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San Marino, California
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General InformationZoningThe city is divided into seven zones, based on minimum lot size. The smallest lot size is about 4,500 square feet, with many averaging over 30,000 square feet. Because of this and other factors, most of the homes in San Marino, built between 1920 and 1950, do not resemble the houses in surrounding Southern California neighborhoods (with the exception, perhaps, of neighboring Pasadena). San Marino has also fostered a sense of historic preservation among its homeowners. With minor exceptions, the city's strict design review and zoning laws have thus far prevented the development of "McMansions" found elsewhere in Los Angeles. Generally speaking, San Marino homes are older, bigger and more genteel than those in other adjacent communities. This is also a result of the city's emphasis on tree preservation and the large front setback requirements. No apartment buildings exist in the city.
TraditionTo Southern Californians, San Marino was once known as one of the oldest of old-money wealth and a bastion of Southern California's WASP gentility. Yet, today Asians constitute the plurality of the population with nearly 40% of the population being foreign born.
Recently, San Marino has seen an influx of Asians, mostly Chinese Americans.
San Marino may in fact be more recognizable to most Americans than those other Southern California communities, due to the prevalence of filming in the city. Many television shows, such as The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and have been filmed in San Marino and Pasadena. Location scouts also turn to San Marino when they wish to film a series in Southern California that takes place elsewhere. The atypical housing stock in the city, including Georgian and faux antebellum mansions, cause certain neighborhoods to resemble the East Coast.
Schools, Parks, and LandmarksSan Marino is also regarded as having one of the best-performing schools in the Greater Los Angeles area. Its high school consistently ranks as the one of the highest API score among public high schools in California. All of its public schools are honored as a California Distinguished School and a United States National Blue Ribbon School.
The city includes the estate of Henry E. Huntington, who made a fortune in the development of Southern California and opened the library and art collections in his large neo-Palladian mansion to the public in 1919, best known as the Huntington Library. At the time, San Marino was some twelve miles from Los Angeles. Huntington Drive and Sierra Madre Boulevard serve as the main thoroughfares, leading to Pasadena, Alhambra and San Gabriel.
The Edwin Hubble House, residence of astronomer Edwin Hubble, is a National Historic Landmark.
Another landmark is the Michael White Adobe House, located on the high school campus.
In the middle of San Marino lies Lacy Park, a huge expanse of grass and trees rare for urban areas. Lacy Park was created when Wilson Lake was drained.
El Molino Viejo ("The Old Mill"), completed about 1816 as a grist mill for Mission San Gabriel, is in San Marino. The original two-story structure measured 53 by 26 feet. It is the oldest commercial building in Southern California.
GeographySan Marino is located at (34.122658, -118.112964).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.8 mi² (9.8 km²), all land.
There are many trees in the community, most cultivated by private homeowners. During the Christmas season, the tall trees of St. Albans Road are decorated with many Christmas lights.
DemographicsAs of the census of 2000, there were 12,945 people, 4,266 households, and 3,673 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,430.5/mi² (1,325.8/km²). There were 4,437 housing units at an average density of 1,175.8/mi² (454.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 48.98% White, 0.15% African American, 0.05% Native American, 48.4% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.04% from other races, and 2.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.25% of the population. More than one-third of the city's population, 33.3% were born outside the United States.
There were 4,266 households out of which 42% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.9% were non-families. 12% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the city the population is spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 43 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $117,267, and the median income for a family was $125,708. Males had a median income of $98,928 versus $51,853 for females. The per capita income for the city was $59,150. About 3.7% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over. The vast majority, 69.7% of persons, had a Bachelor's degree or higher, compared to 27.2% at the national average.
PoliticsIn the state legislature San Marino is located in the 22nd Senate District, represented by Democrat Gilbert Cedillo, and in the 49th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Mike Eng. Federally, San Marino is located in California's 26th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R +4 and is represented by Republican David Dreier.
San Marino is a slightly conservative community in the midst of a mostly liberal state. There also is large support for Asian interests. Elected positions are often held by private citizens who show no ambition for higher political office. Political participation generally lies in the form of donations for political parties and candidates.
To preserve quality of life, the city council has passed numerous stringent ordinances, including laws against the use of power equipment on quiet Sunday afternoons and against dead lawns. It is illegal to leave trashcans on the street or in public view. Most contractors including gardeners are required to have city permits to work in private residential neighborhoods. Multi-family housing is not permitted and none exist within the city limits.
Residents who wish to construct or refurbish their properties must undergo a strict and lengthy process that can include community hearings and consent among all neighbors. The plans must be approved by the city in order for construction to begin. At times, homeowners will be denied construction rights by the city if their plan does not satisfy building or design requirements.
