Famous singer Frank Zappa said it best in his song Memories of El Monte. The residential, industrial, and commercial Los Angeles County community gives Southern California some serious swag with its rich history and present day fun.
A respite for Spanish missionaries as early as 1730, the lovely locale was named by the passersby as El Monte, which means meadow or wooded spot in Spanish. The sector still sports a luscious landscape more than two hundreds later with large trees and lawns lining the streets. Along with great land, education and business are booming in the El Monte borders, offering so much to adults and children's alike.
If you have ever thought of moving to this Southern California community, consider it a bit longer after reading this guide that presents a plethora of information on the province.
El Monte Climate
With warm summers and cooler winters, locals get to enjoy seasonal changes throughout the year. August, the warmest month of the year, averages around 90 degrees and December, the coldest month of the year, averages around 40 degrees. Like most daily and evening climate, the temperatures in town vary anywhere between 30 degrees from the a.m. to the p.m. No snow falls in the region; however, the area sees an annual average precipitation of almost 19-inches. Rainfall is more frequent in the winter than summer, with February averaging about 4.66 inches within 28 days, making it the wettest month of the year.
El Monte Neighborhoods
El Monte is a medium-sized city located in Los Angeles County. With a population of 114,296 people and 25 constituent neighborhoods, the California community is the 51st largest locale in the Pacific Coast state. The most expensive sections of El Monte, where the more affluent reside, are Ramona Boulevard, Flair Drive and Telstar Avenue. A few dominant districts and streets many school sites are adjacent to include Potrero and Garvey Avenues and Loftus Drive. As for safety, some of the most secure sectors in the city are located in Five Points and along Durfee and Tyler Avenues.
Registering Your Car
You have 20 days to register your car after becoming a state resident. To receive a registration you must provide smog and weight certification, your last issued out of state title and proof of insurance. To complete the registration process, your vehicle must also be inspected by the California Division of Motor Vehicles.
Though you have 20 days to register your car after relocating to the region, you only have 10 days to get a driver's license. To receive a permit you must provide a thumb print, fill out a DL 44 form, have your photo taken, and provide your full name and Social Security number, along with passing a vision, traffic laws and road sign exam.
El Monte Schools
The El Monte City School District has 17 elementary campuses and concedes "to educate all students to develop skills, knowledge, and attitudes to be responsible, productive, and fulfilled individuals able to succeed ethically in a democratic society." The Mountain View School District also serves local elementary-aged students, and of course there are a selection of private schools for students, who seek religious-based education, to attend. The El Monte Union High School District, serving 10,000 students, has seven high schools and two adult sites in the system. As for post secondary sites, Cal State Los Angeles, Cal State Fullerton, Caltech and Long Beach State Colleges are just some four-year campuses students can obtain a bachelor's degree from.
El Monte Employment
According to El Monte's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, top fields of employment are education, government and transportation. The three school districts, El Monte Union, El Monte City and Mountain View Elementary, employ up to 2,000 staff members collectively and El Monte Adult School employs 300 laborers. As for government and transportation, the City of El Monte and San Gabriel Transit are other top employers, staffing more than 700 residents together. As the unemployment rate floats at 11.5 percent, points above the national average, locals and new residents search the area classifieds and staffing agencies for work while business owners look to the El Monte Chamber of Commerce to lead them in the right economic direction.
Living Costs in the City
Though 7.1 percent less than the California average, El Monte's cost of living is 21.9 percent greater than the national average. With an typical median family income of $41,570 and the median home price coming in at $315,000, the area remains affordable as long as you hold a good job. Of course, it is always wise to procure employment before relocating to El Monte or any region for that matter. As for renting, the average one-bedroom apartment starts at around $600 and goes up in price according to size, luxury and location.
El Monte Moving Resources
Moving and storage companies are ready and willing to help you with your move to El Monte, whether you're moving from out of state or from another county in California. Make sure you get estimates from multiple moving services before you commit to hiring any (at least three estimates). Check back to our guides for tips on how to choose your moving service wisely with important questions to ask, differentiating between types of estimates, and mistakes to avoid. Visit the following pages at Movers.com to get quotes for the following services:
El Monte Transportation
El Monte Transit operates five-fixed trolley routes that provide transportation for residents to shopping, recreation and educational sites. With a reasonable fare of only .50 cents per ride, and convenient weekday and weekend hours of operation, residents relax while catching a ride in the region. When locals are looking to really get away from home, they can fly out of the Bob Hope Airport that services domestic and international flights.
Culture & Contemporary Life
Balancing work and school with pleasure, locals of all ages enjoy the many outdoor and indoor activities the area has to offer. Concerts in the park, annual parades and festivals constantly join families together for a terrific time in town. Mountain View Park is a local hot spot for sporting activities, picnics and more as well as the El Monte Community Center, where children, teens, adults and seniors enjoy fun educational events. With so many restaurants in the region, including Art's, Bamboo Wok, Basileia and BBQ Express, locals can flavor all types of cultural cuisine when the mood strikes. For a show, Edward El Monte 8 features Hollywood's hottest films. Yet, if locals like real red carpet thrills rather than watching the action from the other side of the screen, Los Angeles is under 20 minutes away.
El Monte Relocation Tips
- Take a deep breath and exhale slowly. It is going to be just fine. As one of life's biggest stressors, moving rates at the top of the list. Deal with moving anxiety in a positive way.
- Whatever you do, don't strain your back and be out of commission on moving day. Learn how to load and unload the moving truck safely.
- Give your new pad that home sweet home feel as soon as you walk through the door.