Monterey Park, California: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Monterey Park is a city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 60,051.

With a relatively large Chinese American population, Monterey Park is considered as a "Chinatown" which would be, without signs leading to it, indistinguishable to "American" neighborhoods. However, it has not been called Chinatown as such; instead, the Chinese-dominant business district, around Garfield Avenue and Garvey Avenue, is now called Downtown Monterey Park.

In the 1970s and 1980s, many Taiwanese immigrants began moving into Monterey Park and Mandarin Chinese was dominant in the city during that time period. By the late 1980s, however, immigrants from Mainland China and Vietnam have moved into Monterey Park as well. The Taiwanese are no longer dominant in the city and Cantonese Chinese is now widely spoken and heard in most Chinese businesses of Monterey Park.

Other large nearby Chinese American population centers and vibrant business districts include Alhambra, San Gabriel, and Rosemead.

Geography and Location

Aerial map

Geography

Monterey Park is located at 34°2'57" North, 118°8'8" West (34.049199, -118.135561)¹.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.9 km² (7.7 mi²). 19.8 km² (7.6 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.39% water.

As of the census of 2000, there are 60,051 people, 19,564 households, and 15,240 families residing in the city. The population density is 3,038.8/km² (7,869.5/mi²). There are 20,209 housing units at an average density of 1,022.6/km² (2,648.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 21.29% White, 0.38% African American, 0.65% Native American, 61.82% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 12.45% from other races, and 3.35% from two or more races. 28.91% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 19,564 households out of which 31.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% are married couples living together, 15.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 22.1% are non-families. 17.3% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.06 and the average family size is 3.43.

In the city the population is spread out with 21.3% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 89.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $40,724, and the median income for a family is $43,507. Males have a median income of $32,463 versus $29,057 for females. The per capita income for the city is $17,661. 15.6% of the population and 12.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 22.6% are under the age of 18 and 9.2% are 65 or older.