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133-714: The Whittier Narrows are a natural gap in the hills that form the southern boundary of the San Gabriel Valley of Southern California . Both the Rio Hondo, a tributary of the Los Angeles River , and the San Gabriel River flow through this gap and are impounded by the reservoir. The Pomona Freeway (CA-60) passes through the reservoir flood control basin and the San Gabriel River Freeway (I-605) passes along

266-551: A Route 66 theme. Covina has had moderate success with its nostalgic Downtown Covina, with emphasis placed on a small-town America atmosphere and mom-and-pop merchants rather than big-box retail chains; Monrovia has also embraced this theme for their "Old Town." Alhambra has also worked to renovate its downtown along Main St. San Gabriel Mission is the center of Historical Culture in SGV. The California Institute of Technology , Caltech,

399-599: A fault block mountain range, essentially a massive chunk of bedrock dislocated from the North American Plate and lifted up by movement along the San Andreas. The rock is mostly of Mesozoic origin (65–245 million years old), but the deepest layers are up to 4 billion years old. However, the uplift of the present mountain range did not start until about 6 million years ago. The mountains are still rising as much as 2 inches (51 mm) per year due to tectonic action along

532-815: A large Asian-American community . There are many Filipino Americans , residing in West Covina and Walnut. Vietnamese Americans tend to be concentrated in San Gabriel, Rosemead, and El Monte. Many Korean Americans live in Hacienda Heights, Rowland Heights, and Diamond Bar. A longstanding Japanese-American community exists in Monterey Park. Early Chinese pioneers settled into the Valley mostly as laborers. They packed oranges, picked walnuts, did construction, owned or worked in laundries, and worked as cooks and servants in

665-544: A 120-foot (37 m)-high arch bridge that was abandoned after the huge flood of 1938 washed out a highway under construction along the East Fork. The bridge remains today as a popular destination for hikers and bungee jumpers . After emerging from the Narrows, the river continues flowing south through a somewhat-more-open valley, receiving several tributaries including Devil Gulch and Allison Gulch, before reaching Heaton Flat,

798-450: A 47,000-acre (19,000 ha) network of riparian and wetland habitats, ranging from seasonally-flooded areas in the north to alkali meadows (called "cienegas" by the Spanish), forests of willows, oaks, and cottonwoods, and both fresh- and salt-water marshes in the south. At its mouth, the river emptied into a broad estuary surrounded by thousands of acres of permanent marsh and swamp land,

931-552: A century later, the San Gabriel Valley's burgeoning population of Asian Americans has become a dominant cultural force. Several business districts developed to serve their needs creating a collection of Southern California Chinatowns loosely connected along the Valley Boulevard Corridor. This trend began in the city of Monterey Park during the late 1970s when many well-to-do Taiwanese professionals began settling in

1064-425: A consortium of five Los Angeles businessmen including banker Isaias Hellman and wholesale grocer/historian Harris Newmark for $ 60,000, about $ 12 an acre. Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, and South Asian pioneers and settlers first came to the San Gabriel Valley in the mid-19th century. These pioneers worked the fields, picked the grapes and citrus fruit, and built part the infrastructure of today's San Gabriel Valley. In

1197-469: A continuous sheet of floodwater. The historical floodplain encompassed much of the San Gabriel Valley and a huge expanse of the Los Angeles Basin stretching from present-day Whittier to Seal Beach. The thick sediments of the lowland also trap an extensive local aquifer system. Historically, the aquifer was quite pressurized and close to the surface; natural artesian wells existed in many places. At

1330-400: A faster growth rate. More than a quarter of the population in the region are Asian American. The largest populations of Asian Americans in San Gabriel Valley were Chinese , Filipinos , Vietnamese , Korean , Taiwanese , and Japanese . The San Gabriel Valley is home to the annual Tournament of Roses Parade , which is broadcast live on television on New Year's Day from Pasadena. After

1463-522: A high, remote, subalpine valley characterized by extensive meadows, it flows west to join with Vincent Gulch, below which the stream is officially known as the East Fork. Here it turns abruptly south, flowing through a steep, rugged canyon. It is joined from the east by the Fish Fork , which originates on the northwest slopes of Mount Baldy. Below the Fish Fork, the East Fork flows through "the Narrows", one of

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1596-429: A natural part of plant communities in the San Gabriel River watershed. After the flood of 1938, an intense program of wildfire suppression began, since burned areas tend to erode quickly during storms, causing landslides and mudflows down tributary canyons. Like many other areas of the western United States, this has caused a large amount of tinder and debris to accumulate, increasing the risk of fire. Drought conditions in

1729-639: A popular trailhead and the end of the East Fork Road , which parallels the lower section of the river. The river receives Cattle Canyon, its biggest tributary, and then turns sharply west, flowing past the Camp Williams Resort and a number of U.S. Forest Service and Los Angeles County firefighting facilities before flowing into San Gabriel Reservoir , where it joins the West Fork. The West Fork , 19 miles (31 km) long, originates at Red Box Saddle ,

1862-533: A recreation area and wildlife habitat and buffer against pollution. Above elevations of 7,000 feet (2,100 m), the San Gabriel Mountains support some pine and fir forests, remnants or relicts of a huge evergreen (coniferous) forest that once covered Southern California during the last ice age when the regional climate was much wetter. The montane forests are home to large mammals such as deer and black bears. Due to conservation policies put in place by

1995-412: A short channel through which water can flow in both directions. The Rio Hondo is generally considered a separate stream and tributary to the Los Angeles River , but historically the two rivers sometimes joined the other, flowing to various outlets. The Rio Hondo sometimes changed course to join the San Gabriel River; alternatively, the San Gabriel sometimes shifted course into the Rio Hondo, merging into

2128-587: A single watershed with the Los Angeles River. Whittier Narrows Dam controls the outflow from both rivers into their artificially fixed channels. During storms, water is distributed based on the availability of space in the downstream channels. Below the Whittier Narrows Dam, the river flows south-southwest across the coastal plain, roughly defining the border of Los Angeles County and Orange County . It flows through Whittier and Pico Rivera and under

2261-431: A system of dams and debris basins and to channelize much of the lower San Gabriel River with riprap or concrete banks. There is also an extensive system of spreading grounds and other works to capture stormwater runoff and conserve it for urban use. Approximately one-third of the water used in southeast Los Angeles County today comes from the river. The upper San Gabriel has been intermittently mined for gold since

