Introduction
The city of San Gabriel is rich in its history and culture. Prior to becoming a city, San Gabriel's first inhabitants were known as the Gabrielino Tongva tribe. The Mission San Gabriel Archangel, founded in 1771 by the Spanish friar, Junipero Serra, is the fourth mission to be founded and a part of the chain of 21 California Missions founded by Serra. San Gabriel first became a township in 1852, and was later officially recognized as a city on April 24,1913. The San Gabriel Mission and Playhouse have become prominent symbols of the city and its history. Today, San Gabriel is composed of a diverse range of demographics and continues to grow and prosper.
Drinking Water
San Gabriel’s water comes from the Bay Delta, the Colorado River, and local groundwater supplies. The Bay Delta is San Gabriel’s most expensive water source as it must travel 400 miles to get there. The water supply from the Colorado River is brought via a 242 mile aqueduct operated by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Groundwater basins are at an all time low and considerable efforts are being made to prevent further reduction of water due to wasteful water use.
Parks
Marshall Park
Plaza Park
Roosevelt Park
Smith Park
Vincent Lugo Park
The city of San Gabriel is rich in its history and culture. Prior to becoming a city, San Gabriel's first inhabitants were known as the Gabrielino Tongva tribe. The Mission San Gabriel Archangel, founded in 1771 by the Spanish friar, Junipero Serra, is the fourth mission to be founded and a part of the chain of 21 California Missions founded by Serra. San Gabriel first became a township in 1852, and was later officially recognized as a city on April 24,1913. The San Gabriel Mission and Playhouse have become prominent symbols of the city and its history. Today, San Gabriel is composed of a diverse range of demographics and continues to grow and prosper.
Drinking Water
San Gabriel’s water comes from the Bay Delta, the Colorado River, and local groundwater supplies. The Bay Delta is San Gabriel’s most expensive water source as it must travel 400 miles to get there. The water supply from the Colorado River is brought via a 242 mile aqueduct operated by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Groundwater basins are at an all time low and considerable efforts are being made to prevent further reduction of water due to wasteful water use.
Parks
Marshall Park
Plaza Park
Roosevelt Park
Smith Park
Vincent Lugo Park
- Storm Runoff
- Efforts have been made to capture storm runoff water due to the draough faced by california. Runoff capturing projects have been built along the Rio Hondo and San Gabriel Rivers. Also, Proposition O uses tax dollars used for storm water run off projects as well as grant money from the Water Replenishment District of Southern California. The water would turn medians and an alleyway into green pasture for runoff water. The soil used for the water would eat away at bacteria and break down chemicals into useful nutrients for plants. The water would then seep into the groundwater supply instead of flowing into the Los Angeles RIver.
- Trash, Litter, and Graffiti
- Trash and waste are collected by Athens Services. Litter can occasionally be seen scattered around the city. The amount of litter is not high, but it is still visible. This is probably due to the lack of enough trash cans placed around the city. Graffiti is not frequently seen around the city. The times that graffiti is visible is due to gang activity, however, the amount of gangs and gang activity in San Gabriel is few.
- Point Square Pollution (Super fund)
- San Gabriel does not have a Super Fund site. The closest one to the city is in Alhambra on Main Street and Garfield Avenue.
- Parks:
- Marshall Park
- Plaza Park
- Roosevelt Park
- Smith Park
- Vincent Lugo Park
- Landscape and Trees
- San Gabriel is a highly urban area and there is no natural environment in the city. Trees and more natural landscape can be found in parks or sparsely scattered across the city, however this vegetation has been modified by people and thus cannot be deemed naturally occurring.
- Traffic and Transportation:
- Currently the largest source of traffic is due to the ACE San Gabriel Trench Project. The trench project will lower a 1.4 mile section of Union Pacific railroad track in a trench through the city.
- Noise and Light
- The city is well lit during the night and is used as a crime prevention method. The light is not very bothersome to myself and does not pose disturbances to many residents either. There is much noise due to traffic, trains, and police and fire truck sirens. These used to interrupt my sleep, but I eventually adjusted and did not notice them anymore.
- Crowding
- San Gabriel is not very crowded. It is fairly easy to find parking at any location and street parking is almost always available. Buildings and the layout of the city also don’t pose a problem in crowding as they are fairly spread out as well. However, the amount of construction has increased in recent years.
- Population Growth and development
- The population density in San Gabriel is fairly high. There are approximately 9,723 people per square mile. 53.6% were born in the city of San Gabriel, while 27.1% were born elsewhere in California.
- Males: 19,700 (49.1%)Females: 20,450 (50.9%)
- Population in 2012: 40,150 (100% urban, 0% rural). Population change since 2000: +0.9%
- Asian alone - 23,044 (57.9%)
- Hispanic - 10,946 (27.5%)
- White alone - 4,639 (11.7%)
- Two or more races - 661 (1.7%)
- Black alone - 279 (0.7%)
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone - 121 (0.3%)
- Other race alone - 65 (0.2%)
- American Indian alone - 54 (0.1%)
- CIty Plans
- The city plans to increase its levels of sustainability. It plans to do so by planting more trees around the city and reducing dependence on chemicals and substances that can accumulate in the future. It also plans on reducing activities that can harm life sustaining ecosystems. The city plans on reducing dependence of fossil fuels and and extracted underground metals and materials.
- My Plans
- My plans for the city would be to increase the amount of greenery around the city such as planting more trees, plants, and gardens. I would also increase the variety of businesses available in the city and have these businesses use their resources more sustainably, for example water. I would encourage the use of plants that do not require much water for survival in the city and the yards of residents.