About the San Gabriel Valley

Geography

The San Gabriel Valley is a geographical valley on the easternmost portion of Los Angeles County. The Valley is bordered by the San Gabriel Mountains to the north, San Bernardino County to the east, and Orange County to the South. As shown in Exhibit III-1, the Valley’s 31 incorporated cities and several large unincorporated communities stretch over an area of 400 square miles. The Rio Hondo and San Gabriel Rivers and their tributaries flow through the San Gabriel Valley from the San Gabriel Mountains on the north on their way to the Pacific Ocean. Another characteristic that makes the San Gabriel Valley unique in Southern California is that it holds its own water basin and relies primarily on its own water resources.

Click here to see a map of the San Gabriel Valley's location in Southern California.

History The San Gabriel Valley has a rich history of a transitioning and developing community. The Gabrielino Indians settled in the San Gabriel Valley approximately 8,000 years ago. The birth of the Los Angeles region began at the San Gabriel Mission, the fourth of such missions built by the Spanish in the late 1700’s. Transitions in development marked the San Gabriel Valley, turning from rancheros with roaming cattle, to farmland which grew walnuts and citrus, to suburban communities that developed their own identities and incorporated into cities, and now slowly transitioning to becoming more urbanized as undeveloped land becomes increasingly scarce while the streets and freeways become more congested each year.

Demographics

The San Gabriel Valley is among the most ethnically diverse areas in the Southern California region. The Valley’s 2 million residents are 44% Latino, 27% Caucasian, 25% Asian/Pacific Islander, and 4% African-American. This trend towards a more diverse makeup reflects a gradual transformation of the region.  It is anticipated that in 2010 the ethnic makeup will have transitioned to 48% Latino, 25% Asian/Pacific Islander, 23% Caucasian, and 4% African-American. Some 550,000 households reside in an area of 400 square miles. The region is also distinguished by significant linguistic diversity. While English remains the most common language spoken at home in the San Gabriel Valley, Chinese is most commonly spoken in three cities (Alhambra, Monterey Park, and San Gabriel) and Spanish in 10 cities (Azusa, Baldwin Park, El Monte, Industry, Irwindale, La Puente, Montebello, Pomona, Rosemead, and South El Monte). Other languages spoken include Korean, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Arabic, Armenian, and Japanese.

While English remains the most common language spoken at home in the San Gabriel Valley, Chinese is most commonly spoken in three cities (Alhambra, Monterey Park, and San Gabriel) and Spanish in 10 cities (Azusa, Baldwin Park, El Monte, Industry, Irwindale, La Puente, Montebello, Pomona, Rosemead, and South El Monte). Other languages spoken include Korean, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Arabic, Armenian, and Japanese.

Click here for a full presentation on the language of participation and growth projections in the San Gabriel Valley. 

Governance

With its 31 incorporated cities, the San Gabriel Valley is called the Valley of Local Control and Local Independence. The San Gabriel Valley’s cities account for 40 percent of Los Angeles County’s cities but only 20 percent of the population. The San Gabriel Valley, as a subregion, also has the largest number of Los Angeles County residents living in unincorporated communities, including such significant communities as Altadena, Hacienda Heights, and Rowland Heights. The cities formed the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments in 1995 as an umbrella agency to work on regional issues, to secure government funding, and to help forge a consensus in addressing issues that impact all the cities and communities. The San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments was the first of its kind in Southern California and remains the largest council of governments in Los Angeles County. The San Gabriel Valley is represented by two U.S. Senators, five Members of Congress, six State Senators, seven Assemblymembers, and three of the five Los Angeles County Supervisors.

About the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG)

Background

Founded in 1994, the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) is a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) of 31 incorporated cities in the San Gabriel Valley, the three Supervisorial District representing the unincorporated areas in the San Gabriel Valley, and the Valley’s three water agencies.  Collectively, these agencies represent the Valley's 2 million residents living in 31 incorporate cities and numerous unincorporated communities. 

Membership

The SGVCOG has a diverse membership of the 31 cities in the San Gabriel Valley, as well as the portions of Los Angeles County that represent unincorporated communities in the San Gabriel Valley. The 31 cities range in population from 800 (Industry) to 160,000 (City of Pomona). While each of these communities has a unique history and character, they also have many shared issues and projects that intersect multiple jurisdictions, such as traffic congestion, transit projects, park and open space, air quality regulations, watersheds planning, and solid waste regulations.  Click here to see the SGVCOG Organization Chart. 

Mission

Since its formation, SGVCOG has succeeded in overcoming hurdles that could only be accomplished by the 31 cities working together.   In 2006, the SGVCOG adopted the following revised mission statement.

“The San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments is a unified voice to maximize resources and advocate for regional and member interests to improve the quality of life in the San Gabriel Valley.”

Vision

At the December 2007 Strategic Planning Session, the SGVCOG developed a long-term vision of where the SGVCOG will be in the next five years.

“By 2012, the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments will be recognized as the leader in advocating and achieving sustainable solutions for transportation, housing, economic growth and the environment.”

                                                                                                                          -Adopted December 8, 2007