2394-648: A system of large land grants which became the many ranchos of the area. The decline of Native American populations made it easy for colonists to seize large areas of land formerly used by the indigenous people. During the Spanish-controlled period, and the Mexican-controlled period between 1821 and 1846, cattle ranching dominated the local economy. In the San Gabriel River watershed, the Rancho Azusa de Dalton and Rancho Azusa de Duarte lay, respectively, to

2527-599: A total of 689 square miles (1,780 km ) and is located between the watersheds of the Los Angeles River to the west, the Santa Ana River to the east, and the Mojave Desert to the north. The watershed is divided into three distinct sections. The northern third, located within the Angeles National Forest of the San Gabriel Mountains, is steep and mountainous; it receives the most precipitation of any part of

2660-588: A twisting canyon, forming the southern boundary of the San Gabriel Wilderness . It receives the tributaries of Chileno Canyon, Little Mermaids Canyon, and Big Mermaids Canyon from the north, and then the much larger Bear Creek, which originates at Islip Saddle near the 8,250-foot (2,510 m) summit of Mount Islip . Less than a mile (1.6 km) below Bear Creek, it is joined by the North Fork before flowing into San Gabriel Reservoir , where it joins with

2793-468: A vast alluvial flood plain, its channels shifting with winter floods and forming extensive wetlands along its perennial course, a relatively scarce source of fresh water in this arid region. The Tongva and their ancestors inhabited the San Gabriel River basin for thousands of years at villages like Puvunga , relying on the abundant fish and game in riparian habitats. The river is named for the nearby Mission San Gabriel Arcángel , established in 1771 during

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2926-500: A visitor center and frequently-used trailhead along the Angeles Crest Highway and about 2 miles (3.2 km) northwest of the summit of Mount Wilson . Beginning at an elevation of 4,666 feet (1,422 m), the West Fork flows at a much lower elevation than the East Fork and is the smaller of the two rivers in terms of water volume. The West Fork flows east in a fairly straight course for its entire length. From its headwater,

3059-652: A visual reference for the boundary of the Tongva (Gabrielino) people in the west and the Yuhaviatam people to the east. Most of the San Gabriel River lay in traditional Tongva territory, although the Chumash (who inhabited areas further west) also used the area. Tongva villages such as Puvunga were located on high ground above the reach of winter floods. A typical village consisted of large, circular thatched huts known as "kich" or "kish", each home to multiple families. During summer,

3192-440: Is a microcosm of changing demographics, highlighting Asian American history and evolution in the San Gabriel Valley. Rosemead has a smaller group of Vietnamese and Chinese business districts. There are also small pockets of Chinese American businesses that are scattered throughout San Gabriel Valley cities. In Rowland Heights , a handful of Korean American strip malls co-exist with Chinese American businesses. Another ethnic enclave

3325-667: Is also located in Arcadia, Rowland Heights, Walnut, and Diamond Bar. Despite the European influx they remained an integral part of the Southern California community, and continue to in the present day. The African American population in the San Gabriel Valley is relatively low. However, there are sizable, long-established African American communities in the western Altadena area and in northwest Pasadena, as well as in Monrovia. Montebello

3458-421: Is also the longest light rail line in the world. Several cities provide their own in-city transportation shuttles. Cities known to provide such service are: The San Gabriel Valley is served by several major freeways: San Gabriel River (California) The San Gabriel River is a mostly- urban waterway flowing 58 miles (93 km) southward through Los Angeles and Orange Counties , California, in

3591-438: Is approximately 36,500 ft³/s (1,034 m³/s). The capacity of the Los Angeles River downstream of its confluence with the Rio Hondo is approximately 127,000 ft³/s (3,596 m³/s), and the capacity of the San Gabriel River downstream of the dam is approximately 13,000 ft³/s (371 m³/s). San Gabriel Valley The San Gabriel Valley ( Spanish : Valle de San Gabriel ), often referred to by its initials as SGV ,

3724-699: Is home to the oldest Armenian community in Los Angeles County and home to Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Cathedral , which was the only Armenian cathedral in California until Saint Leon Cathedral was built in Burbank in 2012. The Armenian Martyrs Monument at Bicknell Park commemorating the victims of the Armenian Genocide by the Ottoman Turks is the largest monument of the genocide found on public property in

3857-594: Is located in Pasadena. The university is ranked in the top 10 universities worldwide by metrics such as citation index, Nobel Prizes, and general university rankings. Caltech is also responsible for the well-known Jet Propulsion Laboratory , which designs and engineers many of NASA 's spacecraft. The city of Baldwin Park is the birthplace of the popular hamburger fast food chain In-N-Out Burger . Its first location opened in

3990-399: Is normally empty, and a "crossover weir" within the reservoir keeps the flows from the Rio Hondo and the San Gabriel River separated. The natural flow to each river therefore normally passes through the dam unhindered. During the initial stages of a flood event, the gates on the Rio Hondo side are partially closed to build a water conservation pool. As long as the pool on the Rio Hondo side of

4123-400: Is now an important source of domestic and industrial water, and groundwater recharge operations are conducted using both local runoff from the San Gabriel River, and water imported through Los Angeles's aqueduct system. The San Gabriel River once supported a rich lowland ecosystem on its broad floodplain, inundated multiple times each year by rain and snowmelt. The result of this overflow was

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4256-472: Is now marked by a California Historical Landmark . During the early years of the mission, the region operated under a Rancho system. The lands which now compose the city of Montebello were originally parts of Rancho San Antonio , Rancho La Merced , and Rancho Paso de Bartolo . The Juan Matias Sanchez Adobe, built in 1844, remains standing at the center of old Rancho La Merced in Eastern Montebello in

4389-467: Is one of the principal valleys of Southern California , with the city of Los Angeles directly bordering it to the west, and occupying the vast majority of the southeastern part of Los Angeles County . Surrounding landforms and other features include the following: The San Gabriel Valley derives its name from the San Gabriel River that flows southward through the center of the valley, which itself

4522-565: Is operated by Minnesota Public Radio . Old Pasadena , which has been restored and rejuvenated, remains highly popular. Old Pasadena has an active nightlife, a shopping mall , boutiques, outdoor cafés, nightclubs , comedy clubs , and varied restaurants. Other communities hope to emulate its successes through commercial redevelopment and reviving their own downtown areas or " Main Streets ". The city of Azusa has attempted to encourage redevelopment of its once-dilapidated downtown section by using

