Andrés Avelino Duarte statue, honoring the Californio ranchero and namesake of the city.
Around 500 B.C., a band of Shoshonean-speaking Indians established settlements in what is now the San Gabriel Valley. These Native Americans were dubbed the Gabrieliño Indians (after San Gabriel, the local mission) by early Spanish colonial explorers, but now generally prefer to be called the Tongva. Since the San Gabriel Valley area was home to large numbers of oak trees such as coast live oak and interior live oak, a staple of the Tongva diet was an acorn meal made by boiling acorn flour.
Spanish era
Duarte's history with Europeans dates back to 1769, when all land in California was claimed by the king of Spain. The first Europeans visited the San Gabriel Valley, during a 1769 expedition from San Diego to Monterey Bay commanded by Don Gaspar de Portolà. Accompanying Portolà was a Franciscan priest from Junípero Serra's order in Mexico, Juan Crespí, who served as the diarist of the expedition. Much of what is known of early California is known only from the detailed descriptions recorded by Crespi.
On September 8, 1771, the Franciscans established the Mission San Gabriel Arcangel in the San Gabriel Valley.[5] The mission was a resting point for early California travelers and gathered most of the native Tongva into an agricultural lifestyle. Following Mexican independence in 1821, the mission lands were nationalized.
Mexican era
On May 10, 1841, the governor of Alta California, Juan Bautista Alvarado, granted to former Mexican corporal Andrés Avelino Duarte and his wife nearly 7,000 acres (28 km2) of prime land in the central-northern San Gabriel Valley. Duarte named his new holdings "Rancho Azusa de Duarte". The name Azusa was derived from Asuksa-gna, meaning "skunk place,"[6] the name of the Tongva settlement on the foothills of the San Gabriel Valley, on the western side of the alluvial fan where the San Gabriel River exits the San Gabriel Mountains; a portion of this area forms the northeastern-most corner of Duarte. That land grant now comprises portions of Arcadia, portions of Monrovia, all of Bradbury, all of Duarte, portions of Irwindale, portions of Azusa and a portion of Baldwin Park. Corporal Duarte had the local Indians build a small hut for his family and help him plant a kitchen garden and orchards near "the Indian Springs of the Asuksas" (in what is now Fish Canyon[7][8][9][10][11]).
Post-Conquest era
Following the American Conquest of California, the territory was ceded by Mexico to the United States in 1848 at the end of the Mexican–American War. In 1851, Congress passed a bill that established a Board of Land Commissioners whose duty was to determine the validity of all grants of Alta California land by Spanish and Mexican authorities.
Corporal Duarte began incurring legal expenses and other debts, which he defrayed by selling portions of his Rancho. This first sale was a 225-acre (0.91 km2) parcel at the southern end of the Rancho to Michael Whistler and two unidentified colleagues. Whistler later bought out his colleagues and sold the entire parcel to Dr. Nehemiah Beardslee, who started the first school in Duarte (which now bears his surname) and laid out the first section of Duarte's water lines. Corporal Duarte divided much of the Rancho's remainder into 40-acre (16 ha) plots and sold them individually. Corporal Duarte finally won a favorable ruling from the Supreme Court for his land grant case in 1878, but by then he had sold the entire Rancho.
Many of Duarte's earliest pioneer families came to Duarte in the mid-19th century for their health, the pleasant climate, and the fertile soil. English settlers, Americans from the Midwest and Deep South, Latinos who remained from the Rancho and Japanese immigrants enabled Duarte to grow into a thriving agricultural community specializing in citrus production. The first recorded avocado tree grown in California was planted in Duarte by William Chappelow, Sr. grown from one of four seeds sent to him by the Division of Pomology of the United States Department of Agriculture in 1893.[12][13]
Aerial view of City of Hope campus (2021)
Modern era
Two medical institutions were started in Duarte in the early part of the 20th century. In 1913, the Jewish Consumptive Relief Association started a tuberculosis sanitarium in the form of a small tent city on 40 acres (16 ha) of land south of Duarte Road. This later evolved into the world-renowned City of Hope National Medical Center, a recognized leader in fighting cancer and other catastrophic diseases. In 1930, a group of Carmelite nuns known as the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles established what is now the Santa Teresita Rest Home, known until recently as Santa Teresita Medical Center. After decades as a full-service hospital, Santa Teresita was downgraded to "medical center" in the early 21st century, after financial problems, caused both by administrative missteps as well as the costs of providing medical coverage to the uninsured, forced the hospital to close its emergency room. Santa Teresita now operates as an "outpatient services only" facility.
In 1957, a dedicated group of community members, fearing annexation by neighboring cities, led a fight for incorporation. Indeed, parts of the original Rancho had already been annexed by neighboring Monrovia, Azusa, Irwindale, and Baldwin Park. At the same time, a rival group representing an affluent enclave in the foothills started a competing drive for incorporation and broke off to form the separate city of Bradbury. A 2001 Los Angeles Times article stated that their petition for incorporation arrived in Sacramento on August 22, 1957, "mere moments" before the petition that would have included what is now Bradbury in the city of Duarte. Still, many ties between the two communities remain in that they both form the Duarte Unified School District; they both share the same post office and the 91008 ZIP code; and they both share combined public services such as the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and Los Angeles County Fire Department, and garbage pickup (provided by Burrtec Waste Services).
