The Tongva were the earliest inhabitants of the San Gabriel Valley.[7]
Governor Pío Pico sold much of the land of West Covina to John Rowland and William Workman in 1845.[8]
The first permanent settlers arrived in West Covina in 1905. Most famous among them were William Payne, Bob Dancer, Bender, Robinson and Larsen. They cleared the land of sagebrush and cactus. They also planted the first walnut trees in the area.[9]
West Covina was incorporated as an independent city in 1923 to prevent the city of Covina from building a sewage farm in the area.[10] Benjamin Franklin Maxson Jr. (1897–1928) initiated the incorporation process and was the first mayor. Walnut groves and orange groves continued to flourish.[10] The population in 1930 was 769 and blossomed to 1,549 in 1940. As a result of remarkable expansion during the post–World War II building boom, West Covina became one of the fastest-growing U.S. cities between 1950 and 1960, experiencing a growth in population of 1,025.69%, going from less than 5,000 to more than 50,000 citizens. The decades 1960 and 2000 demonstrated steady growth for West Covina, which had slowed significantly by the time of the 2010 census.[11]
A 2020 ranking of the fiscal health of California cities issued by State Auditor Elaine Howle's office placed West Covina as the ninth-worst in the state [12] The city was also audited by the state the same year, as the state auditor had determined that the city's poor finances put it at high risk for default.[13]
The world's largest collection of shoehorns is housed in the Shoehorn Museum in West Covina. [1] The state of California's largest hazardous waste landfill is also in the city.[14] The California Department of Toxic Substances Control currently estimates clean up of the landfill will cost nearly $1 billion. [2]
West Covina city, California – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
The 2010 United States Census reported that West Covina had a population of 106,098. The population density was 6,594.3 inhabitants per square mile (2,546.1/km2). The racial makeup of West Covina was 42.8% White (15.3% Non-Hispanic White),[5] 4.5% Black, 1.0% Native American, 25.8% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 21.3% from other races, and 4.4% from two or more races. Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin were 53.2%.
The Census reported that 105,424 people (99.4% of the population) lived in households, 351 (0.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 323 (0.3%) were institutionalized.
There were 31,596 households, out of which 13,670 (43.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 17,650 (55.9%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 5,402 (17.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 2,308 (7.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,664 (5.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 202 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 4,795 households (15.2%) were made up of individuals, and 2,164 (6.8%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.34. There were 25,360 families (80.3% of all households); the average family size was 3.68.
The population was spread out, with 26,075 people (24.6%) under the age of 18, 11,326 people (10.7%) aged 18 to 24, 28,860 people (27.2%) aged 25 to 44, 26,974 people (25.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 12,863 people (12.1%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.
There were 32,705 housing units at an average density of 2,032.7 units per square mile (784.8 units/km2), of which 20,703 (65.5%) were owner-occupied, and 10,893 (34.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.8%. 70,474 people (66.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 34,950 people (32.9%) lived in rental housing units.
During 2009–2013, West Covina had a median household income of $67,088, with 10% of the population living below the federal poverty line.[5]
In 2017, there were more than 10,000 Filipino Americans living in West Covina;[20] they make up the majority population in the south side of the city.[21]
According to the 2000 Census, Mexicans and Filipinos were the most common ancestries in West Covina. Mexico and Philippines were the most common foreign places of birth.[24]
The most common ancestries in West Covina are Irish, German, English, Italian, and French. The most common non-English languages spoken are Spanish and Chinese.[25]
Plaza West Covina is a regional mall that has 208 shops, stores, and restaurants. The mall is two levels and is anchored by Macy's (180,000 sq ft.) to the east, JC Penney (193,963 sq ft.) to the south, Sears (137,820 sq ft.) to the west, Best Buy (45,000 sq ft.) to the north, and the XXI Forever flagship store, also to the north. There is a food court on the second level as well as other restaurants, and food and drink kiosks throughout the mall. The mall is known for its many fashion shops and high-end fashion boutiques.[28]
Eastland Center
The Eastland Center is a power center which has undergone major renovations since it opened in 1957. Eastland is two levels, with parking for the lower level on south side of the center and parking for the upper level on the north side. It has many department stores and is anchored by Target. (122,000 sq ft (11,300 m2)) to the east.
The Heights at West Covina
The Heights at West Covina is a 340,000-square-foot (32,000 m2) retail shopping center located just south of the Sportsplex. It is anchored by The Home Depot to the north, and Target to the south. The center has many other stores and restaurants.
Jollibee
Jollibee opened headquarters in West Covina in 2019.[29]
Parks and recreation
West Covina Sportsplex
The West Covina Sportsplex is a 315-acre (127 ha) commercial and recreational center opened in 2007. Built on a former landfill, the center includes a sports park, commercial development, and public golf course.[30]
Foothill Transit, based in West Covina, provides services across San Gabriel Valley with buses going to Downtown Los Angeles and Montclair. In addition to the bus services provided by Foothill Transit, the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Agency, commonly known as Metro, provides services from El Monte Station to Cal Poly Pomona.
The city operates the Go West shuttle bus system, with three routes that provide transportation to several West Covina destinations.[35] The city also provides a free shuttle bus to the Baldwin ParkMetrolink station.
Healthcare
Emanate Health Queen of the Valley Hospital in West Covina offers the following services: emergency room, surgery, maternity care, pediatrics, neurology, and diagnostic imaging.[36]
Notable people
Former Major League Baseball pitcher Dan Haren grew up in West Covina, California.[37]
Major League Baseball pitcher Rick Aguilera, a three-time All-Star who played in two World Series, attended Edgewood High School in West Covina.
National Football League quarterback and broadcaster Troy Aikman was born at Queen of the Valley Hospital in West Covina, but moved to Oklahoma as a child.
^Jobst, Brian (July 1, 2024). The Strange Saga of California' Largest Toxic Landfill (1st ed.). West Covina, CA: Historical Society of West Covina. ISBN9781955934411.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