4655-622: Is the Filipino American business district of Little Manila , in West Covina along with an Asian indoor and outdoor shopping center. Small Chinatowns have sprung up in many cities throughout the valley. By the 2010 census there were more than half a million Asian Americans living in San Gabriel Valley. While smaller than the Latino population in the valley, it outnumbered the White population, and had

4788-578: Is the largest headwater of the San Gabriel River; the U.S. Geological Survey considers it part of the main stem . However, it is colloquially known as the "East Fork" to distinguish it from the West Fork of the San Gabriel. Its furthest tributary, the Prairie Fork, originates at 9,648-foot (2,941 m) Pine Mountain in the Sheep Mountain Wilderness to the southwest of Wrightwood . Draining

4921-561: The Arroyo Seco and the canyons from the mountains down to the South Pasadena area. In 1542, when the explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo arrived off the shores of San Pedro and Santa Catalina. The Tongva were the people who rowed the remarkable Ti'ats (plank canoes) out to meet Cabrilho. The language of the Tongva was different from the neighboring Indian tribes and it was called Gabrielino by

5054-599: The Interstate 5 to Downey , where the river becomes a concrete channel. It turns due south, crossing under Interstate 105 and the Metro C Line , then crossing under SR 91 at Bellflower . The San Gabriel River Bike Trail parallels the river starting at Whittier Narrows for 28 miles (45 km) to the Pacific Ocean at Seal Beach. From Cerritos the river flows south-southeast until reaching its confluence with Coyote Creek ,

5187-581: The Los Angeles Basin experienced considerable tectonic subsidence; at the same time, the San Gabriel River was depositing a huge alluvial fan , essentially an inland delta, radiating from the mouth of San Gabriel Canyon. This has combined with smaller alluvial fans from other drainages along the front range of the San Gabriels to form the flat valley floor. In the San Gabriel Valley, riverine alluvium deposits can be up to 10,000 feet (3,000 m) deep. On

5320-458: The Los Angeles Basin , are separated by the Puente Hills and Montebello Hills . With the exception of some recreation areas and lands set aside for flood control, the valleys are almost entirely urbanized. Approximately 2 million people live in the watershed, divided among 35 incorporated cities. Rainfall is slightly higher in the San Gabriel Valley than the coastal plain due to its proximity to

5453-635: The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors , and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has jurisdiction in these areas. In many unincorporated areas, advisory town councils guide the decisions, made by a supervisor or city manager. Often these groups began as collaborations of local homeowner associations . The Hacienda Heights Improvement Association, Rowland Heights Coordinating Council, and Altadena Town Council are examples of advisory bodies that are officially sanctioned by

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5586-519: The Rio Hondo , which flows parallel to the San Gabriel and also passes through the Whittier Narrows , and flowed into the Los Angeles River; in others it would swing south toward either Alamitos Bay or Anaheim Bay , or even east towards the Santa Ana River . Once every few decades, a particularly intense storm would cause the rivers to burst their banks simultaneously, inundating the coastal plain in

5719-483: The Santa Fe Dam . The Rio Hondo outlet has four main outlet passages plus a small diversion passage. The San Gabriel outlet has nine large gates installed on top of a spillway. Dimensions are furnished in the table below. The "stand-by" position of the gates on the Rio Hondo outlet is wide open. On the San Gabriel side one gate is normally open about .5 ft (15 cm) with the remaining gates closed. The reservoir

5852-496: The South San Jose Hills , was at a significant 5.07 persons per household. (Most addresses do not use South San Jose Hills as the city but use La Puente, West Covina, or Valinda.) At the other end of this scale is Sierra Madre, at 2.20 persons per household. The age distribution in the San Gabriel Valley was a little unusual when compared with the county. A larger share of the population was aged 10–19, 15.5% versus 14.8% for

5985-452: The Spanish colonization of California . Its water was heavily used for irrigation and ranching by Spanish, Mexican, and American settlers before urbanization began in the early 1900s, eventually transforming much of the watershed into industrial and suburban areas of greater Los Angeles. Severe floods in 1914, 1934, and 1938 spurred Los Angeles County, and later the federal government, to build

6118-475: The Spanish missions in California , on September 8, 1771. Its original location, called Mission Vieja , was near where San Gabriel Boulevard now crosses the Rio Hondo, which is also near the present day Juan Matias Sanchez Adobe. Angel Somera and Pedro Cambon were the first missionary priests at the new mission, which marked the beginning of the Los Angeles region's settlement by Spaniards. The San Gabriel mission

6251-536: The Whittier Narrows Dam , which serves primarily for flood control. The Rio Hondo also flows through the Whittier Narrows, to the west of the San Gabriel. The Rio Hondo drains most of the western half of the San Gabriel Valley, approaching the San Gabriel River at the Whittier Narrows; south of there, it swings to the southwest and joins the Los Angeles River . In the Whittier Narrows, they are connected by

6384-404: The 1860s, and its deep gravel bed has been an important source of construction aggregate since the early 1900s. The river is also a popular recreation area, with parks and trails in the many flood basins along its course. The headwaters of the San Gabriel River have retained their natural character and are a popular attraction of the Angeles National Forest . The San Gabriel River basin drains

6517-546: The 1920s Japanese immigrants arrived in Monterey Park to work as farmhands. The discovery of oil by Standard Oil Company in the Montebello hills, in 1917, brought about a revolutionary change to the locality. The agricultural hills soon became a major contributor to oil production. By 1920, its oil fields were producing one-eighth of California's crude oil. For several decades, the hills were dotted with active oil wells. The cities of Whittier, Covina and Pasadena were formerly

6650-460: The 1990s, Morris Reservoir was used by the U.S. Navy as a torpedo test site; the concrete launch ramp remains today and is easily seen from Highway 39, which runs through the canyon. The river emerges from the San Gabriel Canyon at Azusa , a short distance below Morris Dam , where it reaches the wide and gently sloping alluvial plain of the San Gabriel Valley . At the mouth of the canyon,

6783-532: The 19th century, the upper San Gabriel watershed was never subjected to heavy logging. Also in the San Gabriel River watershed is the 17,000-acre (6,900 ha) San Dimas Experimental Forest , a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve where forest hydrology has been continually studied since 1933. Lower down in the foothill zones, chaparral and brush dominate. The Puente Hills , which bisect the lower San Gabriel watershed, contain some sensitive plant communities such as coastal sage scrub and walnut forests. Wildfires are

