La Crescenta-Montrose is a census-designated place (CDP) and an unincorporated area in Los Angeles County, California, encompassing those parts of the Crescenta Valley not in the cities of Glendale or La Cañada Flintridge. However, both the unincorporated area and the portion of incorporated Glendale north of Montrose are collectively called La Crescenta. It is bordered on the north by the Angeles National Forest, on the east by La Cañada Flintridge, on the south by Glendale, and the northwest by Tujunga. The Foothill Freeway runs through the southern portion of the area. The population was 18,532 at the 2000 census. Auto racer Elliott Forbes-Robinson is from the area. Noted burlesque queen, dancer and actress, Virginia Bell, whose 48-inch (1,200 mm) bust was legendary during the 50s and 60s, was born in Montrose in 1932.
Geography
La Crescenta-Montrose is located at 34°13′30″N 118°14′13″W / 34.224954°N 118.236845°W / 34.224954; -118.236845.[1] According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.9 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 18,532 people, 6,945 households, and 4,944 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 5,407.0 people per square mile (2,086.1/km²). There were 7,108 housing units at an average density of 2,073.9/sq mi (800.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 72.93% White, 0.52% African American, 0.36% Native American, 18.68% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.69% from other races, and 4.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.91% of the population.
La Crescenta-Montrose from the air, looking North
There were 6,945 households out of which 37.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $60,089, and the median income for a family was $69,381. Males had a median income of $60,027 versus $38,532 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $30,196. About 3.9% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.
Schools
Schools in La Crescenta-Montrose are a part of the Glendale Unified School District.
Elementary Schools
Middle Schools
- Rosemont Middle School- California Distinguished School
High Schools
Independent Study
- Verdugo Academy (K-12)
- Village Christian School (K-12)
Private
Politics
In the state legislature La Crescenta-Montrose is located in the 29th Senate District, represented by Republican Bob Huff, and in the 38th and 59th Assembly Districts, represented by Republicans Cameron Smyth and Anthony Adams respectively. Federally, La Crescenta-Montrose is located in California's 26th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R +4[5] and is represented by Republican David Dreier.
History
On New Year's Eve 1933, the Pickens Canyon flood and mud slide picked up speed and fury, engulfing much of Montrose. Those who survived described a deafening roar, trembling buildings and giant boulders skimming across the mud. The Montrose flood took at least 45 lives, and destroyed about 100 homes. It eventually prompted the building of an elaborate system of giant debris-trapping catch basins and other flood-control strategies that have greatly reduced the odds of another mudslide.
To honor the victims of that New Year's calamity and to mark its 75th anniversary, members of the historical society organized a remembrance ceremony on New Year's Day at a small monument built five years ago at Rosemont and Fairway Avenues, near where a doomed legion hall had stood.
Crescenta Valley Town Council
The Crescenta Valley Town Council has twelve councilmembers; President Steve Pierce, Vice President Frank Beyt, Treasurer Dennis van Bremen, Corresponding Secretary Liz Arnold, Recording Secretary Cheryl Davis, Councilmember Robert Thomas, Councilmember Grace Andrus, Councilmember Steve Goldworthy, Councilmember Danette Erickson, First Alternate Charles Beatty, Second Alternate Robbyn Battles, Third Alternate Joyce Lauterback.
The Town Council meets on the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m.
Media
La Crescenta is served by two newspapers: The Crescenta Valley Weekly; Publisher Robin Goldsworthy, distributed on Thursdays to La Crescenta and Montrose in addition to parts of Glendale, La Cañada and Tujunga and The Glendale News-Press which is a daily newspaper that covers the Glendale, La Crescenta and Montrose areas. It publishes Monday through Saturday to an estimated 73,000 readership. It has the largest circulation of any local publication.
Crescenta Valley Water District
The Cresenta Valley Water District provides dependable water service and wastewater collection to its constituents in La Crescenta, Montrose, and portions of Glendale, and La Canada Flintridge. The District places special emphasis on delivering a high quality water supply and system reliability at the most reasonable cost to its ratepayers. The District endeavors to promote conservation of its resources and to perform all operations in the most efficient manner to meet the needs of the community.
