La Puente, California

About La Puente, California

The city of La Puente’s name comes from the Spanish word for bridges and stems from the fact that the settlers camped on the east side of the San Gabriel River and used bridges to cross. La Puente now is working on modern-day development and strives to be successful.

History

The area La Puente, like many other cities in the San Gabriel area, became part of the mission and was called Rancho La Puente. 

The Rancho went to the private property of John Rowland and William Workman in 1842. By 1930, the area bavâmes very well known for its Walnut farming. The city development went into housing after WW2. 

La Puente also houses the unincorporated area of Bassett. 

Demographic

Racial

White: 32.18%
Two or more races: 8.07%
Asian: 13.50%
Other race: 41.71%
Black or African American: 1.51%
Native American: 2.87%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.15%

Marital Status

Never married: Male 46.7%
Never married: Female 36.3%
Now married: Male 47%
Now married: Female 48.5%
Divorced: Male 4.4%
Divorced: Female 7%
Widowed: Male 1.9%
Widowed: Female 8.3%

Age and Household

Population:37,835
Male Population: 19,431
Female Population: 18,404
Median Age: 36.4 years old
Under 18: 22.2%
18 to 64: 65.2%
65 and over: 12.6%
Total Households: 9,625
Average People Per Household: 3.9
Home Ownership Rate: 60.2%.

Income

Median household income: $77,702
Per capita income: $25,451
9.6% Persons below poverty line
White Collar: 11,455
Blue Collar: 6,663

Education Level

Less Than 9th Grade: 20.65%
9th to 12th Grade: 13.41%
High School Graduate: 30.68%
Associates Degree: 5.58%
Some College: 18.21%
Bachelors Degree: 9.1%
Graduate Degree: 2.38%

source: US Census data

Education

Notable People

Actors/Actresses 

  • Jeff Garcia – voice actor and comedian
  • Billy Laughlin – actor

 

Musicians

  • Alfie Agnew – songwriter and musician
  • Kid Congo Powers – musicians
  • Arturo Marquez – composer of orchestra music

 

Athletics 

  • Tony Baltazar – professional boxer
  • Eric Bieniemy –  NFL running back
  • Anthony Calvillo – Canadian Football League quarterback
  • David Denson – MLB 
  • Norberto Garrido – NFL
  • Pat Haden – NFL quarterback, 
  • Dan Haren – MLB pitcher
  • Efren Herrera – NFL kicker
  • Mike Lamb – MLB infielder
  • Darryll Lewis – NFL cornerback
  • Steven Luevano – professional boxer
  • Lionel Manuel – NFL wide receiver
  • Max Montoya –  NFL offensive lineman
  • D’Angelo Ross – NFL cornerback
  • John Sciarra –  NFL quarterback
  • Michael Young – MLB 

 

Writers

  • Padma Lakshmi – Indian American author

 

Politicians

  • Crispin Castro Monroy – municipal president of Santa Cruz Atizapán
  • Kelly Seyarto, Former mayor of Murrieta, California. Member of the California State Assembly from the District 67
  • Hilda Solis – politician, member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for the First District

Points of Interest

El Palacio Restaurant & Night Club

Located at 15335 Amar Rd, La Puente, CA 91744, residents and tourists can enjoy Mexican Cuisine as well as music, dancing, and drinks. 

Donut Hole

Located at 15300 Amar Rd, La Puente, CA 91744. Shaped like two giant donuts, customers can drive through and place their orders. 

Spring Egg Hunt In La Puente.

La Puente holds an annual Spring Egg Hunt in La Puente Park. The event has music, inflatable attractions, a petting zoo, pictures with the Easter Bunny, and much more!

Movies in the Park

During the summer, the city has movies in La Puente park for families to enjoy.

Fun Facts

  • In the 1930s, La Puente was known for its fruit and walnut groves.
  • The original inhabitants were the Tongva people who lived in a village called Awingna.
  • La Puente is Spanish for “The Bridge.”
  • At one point, the city was home to the largest walnut packing plant.
  • There have been a number of films and TV shows that were filmed in La Puente:
    • Bird Box (2018)
    • Moving Violations (1985)
    • Calendar Girl (1993)
    • Bad Neighbor (2015)
    • Halloween H20 (1998)

FAQs

Is La Puente a good place to live?

La Puente is a lovely community. There are many exciting sites to explore, numerous high-end schools, and a generally pleasant community.

What is La Puente known for?

California’s populated La Puente is well-known for its fruit and walnut groves. There are lots of enjoyable activities for the whole family in this city, even though it may not be on everyone’s bucket list.

Is La Puente a suburb of Los Angeles?

La Puente, which translates to “The Bridge” in Spanish, is a city in the U.S. state of California’s Los Angeles County. La Puente is a suburb of Los Angeles and is in LA County.

What is the crime rate in La Puente, CA?

At 15 crimes per 1,000 persons, La Puente’s crime rate is not among the highest in the country, but it is significantly higher than the average for all American municipalities, from the largest to the smallest.

What celebrities went to La Puente High School?

Celebrity alumni from La Puente High School include Anthony Calvillo, George Farmer, Efren Herrera, Max Montoya, Judy Mosley-McAfee, and Hilda Solis.