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6916-497: The 44,183-acre-foot (54,499,000 m ) San Gabriel Reservoir . The concrete gravity Morris Dam , just downstream, creates the 27,800-acre-foot (34,300,000 m ) Morris Reservoir . A small hydroelectric plant in the city of Azusa is supplied with water from a diversion of the San Gabriel River, located directly below San Gabriel Dam. The reservoir water levels fluctuate widely at the upper San Gabriel Reservoir, which serves mainly for flood control and sediment control. During

7049-509: The County of Los Angeles generally includes these three cities as part of the San Gabriel Valley. The community of El Sereno , in the city of Los Angeles , is situated at the westernmost edge of the Valley. Unofficial estimates place the combined population of the San Gabriel Valley at around 2 million—roughly a fifth of the population of Los Angeles County . Before the arrival of the Spaniards ,

7182-566: The East Fork, grew to include "a boarding house, two or three stores, blacksmith shop, butcher shop, etc." A flood in November 1859 destroyed the settlement, but four months later it was re-established as the town of Eldoradoville , near the junction of the East Fork and Cattle Canyon. The period from 1859 to 1862 was the most prosperous of the San Gabriel gold rush; Wells Fargo stages alone shipped some $ 15,000 ($ 457,800 in 2023 dollars) worth of gold per month out of Los Angeles County, most of it from

7315-431: The East Fork. The North Fork is the shortest and steepest of the three major forks. It begins as a series of streams falling off the crest of the range between Mount Islip and Mount Hawkins, more than 7,000 feet (2,100 m) above sea level. Cedar Creek flows south from Windy Gap , 7,588 feet (2,313 m), to join with Soldier Creek, which continues south past Falling Springs to join with Coldbrook Creek, forming

7448-522: The La Merced area. Recently restored, it is the city's oldest structure. Mission San Gabriel Arcángel served a central role in Spanish colonial society, with many of the area's first Mexican settlers being baptized at the mission, including Pio Pico , who was born and baptized at the mission in 1801. He became governor of California twice, in 1832 and in 1845 and the city of Pico Rivera was named honoring him as

7581-547: The North Fork. The North Fork continues south for 4.5 miles (7.2 km) past Valley of the Moon Plantation, forming a braided channel along its relatively wide canyon floor. It flows into the West Fork just below Hoot Owl Flats, a short distance from the larger river's mouth at San Gabriel Reservoir . The North Fork is the most heavily developed fork of the San Gabriel River, with many campgrounds and facilities along its course. The popular Crystal Lake Recreation Area in

7714-444: The Rio Hondo downstream of the dam. Both the diversion passage direct from the dam and the diversion structure in the Rio Hondo are operated by the county. When the water conservation pool on the Rio Hondo side of the reservoir is exceeded, the releases to the Rio Hondo are increased to match inflow until either the capacity of the Rio Hondo or the Los Angeles River downstream are reached. If the water conservation pool on either side of

7847-494: The San Andreas Fault. The Puente and Montebello hills are even younger, no more than 1.8 million years old. As the hills formed, the San Gabriel River maintained its original course, cutting the water gap of the Whittier Narrows. Composed of ancient, highly fractured and unstable crystalline rock, the San Gabriel mountains are subject to tremendous amounts of erosion. Rapid erosion caused by heavy winter storms has created

7980-474: The San Gabriel Canyon long before California became a U.S. state, gold was first confirmed in the upper San Gabriel River around April 1855, by a party of prospectors who had entered the mountains via Cajon Pass . The Los Angeles Star soon reported of their findings: There has been some excitement this past week about the new gold diggings on the headwaters of the San Gabriel. We have met several persons who have been prospecting and although they found gold of

8113-436: The San Gabriel River and continued north toward what is now the city of Los Angeles. To cross the river, the expedition built a rough bridge, which gave the name La Puente to today's San Gabriel Valley city, and hills to the south are called the Puente Hills . A few years later, a mission was established near the river crossing. Mission San Gabriel Arcangel was founded by Franciscan Father Junipero Serra , first head of

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8246-554: The San Gabriel River watershed, with the greatest decline in the coastal floodplain zone. Most remaining wetland habitats are either immediately adjacent to the river, or within the Whittier Narrows and other flood control basins, providing habitat to birds and small mammals. In addition, riparian and wetland restoration projects have been completed or are in progress along the river. The San Gabriel River Wetland Restoration Development intends to construct by 2018 an artificial wetland and bioswale system near El Monte which will provide

8379-549: The San Gabriel River, and another 18 close by. One of the largest Tongva villages, Asuksangna (meaning "place of the grandmothers") was located at the mouth of the San Gabriel Canyon. The West Fork of the San Gabriel River Canyon formed part of a trade route that crossed the San Gabriel Mountains, enabling the Tongva to trade with the Serrano people in the Mojave Desert to the north. Many other villages were located near

8512-416: The San Gabriel River. The San Gabriel Valley, with its fertile soils and higher rainfall than the coastal plain, had the highest population density. Villages in the San Gabriel Valley included Alyeupkigna , Amuscopopiabit, Awingna , Comicranga, Cucamonga , Guichi, Houtgna , Isanthcogna , Juyubit , Perrooksnga, Sibagna , and Toviseanga . The village of Sejat was located at the Whittier Narrows. Puvugna

8645-401: The San Gabriel Valley in the 2000 Census was 1,510,378 people, of which 1,425,596 were living in the 30 incorporated cities. The average size of a household in the San Gabriel Valley according to the 2000 Census was 3.28 persons compared with 2.98 persons for Los Angeles County as a whole. Eight cities in the Valley have average household sizes of over four persons, while an unincorporated area,

8778-558: The San Gabriel Valley since the early 1900s to mine the rich alluvial sediments deposited by the river over millennia. From here Interstate 605 , the San Gabriel River Freeway, parallels the river's east bank almost all the way to its mouth in Seal Beach . Throughout the San Gabriel Valley, the river flows mainly in an earth-bottomed channel between artificial concrete or riprap banks. Shortly below Interstate 10 at El Monte ,

