kids encyclopedia robot

Claremont, California facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Claremont
City of Claremont
Claremont Verbal Building
The Carnegie Library, a neoclassical structure
Bridges Hall of Music, a Spanish Renaissance structure clad with stucco
Bell tower of the Vivian Webb Chapel
Mission Revival–style courtyard at Scripps College
Stanley Academic Quadrangle at Pomona College
Clockwise from top: Verbal Building in the Claremont Village; Bridges Hall of Music at Pomona College; Scripps College; Pomona's academic quad; The Webb Schools; Pomona's Carnegie Library
Nickname(s): 
City of Trees and PhDs
Location of Claremont in Los Angeles County, California
Location of Claremont in Los Angeles County, California
Claremont is located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Claremont
Claremont
Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Claremont is located in California
Claremont
Claremont
Location in California
Claremont is located in the United States
Claremont
Claremont
Location in the United States
Country  United States
State  California
County Los Angeles
Incorporated October 3, 1907
Government
 • Type Council–manager
Area
 • Total 13.47 sq mi (34.89 km2)
 • Land 13.34 sq mi (34.54 km2)
 • Water 0.14 sq mi (0.35 km2)  1.03%
Elevation
1,168 ft (356 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 37,266
 • Density 2,794.60/sq mi (1,079.01/km2)
Time zone UTC-8 (PST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
91711
Area code 909
FIPS code 06-13756
GNIS feature IDs 1652685, 2409465
Commuter rail Claremont Metrolink icon.svg

Claremont is a suburban city on the eastern edge of Los Angeles County, California, United States, 30 miles (48 km) east of downtown Los Angeles. It is in the Pomona Valley, at the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 34,926, and in 2019 the estimated population was 36,266.

Claremont is home to the Claremont Colleges and other educational institutions, and the city is known for its tree-lined streets with numerous historic buildings. Because of this, it is sometimes referred to as "The City of Trees and Ph.Ds." In July 2007, it was rated by CNN/Money magazine as the fifth best place to live in the United States, and was the highest rated place in California on the list. It was also named the best suburb in the West by Sunset Magazine in 2016, which described it as a "small city that blends worldly sophistication with small-town appeal." In 2018, Niche rated Claremont as the 17th best place to live in the Los Angeles area out of 658 communities it evaluated, based on crime, cost of living, job opportunities, and local amenities.

The city is primarily residential, with a significant portion of its commercial activity located in "The Village," a popular collection of street-front small stores, boutiques, art galleries, offices, and restaurants adjacent to and west of the Claremont Colleges. The Village was expanded in 2007, adding a controversial multi-use development that includes an indie cinema, a boutique hotel, retail space, offices, and a parking structure on the site of an old citrus packing plant west of Indian Hill Boulevard.

Claremont has been a winner of the National Arbor Day Association's Tree City USA award for 22 consecutive years. When the city incorporated in 1907, local citizens started what has become the city's tree-planting tradition. Claremont is one of the few remaining places in North America with American Elm trees that have not been exposed to Dutch elm disease. The stately trees line Indian Hill Boulevard in the vicinity of the city's Memorial Park.

The city hosts several large retirement communities, among them Pilgrim Place, the Claremont Manor and Mt. San Antonio Gardens.

History

The citrus groves and open space which once dominated the northern portion of the city have been replaced by residential developments of large homes. Construction of Stone Canyon Preserve, one of the final residential tract developments in the north of the city, commenced in 2003 as part of a complicated agreement between Pomona College and the City of Claremont which resulted in the creation of the 1,740-acre (7.0 km2) Wilderness Park. The northern, foothill area also includes the Padua Hills Theatre, a historic site constructed in 1930.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.35 square miles (34.6 km2), of which 13.3 square miles (34 km2) is land and 0.05 square miles (0.13 km2) (1.03%) is water. Claremont is located at the eastern end of Los Angeles County and borders the cities of Upland and Montclair in San Bernardino County, as well as the cities of Pomona and La Verne in Los Angeles County. Its geographic location puts it well within the region known as the San Gabriel Valley. Claremont is approximately 24 miles (39 km) east of Pasadena and 30 miles (48 km) east of downtown Los Angeles.