The Crescenta Valley Water District was formed as the Crescenta Valley County Water District on December 14, 1950 by the vote of local residents. Organized under the provisions of Division 12 of the State of California Water Code, the District operates as a political subdivision of the State. The term "County" was officially deleted from the District's name in 1996.
The District serves an area of approximately 4 square miles in relatively steep terrain ranging from 1200 feet to almost 3000 feet above sea level. The customer base is primarily residential with some light commercial along Foothill Boulevard in La Crescenta and Honolulu Avenue in Montrose. The District currently provides water to over 8000 accounts representing a population of approximately 32,000. Customer growth is steady although the Crescenta Valley area is nearly built-out. Residential growth is occurring through increased housing density in the multiple-unit zoned areas (primarily Montrose) as well as limited in-fill housing development on random parcels in La Crescenta.
La Crescenta has many clubs, religious and social organizations:
- Crescenta-Cañada Lions Club
- Valley Rotary Club
- La Crescenta Women's Club Juniors
- La Crescenta Woman's Club
- Montrose-La Crescenta Kiwanis Club
- Historical Society Of The Crescenta Valley
- The Crescenta Valley Arts Council
- Boy Scouts of America Verdugo Hills Council
- Crescenta Sports Association
- Crescenta-Canada Family YMCA
- Foothills Republican Club
- Canada Crescenta Democratic Club
- La Crescenta Presbytarian Church
- St. Luke's Anglican Church
- First Baptist Church
- Unity Church Of The Valley
- St. James Catholic Church
- La Crescenta Community Church
- Ananda Ashrama
- Crescenta Valley Community Association
- Friends of the La Crescenta Library
- La Crescenta Valley Republican Women Federation
- Women's Council of Verdugo Hills Hospital & Foundation
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Crescenta Valley Sheriff Station Volunteers
- American Red Cross Glendale - Crescenta Valley Chapter
- Crescenta Valley Soccer Club
- Crescenta Valley Educational Endowment Fund
- Crescenta Valley High School Visual and Performing Arts Program
- Cresenta Valley High School Falcon Choir
- Crescenta Valley PTSA
- Prom Plus Crescrenta Valley High School
- K-Kids of Community Center of La Canada
- GUSD Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program
Points Of Historical Interest
St. Luke's of the Mountains Episcopal Church was designed and built by the famous artist Seymour Thomas in 1924. Constructed of natural stone from the valley, it is reminiscent of a woodlands church in northern Europe. It is considered to be the architectural centerpiece of the valley. St. Luke's is located at 2563 Foothill Blvd.
Le Mesnager Barn is a stone barn perched high above the valley, built in 1911 by George Le Mesnager, a French patriot, to store and process grapes from his grapes from his vineyards in the Sparr Heights area. These grapes supplied his "Old Hermatage Vinyards" winery in downtown Los Angeles. There is still a Mesnager Street in the downtown area where the winery had been located. It is owned by the City of Glendale, which plans to restore it as an educational nature/history center. Le Mesnager Barn is located in Deukmejian Wilderness Park at the top of Dunsmore Ave.
The La Crescenta Woman's Club began in 1911, incorporated in 1923, and built this beautiful clubhouse in 1925. This structure has been the social center of the valley for most of the last century, and is the home for the organization's many charitable and social events. The La Crescenta Woman's Club is located at 4004 La Crescenta Avenue.
Sparr Heights Community Center was originally built in 1930 as the real estate office for the Sparr Heights residential tract, then named Oakmont Park. It was later donated to the residents of the area, and has been a community hall and senior center since then. Sparr Heights Community Center is located at 1613 Glencoe Avenue.
La Crescenta Elementary School was built in 1887 at the corner of Foothill and Dyer, but soon moved to a new location at La Crescenta and Prospect. A wooden schoolhouse was built on this site in 1890. A larger school building replaced it in 1914, and the present structure was erected in 1948.
