Covina, California

About Covina, California

The city of Covina is the sister city to Xalapa, Mexico, and has a giant Olmec head replica in front of the police station that honors that connection.

History

The city of Covina seated with most of the SGV as part of a Rancho. Covina was purchased from the Puente Rancho by John Edward Hollenbeck in 1842. 

The city got its name when an engineer was hired to survey the future city. He was impressed by the way the mountains created a natural cove around the contras in the middle. It came from the combination of “cove” and “vine.” 

Covina was incorporated in 1901 and became the third most prominent producer of citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits until the 50s when the farmland was replaced by housing. 

Demographic

Racial

White: 18%
Two or more races: 2%
Asian: 13%
Other race: 1%
Black or African American: 3%
Native American: 0% (American Indian or Alaska Native)
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0%
Hispanic: 62%

Marital Status

Never married: Male 44.1%
Never married: Female 33.8%
Married: 46.4%
Single: 53.6%
Divorced: Male 8%
Divorced: Female 12.1%
Widowed: Male 1.9%
Widowed: Female 7.3%

 

Age and Household

Population: 50,717
Male Population: 25,840
Female Population: 24,877
Median Age: 37.6 years old
Under 18: 21%
18 to 64: 65.7%
65 and over: 13.3%
Total Households: 16,313
Average People Per Household: 3.1
Home Ownership Rate: 55.6%

Income

Median Household Income: $89,650
Per capita income: $37,234
7.7% below poverty line
White Collar: 20,651
Blue Collar: 5,532

Education Level

Less Than 9th Grade: 6.19%
9th to 12th Grade: 6.68%
High School Graduate: 27.14%
Some College: 24.71%
Associates Degree: 9.13%
Bachelors Degree: 18.16%
Graduate Degree: 7.99%

source: US Census data

Education

Notable People

Actors/Actresses 

  • Pamela Baird – actress
  • Jason David Frank- actor 
  • Robert Knapp – actor
  • Jeremy Miller – actor

 

Musicians

  • Donna Fargo – country singer
  • Rod Gilfry – opera baritone
  • Roy Harris – composer
  • Ellen Beach Yaw (known as Lark Ellen) – a coloratura soprano opera singer 

 

Athletics 

  • Lacey Baker – professional skateboarder Tom Brunansky – Major League Baseball player and coach 
  • Clyde Christensen – NFL offensive coordinator 
  • Jack Clark – Major League Baseball player
  • Casey Dailey – NFL
  • Mike Lynn – NBA player
  • John Molina Jr. – boxer
  • Corey Nakatani – jockey 
  • Aaron Perez – Soccer player
  • Patti Sue Plumer – Athlete in 1980 and 1988 Olympics 
  • Polly Plumer – American track and field runner 
  • Jeron Roberts (born 1976) – American-Israeli basketball player 
  • Gary Roenicke – Major League Baseball 
  • Ron Roenicke – Major League Baseball player 
  • Bobby Rose – Major League Baseball player Rio Ruiz – baseball third baseman 
  • Willie Shoemaker jockey
  • Tatiana Suarez – mixed martial artist 
  • Rob Wilfong – Major League Baseball player Chris Woodward – Major League Baseball player 
  • Michael Young – Major League Baseball player

 

Writers

  • Art Clokey – creator of Gumby
  • Jean Stafford – Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and short-story writer

 

Artists

  • Rick Baker –  Award-winning makeup artist
  • Ward Kimball – Disney animator 
  • Mitrice Richardson – dancer

 

Misc 

  • Irma Blanco – L.A. radio personality,
  • Herschel Daugherty – former film, television, and theatre director.
  • Donald W. Evans Jr., Sp4., (1943–1967) – Army medic awarded Medal of Honor for bravery in the Vietnam War, plus Purple Heart; 
  • Bob Lorenz – anchor and studio host

Points of Interest

Covina Center For The Performing Arts

Located at 104 N Citrus Ave, Covina, CA 91723

Alosta Brewing Co.

Located at 692 Arrow Grand Cir, Covina, CA 91722. This brewery offers a tasting room, trivia nights, and a game room.

H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Cultural and Art Museum

Located at 170 E School St, Covina, CA 91723, the museum has a significant collection of calligraphic and painted works, including western oil paintings, Chinese paintings, splash-ink paintings, and other works from different artistic movements.

Fun Facts

  • “One Mile Square and All There” was the slogan when the incorporated area was one square mile.
  • The Tongva people were the original inhabitants of the area where Covina is now.
  • Frederick Eaton, an engineer hired by Phillips to survey the land, named Covina. It was a combination of the words cove and vine.
  • The city was covered by orange and grapefruit groves.
  • It was the setting of the comic strip Harold Teen.
  • There are a number of movies and shows filmed in Covina.
    • Waynes World (1992)
    • Boogie Nights (1997)
    • The Nice Guys (2016)
    • Roswell (1992-2002)
    • Knight Rider (1982-1986)

FAQs

Is Covina, CA, a good place to live?

Covina is a safe neighborhood with plenty of restaurants and schools. It’s a peaceful neighborhood that is ideal for families and there are other surrounding schools and smaller neighborhood family activities.

Is Covina considered Los Angeles?

It is a component of Greater Los Angeles and is situated in the eastern San Gabriel Valley, 19 miles (31 km) east of Downtown Los Angeles.

What is the difference between Covina and West Covina?

It is important to distinguish Covina from West Covina. West Covina, which lies south and west of Covina, has a greater land area and a larger population. Covina has a lengthy past. It was inhabited by the Tongva tribe of Native Americans over a period of time ranging from 5,000 to 8,000 years.

Where did Covina get its name from?

Frederick Eaton, a young engineer recruited by Phillips to survey the area, gave the city of Covina its name. Eaton combined the words “cove” and “vine” and gave the new municipality the name Covina in 1885 after being inspired by how the valleys of the nearby San Gabriel Mountains formed a natural cove around the vineyards that had been planted by the area’s previous settlers.

What is the Covina Massacre?

On December 24, 2008, there was a shooting and an arson. Bruce Jeffrey Pardo entered a Christmas party at his ex-housewife’s while dressed as Santa Claus and started shooting. Pardo used a handmade flamethrower that he had received for Christmas to set the house on fire after the shootings. He exited the house to find nine family members dead, and it was in flames. In Sylmar, which is around 30 miles (48 km) away from the incident, Pardo drove his rental car after the carnage. He was later discovered to have committed suicide by shooting himself.

Is Covina close to San Diego, California?

Yes, the driving distance between Covina to San Diego is 117 miles. It takes approximately 2h 2m to drive from Covina to San Diego.