8911-518: The San Gabriel Valley's and Los Angeles County's water security . The incorporated cities and unincorporated neighborhoods of the San Gabriel Valley include: Whittier , like Montebello , is considered a part of the Gateway Cities region. An unincorporated portion of Whittier, Rose Hills , sits below the Puente Hills . While Montebello is considered to be part of the Gateway Cities region,

9044-413: The San Gabriels in later years, such as at the 1896 Big Horn Mine at Mount Baden-Powell , and the 1913 Allison Mine on Iron Mountain high above the East Fork, where several tunnels of up to 1,000 feet (300 m) in length remain. Settlements of considerable size were established in very rough country along the upper San Gabriel River. Prospect Bar, located 4 miles (6.4 km) up the narrow canyon of

9177-427: The Spanish. Disease severely reduced the native populations, and by the beginning of the 19th century, most of the surviving Gabrieliño had entered the mission system. In 1830, nine years after California had become a part of Mexico , the indigenous population had fallen to about a quarter of what it had been before Spanish colonization. In order to attract settlers to the region, Spain and later Mexico established

9310-449: The Spanish. The Tongva also provide the origin of many current names; Piwongna – Pomona, Cucomog-na – Cucamonga. The Gabrielinos lived in dome-like structures with thatched exteriors. Both sexes wore long hair styles and tattooed their bodies. During warm weather the men wore little clothing, but the women would wear minimal skirts made of animal hides. During the cold weather they would wear animal skin capes. European diseases killed many of

9443-404: The Tongva and by 1870 the area had few remaining native inhabitants. Today, several bands of Tongva people live in the Los Angeles area. The first Europeans to see inland areas of California were the members of the 1769 Portolà expedition , which traveled north by land after establishing the first Spanish settlement in today's state of California at San Diego. On July 30 , the expedition crossed

9576-436: The Tongva knew "how to meet the environmental challenge without destroying the environment." The abundant water available in the San Gabriel River basin, a rarity in arid Southern California, was noted by early Spanish explorers and made it an attractive place for Europeans to settle later on. Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo sailed past the mouth of the San Gabriel River in 1542; although he did not land here, he did make contact with

9709-480: The Tongva people of the area although people from some other groups, such as the Chumash, were also present at the San Gabriel mission. Native Americans fleeing the mission system took refuge in the upper canyons of the San Gabriel River where a significant resistance movement persisted for many years. This culminated in the San Gabriel mission uprising in 1785, led by Tongva medicine woman Toypurina , ultimately crushed by

9842-638: The United States. It is the central of three major rivers draining the Greater Los Angeles Area , the others being the Los Angeles River and Santa Ana River . The river's watershed stretches from the rugged San Gabriel Mountains to the heavily-developed San Gabriel Valley and a significant part of the Los Angeles coastal plain, emptying into the Pacific Ocean between the cities of Long Beach and Seal Beach . The San Gabriel once ran across

9975-446: The area is in general one of the most ethnically diverse regions in the country. The majority of people residing in the San Gabriel Valley are Hispanics and Asian Americans . The communities of Glendora, La Verne, Claremont, Monrovia, Sierra Madre, Pasadena, South Pasadena, and San Dimas have significant Caucasian populations. The Gabrieleno/Tongva of San Gabriel are headquartered in San Gabriel. A small Native American population

10108-456: The area. Initially, many Chinese restaurateurs and business owners used primarily Traditional Chinese script and not English names on their business signs. This changed in 1986, when the city council of Monterey Park enacted an ordinance requiring all businesses to translate their business signs and describe the nature of their businesses in English, deemed a matter of public safety. Monterey Park

10241-413: The basin – 33 inches (840 mm) per year – and as a result is the source of nearly all the natural runoff. Elevations reach up to 10,064 feet (3,068 m) at Mount San Antonio (Mount Baldy), the highest point of the range. During the winter, many elevations above 6,000 feet (1,800 m) are covered in snow. The middle third, the San Gabriel Valley , and the southern third, the coastal plain of

10374-669: The bells were ringing, and the church was in use. Prophetically, he wrote, "I believe that when the adaptation of that portion of California to the culture of the grape and the manufacture of wine becomes known and appreciated, the state will become celebrated not only for its gold and grain, but for it fruits and wines. Following the American Civil War, some 5,000 acres (20 km ) of the East Los Angeles region were owned by an Italian settler from Genoa, Alessandro Repetto. After Repetto's death in 1885, his brother sold his rancho to

10507-446: The best quality, differ very much as regards to the richness of the mine. The Crab Hollow diggings are now considered the best and will pay from two to five cents to the pan. The river remained quiet for a number of years, as drought conditions reduced streamflow and made placer mining difficult. The winter of 1858-59 was a wet one, and soon hundreds of gold seekers from both Los Angeles County and Kern County further north descended on

10640-949: The city in 1948. Huy Fong's Sriracha sauce , the ubiquitous Sriracha sauce found at Vietnamese restaurants across the western world, manufactures and is headquartered in Irwindale . Naked Juice , now a division of PepsiCo , is headquartered in Monrovia . Panda Express was launched as a fast food version of the Panda Inn restaurant in Pasadena in 1983. The company's headquarters are in Rosemead . Trader Joe's opened its first location in Pasadena in 1967. The company's headquarters are now in Monrovia. Most cities have their own local mayor, city council, police and fire departments. Unincorporated areas such as Hacienda Heights and Rowland Heights are governed by

10773-442: The coastal plain, San Gabriel River sediments are interbedded with those from the nearby Los Angeles River as well as marine sediments left behind from ancient sea level changes. Prior to the development of the floodplain, the river channels down the alluvial slope were poorly-defined at best and frequently changed course with winter storms, leaping back and forth between several different ocean outlets. In some years it joined with

10906-526: The coastal plain. California became a U.S. state in 1850, two years after the Mexican–American War . One of the decisive battles of the war was fought on January 8, 1847 on the San Gabriel River, which was the last line of defense for Mexican Californio forces led by Mexican Governor-General José Flores , tasked with defending the pueblo of Los Angeles. American forces, led by General Stephen W. Kearney under Commodore Robert F. Stockton , crossed

11039-470: The construction of many debris basins to protect foothill communities such as Glendora and Monrovia , but these works have not always been effective during the biggest storms. During floods, the river transports large volumes of sediment from the mountains into the San Gabriel Valley, ranging from fine sands, gravels, clays, and silt to car-sized boulders. Starting in the Pliocene , about 5 million years ago,

