Glendora’s history began in 1874 when two former Confederate soldiers and their families each purchased 160 acres of land and raised castor beans. But it was retired eastern industrialist George D.Whitcomb who coined the name, a contraction of his wife’s name (Leadora) and the mountain glen in back of their home.

In 1886, Whitcomb formed the Glendora Land Company and helped design much of the future town. A year later, the city was officially founded, just after two railroads began operating in the area.

The city was incorporated in 1911. Nearly 100 years after its incorporation, the city still retains many of the characteristics treasured by its founding fathers.

City officials describe the city as “an upscale but understated suburban city,” where neighbors “know and speak to one another” and where “business people work together with the collaborative spirit and zeal of their pioneering ancestors.

Residents turn out in high numbers to celebrate annual festivities such as the Flashback to the ’50s, the Great Glendora Festival and the Route 66 Mile Run. In fact, the city is located along historic Route 66 and the city’s former Alosta Boulevard was renamed in 2001 to the original “Route 66” designation to recapture the heritage and spirit of the “Mother Road.

The city claims that in Glendora, everyone is family, and families are most important. The community provides a great place to live, work and play for people who cherish small-town living and traditional American values.

Glendora is home to Citrus Community College, two major hospitals, a Wal-Mart, several car dealerships, Home Base, Rain Bird Sprinkler and the National Hot Rod Association.

The City of Industry’s modern history dates back to the days of William Workman’s historic Rancho La Puente.

The property once belonged to Workman who, along with John Rowland, led the first American settlers to Southern California. They received title to the 48,000-acre La Puente Rancho in 1842, marking the end of the missionary era and the beginning of the agricultural boom. The city was incorporated in 1957.

The City of Industry moved in a different direction, however, when cities around it were building homes.

The concept seemed to be a good one at the time — you take all the manufacturers and put them together in the same area, with nice homes, shopping, entertainment and education in the surrounding cities. This solves the problems of truck traffic driving through town. Plus, you have all the freeways and rail lines there to get raw materials in and product out on its way to market.

Over 45 years later, with more than 80,000 employees in the city’s 13 square mile area, the idea seems to be catching on.

Today, the city represents more than $4.5 billion in assessed value, a success beyond the wildest dreams of the founding fathers.

The City of Industry has no utility tax, no professional tax, no manufacturing fees, no wholesale or retail fees, no city business license requirements, and off-street parking.

Despite continuing uncertainty in the nation’s economy, business is good, report officials of the Industry Manufacturers Council.

The City of Irwindale was known as Jardin de Roca, Cactus Town, Jack Rabbit Town and Sonora Town more than a century ago until a man named Irwin arrived in 1899. As the story is told, Irwin’s claim to fame was that he had the area’s first gasoline-powered water pump, allowing him to cultivate a large enough area to become a successful citrus farmer.

Meanwhile, the rocks, at first considered a hindrance, soon became an asset as the need for crushed rock and gravel became necessary for building roads. This began Irwindale’s development as an industrial city.

The city has always had a relatively small population, and many of its current residents are direct descendants of the first settlers.

Incorporated in 1957, today the city is in a period of transition from mining, manufacturing and high-tech industries. The first new major retail center in the city’s history, the Irwindale Commerce Center, is complete. The heavily traveled Arrow Highway corridor is home to Starbucks Coffee, Quizno’s Subs, Der Weinerschnitzel and Farmer Boys.

The Irwindale Business Center, a 2.2 million square foot state-of-the-art industrial park, is 100 percent leased and is home to more than 2,400 employees. New industrial development is planned for Arrow Highway and on the city’s west side.

Another new industrial project is planned to break ground the third quarter of 2006.

In 1843, the isolated valley where La Cañada Flintridge is today was reported as "unoccupied and unused" by Mexican officials. It was granted to a Mexican schoolteacher from Los Angeles, Ignacio Coronel. He named it Rancho La Cañada.

