Sierra Madre is a town in Los Angeles County, California. The population was about 10,580 at the time of the 2000 census. It is in the Foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains below the southern edge of the Angeles National Forest with the cities of Pasadena and Altadena to its west, and Arcadia to its south and east.
Sierra Madre is historically linked to the old mountain resorts of the San Gabriel Mountains and Valley. The Sierra Madre Villa Hotel was a pioneer of summer resorts that populated the San Gabriel Valley in the late-1800s. The municipality also operates maintains the landmark Lizzie's Trail in at the head of Old Mount Wilson Trail.
Sierra Madre is known for its annual Wistaria Festival, which celebrates its 114 year old, 1+ acre wisteria vine, which is named by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest blooming plant and one of the seven horticultural wonders of the world.
This small village in the Sierra Madre Canyon area is noted for being a distinct and unusual community. The Canyon is characterized by narrow and winding roads, lush vegetation, views of the San Gabriel Valley, and small bungalows or cabins. The downtown has small restaurants and shops.
There is also an historic company that makes gourmet and specialty olives, jams, jellies, and syrups (sold to the public) from its own citrus groves. The company, E. Waldo Ward and Son, was founded over 120 years ago, when most of Sierra Madre was mainly agricultural in its zoning; the first Sevilla orange trees in the U.S. were planted on the grounds.
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,578 people, 4,756 households, and 2,739 families residing in the town. There were 4,756 households. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.87. The median income for a household in the town was $75,900, and the median income for a family was $89,588.
|