11172-616: The county supervisor representing that community. In 2003, voters in the unincorporated community of Hacienda Heights defeated a proposal to incorporate as a city. It remains an unincorporated district governed by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors rather than by a locally elected mayor and city council . Foothill Transit and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority provide bus transit services throughout

11305-569: The county. Also, the Valley had a higher share of people over 45 years of age. The income ranges in the San Gabriel Valley area are also quite wide. The highest median household income was found in San Marino ($ 117,267), followed by Bradbury ($ 100,454). At the other end of the scale was El Monte with a median household income of $ 32,439. Four other cities in the Valley had household incomes of less than $ 40,000. Significant percentages of all major ethnic groups reside in San Gabriel Valley communities, and

11438-453: The deepest gorges in Southern California. From the floor of the canyon at 3,000 feet (910 m), Iron Mountain rises 8,007 feet (2,441 m) to the southeast, while Mount Hawkins, 8,850 feet (2,700 m), rises to the northwest. The Iron Fork tributary joins from the west roughly in the middle of the Narrows. Near the lower end of the Narrows, the river passes under the Bridge to Nowhere ,

11571-531: The dramatic canyons of the San Gabriel River. In the headwaters, streams often follow fault traces; the West Fork and part of the East Fork run along the San Gabriel Canyon Fault, which extends in a nearly straight line from east to west across the center of the San Gabriel Mountains . In the winter, the mountain regions are prone to landslides and destructive debris flows , which has required

11704-496: The dry season the reservoir is often kept at a low level, in order to provide room for stormwater and allow county workers to remove built-up sediment from the basin. The northern part of the reservoir, when dry, is also used as the San Gabriel Canyon OHV area. There is no public boating access to either San Gabriel Reservoir or the downstream Morris Reservoir, which is used mainly for water supply. From World War II until

11837-427: The east and west of the San Gabriel Canyon mouth. Rancho San Francisquito , Rancho Potrero Grande , Rancho Potrero de Felipe Lugo , Rancho La Puente , and Rancho La Merced were located further south in the San Gabriel Valley. Rancho Paso de Bartolo was situated in the Whittier Narrows area, and Rancho Santa Gertrudes , Rancho Los Coyotes , Rancho Los Cerritos and Rancho Los Alamitos occupied various areas of

11970-479: The eastern boundary of the basin. In September 2017, the United States Army Corps of Engineers officials warned local residents that the dam no longer met the agency’s 'tolerable-risk' guidelines and could fail in the event of a very large, very rare storm, similar to exceptionally intense California storms which occurred between December 1861 and January 1862 , a so-called ARkStorm Authorization for

12103-430: The entire flow of the river, except during wet seasons, is diverted into the first of several spreading grounds that recharge the local San Gabriel Valley aquifer , an important source of local water supply. The usually-dry riverbed then continues in a southwesterly direction, passing the ruins of the 1907 Puente Largo or "Great Bridge" that once carried Pacific Electric interurban trains, and under Interstate 210 into

12236-490: The first decade of the 21st century led to huge fires much larger than would have occurred naturally. In 2002, the Curve Fire burned 20,000 acres (8,100 ha), much of it in the North Fork of the San Gabriel River, closing Crystal Lake Recreation Area for several years. The 2009 Station Fire , the largest wildfire in Los Angeles County's history, was mostly concentrated west of the San Gabriel watershed, but did burn much of

12369-517: The first townships in the County of Los Angeles. Today the battle site is California State Historical Landmark #385, and there are two old cannons and a plaque commemorating the battle overlooking the river on Bluff Rd. and Washington Blvd. In 1853, with a contingent of Army Engineers passing through searching for the best route to build a railroad, Geologist William P. Blake observed that the once-extensive vineyards were falling to decay, with fences broken down and animals roaming freely through it. But

12502-547: The flood control basin behind Santa Fe Dam . There are 17 drop structures or grade controls along this roughly 2-mile (3.2 km) stretch of river bed, to prevent erosion down the valley's relatively steep slope. Past the Santa Fe Dam – which when dry is used as the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area – the river flows through Irwindale , where it is the site of several major gravel quarries, which have operated in

12635-517: The foot of the mountains as far as present-day San Pedro . Under the policy of reducción , the purpose being to "reduce or consolidate the Indians from the countryside into one central community", the Spanish incentivized Native Americans to joining the mission system first via gifts, but also often by force. Native people worked on farms and ranches of the mission lands, and were converted to Christianity. The Spanish name "Gabrieliño" generally refers to

12768-661: The fourth in a chain of missions along the California coast, was founded in 1771 by Junípero Serra , along the San Gabriel River near present-day Montebello . The name of the mission was soon attached to the river as well as the San Gabriel Mountains, which had been previously called the Sierra Madre by the Spanish. The original site suffered chronic flooding and was moved to its present site in San Gabriel , 5 miles (8.0 km) northwest, in 1775. The mission eventually controlled 1,500,000 acres (610,000 ha) of land extending from

12901-450: The homes of the wealthy. Mostly a bachelor society (especially after the Page Act of 1875 banned Chinese women), the early Chinese did not leave many descendants. By the late 1880s, there was a growing Japanese pioneer population. Filipinos and Asian Indians also served as laborers in the valley. Immigration of Chinese laborers was banned by the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act until 1943. Almost

13034-650: The land along the Rio Hondo River , a branch of the San Gabriel River, was populated by the Tongva people . The Tongva occupied much of the Los Angeles basin and the islands of Santa Catalina , San Nicolas , San Clemente and Santa Barbara . In the northern part of the valley were the Hahanog-na Indian tribe, a branch of the Tongva Nation (part of the Shoshone language group) who lived in villages scattered along

13167-499: The largest concentration of East Asian American communities in the United States , located primarily in the southwestern part of the San Gabriel Valley. Eight of the ten cities in the United States with the largest proportion of Chinese Americans are located in the San Gabriel Valley. The cities and communities of Monterey Park, Walnut, Alhambra, San Gabriel, San Marino, Rowland Heights, Hacienda Heights, Diamond Bar, and Arcadia form

13300-443: The largest remaining population of arroyo chub , a fish endemic to coastal Southern California streams. Although the first recorded inhabitants of the San Gabriel River area arrived about 2,500 years ago, humans may have been present in Southern California as early as 12,000 years ago. Immediately prior to the arrival of Spanish explorers in the region, the native population is estimated at 5,000–10,000. Mount San Antonio provided