Climate

Claremont has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csa). In the summer months, temperatures can rise into the triple digits. In the autumn months, Claremont can receive gusty winds known as the "Santa Ana Winds", which can bring fire danger to nearby foothills. In the winter, most of its annual rainfall occurs. Snow is rare but can often be viewed in the nearby San Gabriel Mountains. In early summer, Claremont can receive overcast weather due to its strong onshore flow from the ocean known as "May Gray" or "June Gloom".

Climate data for Claremont, California
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 68
(20)
69
(21)
71
(22)
72
(22)
74
(23)
79
(26)
88
(31)
92
(33)
89
(32)
80
(27)
74
(23)
68
(20)
77.0
(25.0)
Average low °F (°C) 39
(4)
42
(6)
45
(7)
48
(9)
51
(11)
55
(13)
61
(16)
62
(17)
61
(16)
55
(13)
47
(8)
42
(6)
50.7
(10.4)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 4.11
(104)
4.76
(121)
2.63
(67)
1.20
(30)
0.23
(5.8)
0.12
(3.0)
0.06
(1.5)
0.03
(0.76)
0.15
(3.8)
1.05
(27)
1.62
(41)
2.45
(62)
18.41
(466.86)

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1930 2,719
1940 3,057 12.4%
1950 6,327 107.0%
1960 12,633 99.7%
1970 24,776 96.1%
1980 31,028 25.2%
1990 32,503 4.8%
2000 33,998 4.6%
2010 34,926 2.7%
2020 37,266 6.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010

The 2010 United States Census reported that Claremont had a population of 34,926. The population density was 2,589.7 people per square mile (999.9/km2). The racial makeup of Claremont was 24,666 (70.6%) White (58.9% Non-Hispanic White), 1,651 (4.7%) African American, 172 (0.5%) Native American, 4,564 (13.1%) Asian, 38 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 2,015 (5.8%) from other races, and 1,820 (5.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6,919 persons (19.8%).

The Census reported that 29,802 people (85.3% of the population) lived in households, 4,926 (14.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 198 (0.6%) were institutionalized.

There were 11,608 households, out of which 3,576 (30.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 6,305 (54.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,223 (10.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 397 (3.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 429 (3.7%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 138 (1.2%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 2,957 households (25.5%) were made up of individuals, and 1,556 (13.4%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57. There were 7,925 families (68.3% of all households); the average family size was 3.10.

The population was spread out, with 6,459 people (18.5%) under the age of 18, 6,778 people (19.4%) aged 18 to 24, 6,940 people (19.9%) aged 25 to 44, 8,979 people (25.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 5,770 people (16.5%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.

There were 12,156 housing units at an average density of 901.3 per square mile (348.0/km2), of which 7,700 (66.3%) were owner-occupied, and 3,908 (33.7%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.5%. 21,209 people (60.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 8,593 people (24.6%) lived in rental housing units.

During 2009–13, Claremont had a median household income of $87,324, with 7.2% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2000

As of the census of 2000, there were 33,998 people, 11,281 households, and 7,806 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,586.6 inhabitants per square mile (999.0/km2). There were 11,559 housing units at an average density of 879.4 per square mile (339.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 73.48% White, 15.36% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race, 11.51% Asian, 4.98% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 5.20% from other races, and 4.14% from two or more races.

31.3% of households included children under the age of 18. 55.7% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.08.

The population was widely distributed in age, with 20.7% under the age of 18, 18.6% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.1 males.

According to a 2009 estimate, the median household income was $83,342 and the median family income was $107,287. The per capita income for the city was $39,648. About 3.5% of families and 5.4% of individuals were below the poverty line.

Points of interest

  • John R. Rodman Arboretum
  • The Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden contains a very large and diverse collection of California native plants, and is open daily for self-guided walking tours.
  • Padua Hills Theatre
  • The Claremont Colleges
  • Folk Music Center Museum
  • Ophelia's Jump Theater

Arts and culture

Each year, Claremont holds a springtime folk music festival, hosted by the Folk Music Center Store and Museum. The 34th event is set to take place in May 2017.

Local museums include Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology, which is America's only paleontology museum located on a high school campus.

