This historical description of the City of Industry is derived from newspaper clippings, personal accounts and photos from commercial, aerial, government, and community photographers.
The City of Industry archives begin before the 1957 date of incorporation. The transformation of the area and its' relationship to the metropolis of Los Angeles is what provided the impetus for the unique concept of the City. The archives depict the accomplishments as well as the struggles that are common only to a city of uncommon dynamics.
Note: All City of Industry photographs are protected by international copyright and are the exclusive property of the City of Industry. These images are not free and are not clip art. They should not be downloaded for any reason. For reproduction rights, please contact the City Archives department at the Industry Manufacturers Council.
626 968-3737.
FORMATION AND INCORPORATION
In the 1950's, the area of the San Gabriel Valley , including what is now the City of Industry, was predominantly rural. Hay, cattle, vineyards, citrus and walnut groves were among the agricultural mainstays of the region. The Southern Pacific Railroad had been in the valley since 1872 and was followed by the Union Pacific Railroad, as well as the Santa Fe line.
With the vast urbanization of the Los Angeles area, resident communities were moving east to the San Gabriel Valley. Mr. Milton Breivogel of the Los Angeles County Regional Planning Commission addressed some of the local residents at one of their monthly property owners meeting. He reported that along with the rise in residential subdivision, industrial expansion into the area was being proposed by The Commission, as there was no other alternative for Los Angeles to expand. Mr. Breivogel pointed-out that there was the possibility of the population increasing to one million residents in the area by 1980.
Upon hearing this news, some local residents considered forming their own municipality that would allow the local population to determine how this industrial expansion would be planned and managed. The recession-scarred farmers of the area also realized that industrial zoned property would be of more value than the residential zoning which was so prevalent in their community during the housing boom of the 1950's.
Among the local residents confronted with the changing landscape was James Stafford, himself, a member of the Los Angeles Regional Planning Commission. He was the lead figure in the planning and execution of the City's incorporation. Stafford is the person who presented the idea to the local farmers and businessmen of the community. With the inroads he possessed through the County, he had the necessary resources to convince the property owners of the viability of incorporation.
When the boundaries for the proposed city were drawn-up they enveloped an area of about five square miles in a long, narrow strip basically between the Union Pacific and Southern Pacific Railroads, and on the west from the city of El Monte to the county area of Walnut on the east side. This area was largely undeveloped and home to a little over 600 residents and was valued at approximately 2 million dollars.The newly-formed city of La Puente, which lies to the north of Industry, had mounted opposition to the incorporation, hoping that it would annex some of the territory included within Industry's boundaries.
On December 4, 1956 the residents within the proposed city voted 115 to 22 for incorporation. A five member council was elected from a ballot of six candidates along with the position of City Clerk and Treasurer .
The incorporation was challenged on a technicality by two property owners, which delayed the certification of the incorporation and elections. The courts eventually ruled in favor of the City of Industry, the election results were certified by the County Supervisors and ratified by the Secretary of State on June 18, 1957. The council from the city of La Puente congratulated the Industry council and vowed cooperation in the two municipalities future endeavors. And so, with the purpose of providing a haven for business, the City of Industry became the County of Los Angeles' 54th city.
IMMEDIATE GROWTH
Two days after the new city's incorporation, a hastily called organizational meeting took place in a small room of Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company. This meeting was used to setup a city manager style of government, contract with the county for services, adopt a resolution setting the entire city under M-1 1/2 (restricted heavy manufacturing) zoning and hiring Robert S. Rope as city manager.
Within the first five years of the City of Industry's existence, (according to the Stanford Research Institute's study ) the number of industrial firms quadrupled, the number of jobs nearly tripled and the total payroll in the City of Industry nearly tripled as well. The study cites the proximity of the city to the businesses markets, as well as the availability and low cost of land as the primary conditions for businesses locating within the city limits. Through annexations, the City doubled its' size in those five years. The study projected growth to continue (except in total area) in this manner through 1970.
The City of Industry In The 1960’s
Companies In Industry
Many companies that relocated in the City of Industry during the 1960’s came from Los Angeles and other surrounding cities that did not have the area for expanding businesses. The City of Industry, with only a small fraction of its’ approximately 10 square miles developed, could accommodate these large and expanding firms looking for more space.
Mattel Toys , which manufactured 40% of the toys in the country at that time, built 6 acres of manufacturing buildings in the City during 1963/64. In 1964, Reuland Electric moved from Alhambra, California to a new 10-acre facility in Industry for their electric motor manufacturing and headquarters.
In 1963 DuBois Chemical consolidated two of its’ plants into one 75,000 square foot operation in the City. In 1967 Challenge-Cook Bros., Inc. combined three of their operations (in Los Angeles) into one 27-acre headquarters and manufacturing facility in the City of Industry. At the time they were the largest manufacturer of construction equipment in the west. In late 1967 Walter Carpet Mills built their 200,000 square foot, $3 million carpet mill on 10 acres in Industry, billed as the largest carpet manufacturing operation west of the Mississippi.