13433-496: The largest tributary of the lower river, which drains much of northwest Orange County. A short distance below Coyote Creek, the river bed reverts from concrete to earth. It passes under Interstate 405 and SR 22 , past Leisure World and Joint Forces Training Base - Los Alamitos (Los Alamitos Army Airfield), and under the Pacific Coast Highway . It empties into the Pacific Ocean between Alamitos Bay and Anaheim Bay (to

13566-541: The last Mexican governor of California. The Battle of Rio San Gabriel took place in Montebello on January 8, 1847, on the banks of the Rio Hondo. This battle gave the control of Los Angeles and Alta California to the United States, and was a decisive battle in the Mexican-American War . Two days later, after several battle losses and defeats, Mexico was forced to cede Alta California to the United States. By 1852, after American occupation, San Gabriel became one of

13699-605: The mean unimpaired runoff at Azusa was estimated at 114,000 acre-feet (141,000,000 m ), with a range from 9,600 to 410,000 acre-feet (11,800,000 to 505,700,000 m ). Historically, the San Gabriel River reached its highest flows in the winter and spring, with runoff dropping significantly after early June before rising again with November or December storms. Today, the flow of the San Gabriel River has been dried up in places by dams, diversions, and groundwater recharge operations, and increased in other sections by wastewater run-off. The East Fork , 17 miles (27 km) long,

13832-505: The mountains; however, the climate as a whole is very arid, with only moderate precipitation in winter and nearly none in summer. The lower watershed consists primarily of alluvial plains that once experienced seasonal flooding from the San Gabriel River, creating vast swamps and wetlands. Today, very little of this original environment remains. The San Gabriel is one of the largest natural streams in Southern California, but its discharge varies widely from year to year. Between 1895 and 1957

13965-569: The native Tongva, who rowed out in their canoes to greet the expedition. The first Spanish party to actually cross the river was the Portolà expedition , led in 1769 by Captain Gaspar de Portolà . Juan Crespí , a missionary traveling with the expedition, described their first impression of the San Gabriel River: We then descended to a broad and spacious plain ... After traveling for an hour through

14098-571: The northern portion of Montebello is part of the San Gabriel Valley. Claremont , La Verne , and Pomona are adjacent to the San Gabriel Valley, and though they are properly considered part of the Pomona Valley , they are also commonly considered part of the San Gabriel Valley. The 57 Freeway (Orange Freeway) is generally considered the dividing line between the Pomona and San Gabriel valleys. However, for statistical and economic development purposes,

14231-627: The parade, the Rose Bowl game between two rival college football teams is also televised live. As the oldest incorporated community in the valley, the City of Pasadena serves as a cultural center for the San Gabriel Valley. Several art-house film and play theatres are located in Pasadena, including the Pasadena Playhouse . In addition, the local news/talk National Public Radio station KPCC 89.3 FM broadcasts from Pasadena City College , although it

14364-464: The project construction is contained in the Flood Control Act of 18 August 1941 (PL 77-228) and the initial funds for construction were provided in the 1949 Appropriations Bill. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed construction of the dam in 1957. The purpose of the project is to collect runoff from the uncontrolled drainage areas upstream along with releases into the San Gabriel River from

14497-484: The reservoir is below elevation 201.6 ft (61.4 m) NGVD29 , releases are made to accommodate the capacity of the spreading grounds downstream along the Rio Hondo. The spreading grounds are operated by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works to recharge the groundwater basin. Flow reaches the spreading grounds either directly by way of the diversion passage or from a diversion structure in

14630-441: The reservoir is exceeded, discharges on the San Gabriel side can be increased to approximately 5000 ft³/s (142 m³/s). The San Gabriel outlet has automatic spillway gates. When the pool in the reservoir exceeds flood control storage these gates will begin to open automatically. The top of the flood control storage pool is at elevation 228.5 ft (69.6 m) NGVD. The capacity of the Rio Hondo downstream from Whittier Narrows Dam

14763-488: The result of a band of bedrock running parallel to the coast, forcing groundwater to the surface. In mountain areas, the San Gabriel River channel is often too narrow to support significant vegetation, as winter floods tend to scour the channel down to bare rock. Below the mountains, most of the streams are locked in artificial channels, and the vast majority of the original wetlands have been lost to urban development. Less than 2,500 acres (1,000 ha) of wetlands remain in

14896-456: The river is joined from the east by Walnut Creek , which restores a small perennial flow. Below this confluence it curves west and receives San Jose Creek , also from the east, before passing under SR 60 . The river then enters the Whittier Narrows , the natural water gap between the Puente and Montebello Hills that forms the southern entrance to the San Gabriel Valley. Here it is impounded by

15029-542: The river quickly descends to the Cogswell Reservoir , where Devils Canyon Creek joins from the north. The Gabrielino Trail parallels the river from Red Box Saddle as far as the Devore campground, above Cogswell Reservoir. Below Cogswell Dam, the river is paralleled by Forest Route 2N25, a one-lane paved road open only to non-motorized traffic (except for maintenance and emergency services). The river flows east through

15162-656: The river under heavy fire, but were able to force the Californios from their defensive position in under ninety minutes. After taking control of the river, the Americans were able to take Los Angeles on January 10, and the Mexicans surrendered California three days later. This campaign is now remembered as the Battle of Rio San Gabriel . Although it was rumored for many years that Native Americans and Spanish explorers had discovered gold in

15295-425: The river. By May 1859, claims were staked along 40 miles (64 km) of the San Gabriel Canyon. In the early days, access to the diggings proved difficult, as the rocky San Gabriel River bed was the only way into the rugged mountains. In July 1859, stagecoach service was established to bring in miners and their supplies. Between 1855 and 1902, an estimated $ 5,000,000 ($ 153 million in 2023 dollars) worth of gold

15428-405: The road. Below the confluence of the East Fork and West Fork, the San Gabriel River flows through the deep San Gabriel Canyon, the only major break in the southern part of the San Gabriel Mountains. Although this stretch of the river was once free-flowing, today is it impounded by major reservoirs for water supply and flood control. San Gabriel Dam , a 325-foot (99 m) high rockfill dam, forms