Each July, Ophelia's Jump Productions presents their annual Midsummer Shakespeare Festival at The Sontag Outdoor Theatre in Pomona College. Productions are performed in repertory with local community and civic events and festivities.

Animal control

The Inland Valley Humane Society provides animal control services for the city of Claremont.

Economy

Verbal Building, Claremont, California
The Verbal Building in the Claremont Village, used today as a restaurant

Top employers

According to the city's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

# Employer # of Employees
1 Claremont Colleges 3,000
2 Claremont Unified School District 750
3 HiRel Connectors 300
4 City of Claremont 259
5 Claremont Auto Center 240
6 Claremont Manor 230
7 Technip Energies 205
8 Pilgrim Place 180
9 Indian Hill Nursing 124
10 The Webb Schools 119

Education

Public schools

Claremont's school district is known as the Claremont Unified School District (CUSD). It has seven elementary schools, one intermediate school, and two high schools, Claremont High School (CHS) and San Antonio High School.

Private schools (non-tertiary)

The other high school in Claremont is The Webb Schools, a collective name for two private college preparatory schools for grades 9-12, founded by Thompson Webb in 1922. The two schools, officially the Webb School of California (boys' school) and the Vivian Webb School (girls' school), share the same campus in northwest Claremont. The Webb Schools is also home to the Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology, America's only accredited museum located on a high school campus.

Post secondary

Private educational institutions host approximately 6,500 students every year from across the country and around the world. The Claremont Colleges, a consortium of seven schools of higher education, include five undergraduate institutions—Pomona College (founded in 1887), Scripps College (1926), Claremont McKenna College (1946), Harvey Mudd College (1955), and Pitzer College (1963)—and two graduate institutions—Claremont Graduate University (1925) and the Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences (1997). Many of these schools are consistently rated among the best in the nation.

Just north of Foothill Boulevard is the college-owned Robert J. Bernard Field Station, which preserves natural coastal sage scrub on its property. The Claremont School of Theology and Claremont Lincoln University, two other schools of higher education, share some resources with the Claremont Colleges, but are separate entities.

Infrastructure

ClaremontStation
Former train depot, now an art museum

Transportation

Commuter train service to Claremont is provided by Metrolink from the Claremont Metrolink Station. The station is on the San Bernardino Line, with trains traveling to Los Angeles Union Station (west) and San Bernardino – Downtown (east) 19 times on weekdays (20 on Fridays), 10 times on Saturdays, and seven times on Sundays. Claremont's train station is known as the Claremont Depot.

Claremont will also connect with the Metro Gold Line once the Gold Line Foothill Extension is complete in 2026. This extension will also provide service to L.A. Union Station via Pasadena.

FlixBus utilizes a stop adjacent to the Claremont Metrolink Station.

The local transit bus service Foothill Transit covers Claremont and several other cities in the eastern San Gabriel Valley.

Notable people

  • Jessica Alba – actress
  • Matthew Arias – musician and film editor
  • Tony Beltran – soccer player
  • Arthur T. Benjamin – mathematician
  • Amanda Blake – actress
  • Buckethead – musician
  • Robert Buckley – actor
  • Kori Carter – hurdler
  • John B. Cobb – theologian, philosopher, and environmentalist
  • Ray Collins – musician
  • John Darnielle – musician and novelist
  • Glenn Davis – football player
  • David Dreier – former member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1981–2013) and chairman of the House Rules Committee (1999–2007, 2011–2013)
  • Peter F. Drucker – management consultant, educator and author
  • Bob Earl – racing driver
  • B. H. Fairchild – poet and college professor
  • Justin Germano – baseball pitcher
  • Elliot Graham – film editor and producer
  • Ben Harper – musician and humanitarian
  • Alex Hinshaw – baseball pitcher
  • Anastasia Horne – actress and singer
  • Raja Kumari – rapper
  • Maud Hart Lovelace – author
  • Dileep Rao – actor
  • Millard Sheets - artist and designer
  • Paul Soldner – artist
  • Noah Song – professional baseball pitcher
  • Ruth Suckow – author
  • David Foster Wallace – author and professor
  • Carleton H. Wright – United States Navy admiral
  • Frank Zappa – musician

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Claremont (California) para niños

kids search engine
Claremont, California Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.