The increase of industrial businesses boomed during the 1960’s and only in a small degree did the commercial retailer take hold. However, one of those that did locate in the City was the retail giant, Kmart . Still operating (at the time of this writing) over 30 years later at the same location.
By the end of 1969, there were over 260 businesses in the City of Industry. Not all were large manufacturers, however, many were expanding businesses growing with the demand of the economy and the availability of land within the City. These businesses employed about 27,000 people, most of which were believed to be residing within 15 miles of the City. The combined payroll being generated in the City of Industry was over $200 million by the end of the decade.
Roads and Rails
Being largely unimproved, the City of Industry had great needs for infrastructure during this period of time. Construction of new streets and enhancements of existing roadways to accommodate the new factories and heavy traffic associated with their operations were among the greatest needs of the City. Construction of an extensive storm drain system was started in order to carry runoff from the newly paved acres that had taken the place of farmed and fallow land.
With the increase in traffic, previously untended rural railroad crossings were either fitted with crossing gates or closed in favor of improved crossings nearby. Train traffic also increased with many of the new factories being situated alongside the railway lines for easy shipping to all points.
Appropriations of funds from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to the San Gabriel Valley during the mid 1960’s for road projects averaged about $50 million per year. As the factories were springing up in Industry, so were housing projects in the surrounding communities of La Puente, West Covina, Walnut, Rowland Heights, Hacienda Heights and El Monte. A major four lane road project named Route 1274 was constructed as a 58 mile link between Huntington Beach in the south and the Antelope Valley to the north. The City of Industry was one of the 13 cities the route weaved through in an effort to facilitate north/south travel in an area with (at that time) a limited freeway system. The freeway’s that did exist were still making there way east and north out of Los Angeles and the port of Long Beach. In 1967 the Pomona Freeway made it to the City of Industry, roughly running along the southern boundary of the City.
Population, Zoning and Services
From 1960 to 1965 the population in the San Gabriel Valley increased by more than 31 percent. It was a rate of 30,000 new residents per year. By this time the Upper San Gabriel Valley Metropolitan Water District was purchasing water from the Colorado River to replenish the local groundwater supply for the increasingly thirsty valley.
In 1961, the City Council adopted the City’s first zoning ordinance to keep the robust building organized and controlled. The zones provided were Commercial, Manufacturing, Manufacturing-Agricultural, and Manufacturing-Public Buildings. Along with the zone descriptions the ordinance provided for a five-member Planning Commission . The first Commissioners appointed by the Council were Stephen Borgogno, Glenn Adams, Al Benton, Jean Iriart and Earl Van Atta.
With the addition of the Los Angeles County Fire Station #43 in 1963 and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Substation in 1964, the City of Industry had the foundation and infrastructure for the vigorous growth it would continue to experience in the coming years.
The City of Industry In The1970’s
Organization Of The IUDA
In 1971, the Industry Urban Development Agency was formed by the City to purchase blighted property within the city boundaries and oversee development of those properties. Among the responsibilities of the "Agency", was to foster projects within project areas such as business parks, recreation and historical centers, civic center and public works improvements.
This step, accompanied with the aforementioned Planning Commission and General Plan, laid the groundwork for the organized development of the vast acreage once used for farming and ranching.
Keeping Up With Development
While the bulk of the annexations had been completed in the previous decade, there was one in 1970 that played a large role in forming a new commercial component to the Citys’ character. It was the nclusion of twenty acres near the newly built Pomona Freeway. That acreage along with an existing seventy acre parcel was developed into the Puente Hills Mall which opened in 1974, and the Puente Hills East Commercial Center.
As the entire Los Angeles County area grew, the need for waste disposal became a major concern. In April of 1970 the County Sanitation District unveiled a plan for the areas disposal needs. This included the development of a former dairy into a acre landfill, at Industry’s western end. The Industry Urban Development Agency paid for the construction of Los Angeles County Fire Station #118 in 1975 to support the increased construction of the eastern portion of the City.
Historical
Not all energies were used in the development of modern industrial facilities and infrastructure. The city councils during this period were also dedicated to preserving the rich history of the valley with the purchase of the Workman and Temple Family Homestead and restoring the site to accurately reflect the setting of the pre-Industry era. In 1974, the County Board of Supervisors officially designated three areas within the sight as points of historical interest .
On June 18, 1977 the City of Industry celebrated its’ 20th anniversary by dedicating a new City Hall along with the adjacent Sotro Street. County and state representatives were in attendance at the event. District Attorney John Van de Kamp presided over the ceremonies.
By the end of the decade, the next century was coming into view and the projection for the East San Gabriel Valley was that of a major role player in the growing county of Los Angeles. Both population and employment were expected to increase above all other areas of the county.
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