1908A Cities and Towns p114-119

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[p. 114] Chapter VI. Cities and Towns.

     The history of the city of Los Angeles is so closely interwoven with that of the county that the two can hardly be separated. Althogh Monterey was the capital most of the time during the early history of the country, Los Angeles had more inhabitants and was the center of a larger settled district. After the gold rush of the early fifties, San Francisco, Sacramento, and a number of northern towns exceeded Los Angeles in population; but within the past three decades Los Angeles has steadily passed its rivals until now it is the second county and the second city in the state. During the past twenty-six years Los Angeles has made the most rapid, as well as the most constant, growth in population of any important city in the United States, the population now being estimated at 300,000.

     There are now twenty-seven incorporated cities in the county, of which Pasadena, after Los Angeles, is the first in size.

[p. 115] Pasadena

     In August, 1873, a number of people, residents of Indiana, sent a committee to California to look over the country and select a tract for colonization to be devoted to citrus and fruit culture. After traveling over Southern California these gentlemen decided upon a body of 4000 acres of the San Pasqual rancho. This grant had been made to Manuel Garfias in 1843 and was at this time owned by Dr. John S. Griffin and B.D. Wilson. The beautiful and highly improved ranches of L.J. Rose and Mr. Wilson, in this vicinity, showed what might be accomplished here. There were about fifty people in the original Indiana colony; but many of these were unable to carry out their agreement and in consequence the purchase of the land was completed by a new organization, the Orange Grove Association. Each shareholder received a fifteen-acre tract while the balance of the land was held for the benefit of the company. In 1875 the name of Pasadena, meaning "Crown of the Valley," taken from some Indian dialect, was adopted in place of "Indiana Colony."

     The original irrigation system in the Orange Grove Association was the first in California to distribute water under pressure, through iron pipe. The plan was such a radical change from the old system of earthen ditches and little wooden flumes that it was much commented upon and criticised; but it has since then been largely imitated.

     The settlers built homes and started a school, in 1874, in a private house. The first church, the Presbyterian, was built in 1875-76 at a cost of $4200. In March, 1880, Pasadena held a citrus fair which attracted many visitors and showed the quality of fruit that could be produced. At this time the town had a tri-weekly stage and mail service. In 1882 the Pasadena Land and Water Company was formed and took over the rights and properties of the Orange Grove Association. The Lake Vineyard Company had been formed in 1874 and had purchased land adjoining that of the Orange Grove Company, securing their water rights from the heirs of B.D. Wilson. They had sold a considerable area which was under irrigation and was known as the "east side," while the settlement of the Indiana Colony was the "west side." A conflict grew out of the adjustment of the water rights of these two associations which, after a number of years of uncertainty, was settled by a compromise satisfactory to all.

     In 1884 the Los Angeles and San Gabriel road was built to Pasadena; in 1887 this became a part of the Santa Fé system. The Cross "dummy" road reached the town in 1887, and the first street car line was built this year. The old Raymond hotel was built in 1886 and first drew the attention of the tourist [p. 116] world to the attractions offered by Pasadena and its environs. The burning of this hotel in 1895 was a severe blow.

     The town was incorporated in 1886. In 1901 it adopted a freeholder's charter. It is known as one of the best governed and most orderly towns of the country; while its municipal improvements are unexcelled. In Throop College, established in 1894, it has the only strictly technical school in Southern California. Pasadena is a city of beautiful homes and magnificent hotels. It is now a mecca for the wealthy easterner who wishes to escape winter severities. The perfection of the trolley lines enables its people to do busness in Los Angeles and has practically given the smaller city all the advantages of the larger place while still maintaining her own restful distinctiveness.

[p. 116] Long Beach.

     The town of Long Beach was started about 1882 and had, at first, a very gradual growth. It was first known as a summer resort for those wishing a quiet, orderly place. Its fine beach gave it a strong attraction. For many years the Methodists held their annual camp meeting here. The Chautauqua Association adopted it as their center, also, and a large pavilion to accomodate their summer assemblies was erected in 1890. The town has always been a "no-license" place, and still remains so. It was incorporated in 1888 and disincorporated in 1896. The following year it was reincorporated and in 1907 adopted a freeholder's charter. In 1900 it had a population of 2252; in 1906 when the census was taken for the charter election, the population was 12,591,and 15,000 is now claimed.The town has taken on new life since the completion of the trolley line and has made a record for building and improvements of every character.

     An inland harbor is being constructed here and a large shipping plant is in course of construction. With the completion of these improvements Long Beach will become an important shipping center.

[p. 116] Pomona

     In 1874 the Los Angeles Land and Water Company, of which Thomas A. Garey, C.E. White, L.M. Holt, Milton Thomas, R.M. Town and H.G. Crow were members, purchased from J.S. Philips, a tract of land which had been a part of the San José grant, made to José Palomares. The company secured water rights from the Palomeres heirs and also put down four artesian wells from which a considerable flow was obtained. A town site was laid out and the land surrounding it was divided into tracts. In February, 1876, an auction sale of these lots was held which resulted in disposing of $19,000 worth of land-a surprising feat for that time. A number of houses were built and orchards set out and a little town grew up. In 1877 a fire almost destroyed the settlement and for some time the place did not recover itself. [p. 117] The Southern Pacific reached the town in 1876. In 1882 the Pomona Land and Water Company was formed and by vigorous action placed the irrigation system upon a sounder basis and secured an increased supply of water. Like all Southern California towns, Pomona experienced rapid growth during the years 1886-1887, and many new buildings were put up at that time. A handsome hotel, the Palomares, was built; banks, school houses and street improvements added. The town was incorporated in 1888. Claremont was started in 1887, its chief inducement for the prospective buyer being a very handsome "boom" hotel. This was later made the seat of Claremont College, one of the largest preparatory schools in this part of the state. The town is practically a part of Pomona.

