John Guess and his wife, Harriet, arrived in the San Gabriel Valley in 1852 in an ox drawn wagon from Arkansas. They settled in 1855 on a 100-acre ranch called Savannah on the site of what is now Savannah School. Others followed, including Frank Forst and Leonard Rose. Rose purchased 500 to 700 acres to breed and train horses and called his place Rose’s Meadow, which was shortened to Rosemeade, giving the city its name.

Small truck farms plus chicken and rabbit ranches became popular. The city incorporated in 1959.

The quiet, pastoral lands are now crowded with businesses, industries, shops and 53,000 people.

Once a lush green pasture extending from the Los Angeles River east to the Pomona area, Rosemead was indeed a fine place for early settlers to raise fruits, vegetables, grain and feed.

Today, the city’s goals include quality of life improvement, offering a business-friendly atmosphere and economic growth and prosperity.

Rosemead is a desirable and affordable community in which to live and a dynamic business sector.

The City of San Dimas, incorporated on August 4, 1960,was named after the nearby San Dimas Canyon. According to legend, the name originated from an earlier conflict between Spanish landowners and horse and cattle thieves.

It is said that a Spanish Don once called on St. Dismas, the saint of repentant thieves, as a final attempt to protect his livestock.

Today, San Dimas is known for its activities and events. The Festival of Western Arts hosts two shows each year. The Pomona Valley Stage Bicycle Race is held every March. The Chamber of Commerce coordinates several events and activities including the community-wide Western Days celebration in October. Also in October, the San Dimas Rodeo presents its annual Rodeo at the San Dimas Community Equestrian Arena.

The downtown business area is developed in the style of the Old West, complete with wooden sidewalks.

With a background rich in history, culture and beauty, San Gabriel is the home of San Gabriel Mission Arcángel — the oldest European settlement in Los Angeles County — and was home to the Native American Tongva (Gabrielino) tribe.

In 1781, 11 families, Los Pobladores, traveled from the Mission and founded a pueblo known as Los Angeles.

The fourth mission in the chain of 21 California missions, the San Gabriel Mission is the oldest settlement north of San Diego and south of San Luis Obispo. The “pride of the California Missions,” was the cultural, agricultural and spiritual center that inspired the founding of other communities.

By 1852, after the American occupation of California, San Gabriel became one of the first townships in Los Angeles County. The city was incorporated in 1913.The tone and style of the city has been sustained by a community atmosphere of spirit and pride, while preserving the mission for the benefit and enjoyment of all.

Today, San Gabriel continues as a leading multi-cultural, multi-faceted community. Two important areas reflecting the community’s rich cultural and economic diversity are the San Gabriel Mission District and Valley Boulevard. The district encompasses the mission, the legendary San Gabriel Civic Auditorium, the Civic Center, museums, historic and cultural sites, restaurants and retailers. Visitors to Valley Boulevard in San Gabriel can enjoy an “only-in-America” experience of international shopping and dining.

In 1830, San Marino was included in a Mexican land grant to a Native American woman named Senora Victoria Reid.

In 1852, Reid deeded her rancho to Don Benito Wilson who later deeded most of the property to J. de Barth Shorb. Shorb named the ranch after his grandfather’s Maryland plantation, San Marino.

In 1903, the Shorb Estate was bought by Henry E. Huntington. In 1913,Wilson, Patton and Huntington ranchos, together with subdivided areas from several smaller ranchos, were incorporated as the City of San Marino. General George S. Patton Sr.was the city’s first mayor.

Today, San Marino is primarily residential and is considered one of the most exclusive areas in Southern California where average home prices are over the $1 million mark.

The Huntington Library, home to Gainsborough's Blue Boy and Lawrence's Pinkie, is San Marino’s most famous site.

Sierra Madre was named by Nathaniel Carter in 1881 when he subdivided part of the Rancho Santa Anita. The name means "mother of the mountain" in Spanish, referring to the San Gabriel Mountains.

The City of Sierra Madre was incorporated in 1907. Today, the city is home to Mount Wilson Trail Park, Bailey Canyon Park, and Sierra Madre Canyon.

The city is primarily a residential community with shops and restaurants in its downtown area. It has long been a city with a small-town atmosphere and features beautiful homes at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. It was once known as the "colony" high in the hills which, in the early days of Hollywood, provided hillside retreat-style homes for many entertainers.

Events are important in Sierra Madre, from the Fourth of July celebration each year to the Mount Wilson Trail Race and the Soap Box Derby. City commissions cover everything from aging to trees, and from community arts to cultural heritage.

South El Monte and its northern neighbor, El Monte, once served as a watering hole and campsite for Shoshone Indians and explorers to the area.

Modern history began with the arrival of the first settlers, the Thompson Party, during the California Gold Rush. The Thompson family founded the El Monte Township in the late 1860s.