The original city logo was created by Bill Botts Sr. in 1957. It consisted of a double-circular seal, with the inner circle containing an adobe arch featuring the Rancho Azusa de Duarte "d" brand (inside the arch is the original date of the Rancho's establishment, 1841) while the outer circle features the year of Duarte's incorporation (1957). The current city logo was created in early 1982 to mark Duarte's 25th anniversary of cityhood.
Like many of its neighbors, modern Duarte is a bedroom community. The city of Duarte is geographically isolated from population centers to the east and south due to the San Gabriel River and rock quarry operations in Irwindale and Azusa. These factors have proven to be an ongoing economic challenge for local businesses as the city attracts little outside spending, and most residents spend their money elsewhere. Due to air quality and noise concerns, the city of Duarte has sought repeatedly to halt the expansion of neighboring quarry operations but has had no success against the monied interests behind the quarries and the neighboring city governments beholden to them. Still, over the past few decades, the city leadership has succeeded in bringing retail development to the western portion of Duarte.
In September 2010, Forbes magazine placed the ZIP code of 91008 at #1 on its annual list of America's most expensive ZIP codes, containing the parts of Duarte immediately north of neighboring Bradbury.[14][15]
The Census reported that 63.1% of the population lived in owner-occupied housing.
There were 7,132 households, with an average household size of 2.98.
The population was 4.5% persons under 5 years old, 17.6% between the ages of 6 and 17, 58.5% ages 18 to 65, and 19.4% 65 years of age or older. The population of Duarte was 54.8% female.
According to the 2020 United States Census, Duarte had a median household income of $75,083, with 10.2% of the population living below the federal poverty line.
2010
The 2010 United States Census[20] reported that Duarte had a population of 21,321. The population density was 3,186.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,230.4/km2). The racial makeup of Duarte was 11,076 (51.9%) White (26.9% Non-Hispanic White),[21] 1,587 (7.4%) African American, 179 (0.8%) Native American, 3,361 (15.8%) Asian, 26 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 4,108 (19.3%) from other races, and 984 (4.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10,190 persons (47.8%).
The Census reported that 20,914 people (98.1% of the population) lived in households, 19 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 388 (1.8%) were institutionalized.
There were 7,013 households, out of which 2,458 (35.0%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,597 (51.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,004 (14.3%) had a female householder with no husband present, 363 (5.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 285 (4.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 66 (0.9%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,666 households (23.8%) were made up of individuals, and 888 (12.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.98. There were 4,964 families (70.8% of all households); the average family size was 3.54.
The population was spread out, with 4,737 people (22.2%) under the age of 18, 1,863 people (8.7%) aged 18 to 24, 5,567 people (26.1%) aged 25 to 44, 5,776 people (27.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 3,378 people (15.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.
There were 7,254 housing units at an average density of 1,084.3 per square mile (418.7/km2), of which 4,703 (67.1%) were owner-occupied, and 2,310 (32.9%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.4%. 14,796 people (69.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 6,118 people (28.7%) lived in rental housing units.
According to the 2010 United States Census, Duarte had a median household income of $62,250, with 13.4% of the population living below the federal poverty line.[21]
2000
As of the census[22] of 2000, there were 21,486 people, 6,635 households, and 4,889 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,215.7 inhabitants per square mile (1,241.6/km2). There were 6,805 housing units at an average density of 1,018.5 per square mile (393.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 52.02% White, 9.08% Black or African American, 0.94% Native American, 12.62% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 19.99% from other races, and 5.23% from two or more races, while 43.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 6,635 households, out of which 38.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.16 and the average family size was 3.70.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.2% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $50,744, and the median income for a family was $56,556. Males had a median income of $39,812 versus $33,045 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,648. 11.3% of the population and 8.4% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 13.3% of those under the age of 18 and 10.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Mexican (31.6%) and Filipino (6.6%) were the most common ancestries. Mexico (44.1%) and the Philippines (15.7%) were the most common foreign places of birth.[23]
Duarte has a council-manager government with a city council whose seven members are directly elected by residents. The current mayor is Bryan Urias.[25]
Within Duarte, there are also five licensed private schools. Foothill Oaks Academy is a non-sectarian school serving students from preschool through 7th grade (since 4 September 2024.)The Duarte Montessori School is affiliated with the American Montessori Society and serves students from preschool through 2nd grade. The School of the Little Scholar is a non-sectarian preschool. ABC School is another non-sectarian preschool that focuses on children with special education needs. The Hayden Child Care Center is a Roman Catholic-affiliated school serving students in preschool and kindergarten.
Duarte also has its own in-house "Department of Public Safety", where its officers (separate from the LASD) are assigned mainly with issuing citations for various violation of the city's Municipal Code, as well as issuance of dog licenses and bicycle permits.
Media
Duarte community news is provided by the San Gabriel Valley Tribune and Duarte Dispatch, which is a weekly community newspaper published by Beacon Media News.
Sam Shepard, playwright, writer and actor (described Duarte as a "weird accumulation of things, a strange kind of melting pot – Spanish, Okie, Black, Midwestern elements all jumbled together. People on the move who couldn't move anymore, who wound up in trailer parks.")[28]
^Valdes, Georgia (December 14, 2023). "City of Duarte welcomes new mayor and mayor pro tem". San Gabriel Valley Tribune. MediaNews Group, Inc. Retrieved August 21, 2024. Vinh Truong is Duarte's new mayor and Cesar A. Garcia will sit by his side as mayor pro tem.
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