City, Los Angeles County
© McCormack's Guides
Zip Code: 91702
Bedroom city in foothills of San Gabriel Mountains. Name has Indian origin but local residents genially interpret it to mean “everything from A to Z in the USA.” Calls itself “The Canyon City.” www.mccormacks.com
Click for regional or detailed map
Median age of residents is 27. Under 18 years, 31 percent. Over 55 years, 13 percent. Many young families. Population 48,743.
School rankings low to middling. Crime rate fairly low.
A citrus center, Azusa switched to bedroom status during the late 1940s and 1950s when about 3,700 units were built. In each of the following three decades, Azusa built 2,200 to 2,800 housing units. A lot of the old and new.
Developers aimed at the low-middle to middle market, two- and three-bedroom homes, blue-collar workers, veterans starting in the housing market.
Azusa is a well-cared-for town but not a glamour town. With one exception, very little jumps up the scale, even near the golf course. www.mccormacks.com
The exception is housing recently built or going up in San Gabriel Canyon, on the north side (1,250 homes, parks, school).
The state in 2008 counted 13,588 housing units: 6,293 single homes, 1,769 single attached, 4,937 multiples, 589 mobiles.
Education by the Azusa Unified School District. Rankings by school, state comparison, land generally in the 10th to 60th percentile. In 2002 bond passed; 12 schools renovated. Citrus Community College, just over border in Glendora, offers hundreds of classes and activities at low prices. Big plus for both towns. See Schools.
Zero homicides in 2005, three in 2004. Counts for previous years are 3, 5, 3, 2, 1, 1, 1, 4, 3, 2, 4, 1, 2, 5. Azusa has own police department. See Crime.
Aquatic center, recreation center, golf course, driving range, seven parks, tennis and basketball courts. Library. Farmers market. On July Fourth, you can buy fireworks locally and set them off. www.mccormacks.com
A lot of open space. Azusa backs up to the Angeles National Forest. On northeast side, nurseries grow thousands of plants and this contributes to the country feeling. On the northwest side is the floodplain of the San Gabriel River. Section supplies sand and gravel for building. Some complaints about rock quarry in hills.
Foothill Boulevard lined with shops. Costco. City working to revive downtown by mixing housing with businesses.
Interstate 210 crosses town, easy access to connecting freeways. 25 miles to downtown L.A. Short drive to Metrolink (commute rail) station. Light-rail in planning.
Many jobs in nearby cities. Northrop Grumman plant employs about 1,200. Another big name in town: Azusa Pacific University, private institution, enrollment 6,000. www.mccormacks.com
For orientation on cities, towns and neighborhoods of Los Angeles County, see County Overview.
Chamber of commerce (626) 334-1507.
• Cops are cracking down on graffiti. One young man, caught in the act, was sentenced to 80 hours of graffiti removal, fined $781 and had his driver's license suspended for a year.
City web site: www.ci.azusa.ca.us
