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DHistory
History · South El Monte

South El Monte dates to 1958

More historic than 10% of U.S. towns · #687 of 847 in California. What drives it

Most of South El Monte was built recently: 5% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1959. Below: maps from 1896 on and the census since 1960.

1958founded
0on the National Register
5%homes built before 1940
2famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
Quick answers

How South El Monte began

When was South El Monte founded?

1958

South El Monte dates its founding to 1958 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1960.

First census: 4,850 in 19602020 census: 19,56768 years

How historic is South El Monte?

D

More historic than 10% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: Wikidata.
History grade

What drives South El Monte’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, South El Monte is more historic than 10% of U.S. towns, #687 of 847 in California. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its age pulls it down.

D
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of South El Monte’s overall grade.
Founding era1958, from Wikidata: founded 1945 or later, an older era than 2% of U.S. townsD−Homes built before 19404.8% of homes (±2.2) · typical CA town 3.4% · U.S. 8.4%CNational RegisterNo listings counted · typical CA town 0.0 per 10,000 · U.S. 2.4C
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 10%
NewerOlder
California towns of 2,500+ (847)Ahead of 19%

Few California towns list much on the Register (a typical California town has 0.0 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so South El Monte’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (31% of California towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.

How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from D− to C−. The pre-1940 share (±2.2 points) is firm at this size. Two sources give 1958.

Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →

What stands out about South El Monte’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of South El Monte are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 18968 editions of the USGS map, 1896 to 1994. Watch South El Monte change.Old housesHalf of South El Monte’s homes were built before 1959.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start South El Monte’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how South El Monte’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
On the map

South El Monte on the map, 1896 to 1994

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of South El Monte. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

South El Monte on the 1896 USGS mapSouth El Monte on the 1900 USGS mapSouth El Monte on the 1923 USGS mapSouth El Monte on the 1948 USGS mapSouth El Monte on the 1966 USGS mapSouth El Monte on the 1972 USGS mapSouth El Monte on the 1981 USGS mapSouth El Monte on the 1994 USGS map1896Pasadena sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of South El Monte.

The story so far

South El Monte, in brief

Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of South El Monte yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.

South El Monte is a city in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles County, California, United States. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 19,567, down from 20,116 at the 2010 census.

South El Monte was established in 1958. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell from 20,116 to 19,567 (-3%).

Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.

Timeline

South El Monte, 1896 to 1992

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1896On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  3. 20th century
  4. 1946Born hereRuben Garcia is born here
  5. 1958
    FoundingSouth El Monte is established
  6. 1992Born hereJoseph Diaz is born here
By decade

South El Monte, decade by decade

Today8 recent
San Gabriel River from Peck Road Bridge, South El Monte & Industry, California2025San Gabriel River from Peck Road Bridge, South El Mon…South El Monte Library2024South El Monte LibrarySouth El Monte, CA 91733, USA - panoramio (3)2016South El Monte, CA 91733, USA - panoramio (3)South El Monte, CA 91733, USA - panoramio (2)2016South El Monte, CA 91733, USA - panoramio (2)South El Monte, CA 91733, USA2013South El Monte, CA 91733, USASouth El Monte, CA 91733, USA - panoramio (1)2013South El Monte, CA 91733, USA - panoramio (1)CA 38 certified2013CA 38 certifiedBookArdea herodias -South El Monte, California, USA-82011Ardea herodias -South El Monte, California, USA-8
People over time

South El Monte, census by census

05,00010,00015,00020,0001960198020002020Peak: 21,144

Between 4,850 and 21,144 people in every census since 1960.

7 censuses, 1960–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on South El Monte’s Wikipedia page.

Famous people

2 famous people were born in South El Monte

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
Joseph DiazBoxer · b. 1992
R
Ruben GarciaAmerican racing driver · b. 1946
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

El MonteIts storyCRosemeadIts storyC−

Questions about South El Monte’s history

What year was South El Monte founded?

In 1958, according to Wikidata. the census of 1960 counted 4,850 people here.

How does South El Monte rank for history?

South El Monte is more historic than 10% of U.S. towns, #687 of 847 in California. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.

How old are the homes in South El Monte?

5% of South El Monte’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±2.2 points), against a typical 3.4% for a California town; the median home was built in 1959.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

From Wikimedia Commons (8), Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.