City, Los Angeles County
© McCormack's Guides
Zip Codes: 91801, 91802, 91803
Middle-class, bedroom city located about eight miles northeast of downtown L.A. School rankings low-middle to high. Crime rate low. www.mccormacks.com
Population 89,501. Median age of residents is 35. Under 18 years, 22 percent. Over 55 years, 21 percent. Rounded; spread across age groups.
Alhambra started the 1940s with about 6,500 residential units and added 5,000 units in that decade and 5,000 homes and apartments in the 1950s. About 57 percent of the current housing predates 1960, which means, because Alhambra was built for the middle class, thousands of two- and three-bedroom homes.
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Alhambra also has its share of the new and the big but very little leaps up the scale. Apartment units and single homes are about evenly divided. Many of the apartment complexes have been built on deep, narrow lots, a common pattern in L.A. County. In and about the downtown, the bungalows and older homes can be found.
Well-kept city, streets cleaned, lawns watered, some old homes preserved. Many palms, magnolias and maples dapple homes and soften sunlight. East side offers probably the best selection of single homes but these units can be found all over. The west side rises into gentle hills. North side borders two upscale towns: San Marino and South Pasadena.
Main Street rejuvenated: restaurants, movie complex, ice cream parlor, Starbucks. One mall with a Mervyns. www.mccormacks.com
The state in 2010 counted 30,349 housing units: 12,754 single homes, 3,286 single attached, 14,292 multiples, 17 mobiles.
Served by an elementary and a high school district that in 2004 joined and became the Alhambra Unified School District. Overall scores range between the 40th and 80th percentile (with Alhambra High scoring about the 70th percentile) and vary by neighborhood. In recent years, bonds were passed to renovate all schools. See Schools.
One homicide in 2005, two in 2004, five in 2003, two in 2002, three in 2001. Counts for previous years are 4, 4, 8, 3, 4, 3, 3, 3, 7, 8, 3. Alhambra has its own police department. See Crime.
Golf course, five parks. Annual 8K run. Farmers’ market. Large library. Three swimming pools, two gyms. Seniors center. Many activities for kids and adults. Large movie complex. Alhambra borders a Cal State University, which offers classes open to public.
Large public works complex. Court house complex. Hospital. Buses. Many local jobs. www.mccormacks.com
Two freeways, Interstates 710 and 10, about 10 parkways or wide arterials.
The local jobs, the freeways, the arterials, the buses and especially the proximity to downtown Los Angeles make Alhambra a good commute city.
Chamber of commerce: (626) 282-8481.
For orientation on cities, towns and neighborhoods of Los Angeles County, see County Overview.
City web site: www.cityofalhambra.org
