El Monte
El Monte is historically known as "The End of the Sante Fe Trail" and was the check point for those going to Sacramento for gold. Many settlers also came because of it's rich land around the San Gabriel River. Though many white settlers came during the 1930 Dust Bowl Migration, it has become a city of Spanish influence.
Reference: http://elmonteca.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=u7kNUyyFAC8=&tabid=179http://www.ci.el-monte.ca.us/AboutELMonte/GeneralDescription.aspx
Located on Santa Anita and Valley Blvd. the Valley Mall is not your typical indoor, air conditioned sanctuary that everyone would go to for enjoyment. This mall has a very apparent Hispanic influence, with practically almost all signs are in Spanish. There are no vendors around outside, just a street of clothing and food stores.
Demographics
The 2010 United States Census reported that El Monte had a population of 113,475. The population density was 11,761.6 people per square mile (4,541.2/km²).
The 2010 United States Census reported that El Monte had a population of 113,475. The population density was 11,761.6 people per square mile (4,541.2/km²).
The racial makeup of El Monte was:
78,317 (69.0%) Hispanic or Latino of any race.
44,058 (38.8%) White (4.9% Non-Hispanic White)
28,503 (25.1%) Asian
1,083 (1.0%) Native American
870 (0.8%) African American
131 (0.1%) Pacific Islander
35,205 (31.0%) from other races
3,625 (3.2%) from two or more races.
Note from the authors:
Out of the 3 cities we sought to analyze, El Monte has the lowest percentage of Asians and highest percentage of Hispanics and Latinos. Taking into account API scores from US News & World Report, this would reinforce the model minority stereotype that Asians excel academically whereas Latinos may not. There is much more to consider within this simple demographic. There are more complex understandings to be critically analyzed, and there are other important factors of the city that should be promoted rather than dwelling on sole test scores.
Reference: United States Census 2010 via Social Explorer
Reference: United States Census 2010 via Social Explorer
Academics
El Monte High School is one of the oldest high schools in the San Gabriel Valley. Built in 1901, its population is mostly of Hispanic background, at about 80%. According to US News and World Report, it doesn't meet the standards to be ranked in the state, with a College Readiness score of 31.5 out of 100 and an Academic Performance score of 720 out of 1000.
El Monte High School is one of the oldest high schools in the San Gabriel Valley. Built in 1901, its population is mostly of Hispanic background, at about 80%. According to US News and World Report, it doesn't meet the standards to be ranked in the state, with a College Readiness score of 31.5 out of 100 and an Academic Performance score of 720 out of 1000.
Source: US News and World Report Best High Schools 2014
Driving Through El Monte
You can definitely see the transformation from Asian influences to Hispanic influences when driving from San Gabriel to El Monte. The streets are more tattered and the signs in Chinese slowly become translated to Spanish. You feel a little less safe because of the broken fences and abandoned lots, and there isn't as much foot traffic going on in the streets. Though it is part of the "626" and many of my own family members are from this area, there isn't the hype and hipster feel you would experience when in other cities, like San Gabriel.
Driving Through El Monte
You can definitely see the transformation from Asian influences to Hispanic influences when driving from San Gabriel to El Monte. The streets are more tattered and the signs in Chinese slowly become translated to Spanish. You feel a little less safe because of the broken fences and abandoned lots, and there isn't as much foot traffic going on in the streets. Though it is part of the "626" and many of my own family members are from this area, there isn't the hype and hipster feel you would experience when in other cities, like San Gabriel.
Although the San Gabriel Valley is often clustered into one big ethnic enclave, there is a lot of difference and separation between each actual city. Growing up in Temple City, my peers often bagged on El Monte for being "ghetto" or sometimes "un-Asian." There is a discrepancy in the socioeconomic statuses of the average family comparing a city such as El Monte to Arcadia or South Pasadena. Temple City has a large Chinese and Taiwanese population, and I can actually, strangely say that all of my friends from High School were Chinese. If I grew up El Monte, perhaps this would be a different case. To clump all the cities of the San Gabriel Valley together would be ignorant and uninformed. There is so much differentiation between each city, to the point where residents of a certain city can make judgements and assumptions on your socioeconomic status or upbringing based on your hometown.
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