San Fernando, California

Spanish colonial period

The Mission San Fernando Rey de España (named after St. Ferdinand) was founded in 1797 at the site of Achooykomenga, an agricultural rancho established by Juan Francisco Reyes for Pueblo de Los Ángeles worked by Ventureño Chumash, Fernandeño (Tongva), and Tataviam laborers.^[10][12]

In 1833, the mission was secularized by the Mexican government. During its time as a mission, 1,367 native children were baptized at San Fernando, of which 965 died in childhood. The high death rate of children and adults at the missions sometimes led those kept at the mission to run away.^[13][14]

Rancho land grant

In 1846, the area became part of the Mexican land grant of Rancho Ex-Mission San Fernando. In 1874, Charles Maclay, bought 56,000 acres (227 km²) of the Rancho.

In 1882, cousins George K. Porter and Benjamin F. Porter, of future Porter Ranch, each received one-third of the total land. In 1885, Maclay founded the Maclay School of Theology, a Methodist seminary in San Fernando.^[15] After his death it became an affiliate and moved to the campus of the University of Southern California and then the Claremont School of Theology.

In August 1911, a motion to incorporate as an independent city passed by eight votes.^[16] While most of the towns in the surrounding San Fernando Valley agreed to annexation by Los Angeles in the 1910s, eager to tap the bountiful water supply provided by the newly opened Los Angeles Aqueduct, San Fernando's abundant groundwater supplies allowed it to remain a separate city.

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, San Fernando had a population of 23,946. The median age was 35.4 years. 23.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 11.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.0 males age 18 and over. San Fernando had a population density of 10,086.80/sq miles or 26,124.69/km².^[40][41][6]

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.^[42]

There were 6,358 households in San Fernando, of which 46.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.5% were married-couple households, 16.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 13.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[40]

There were 6,503 housing units, of which 2.2% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 1.3%.^[40]

Other demographics

The City of San Fernando's Annual Report states that the median household income was $77,334 with a total of 6,504 households.^[43] The same report states that 73.1% of residents speak a language other than English at home, that 71.2% of residents speak Spanish at home, and 28.1% of residents have limited English-speaking abilities.

2010 census

At the 2010 census San Fernando had a population of 23,645. The population density was 9,959.9 inhabitants per square mile (3,845.5/km²). The racial makeup of San Fernando was 12,068 (51.0%) White (5.3% Non-Hispanic White),^[44] 222 (0.9%) African American, 314 (1.3%) Native American, 248 (1.0%) Asian, 33 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 9,877 (41.8%) from other races, and 883 (3.7%) from two or more races. There were 21,687 Hispanic or Latino residents, of any race (92.5%).^[45]

The census reported that 23,531 people (99.5% of the population) lived in households, 46 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 68 (0.3%) were institutionalized.

There were 5,967 households, 3,247 (54.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,282 (55.0%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,098 (18.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 592 (9.9%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 476 (8.0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 34 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 731 households (12.3%) were one person and 295 (4.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.94. There were 4,972 families (83.3% of households); the average family size was 4.18.

The age distribution was 6,941 people (29.4%) under the age of 18, 2,659 people (11.2%) aged 18 to 24, 7,132 people (30.2%) aged 25 to 44, 4,920 people (20.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,993 people (8.4%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 30.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.

There were 6,291 housing units at an average density of 2,649.9 per square mile, of the occupied units 3,252 (54.5%) were owner-occupied and 2,715 (45.5%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.9%. 13,425 people (56.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 10,106 people (42.7%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, San Fernando had a median household income of $55,192, with 16.9% of the population living below the federal poverty line.^[46]

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 23,564 people in 5,774 households, including 4,832 families, in the city. The population density was 9,880.7 inhabitants per square mile (3,815.0/km²). There were 5,932 housing units at an average density of 2,487.4 per square mile (960.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 42.76% White, 0.98% African American, 1.69% Native American, 1.12% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 49.35% from other races, and 3.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 89.28%.^[47]

Of the 5,774 households 52.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.1% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.3% were non-families. 12.4% of households were one person and 5.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 4.07 and the average family size was 4.33.

The age distribution was 34.4% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 15.0% from 45 to 64, and 7.0% 65 or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.9 males.

The median household income was $39,909 and the median family income was $40,138. Males had a median income of $26,068 versus $22,599 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,485. 15.3% of families and 19.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.5% of those under age 18 and 15.6% of those age 65 or over.

Top employers

According to the City of San Fernando's 2022 annual report,^[48] the top ten employers in the city (not including the city itself as an employer) are:

As of 2021, the City of San Fernando has a total labor force of 11,000 with 3,943 (35.85%) working for the top ten employers listed. The City of San Fernando also employs 132 people as of 2021.^[49]

Sport

This city is home to an ulama team, Oceyolotl de San Fernando Valley, who play ulama de cadera in the AJUPEME USA league.^[51]

Municipal government

The City of San Fernando is governed by a city council. Members of the City Council are elected at-large and serve four year terms.^[9] The mayor is appointed every year, on a rotating basis, by a majority vote of the council. The Council meets on the first and third Monday of each month at 6:00 pm in the Council Chambers.

State and federal representation

In the California State Legislature, San Fernando is in the 20th senatorial district, represented by Democrat Caroline Menjivar, and in the 43rd Assembly district, represented by Democrat Celeste Rodriguez.^[54]

In the United States Senate, San Fernando is represented by California's senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff.^[55] In the United States House of Representatives, San Fernando is in California's 29th congressional district, represented by Democrat Luz Rivas.^[56]

Public library

The County of Los Angeles Public Library operates the San Fernando Library at 217 North Maclay Avenue.

Police

Police services in San Fernando is provided by the San Fernando Police Department. The police department has 35 sworn police officers and 25 non-sworn personnel. The department is also augmented by 20 sworn reserve police officers. In times of need, the police department can deploy a total of 55 sworn police officers.^{[citation needed]}

The San Fernando Police Department is a member of the Los Angeles County Disaster Management Area "C". Area "C" consists of the cities of Burbank, Pasadena, Glendale, San Fernando, San Gabriel, Monterey Park, Alhambra and South Pasadena.^[74] The San Fernando Police have, in the past, requested mutual aid from the LAPD during major incidents.^{[citation needed]}

Fire

The Los Angeles Fire Department provides fire protection services for the city of San Fernando, which serves the community from three nearby fire stations (Station 75, Station 91, and Station 98), all of which are located in the City of Los Angeles.^[75]

Fire Station 75 in Mission Hills serves western San Fernando.^[76] Fire Station 91 in Sylmar serves northeast San Fernando^[77] Fire Station 98 in Pacoima serves southeast San Fernando.^[78]

Transportation

The Sylmar/San Fernando Metrolink station serves the city on the Antelope Valley Line that passes through the city on a route adjacent to and parallel with San Fernando Boulevard. The officials and citizens have expressed their concern about the impact of the California High-Speed Rail if it follows the same route through the city.^[79] The city will become the future northern terminus of the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Project, the valley's first light rail line by 2027.^[80][81]

San Fernando runs a fixed route trolley service around the city, serving 28 stops around the city. At the moment, fares are free and the city claims a frequency of 20–25 minutes. The Los Angeles Metro, the county's transportation authority serves San Fernando with various Metro Local bus routes and the Metro Rapid 761 line, whose terminus is at the Metrolink station and ends in West Los Angeles.^[82]