15561-612: The sites of the citrus industry. In addition, the oil, dairy and cattle industries used to flourish in the southern region of the SGV. Many equestrian trails in the San Gabriel Valley—specifically, in Covina and Walnut—have disappeared or fallen into disuse. The remaining rural countryside-like areas include the area between eastern West Covina and Cal Poly Pomona and in Walnut and Diamond Bar and La Puente. The total population of

15694-598: The south), on the boundary of Long Beach in Los Angeles County, and Seal Beach in Orange County. The San Gabriel River, its canyons, and its floodplain are relatively young in geological terms, and owe their existence to tectonic forces along the San Andreas Fault (the boundary between the North American Plate and Pacific Plate ) and its subsidiary fault and fracture zones. The San Gabriel Mountains are

15827-485: The southern end of the San Gabriel Valley, groundwater rose to the surface due to the damming effect of bedrock at the Whittier Narrows and formed a perennial stream that ran across the coastal plain to the Pacific. In the 19th century, irrigated agriculture was developed on a large scale in the San Gabriel Valley, resulting in a severe decline of the water table as farmers drilled hundreds of wells. The San Gabriel Valley aquifer

15960-425: The state". Irrigation development that dried up the river, and later damming and channelization for flood control, have contributed to the near extinction of steelhead in the San Gabriel basin. Since the 19th century rainbow trout have been planted in the upper forks of the San Gabriel River to provide a recreational fishery. About 60,000 rainbows are stocked each year between October and June. The West Fork also has

16093-407: The upper North Fork includes the only natural lake in the San Gabriel Mountains . The North Fork valley provides the route for Highway 39 , which until 1978 provided automobile access from San Gabriel Canyon Road to the Angeles Crest Highway . Since then, the upper part of the road north of Crystal Lake has been closed due to chronic landslides and erosion. As of 2016, there are no plans to reopen

16226-435: The upper West Fork. With urban development expanding toward mountain areas, the threat of property damage continues to increase. The San Gabriel River historically supported large populations of native fish, including the largest runs of steelhead in Southern California. Steelhead once migrated over 60 miles (97 km) upriver from the Pacific Ocean to spawn, and it was known as one of the "best steelhead fishing rivers in

16359-529: The valley includes 31 cities and five unincorporated communities. It is located entirely within Los Angeles County. Pasadena is the largest city in the San Gabriel Valley. Pasadena was incorporated in 1886, making it the fourth city incorporated in Los Angeles County, following Los Angeles, Santa Ana , and Anaheim (Santa Ana and Anaheim are both now located in Orange County , which broke off in 1889). More recently, statewide droughts have further strained

16492-661: The valley is provided by Foothill Transit . On March 5, 2016, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority opened the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension, expanding the current light rail service that previously traveled from East LA to Pasadena through Downtown LA to a new Northern terminus in Azusa. It has since been taken over by the A Line , which goes down through Downtown Los Angeles to Long Beach , and

16625-433: The valley we came to an arroyo of water which flows among many green marshes, their banks covered with willows and grapes, blackberries, and innumerable Castilian rosebushes ... It runs along the foot of the mountains, and can be easily used to irrigate the large area of good land ... The valley ... is surrounded by ranges of hills. The one to the north is very high and dark and has many corrugations, and seems to run farther to

16758-457: The valley. El Monte Station , a large regional bus station, provides transportation to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles via the El Monte Busway , an 11-mile (18 km) shared-use bus corridor (transitway). The Metrolink San Bernardino Line commuter train runs westward to Downtown Los Angeles and eastward to San Bernardino through the valley. Most of the public transit via bus in

16891-684: The villagers would travel up the San Gabriel Canyon into the mountains to gather food and other resources needed to pass the winter. The San Gabriel River itself also provided sustenance to Native Americans with its steelhead trout and game animals attracted by this rare permanent water source. The abundant plant life around the river and its marshes, especially tule , were used to build dwellings and canoes. The Tongva often set brush fires to clear out old growth, improving forage for game animals. They also made oceangoing canoes (ti'at) using wooden planks held together with asphaltum or tar from local oil seeps . At least 26 Tongva villages were located along

17024-522: The west. The expedition had to build a bridge across the river because the channel was too swampy and muddy, making it difficult to move their horses and supplies. The area came to be known as "la puente" (the bridge), from which the modern-day city of La Puente takes its name. Following the Portolà expedition, Spain claimed California as part of its empire, and the San Gabriel River was referred to as "Río San Miguel Arcángel". Mission San Gabriel Arcángel ,

17157-534: The world. The Armenian community of Pasadena has its roots in the 1890s. The Pashgian Bros. Oriental Rugs and Fine Carpets was established in 1889. Hispanics, predominately Mexican Americans , are concentrated in Alhambra, Baldwin Park, City of Industry, El Monte, Hacienda Heights, La Puente, Montebello, Rosemead, San Gabriel, South El Monte, West Covina, Covina, Pomona, and Whittier, with significant populations in Pasadena and South Pasadena. The San Gabriel Valley has

17290-541: Was named for the Spanish Mission San Gabriel Arcángel originally built in the Whittier Narrows in 1771. Once predominantly agricultural , the San Gabriel Valley today is almost entirely urbanized and is an integral part of the Greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. It is one of the most ethnically diverse regions in the country. Covering about 200 sq mi (520 km ) in area,

17423-505: Was removed from the San Gabriel River. Mining along the San Gabriel River began with simple gold panning, but soon developed to more advanced methods. Flumes were constructed to carry water to sluices , long toms, and hydraulic mining operations that separated gold from river gravel; dams and waterwheels helped maintain the necessary head to drive these extensive waterworks and clear the riverbed so that gold-bearing sands could be excavated. Some hard rock (tunnel) mining also occurred in

17556-468: Was situated around present-day Long Beach , near the river's mouth. The first explorers to make contact with the Tongva described them as a peaceful people. Anthropologists believe the Tongva may have been some of the more advanced native inhabitants of California, establishing currency and complex trade systems with neighboring tribes, cultivating trees and plants for food, and having a formal government structure. Indian Agent B.D. Wilson wrote in 1852

17689-400: Was the third of twenty-one missions that would ultimately be established along California's El Camino Real . The San Gabriel mission did well in establishing cattle ranching and farming, but six years after its founding a destructive flood led the mission fathers to relocate the establishment to its current location farther north in present-day city of San Gabriel . The original mission site

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