In 1858 Julio Verdugo acquired Rancho La Cañada by trading what is now Burbank for it. During the 1860s the Verdugo saga of flood and drought, debt and foreclosure was that of many caught in the undertow of natural disasters and the change from the rancho barter system to the "Yankee" economy. After foreclosure, the man who bought much of his property allowed him to keep 200 acres and his house, which was near what is now Forest Lawn.

Today, with the San Gabriel Mountains providing a dramatic backdrop, La Cañada Flintridge represents the very best of California living. It maintains a small-town atmosphere with a sense of shared family values. Tree-lined streets, spacious estates and beautiful homes set a standard of gracious living in this "glen between the hills."

A low-key lifestyle centered around children and community is central to the city's residents. The city's public school system consistently ranks in the top five percent of California schools. Volunteers contribute more than 250,000 hours to civic causes each year.

The Foothill Boulevard business district offers a variety of shops, restaurants, and services.

The climate is perfect for the variety of beautiful camellias and the live oak forest at Descanso Gardens, a nationally known 165-acre botanical garden.

Also, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory maintains its headquarters in the city.

The City of La Puente, located 20 miles east of downtown Los Angeles is predominantly residential and is home to more than 41,000 residents.

While the City was incorporated in 1956, its heritage dates back to the Portola-Serra expedition in 1769 when the region was first surveyed for Spain. The community was created in 1841 when European settlers arrived by wagon train from New Mexico and obtained title to the large 48,000-acre Rancho La Puente.

During the 1930s, the area was famous for its fruit and walnut groves, and was the home of the world’s largest walnut packing plant. Today, the suburban community is 70 percent residential with industrial uses constituting less than five percent of the city’s 3.5 square mile area.

The city operates various facilities including a Community Center, Senior Center, Public Safety Center, and La Puente Park. There are 17 schools, two libraries, and a health center that serves the city’s residents.

The city is completing construction of a new $2.8 million, 10,700 square-foot Youth Learning and Activity Center in La Puente Park. Its purpose is to invest in the city’s youth by providing a variety of educational, social services and recreational programs.

La Verne was founded in 1887 when Isaac W. Lord, a Los Angeles businessman, persuaded the Santa Fe Railroad to extend its line through the area where he owned considerable property.

On May 25, 1887, Lord hosted what was reported as the largest land sale in Southern California. He sent brass bands to the streets of Los Angeles and San Bernardino inviting people for a free ride to the new town of “Lordsburg.” More than 2,500 people accepted the invitation and bought $200,000 worth of lots. Building began immediately.

As the land boom subsided all over Southern California, M.M. Eshelman moved from the Midwest to Lordsburg in 1889. A member of the Church of the Brethren, he heard that the local hotel would make a fine college building. He asked that 100 city lots be thrown in on the deal, and the denomination bought them for $15,000. The offer was accepted and by the fall of 1891, the college opened with eight faculty members and 135 students.

Soon after the turn of the century, the community got into the citrus industry. By 1919, the industry was thriving and was a major influence in La Verne life. By the 1940s, the industry declined and groves began to be sold for housing developments.

Today, La Verne is a city of more than 30,000 residents and with a good mix of residential, commercial and industrial features. As one of the most desirable communities in metropolitan Southern California, La Verne is a progressive city that has retained much of its small town charm.

Most recently, the new 210 Freeway extension into San Bernardino County has had a major impact on La Verne by reducing traffic congestion along Foothill Boulevard. As a trade-off, traffic on Fruit Street and White Avenue has increased 20 percent because of the freeway ramps.The pre-freeway level of 60,000 trips daily on Foothill has become a manageable 30,000-35,000 trips. Residents have increased access to businesses and there has been a 9 percent increase in retail sales. The new freeway has given Foothill Boulevard back to the community.

Montebello’s history is interwoven with California’s, as the last battle with Mexico for possession of California occurred in the battle of the Rio San Gabriel in January 1847.