The area went through its agricultural period and began its suburban growth early in the 20th century. The city was incorporated in 1958. At the time of the split with El Monte, South El Monte contained most of the area’s industrial businesses. Today, light manufacturing remains the city’s economic base.

These companies manufacture everything from home furnishings and household appliances to building materials and farm implements. The city’s mission is "to foster and stimulate economic growth through the implementation of economic development programs and services."

South El Monte offers all business development services including an economic development team, redevelopment projects, and a one stop service bringing in state and federal agencies to make it easy for business to locate in the city. These are all under South El Monte’s "public and private partnerships" vision.

The city also provides support to business in the area of workforce development.

South El Monte offers a good blend of older and younger residents working with the same dedication and community spirit that the city was founded upon. Both the residents and business community are working together to make the community a better place to live and work.

The town of South Pasadena was originally located on the land of the Indiana Colony. It was incorporated in 1888.

South Pasadena is known for its tree-lined streets, historic California Craftsman-style homes and its efforts to preserve a small-town atmosphere.

South Pasadena is connected with downtown Los Angeles by the MTA Gold Line. The city offers the advantage of homes and businesses away from the large urban area yet close enough to Los Angeles to access it with ease.

Today, South Pasadena has many eclectic restaurants and shops, as well as new “mixed use” development and lofts, historic homes and districts.

Temple City was founded on May 30, 1923, when 285 acres of land was purchased by land developer Walter P. Temple. The city officially was designated Temple City in 1928, and was incorporated on May 25, 1960.

Primarily a residential community, most of the city’s housing was developed between 1940 and 1970.

Today, the city — known as “The Home of Camellias” — is located 13 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley. It offers a family-friendly community, featuring an excellent school system, a well run government, low taxes, tree-lined streets, a crime rate better than the suburban average, and no graffiti.

In 2004,Temple City was one of 25 cities nationwide to receive the “Champions of Small City Management Award” by exemplifying characteristics such as commitment to economic development, public safety, good schools, reasonable tax assessments and an excellent city bond rating (no bond indebtedness).

Temple City is undergoing a transformation from primarily “bedroom” community to a city featuring new restaurants and businesses — all while maintaining the excellent quality of life.

Temple City is well-known for its annual Temple City Camellia Festival — now in its 60th year; the very popular summer concerts in Temple City Park; the annual Business Expo in September; Festival & Craft Faire in October, and its youth recreation programs.

The San Gabriel Mission used the Walnut area primarily for raising sheep and cattle, but homesteads and agricultural development started when the Spaniards introduced ranchos to the area. In 1840, Mexican Governor Juan Alvardo awarded Jose De La Cruz Linares a land grant of 4,340 acres called Rancho De Nogales, or Ranch of the Walnut Trees.

The area later became the eastern portion of Walnut, while the western portion came from part of John Rowland’s portion of Rancho La Puente. Agriculture in the early days included wheat, grapes, walnuts and fruit trees.

The city was incorporated in 1959.Today; the city is located near the intersection of the 57, 10 and 60 freeways, providing easy access to four counties. Walnut offers an extensive equestrian trail system and preserved open space with rolling hills and lush rustic parks, lending a rural charm to an otherwise progressive urban community.

The city's school system, served by two school districts, is one of the finest in California and has helped increase property values, keeping housing costs and income levels on a par with Irvine and Arcadia.

In November 2003, the Village at Snow Creek was completed, adding 130,000 square feet of retail space at the northeast and northwest corners of Valley Boulevard and Grand Avenue.

Major tenants include Staples, TJ MAXX, HomeGoods, Starbucks, Rubios, Baja Grill, Applebees and others. The new City Hall opened in June 2003, on the site of the old City Hall. The project completes the civic center along La Puente Road, which includes the Senior Center, Library, Gymnasium and Teen Center.

The area that is now West Covina once was under the jurisdiction of the City of Covina. It was established in 1882 on a 2,000-acre tract that was part of William Workman and John Rowland’s large Rancho La Puente.

The first permanent settlers arrived in present-day West Covina in 1905, clearing the land of sagebrush and cactus, improving the irrigation system and planting walnut trees.

The first roads — Service, Orange, Cameron, Vine, Irwindale and Merced Avenues — were built in 1908, and the first school was built in 1909, housing a class of 11 students.

West Covina broke away from the influence of Covina and was incorporated in 1923 to prevent Covina from going ahead with plans to build a sewage dump on land between California and Glendora Avenues.

West Covina began the second half of the 20th century with exciting new developments and projects. Under the leadership of City Manager George Aiassa, the City Hall and Police facilities were built in 1969 under a Joint Powers Authority with the County of Los Angeles.

The Civic Center Joint Powers Authority, also completed a three-level parking structure in the Civic Center complex. The complex includes the Los Angeles County Regional Library, the West Covina Courthouse, and the City Hall offices.

Today, the city — which is substantially "built out" with few vacant development sites — is a residential and commercial center with limited industry. Retail merchandising is the principal business activity.