California Real Estate & Relocation Guide

Alhambra, California

Population: 85,804

Located in Los Angeles County

Alhambra is a city of charming, well-manicured residential neighborhoods. It is situated within a "Sixty Mile Circle" centered on Los Angeles--a dynamic concentration of population, employment, business, industry and finance with two-thirds of the State's 100 largest corporations headquartered within this circle. High quality educational, medical and transportation services abound and Alhambra has some of the region's strongest retail centers, drawing sales from auto dealerships and shopping districts. The renaissance of Downtown Main Street has been a top priority. Numerous boutiques and restaurants line the downtown landscape, providing an attractive destination for persons to shop, dine and be entertained locally. Numerous recreational and sporting venues are also available.

Economic Renewal
In recent years, Alhambra has aggressively sought to bring new business to the city, leading to more than 30 new businesses in the downtown area alone. According to a national survey, Alhambra ranks first among 15 surrounding cities in terms of cost of doing business and level of development. Its largest venture, a $30 million entertainment complex--the Alhambra Renaissance Cineplex opened in November 2002 and includes a 14-screen Edwards Theaters facility, parking for more than 800 vehicles, as well as additional restaurant and retail space.

Over the past two decades, population growth and density of individual households has expanded dramatically. Many newcomers are well-educated and highly skilled immigrants, who have been able to help revitalize the local economy by introducing international businesses and investments such as computer manufacturing and real estate development companies, medical facilities, financial institutions, and small mom and pop stores and restaurants. While the City's economy is a reflection of the greater region, employment in the areas of finance, insurance and real estate is 30% higher in Alhambra than the region at large, suggesting that Alhambra is becoming a sub-center for white-collar professionals.

Dining & Shopping
If your taste palate sometimes gets bored with the same old menu day-in and day-out, eating out in one of Alhambra's many restaurants can help you break the routine! The City is home to over 100 eateries featuring menus for a wide range of taste buds and budgets! Downtown Main Street has many restaurants offering cuisine from China, Cuba, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Middle East, Phillipines, Thailand and Vietnam. There are also traditional American-style eating establishments located throughout the City.

To add to your Downtown experience, take a stroll and enjoy the many retail shops and boutiques. Here you will find such well-known stores as Mervyn's and Ross Dress-for-Less -- to smaller boutiques that feature designer clothing, shoes and accessories, perfumes and personal care products. There are shops that specialize in furniture, antiques and other collectable items from the Orient and other worldly places. There's even a well-known fitness studio - where members can work out to burn calories after a hardy meal (perhaps after eating at one of the restaurants on Main Street) or to relieve stress after a hard day's work.

Community Life
Alhambra offers a full gamut of programs and services for people of all ages. The City is close to all major business and recreational destinations in the Southland. In 90 minutes or less you can travel to any nearby beach, desert or mountain resort, or virtually any other local recreational/entertainment/sporting venue. In 10 minutes you can be walking among the highest skyscrapers in world--in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. Alhambra truly offers the best of all worlds!

Alhambra is often referred to as the "Gateway to the San Gabriel Valley." A distinctive logo depicts a Moorish-style archway leading into the City reminiscent of the historic Alhambra in Granada, Spain. The City received its name from a book entitled The Alhambra by Washington Irving, published in 1832, 71 years before its incorporation in 1903. The majority of land within the City's current boundaries was included in a 1771 land grant that led to the establishment of the nearby San Gabriel Mission. While its history and origins retain a heavy Spanish influence, the City's current population of 85,804 consists of a wide range of ethnic groups and many businesses in and around Alhambra have ties to international commerce.

The Alhambra School District is comprised of more than 53,000 students from kindergarten to twelfth grade. There are 13 elementary schools and six high schools. The District also offers an adult school that holds more than 320 classes at 43 locations. The District has a history of high academic standards and a strong commitment to excellence in teaching and learning. In fact, three schools in the Alhambra School District--Baldwin, Fremont and Ynez schools--have been officially selected as 2002 California Distinguished Schools.

Alhambra owns four lovely parks with more than 200 acres that often are used in television and motion picture productions. Alhambra Park (14 acres donated by Henry E. Huntington), Granada and Story parks each contain a swimming pool, and large recreation buildings are located in Almansor and Granada parks. The city operates a broad recreational program not only for adults but also for children in parks and on school playgrounds after school. The West San Gabriel Valley YMCA on Corto Street has an indoor pool and offers a wide variety of activities for children, youth, and adults.

Alhambra is coterminous with South Pasadena and San Marino on the north, San Gabriel on the east and Monterey Park on the south. It is within easy access of beach and mountain resorts, Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, Magic Mountain, Dodger Stadium, the Coliseum, the Rose Bowl, the Forum, the Sports Arena, Los Angeles Convention Center, California Museum of Science and Industry, and the Music Center.

Nearby are located the California Institute of Technology, California State University at Los Angeles, East Los Angeles College, Pasadena City College, Pasadena College, and just a few miles further, USC, UCLA, and many other major educational institutions.

Alhambra today is a full service city. In an area of 7.5 square miles are three well defined areas: residential, commercial and industrial. Currently the City is pursuing an ambitious program to rebuild or refurbish older commercial sites. New development continues to add retail stores. Fremont Plaza at