The city of Temple City, California, CA

About Temple City, California

History

Temple City, fittingly and straightforwardly, is named after Walter P. Temple, who purchased 400 acres from local business magnate Lucky Baldwin that formed the community’s initial territory. Temple’s eponymous paternal ancestors and his maternal ancestors, the Workmans, were both prominent Californian land-owning families alongside Baldwin’s for several decades prior.

Walter was the tenth of twelve children and had comparably modest ambitions for his land: mainly that it be divided into sub-lots and spawn a small, affordable settlement where working-class individuals— many friends— could live inexpensively. And eventually, come to own their lots/homes.

This endeavor proved successful, and the town grew quietly but steadily into the early 20th century, aided by an extension of the Pacific Electric railway’s Los Angeles to Altadena line that put an additional stop/depot within city limits (a development petitioned for by local residents).

Originally known as just ‘Temple,’ the ‘City’ was added to the name in 1926 at the urging of the Postmaster General because mail was often getting confused with that of Tempe, Arizona. Despite this change, the town was not incorporated as an actual city until 1960, after the postwar baby boom had catalyzed population growth even further.

Leading up to the 21st century, Temple City’s population shifted to a more multicultural makeup, with an Asian majority— as of the most recently available census data, over 55% of citizens identify as part of it. As a result, this demographic has been a vital & vibrant face of much local culture & businesses in the last 20 to 30 years.

Climate

Demographic

Age and Household Statistics in Temple City

Male Population: 16,882

Female Population: 18,817

Temple City Population: 35,699

Median Age: 42.7

Under 5 years old: approx. 5.3%

Under 18 years old: approx. 21.3%

Residents 65 or older: approx. 18.0%

Total Households: 11,183

Average People Per Household: 3

Marital Status Statistics

Never Married: 9,305

Married: 15,792

Separated: 319

Widowed: 2,235

Divorced: 2,112

Racial Statistics (percentages) in Temple City

White: 19.7%

Black or African American: 0.5%

American Indian/Native American: 0.5%

Asian: 64.9%

Two or More Races: 6.6%

Hispanic or Latino: 18.6%

Income Statistics in Temple City

Average Household Income: $104,166

Median Household Income: $84,442

People below Poverty Level: 3,499

Blue Collar Positions: 2,010

White Collar Positions: 14,885

Education Level in Temple City

No High School: 1,984

Some High School: 7,635

Some College: 6,175

Associate Degree: 2,280

Bachelor’s Degree: 7,683

Graduate Degree: 3,329

Colleges

Palladium Technical Academy

Address: 10229 Lower Azusa Rd, Temple City, CA 91780

Points of Interest

Camellia Festival

This festival takes place every February and has a parade, rides, and a variety of entertainment.

Farmers Market

Located at the parking lot between City Hall and Temple City Park. The market is open every Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Temple City Library

Located at 5939 Golden West Ave, Temple City, CA 91780, the Library has a mural painted by 20 Temple City students under the guidance of muralist Art Mortimer. The Library is open Tuesday through Saturday.

Parish Fiesta

Located at Broadway & Cloverly Avenue, the Fiesta lasts for three days, with game booths, rides, and food vendors.

Floating Teapot Fountain

Located at Rosemead / Las Tunas, Temple City, CA 91780, this water feature attraction is well known for the remarkable feat of a floating teapot filling a cup.

Parkhurst Galleries

Located at 9413 Las Tunas Dr, Temple City, CA 91780, it features original artwork of contemporary realism and regional artists. The Gallery also offers fine art classes, custom framing, and appraisal/restoration services.

Notable People

Temple City, 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 Temple City in the most visible fields.

  • Anna Nalick (singer)
  • Julia Ling (actress)
  • Xpecial (professional gamer)
  • Clyde Beck (athlete)
  • Edith Maxwell (author)

Fun Facts

  • The City was ranked as the 5th safest city to live in California.
  • The streets were named after family friends of Walter P. Temple (who founded the town). Some of the names of the streets are Workman, Kauffman, Rowland, Temple, and Agnes. 
  • First known as the City of Temple, the city had to change its name in 1926 because the mail was accidentally being directed to the Phoenix suburb of Tempe. It was officially designated Temple City.
  • Temple City’s Slogan is the Home of Camellias.
  • Many films and TV shows have been filmed in the city, including:
    • Euphoria (2019)
    • Terminator (1984)
    • Wonder Years (1988-1993)
    • Can’t Hardly Wait (1998)
    • The Doors (1991)
    • Jail Bait (1954)

FAQs

Is Temple City a good area?

Temple City, a Los Angeles suburb, has 36,526 residents. One of the best places to live in California is Temple City, which is located in Los Angeles County. Residents of Temple City enjoy a sparse suburban feel, and the majority own their homes.

What is Temple City known for?

The name of the city means “Home of Camellias.” A vast land grant known as the “La Puente” site was purchased by John Rowland and Benito Wilson from the Spanish government.

What is the race population of Temple City?

Asians (64.7% of Temple City’s population) are the largest racial/ethnic group, followed by Hispanics (18.6%) and Whites (13.2%).

Is Temple City rich?

Having a population of 35.7k in 2020, Temple City, California, had a median age of 42.7 and a median household income of $84,442. In Temple City, California, the population fell from 36,042 to 35,699 between 2019 and 2020, a 0.952% decrease, while the median household income increased from $78,516 to $84,442, a 7.55% increase.

Who built Temple City?

In honor of the visionary Temple, downtown Los Angeles’ Temple Street bears his name. Pliny Temple and his wife had 11 kids while living at La Merced. Walter P. Temple, who would found Temple City, was their tenth child and was born in 1869.

Does Temple City have a curfew?

The city’s juvenile curfew ordinance is described in very general terms below, along with the usual methods of enforcement: Unaccompanied minors aged 16 and under must be at home by 11 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday and must stay there until 6 a.m.

Is Temple City safe to live in?

Temple City ranks among the state’s safest and financially sound cities.

What is the minimum wage in Temple City?

The current minimum wage in Temple City, CA, is $15.50 an hour.