     In 1889 the beautiful statue of Pomona was presented to the city by one of her pioneer residents, Rev. C.F. Loop. Pomona is the center of a very rich farming section and of the finest citrus orchards in the country. Its shipments of fruit, both fresh and canned or dried, is very large.

[p. 117] Whittier

     About 1887 a colony of Friends from Indiana located on a tract of the Paso de Bartolo rancho, near Ranchita, as the ranch house of Pio Pico was known. The settlers at first devoted themselves almost exclusively to citrus culture and the little village prospered as its orchards came into bearing. About 1890 it was chosen as the site of the State Industrial Home, for the accomodation of which buildings to the value of nearly a million dollars have been erected. About 1895 the Whittier oil fields were developed and since that date a very large amount of high-grade oil has been annually produced by this section. It is estimated that the product for the last year brought $1,000,000 into the community. In 1898 the town was incorporated. In 1900 the census gave it a population of 1,590, but it has grown very rapidly, especially since the completion of the electric line and there are now between five and six thousand inhabitants. A Friend's college, with an endowment of $150,000 is maintained.

[p. 117] Monrovia

     In 1886 W.N. Monroe laid out the townsite of Monrovia. Its beautiful location in the foothills of the Santa Anita rancho, attracted a number of wealthy families who built handsome homes. A large number of orange groves were set out; water was procured from Sawpit Canyon, and the town grew rapidly during the boom years. It was incorporated December 12th, 1887. Like all Los Angeles county towns, it has tken on a new lease of life within the past few years. The completion of the electric line to the place in 1906 gave an added impetus to its growth. It now claims 4,000 inhabitants.

[p. 118 Timm's Landing1908e]

[p. 118] San Pedro

     In 1849 but a single building stood upon the bluff, known as Timm's landing. About this point a settlement grew up in the early fifties; a wharf was built and a warehouse and some stores and residences followed. But in 1858 General Phineas Banning, who handled most of the stage and freighting business from the port, started a new town some six miles to the north and for a time the first town languished. However, after the building of the railroad in 1869, the old settlement revived. In 1888 the town was incorporated. The completion of the Terminal road and the extension of the Southern Pacific service gave improved facilities. The vast sums of money expended by the government in improving the harbor have also been of great benefit in building up the town of San Pedro. It is now the most important port in California, after San Francisco, and the volume of business carried on through the place is constantly increasing. Since the building of an electric line in 1905, a large addition to the business has been made and many public improvements have been undertaken.

[p. 118] Wilmington.

     In 1858 Phineas Banning, J.G. Downey and B.D. Wilson purchased a tract of land and laid out the town of "New San Pedro." A wharf and warehouse was built here and all the business of the Banning Company was transferred to this point. A reservation was donated to the government for barracks. Here Drum Barracks was built , and from the beginning of the civil war until 1865 or later, large number of troops passed through this port and were garrisoned here. It was the military headquarters, at that time, for this section and Arizona.

     [p. 119] In 1863 the name was changed by act of the legislature to Wilmington and in 1874, the government changed the name of the port to Wilmington, which is still the official title of the harbor. In 1864 General Banning established the Wilmington Journal, the first paper in the county outside of Los Angeles. It was a well put up and newsy sheet. As the starting point for stages for Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Arizona points, Wilmington was a lively place during the later sixties.

     In 1873 Wilson College, endowed by B.D, Wilson, was opened and for a number of years prospered, under the Rev. Dr. Campbell. The building was a large two-story house, which accomodated a number of boarding pupils. The rebuilding of "Old San Pedro" took away the prestige of Wilmington. The town which had been incorporated in 1872, repealed its incorporation in 1887 and remained a village until 1905, when it reincorporated as a city of the sixth class.

     The improvement of the harbor has greatly benefitted Wilmington and a large amount of shipping business is now done at its wharves.

[p. 119] Redondo

     The town of Redondo was started in 1887, by a company which built a very large and handsome hotel and also supllied a wharf. The Santa Fe, after making an attempt to secrure suitable terminal facilities at Ballona Port, determined upon Redondo as a harbor and entered the town with its railroad in 1888. The town was incorporated in 1892. It was reached by an electric line in 1904 and now has two electric lines connecting it with the city. The Pacific Light and Power plant, one of the largest in the United States, is located here. A large amount of freight is handled, especially lumber from the coastwise steamers.

[p. 119] Other Towns.

     Other incorporated towns not mentioned are Alhambra, Arcadia, Azusa, Claremont, Compton, Covina, Glendale, Hermosa Beach, Hollywood, Huntington Park, Sierra Madre, Vernon and Watts. Many of these have grown up within the past four or five years, a number of them, as Claremont, Hermosa Beach, Huntington Park, Sierra Madre and Wattts have been incorporated within the past year.

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 Kelyn Roberts 2017