San Marino, known for the size of...
San Marino, known for the size of its estates and incomes, is a city of superlatives.
Consider one of its many distinctions: One of its founders, rail tycoon Henry E. Huntington, ultimately had his name on nearly as much Los Angeles real estate as the county assessor. The city’s first mayor was George Patton, father of the famed “Blood and Guts” general of World War II. As a boy the younger George swam in Lake Vineyard, which would become a 35-acre verdant jewel called Lacy Park.
In addition, San Marino unwittingly gave birth in 1949 to one of the most dramatic moments in television’s infancy--the lengthy but futile search for 3-year-old Kathy Fiscus, who had slipped down a well shaft and figuratively pulled the city in with her.
San Marino was incorporated in 1913, after its founding fathers delineated the type of city they had in mind by prohibiting bars and gambling and apartment houses.
Despite the city fathers’ best efforts, entrepreneur Edward Nealis ran a casino within a five-acre Old Mill Road home that straddled the boundary line between San Marino and Pasadena. It had walls that dropped with a push of a button to shield the card games and roulette wheels from the prying eyes of police in the 1930s. Nealis, a small-time racketeer, was also connected with the Clover Club, another reputed gambling house in West Hollywood.
A chauffeur named Scotty at the now defunct Huntington Sheraton Hotel delivered exclusive guests and racketeers to this private club after they spent the day playing the horses at Santa Anita.
On Feb. 25, 1936, the 20-room mansion--built by shoe manufacturer William Joyce in 1910 near the old grist mill and since torn down--was raided, bringing to a close one unwanted superlative--the liveliest game in town.
In the region’s fifth wealthiest city, a big change is demographic: One-third of the residents are of Asian origin. These days, the middle school’s fund-raising pancake breakfast puts a Chinese breakfast on the menu.
San Marino Tidbits
Safety: Crime in San Marino is as low as it has been in 20 years, despite rare horrors, such as a father who torched his house and family (1995), two kids shot to death by gangs at a graduation party (1994) and the fatal shooting of a Taiwanese businessman in his driveway (1990).
Centerpiece: San Marino’s crown jewel--a scholarly and botanical paradise--is the prestigious Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens. Henry E. Huntington and his wife, Arabella, left behind a significant cultural legacy, housing the vast collection of rare plants, books and fine art.
Outreach: Confidence between the community and the city’s Police Department ranks among the highest in Southern California. San Marino Police Capt. Gary Isaacs said a survey conducted last year by Cal State Fullerton criminal justice students ranked San Marino No.1 out of 75 law enforcement agencies.
Poshness: A rigorous set of regulations are enforced to maintain a posh lifestyle: a car can be visible in a driveway for no more than 48 hours continuously, only one family is allowed for each home, trash cans cannot be in view of the street, door-to-door hawkers and chain-link fences are expressly prohibited. The only salvation for some jittery souls is a double espresso, the strongest drink for sale in the city.
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By The Numbers
City Business
Incorporated: April 25, 1913
Area in square miles: 3.75
Number of parks: 1
City employees: 132
1995-96 budget: $8.9 million
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People
Population: 12,959
Households: 4,357
Average household size: 2.94
Median age: 41.2
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Ethnic Breakdown
Asian: 32%
Black / Other: 1%
Latino: 5%
White: 62%
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Money and Work Median household income: $100,101
Median household income / L.A. County: $34,965
Median home value: $695,000
Employed workers (16 and older): 5,706
Percentage of women employed: 44.6%
Percentage of men employed: 72.8%
Self-employed: 964
Car- poolers: 488
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Retail Stores
Number of stores: 54
Number of employees: 221
Annual sales: $24.3 million
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Families:
Married couples with children: 34%
Married couples with no children: 42%
Non-family households: 14%
Other types of families: 10%
Source: Claritas Inc. Household expenses are averages for 1994. All other figures are for 1990. Percentages have been rounded to the nearest whole number.
