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Baldwin Park, California

Population: 75,837
Located in Los Angeles County

Baldwin Park dates back 142 years to 1860. At that time it was a part of the cattle grazing land belonging to the San Gabriel Mission; later, Baldwin Park was part of Rancho Azusa de Dalton and the Rancho La Puente.

With the decline of cattle ranching due to severe drought, the area north of the present Ramona Boulevard was settled by small farmers-squatters. The community, named "Pleasant View", was composed of small farms and Vineyards shaded by pepper trees. Water shortage was a major problem - farmers with no wells were forced to haul water in from the San Gabriel River. Since irrigation was not utilized, all crops depended upon rainfall for water.

The community's name was changed to "Vineland" in 1880, with business centered around the General store at today's Los Angeles and La Rica streets. In 1890, the Vineland School District was formed; the settlers built a two-room school building which served as a meeting place for all public gatherings.


A threat to the small community loomed in 1906 when "Lucky" Baldwin proposed to establish a town, "Baldwinville" nearby. To prevent this, Vineland residents invited the octogenarian Baldwin to a conference at Shultis' grocery store. While entering the store, Baldwin slipped and would have fallen had Shultis' wife not caught him, As the story goes, Baldwin, grateful to the lady, agreed to a change in plan, and Vineland became Baldwin Park.


Baldwin Park was incorporated in 1956, becoming the forty-seventh General Law City. Today, the city has changed from the small farming community in the late 1800's to one of over 70,000 population.

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