Schools There are four public schools in San Marino: Valentine Elementary School, Carver Elementary School, Huntington Middle School and San Marino High School. Stoneman Elementary School (named for the Governor who lived in San Marino) is no longer used for instruction by San Marino School District. Southwestern Academy, a private college preparatory school, is also located in San Marino. There is also a private Roman Catholic grammar school, SS. Felicitas and Perpetua. The city took the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to the Supreme Court to block the opening of this school.
The two elementary schools offer instruction for grades K-5, the middle school for grades 6-8 and the high school for grades 9-12.
In 2005 and 2006, the San Marino Unified School District ranked first among all 328 California unified school districts based on the California Academic Performance Index. San Marino High School is considered one of the best-performing public schools on Standardized Achievement Tests (as of 2004) in Southern California. It was also named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2006. Most of San Marino's schools' funds come from private donors and organizations. .
In November of 2007, U.S. News and World Report put San Marino High School in number 82 on its list of best high schools in the nation, giving SMHS the Gold Medal honor.
Asian-Americans are 70% of San Marino school enrollment as of December 2005. Strong support for education from the Asian community has bolstered the excellence of the school district.
The University of Southern California owns a house in San Marino which is used as the residence of the President of the University. The residence and grounds are large enough to allow events to be held there.
Notable San Marino Residents- George S. Patton, General US Army WWII
- Adolfo Müller-Ury, Swiss-born American painter of Popes and Presidents
- George Stoneman, 15th Governor of California
- Robert A. Millikan, experimental physicist and winner of the 1923 Nobel Prize in Physics
- Lee Baca Sheriff of Los Angeles County, California.
- Andrew D. Bernstein, photographer of the NBA
- Ahmed H. Zewail, winner 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
- Rob Schneider, actor, comedian (The Hot Chick, Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigalo)
- Jim Gott, MLB pitcher (Los Angeles Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants)
- Howard Kazanjian, movie producer (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi)
- Nancy O'Dell, TV personality (Access Hollywood)
- Bradley Whitford, actor (The West Wing, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Billy Madison)
- Jane Kaczmarek, actress (Pleasantville, Malcolm in the Middle)
- Peter B. Dervan, winner 2006 National Medal of Science in Chemistry
- Stephen Pastis, comic artist, Pearls Before Swine
- Jaime Jarrin, Spanish Language Broadcaster for Los Angeles Dodgers and Baseball Hall of Fame inductee
- Steven B. Sample, President of the University of Southern California
- Yanis C. Yortsos, Dean of the Viterbi School of Engineering at the University of Southern California
- James G. Ellis, Dean of the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California
- Edwin Hubble, astronomer (fundamentally changed the view of the universe)
- Billy Scott, UNC Women's Soccer Team Head Student Manager Emeritus
Cinema/Television- The city of San Marino plays a prominent role in Edward Bunker's 1996 novel Dog Eat Dog.
- The movie Father of the Bride with Steve Martin, although filmed in neighboring Pasadena, takes place in San Marino. Scenes for the movie Mr. & Mrs. Smith were filmed in San Marino, as were scenes from many other movies (like Memoirs of a Geisha (film), "The Holiday", Monster-in-Law, Anger Management, The Wedding Planner, Starsky & Hutch (film), Intolerable Cruelty, Beverly Hills Ninja, One Hour Photo, American Wedding, Mystery Men, S1m0ne, Enough, Men in Black II, Charlie's Angels (film), The Sweetest Thing) and TV shows, like Alias, The Office The West Wing (TV series) and Felicity. Recently, the film Disturbia was filmed in San Marino and residents of the area were allowed a sneak preview.
- Intrigued by the recently renovated campus, stellar academic program and wealthy community base, MTV scouted San Marino High School in early 2004 looking to cast students and shoot pilots for three different proposed television show concepts. The school administration agreed to hold a casting call on campus with students during school hours. Producers eventually shot two of the three proposed pilots, only one of which aired. The short-lived "Borrow My Crew" series followed a high school senior around for a few weeks up until Prom Night -- in which singer and actress Jennifer Lopez lent her personal hair dresser, make-up crew, and stylist to make her Prom Night extra special. Celebrity Farnsworth Bentley was her date to the event and later performed on the dance floor with the student body. The third show concept was for a documentary series that would follow a group of wealthy and privileged high school kids as they went about their everyday lives -- intended as a reality spin-off homage to the show Beverly Hills 90210 and in the format of MTV's long-time running The Real World. Producers eventually decided to create the show in Orange County, set amongst a liberal beach town to capitalize on the immense success of FOX Network's new teen-drama sitcom The OC. The concept eventually came to be the first season of the now popular reality television program .
In the Movie "Mask", Rocky Dennis (played by Erik Stoltz) has a girlfriend from San Marino
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