City, Los Angeles County
© McCormack's Guides
Zip Code: 91765
Middle-class to well-to-do community built over hills, mesas and valleys. Located in east county on border of San Bernardino County. Population 60,360. School scores high. www.mccormacks.com
Median age of residents is 37. Under 18 years, 27 percent. Over 55 years, 17 percent. Family town with older parents.
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About 80 percent of the town was built in the last 30-40 years. Diamond Bar looks new because its oldest homes are not that old and it has been adding thousands of housing units every decade.
City got start in 1956 when a developer purchased 8,000 acres of the Diamond Bar Ranch and laid out a “master plan” for community. All California cities are “planned,” even those built during the gold rush. Many of the older cities, however, were developed piecemeal and had as their center the railroad depot.
Master-plan cities recognize the importance of the freeway and try to do an intelligent job, in a unified way, of mixing homes, roads and businesses.
In its northern sector, Diamond Bar has erected middle-class homes and condos. Many are positioned for views. On the east side of town, south of Grand Avenue, executive homes hide behind security gates. Some of these homes are gorgeous affairs that run along the ridgelines and command great views. www.mccormacks.com
West of Diamond Bar Boulevard, most of the housing runs to middle-class plus, all in good shape. On the west side of town, an older subdivision will be found, along with a mobile home park. Horse trails. Sidewalk verges and median strips planted with trees.
State in 2008 counted 18,380 housing units: 12,937 single homes, 2,531 single attached, 2,579 multiples, 333 mobiles.
Walnut Valley School District. Many schools score in 80th and 90th percentiles. Voters in 2000 approved a $50 million renovation bond. Some neighborhoods are in Pomona District where scores vary widely but the schools in the Diamond Bar section are scoring in the 80th and 90th percentiles. See Schools.
Teens attend Diamond Ranch High School in the Pomona district and Diamond Bar High in the Walnut Valley district. Both score in the 90th percentile.
Pomona district in 1998 passed a bond to renovate schools. www.mccormacks.com
Cal Poly (state university) and community college are located nearby.
Diamond Bar has its own jobs, including a large insurance complex, and it borders City of Industry, a major job center. Also many jobs around Ontario Airport, in San Bernardino County.
For east L.A. County, Ontario Airport, not LAX, is the shorter drive. Diamond Bar and other east county cities are fairly good commutes to many cities in central Orange County.
Highways 57 and 60 split the town. About 31 miles to downtown L.A. Park-and-ride lots. Metrolink (commute rail) station on the north side.
Two homicides in 2005, one each in 2004 and 2003, two in 2002, one in 2001, zero in 2000, 1999 and 1998. The counts for previous years are 3, 2, 2, 1, 2, 0, 3, 4. See Crime.
One golf course, another nearby. Six community parks. Regional park. Skate park. City recreation programs include bowling, fitness, horseback riding, tennis, kids music, ballet. Summer concerts. Seniors center. Many activities for all ages, especially in summer when city offers academic and sports camps for kids. Good town for dancing. The community center has a ballroom. www.mccormacks.com
For orientation on cities, towns and neighborhoods of Los Angeles County, see County Overview.
Chamber of commerce (909) 860-1904.
City web site: www.ci.diamond-bar.ca.us