The city remained an agricultural community until 1917 -- the year oil was discovered on Anita Baldwin’s property by Standard Oil Co. Within three years, Montebello oil fields were producing an eighth of the state’s crude oil.

The city was incorporated in 1920. Today, Montebello’s economic vitality comes from its balance of industrial, commercial and residential components. Montebello remains a thriving economic city largely due to the trucking and specialty vehicle industry, industry, as wheels, engines, underbodies, refrigerated trucks, campers and truck trailers all are manufactured in Montebello.

In addition to a mixture of residential neighborhoods and smaller retail enterprises, Montebello’s regional mall, the Town Center with more than 170 specialty shops, boutiques and national chains, provides exceptional shopping and entertainment.

The city also offers a Costco and the Town Square, which is home to Toys R Us, Sears, numerous retail shops and a multiscreen AMC entertainment center.

In the early 1800s, Monterey Park was part of the San Gabriel Mission and the Rancho San Antonio.

The area began to develop in 1906, and the city was incorporated on May 29, 1916. Its name was taken from an old government map showing the oak-covered Monterey Hills.

Today, Monterey Park is a city where families have purchased hillside homes and invested in their schools and community. It is a culturally diverse city, representing a cross-section of the Southern California multi-cultural medley.

Monterey Park is strategically positioned to participate in the dynamic global economy that will become more and more a part of American life.

Major industries include everything from optic data process switching to bio-nanotechnology based molecular analysis.

As an easily accessible, alternative corporate address to downtown Los Angeles, the city offers two high-quality office centers with state-of-the-art business space. Some of the nation’s most prestigious corporations are based in Monterey Park.

In the late 1800s, settlers from Indiana began moving into the area that is now Pasadena. In 1873, some of them purchased 1,500 acres and formed the San Gabriel Orange Grove Association. They named their community Pasadena in 1875. The city was incorporated in 1886 and became a charter city in 1901, when the first mayor was elected.

Today, the city is home to the Tournament of Roses and Rose Parade, the Rose Bowl, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the California Institute of Technology.

Located at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains, the city's popular shops and restaurants, many of them in Old Town Pasadena, blend comfortably with tree-lined streets, distinctive neighborhoods, historic buildings and a vibrant cultural scene.

Local government is progressive and extends unmatched customer service in an environment of sound fiscal management. Pasadena is a world-class model of a successful urban community. Pasadena’s distinctive quality of life is exemplified by its unparalleled physical beauty, culture and diversity.

The city believes its commitment to excellence, innovation and service, combined with sound fiscal management, management, will ensure Pasadena’s prominence in the 21st century.

Pomona was incorporated in 1888 and was marketed as an urban garden where you live in a city, but with gardens and flowers.Today, the city’s tree-lined streets, wide thoroughfares and, in some areas, old-fashioned architecture reflect the city’s heritage.

From its agricultural beginnings as a prime location for citrus products to its development as a major railway and freeway corridor, Pomona has been a quality location for people to live and work for over 100 years. The city prides itself on its history, diversity, community partnerships and commitment to continuous improvement in services for all residents and businesses.

One of the largest cities in Southern California, Pomona offers a wide variety of neighborhoods, each with its own feel, ranging from the upscale Ganesha Hills and Phillips Ranch to the more blue collar communities. Pomona is also the home of Cal Poly Pomona, one of the state’s finest universities, and the Fairplex, offering the L.A. County Fair and yearround activities, shows, and business exhibitions.

Projects that are part of the city’s recent”renaissance" include revitalization programs all over the city. Revitalization and beautification are the City Council’s highest priority, with plans under way for renovating Mission and Holt Boulevards and Garvey Avenue, as well as, new residential developments with home prices listed at more than $300,000. The $22 million Mission Promenade project across from the Pomona Civic Center is completed. It features popular shops, restaurants and office space in an"urban village" environment.