Population

11,038 (2017)

Ethnic makeup

White Non-Hispanic (79.7%)
Hispanic (10.0%)
Two or more races (4.0%)
Other race (3.0%)
Chinese (2.1%)
Japanese (1.2%)
Black (1.1%)
American Indian (1.1%)

Sierra Madre Facts

Year of Founding: 1881
Year of Incorporation: 1907

Land and Location

Land Area: 3.0 1 square miles
Location: Sierra Madre is located in Los Angeles County, California and is situated at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains. Sierra Madre borders the cities of Pasadena to the west and Arcadia to the south and east. Angeles National Forest is to the north. The City of Los Angeles is 13 miles to the southwest.
Zip Code: 91024
Telephone Area Code: 626
Latitude: 34.16 N, Longitude: 118.05 W
Elevation: 840 feet above sea level

Local, State and Federal Government

A five-member City Council governs the City. Municipal elections are held every two years. Each member serves a four-year term. The honorary positions of Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore rotate among the five elected members of the City Council. The City Council appoints the City Manager and the City Attorney.

State Representation

25th Senate District: Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D)
41th Assembly District: Assembly Member Chris Holden (D)

Federal Representation

California State Senators:
Senator Alex Padilla (D)
Senator Laphonza Butler (D)

27th Congressional District:
Democrat Judy Chu (D)

Parks

Bailey Canyon Wilderness Park
451 W. Carter Ave.

Memorial Park
222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.

Milton & Harriet Goldberg Recreation Area
171 S. Sunnyside Ave.

Mount Wilson Trail Park
89 E. Mira Monte Ave.

Sierra Vista Park
611 E. Sierra Madre Blvd.

Schools

Public: Sierra Madre School (Pasadena Unified School District)
Private: Alverno High School, Bethany Christian School, the Gooden School, Saint Rita School

Events

Wistaria Festival (March)
Huck Finn Fishing Derby (March)
Art Fair (May)
Mount Wilson Trail Race (Memorial Day Weekend)
4th of July Festivities (July)
Dickens' Village (November)

Noteworthy Facts

Artifacts of the Gabrielino or Tongva Indians have been discovered in the Sierra Madre canyon. The Gabrielino/Tongva were the original inhabitants of the Los Angeles Basin.

In 1864 Benjamin Wilson established the Mount Wilson Trail with the aid of Chinese and Mexican laborers. Mountain access provided by the trail enabled astronomical use of the peak by Harvard College in 1889.

In 1904 George Ellery Hale founded the Mount Wilson Observatory.

The Mount Wilson Trail Race, first run in 1908, is California's second oldest foot race.

Sierra Madre is home of the world's largest wistaria vine. It purchased by Alice Brugman in April 1894. 

Sierra Madre was the first city police department in Los Angeles County to have a female Police Chief. There are 17 sworn officers in the Police Department.

The Sierra Madre Public Library is the fourth oldest city library in Los Angeles County and the tenth oldest in Southern California. Founded by original settlers of Sierra Madre, the library was incorporated under the laws of the State of California in July 1886. The first library building was completed in the summer of 1887.

Since 1910 Sierra Madre has been a frequent filming location. Sites around town have turned up in movies such as "The Great Man's Lady", "Invasion of the Body Snatchers", "Family Plot", "The Wedding Singer", "K-Pax", "The Princess Diaries", and "Kicking & Screaming".

Sierra Madre has an earthquake named for it. The 5.6 temblor struck at 7:43 am on June 28, 1991.

The Englemann Oak, Quercus Englemanii, is designated as the official tree of the City of Sierra Madre.

Sierra Madre was named an All-America City by the National Civic League in 2007.

Meaning of city name: Spanish for "Mother Range" or "Mother Mountain"

Sources

City of Sierra Madre Website, 03/10
www.city-data.com, 03/10
Wikipedia, 03/10
Internet Movie Database
Mount Wilson Observatory
Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce
United States Geological Survey
California Cities, Towns & Counties, 2008.
Encyclopedia of California second edition, Somerset Publishers, 1994
Dictionary of California Land Names, Automobile Club of Southern California, 1946