The Old School Bell: La Crescenta's school bell first rang students to school from across the valley in 1890. It was placed in storage from 1948 until 1976, when it was re-hung and dedicated with a plaque listing the names of the kids in the first class at La Crescenta Elementary. The bell is now rung once a year in June by the graduating students. The Bell is located in front of La Crescenta Elementary School.
La Crescenta Presbytarian Church is a striking church building constructed in 1923. This is one of the oldest congregations in the valley, first meeting in the 1880s. In the congregation's early years they shared facilities with the elementary school, as did the Episcopals that later built St. Luke's. La Crescenta Presbytarian Church is located at 2902 Montrose Avenue.
Notable Local Events
APRIL: The Annual Neighborhood Food and Clothing Drive takes place in April. Residents of La Canada, La Crescenta, Montrose, Tujunga and surrounding areas donate non-perishable foods and clothing to Plan-Spec Construction who collects and takes the donations to the Midnight Mission, one of the oldest continuously operating human services organizations in the Los Angeles region. Centered in the Skid Row area of downtown Los Angeles, the Mission runs one of the most efficient direct service operations in the country. Donations are dropped throughout the month of April at 4545 Briggs Avenue, La Crescenta.
JUNE: The Annual Montrose Arts & Crafts Festival in June is now in its 26th year with over 425 fine artists, craftsmen, food vendors, California Certified farmers, musicians and entertainers all making their way to Montrose on festival weekend from as far away as Arizona and New Mexico.
JULY: The Annual Crescenta Valley Fireworks and Carnival is orchestrated by the Crescenta Valley Fireworks Association, Robert Hutchins, Fireworks America and Chuck Hughes NBC Special Effects pyrotechnic.
SEPTEMBER: The La Canada Flintridge Wine and Gourmet Food Tasting in Memorial Park in September. The event was established in 2002 and is well attended by over 800 people. It offers hundreds of wines and features gourmet food from local restaurants. It is a fundraiser for Verdugo Hills Hospital, Kiwanis of La Canada and The LCF Educational Endowment Foundation, as well as a major community event.
OCTOBER: The Annual Ocktoberfest is the premier family festival in the Foothill community. There is something for everyone in the family with German bands playing for dancing, game booths, carnival rides, a continuous Bingo game, a nonstop variety show featuring local and professional amateur talent, a contest for Best dressed dogs and best Bavarian costumes, plus authentic German bratwurst, sauerkraut, strudel, hot dogs, soft drinks, coffee, beer, and carnival type snacks.
OCTOBER: La Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station Annual Rummage Sale takes place in October. Proceeds from the annual rummage sale provide funds for the various volunteers programs, assist with the Holiday Toy and Food Drive for needy families, and also allow purchases of items for the station to assist sworn personnel in their work of protecting and serving the citizens in La Cañada Flintridge and other communities served by the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station.
NOVEMBER: The Annual Old Town Christmas offers Free Horse Drawn Trolley Rides and Free Pony Rides on Saturdays & Sundays from the day after Thanksgiving through Christmas Eve.
DECEMBER: The Annual Montrose Christmas Parade conceived in 1976 is a family-focused parade, with more than 150 community service and youth groups, drill teams and bands from the surrounding cities participating in the parade each year. The event is well attended by community members, State Senators, Assemblymen, Councilmen and local government. There is a fly-by with Santa Claus in one of Glendale's finest Police helicopters.
WEEKLY: The Montrose Harvest Market located in Historic Downtown Montrose is traditional in style, serving the best produce and flowers from certified Southern California growers, Antiques, Collectibles, Artisans and an Interactive Children's Area. Open every Sunday weather permitting.
External links
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/sr/cs/disting2008.asp
- ^ http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/sr/cs/disting2008.asp
- ^ "Will Gerrymandered Districts Stem the Wave of Voter Unrest?". Campaign Legal Center Blog. http://www.clcblog.org/blog_item-85.html. Retrieved 2008-02-10.
