep and cattle ranching, initially.
Economic downturns and their deaths led to new owners, who established a more conventional town setting to capitalize on the expansion of the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley railroad lines in the 1880s. This contemporaneous modernization led to the phasing-out of livestock and new land usages such as wheat and citrus crops, the latter of which became particularly widespread.
White: 53.6%
Two or more races: 17.87%
Asian: 15.76%
Other race: 8.46%
Black or African American: 3.19%
Native American: 0.89%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.22%
Never Married: 8,323
Married: 15,369
Separated: 3,029
Widowed: 1,956
Divorced: 3,029
Population: 34,924
Male Population: 16,511
Female Population: 17,955
Median Age: 43 years old
Under 5 years old: approx. 1,774
Under 18 years old: approx. 7,700
Residents 65 or older: approx. 6,253
Total Households: 12,026
Average People Per Household: 3
Home Ownership Rate: 70.9%
Median Household Income: $122,053
Median Household Income: $102,241
People below Poverty Level: approx. 3,000
Blue Collar Positions: 2,258
White Collar Positions: 14,167
No High School: 1,599
Some High School: 5,053
Some College: 8,834
Associate Degree: NA
Bachelor’s Degree: 5,688
Graduate Degree: 3,788
source: US Census data
Private School – 4 Year
Tuition & Fees: $11,400
Student Population: 2,009
300 N Lone Hill Ave, #200, San Dimas, CA 91773
Phone: 626-624-4673
Private School – 4 Year
Tuition & Fees: $19,140
Student Population: 551
1100 W. Covina Blvd., San Dimas, CA 91773
Phone: 909-599-5433
San Dimas, while smaller than some surrounding communities, has still given the world a noteworthy handful of professionals across several different disciplines.
Let’s take a brief look at some of the most notable individuals from San Dimas in the most visible fields.
Located at 111 Raging Waters Dr, San Dimas, CA 91773, the water park has slides, attractions, an area for kids, and a sand beach.
Located at 210 W Bonita Ave, San Dimas, CA 91773 is open the first and third Saturdays of every month. There are knowledgeable tour guides ready to offer comprehensive historical context and to discuss the highlights. Model trains, Thomas the Tank Engine novels, and railroad magazines can be found in the gift store.
Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park
Located at 120 East Via Verde Dr., San Dimas, CA 91773, The park offers picnic areas, horseback riding, bicycling, hiking, sightseeing, jogging, nature walks, group camping, a water-theme park, bird watching, and golfing.
Located at 301 Horsethief Canyon Rd. San Dimas, CA 91773, the park offers playground equipment, pavilions, picnic tables, restrooms, hiking trails, soccer fields, and horse trails.
Located at Foothill Village, 173 Village Ct #105, San Dimas, CA 91773, it’s been voted in the top five of escape rooms in the United States for two years in a row.
What is San Dimas, CA, known for?
Since becoming a city in 1960, San Dimas is currently renowned for its Western art, small-town atmosphere, and equestrian attributes. A. F. “Shorty” Feldbush and a number of other local volunteers hosted the Miss Rodeo California State Pageant in San Dimas during the 1990s.
Is San Dimas, CA, a good place to live?
Residents of San Dimas enjoy a dense suburban feel, and the majority of folks in San Dimas own their homes. There are numerous restaurants, coffee shops, and parks in San Dimas. It is also home to many seniors and young professionals, and the locals tend to lean liberal politcally. High praise is given to San Dimas’ public schools.
Is San Dimas rural or urban?
San Dimas has experienced tremendous expansion, changing from a mostly rural region to a well-balanced city with residential, commercial, and industrial areas.
Does San Dimas have a downtown?
Downtown San Dimas is known as “Western Village.”
What movies have taken place in San Dimas?
Changeling (2008), Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989), Earth Girls Are Easy (1988), Spinning Man (2018), Dark Blue (2002), The Sandpiper (1965), A Cowgirl’s Story (2017), and more.
How big is San Dimas?
San Dimas is 15.4 square miles.
