San Gabriel, California

San Gabriel is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 39,804.

Demographics

As of the census{{GR|2}} of 2000, there are 39,804 people, 12,587 households, and 9,566 families residing in the city. The population density is 3,721.2/km² (9,639.3/mi²). There are 12,909 housing units at an average density of 1,206.8/km² (3,126.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 33.40% White, 1.06% African American, 0.83% Native American, 48.91% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 12.36% from other races, and 3.34% from two or more races. 30.71% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Related Topics:
Census - 2000 - Population density - White - African American - Native American - Asian - Pacific Islander - Other races - Hispanic - Latino

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There are 12,587 households out of which 35.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% are married couples living together, 15.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 24.0% are non-families. 18.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 6.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.10 and the average family size is 3.52.

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In the city the population is spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 33.3% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 88.5 males.

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The median income for a household in the city is $41,791, and the median income for a family is $45,287. Males have a median income of $31,642 versus $29,302 for females. The per capita income for the city is $16,807. 15.9% of the population and 12.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 21.4% of those under the age of 18 and 11.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Related Topics:
Per capita income - Poverty line

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Asian American population

Asian Americans form a near-majority in the city's population. Those residents identifying as "Chinese" make up the bulk of the Asian origin population, with "Vietnamese" ranking second. The upper middle-class northern part of San Gabriel (near affluent San Marino) tends to be heavily Taiwanese, whereas the Chinese Vietnamese and Mainland Chinese live in the working-class sections toward the southern and eastern portions of the city (near poorer Rosemead).

Related Topics:
San Marino - Chinese Vietnamese - Mainland Chinese - Rosemead

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Reflecting the heritage of the neighborhood, San Gabriel has a massive, fairly diverse, and vibrant ethnic Chinese and Vietnamese American business district on Valley Boulevard, with three major Asian supermarkets, numerous mini-malls, and an endless row of small businesses. This is fairly indicative of immigrant investments going to the relatively new developments of San Gabriel, rather than to touristy Chinatown, Los Angeles in which the latter is popular with white and Mexican tourists. Considered the new "Chinatown" of Los Angeles, an eclectic mix of Taiwanese delis, boba tea cafes, and self-serve hot pot buffets, Hong Kong fusion cafes and Cantonese seafood restaurants, Mainland Chinese noodle and dumpling restaurants, Vietnamese pho restaurants and banh mi shops (mostly owned by ethnic Chinese from Vietnam) all lend to an unique and vibrant commercial business district. There is also a Burmese Chinese steakhouse and a Chinese Cambodian restaurant. Some companies from Mainland China operate shops also operate on Valley Boulevard (east of San Gabriel, the barrio of El Monte, California has been designated as a free trade zone for Mainland China, one of three in the United States).

Related Topics:
Vietnamese American - Asian supermarket - Chinatown, Los Angeles - Taiwanese deli - Boba tea - Hot pot - Hong Kong - Mainland Chinese - Vietnamese - Pho - Banh mi - Burmese Chinese - Chinese Cambodian - Mainland China - Barrio - El Monte, California - Free trade zone

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San Gabriel Square, constructed in the early 1990s in a mediterranean style, is the largest Asian shopping center in the area and is especially popular with affluent immigrants from Taiwan. A 99 Ranch Market is the anchor store, but it also includes an upscale multi-story department store called Focus, boutiques, jewelry shops, and a multitude of authentic Asian restaurants. It replaced a dying drive-in theater and the parking lot was built over a flood channel. The awe-inspiring shopping center - the center piece for new "Chinatown" of sorts - was part a result of the Proposition 13 from California, which lowered the property tax statewide and then had the effect on the losing of potential city revenue, and hence the development of this massive mall was approved.{{ref|prop13}}

Related Topics:
Mediterranean style - 99 Ranch Market - Department store - Drive-in theater

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Across the street, independently-owned Hawaii Supermarket (owned by a Chinese Cambodian refugee) caters to overseas Chinese and other Asian immigrants from Southeast Asia (such as Vietnam and Cambodia) and Mainland China. There are other large shopping centers nearby. Another active strip mall, containing San Gabriel Superstore (owned by a Chinese Vietnamese refugee), anchored by the Shun Fat Supermarket chain, is located to the east. The San Gabriel Superstore replaced Target in the early 1990s. The Hilton Hotel, built over what was then a Pizza Hut restaurant and a motel, is an anchor to another multi-story shopping center. San Gabriel is part of the cluster of cities - including San Marino, Arcadia, and Temple City - with large community of relatively wealthy Mandarin-speaking immigrant population hailing from Taiwan. Hong Kong Supermarket, along San Gabriel Boulevard toward the northern part of the city, anchors a predominantly Taiwanese commercial strip (many of these on Las Tunas Drive tend to be smaller strip malls than on Valley Boulevard). This area extends into Temple City, California.

Related Topics:
Overseas Chinese - Southeast Asia - Shun Fat Supermarket - Target - Hilton Hotel - Hong Kong Supermarket - Temple City, California

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The Asian influence is also felt in the city's Mission district. The Mission district contains an upscale dim sum restaurant in a historic adobe building, which was the site of the former city hall and turned into a Mexican watering hole. Various Beijing operas are also presented regularly in the San Gabriel Civic Auditorium.

Related Topics:
Dim sum - Beijing opera

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Hong Kong Chinese-born Chi Mui (梅志堅) became the first Chinese American to be elected to the city council of San Gabriel.

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