Rowland Heights, California

About Rowland Heights, California

Rowland Heights is one of the largest hubs of Chinese and Taiwanese Americans within Los Angeles County.

Nearly 60% of the population identified as being of Asian descent, per the most recently available census data, the fifth-largest sum within the region. Those of Latine descent account for over another 1/4th of Rowland’s residents. Each of these demographics has played a vital and vibrant role in much of local culture and business during the 21st century.

History

Rowland Heights originated, fittingly and straightforwardly, with John A. Rowland, who was given one of the aforementioned individual Mexican land grants in 1842.

A few years later, prominent grantee William Workman was made co-owner of the land, and its domain was expanded to almost 49,000 acres. Of this gigantic parcel, Rowland primarily attended to the Northern, Southern, and Eastern sections, which would eventually comprise the community of his namesake.

The acreage initially was utilized for widespread pig farming before giving way to numerous orange groves in the early 20th century. By the mid-century, the growth of Los Angeles-proper and the expansion of corresponding freeways resulted in a transition to working-class housing and industrial developments.

Demographic

Racial

White: 6.7%
Two or more races: 1.6%
Asian: 60%
Other race (Hispanic): 30.2%
Black or African American: 1%
Native American: 0.3%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.2%

Marital Status

Never married: Male 35.3%
Never married: Female 28.3%
Now married: Male 57.6%
Now married: Female 55.1%
Divorced: Male 5.7%
Divorced: Female 8.9%
Widowed: Male 1.4%
Widowed: Female 7.8%

Age and Household

Population: 47,209
Male Population: 23,335
Female Population: 23,874
Median Age: 44 years old
Under 18: 17.9%
18 to 64: 61.1%
65 and over: 20.9%
Total Households: 14,822
Average People Per Household: 3.2
Home Ownership Rate: 66.3%

Income

Median Household Income: $85,842
Median Individual Income $34,108
Per capita income: $36,848
Poverty Rate: 9.9% Persons below poverty line
Unemployment Rate: 3.9%​
White Collar: 19,208
Blue Collar: 4,001

Education Level

9th to 12th Grade: 6.54%
Associates Degree: 8.45%
Bachelors Degree: 26.99%
Graduate Degree: 9.73%
High School Graduate: 25.02%
Less Than 9th Grade: 8.17%
Some College: 15.1%

source: US Census data

Education

Notable People

Rowland Heights, 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 Rowland Heights in the most visible fields.

  • Alexander Flores (professional boxer)
  • Kevin Li (magician)
  • Tricia Joe (actress)

Points of Interest

Cindy’s Arts

Located at 1569 Fairway Dr #236, Rowland Heights, CA 91748, this shop is filled from floor to ceiling with vases, watercolor paintings, crystal statues, and other fantastic works of art from mainland China. 

Rowland Heights Library

Located at 1850 Nogales St, Rowland Heights, CA 91748, the library is over 14,000 square feet and offers a space for children, a meeting room, and over 134,000 book titles. This library has something for every bookworm.

Tenju Tea House

Located at 18311 Colima Rd B, Rowland Heights, CA 91748, this is known as of the best local shops. Visitors will love the interesting blends that the Tenju Tea House offers.

Hong Kong Plaza

Located at Colima Rd, Rowland Heights, CA 91748, this mall sells Chinese snacks, films, and drinks from abroad and has a wide variety of restaurants, so you can get a taste of Asia in the US.

Spark Karaoke

Located at 1380 Fullerton Rd #205, Rowland Heights, CA 91748, visitors can sing their hearts out in this neon palace. They also offer VIP suites where you can hold private mini concerts.

Little Parrot Farm

Located at 2126 Desire Ave, Rowland Heights, CA 91748, this is an urban farm and animal rescue. Visitors can learn gardening and see pigs, alpacas, and bunnies that roam the ground.

Exodus Escape Rooms

Located at 19271 Colima Rd E, Rowland Heights, CA 91748, patrons will love this escape room for its décor and attention to detail. The Manor Masquerade Room is one of the more popular rooms and is known to be difficult. There is also a Sherlock Holmes-themed room that visitors need to save Holmes before the time runs out.

Fun Facts

  • Rowland is called “Little Taipei” by the local Taiwanese because of the high concentration of Taiwanese businesses and restaurants.
  • It was ranked #2 “Most Comfortable Summer Cities” on Spering’s Best Places.
  • Many upper-middle-class and wealthy immigrants from Taiwan, China, and South Korea moved into the hillside estates of Rowland Heights during the 1990s, causing a dramatic demographic shift in the area.
  • Rowland Heights is also known for its scenic beauty, with several parks and hiking trails in the nearby Puente Hills.

FAQs

Is Rowland Heights a good place to live?

Rowland Heights is a very welcoming community. Families can find many well-kept parks where kids can play, as well as top-rated public schools and a few private school alternatives in the area.

Is Rowland Heights a rich area?

Rowland Heights’s per capita income in 2018 was $31,756, which is upper middle income compared to the rest of the US and middle income compared to California. For a family of four, this translates to an annual income of $127,024. However, Rowland Heights also has residents that are both extremely wealthy and impoverished.

What is the ethnic population of Rowland Heights?

The largest Rowland Heights racial/ethnic groups are Asian (61.7%) followed by Hispanic (28.2%) and White (6.6%).

What languages are primarily spoken in Rowland Heights, CA?

While 77.87% of people in Rowland Heights speak other languages, only 22.13% of them speak only English. The majority of the people (59.39%) speak Asian and Pacific Island languages, which make up the largest non-English linguistic group.

What is the crime rate in Rowland Heights?

At 16 crimes per 1,000 residents, Rowland Heights’ crime rate is not among the highest in the country but is still much higher than the average for all American cities, from the largest to the smallest.