Baldwin Park, California is located roughly 18 miles east of Downtown Los Angeles, at an elevation of 104 feet above sea level. The centrally located Baldwin Park is one of 31 cities in the San Gabriel Valley. The San Gabriel Valley is one of the main valleys of Southern California. Due to its inland location, the area has hotter summers and colder winters than coastal regions of Southern California. Baldwin Park is sometimes referred to as the “Hub of the San Gabriel Valley.” Nearby communities include Monrovia, Bradbury, Azusa, Irwindale, West Covina, El Monte, Temple City, Covina, Duarte, Vincent, Valinda, West Puente Valley, Basset, Avocado Heights, Montebello, Mayflower Village, City of Industry, and Walnut Valley. Baldwin Park has around 72,000 residents and covers about 6.6 square miles.
The Economy and JobsBaldwin Park Unified School District is the City’s largest employer, with over 1,000 employees. Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park Medical Center is another major area employer. Other large area employers include Wal-Mart and Target. Baldwin Park is situated along several major transportation routes. One of the most heavily travelled freeways in the country, Interstate 10 (the San Bernardino Freeway) runs through the City. The San Gabriel Freeway (Interstate 605) also passes through Baldwin Park. The Baldwin Park Station provides access to the Metrolink San Bernardino line. Metrolink is a large commuter rail system. Metrolink train cars are being refurbished to include charging ports at each seat and other amenities, such as energy-efficient lighting and modernized restrooms. Baldwin Park is within 40 miles of the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, as well as Los Angeles International Airport and Ontario International Airport.
HistoryBaldwin Park started out as cattle grazing land belonging to the San Gabriel Mission. Mission San Gabriel Arcángel was founded in 1771. In the 1840s, a new arrival to California, Henry Dalton, purchased a ranch that included the site of present-day Baldwin Park and several neighboring cities. Rancho Azusa de Dalton included abundant livestock and a vineyard. By 1847 Henry Dalton had added to his extensive landholdings so that he owned a large portion of the San Gabriel Valley. Ultimately, Henry Dalton lost most of his land to squatters. The area encompassing present-day Baldwin Park was known in the late 19th century as “Pleasant View,” and, later, “Vineland.” The first school in Vineland opened in 1884. In the early 20th Century, Vineland was renamed Baldwin Park after prominent investor, businessman, and landowner Elias Jackson "Lucky" Baldwin. Baldwin Park is just one of many locations in Southern California named after Mr. Baldwin. The Big Red Car Trolley system, operated by the Pacific Electric Railway Company, added Baldwin Park as a destination in 1907, along its Covina Line. Pacific Electric Railway service to Baldwin Park ended in around 1950.
In the 1910s, Milton Kauffman subdivided land in Baldwin Park and sold many house lots and farm plots to eager buyers. Al G. Barnes Circus had its winter headquarters in Baldwin Park for a portion of the 1920s and 1930s. Elephants could be seen parading down local roads. A large turkey ranch (which included an aviary and petting zoo), a dairy, and horse stables were prominent features in Baldwin Park in the mid-20th century. The First In-N-Out Burger—a tiny stand in Baldwin Park—opened in 1948. A two-way speaker box system was introduced the same year, enabling customers to order and receive their food without leaving their cars, paving the way for the modern drive-thru restaurant. The Edgewood Drive-In theatre (on the present-day site of Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park Medical Center) opened in 1955 and could accommodate approximately 1,200 cars. Baldwin Park was incorporated in 1956. Famous nearby landmarks are the Irwindale Speedway, the Arcadia Golf Course, and Peck Road Water Conservation Park. City of Hope National Medical Center is to the north of Baldwin Park, in Duarte. Nearby shopping destinations include Irwindale Square Shopping Center, Baldwin Park Towne Center Shopping Center, and the huge Plaza West Covina, with over 185 stores and restaurants. The nearby Vineland Swap Meet is open 7 days a week on the grounds of a drive-in theater.
RecreationPeople from all over the region travel to Baldwin Park’s largest body of water and the surrounding park, known collectively as Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area. From the park, one has a good view of the San Gabriel Mountains, including 10,000-foot Mount Baldy. For several weeks out of the year, the Renaissance Pleasure Faire sets up in the park and gives visitors a chance to be immersed in a re-imagining of life in England back when its literary and political culture was blossoming during the Age of Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth. The Renaissance Pleasure Faire offers theme weekends and a Pub Crawl. The recreation area encompasses 836 acres, including a 70-acre lake, and offers a water park, fishing, special occasion camping, and boat (including pedal boats, kayaks, and surrey top watercraft) and bicycle rentals. Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation operates the site. The Santa Fe Dam and Reservoir is a flood control project operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The dam is 92 feet in height and spans 23,800 feet at its crest. The project, which was initiated in 1941 and completed in 1949, was in response to episodes of severe flooding that destroyed communities near the San Gabriel River.
Baldwin Park also has five municipal neighborhood parks, including Walnut Creek Nature Park, and Morgan Park, the City’s oldest and largest park.
The Baldwin Park Historical Society and Museum is located in the old Central School Auditorium, built in 1936, which is now the Arts and Recreation Center for the City of Baldwin Park.
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