San Marino

Incorporated on April 12, 1913,San Marino was designed by its founders to be uniquely residential, with expansive properties surrounded by beautiful gardens, wide streets, and well maintained parkways. In 2010, Forbes Magazine ranked the city as the 63rd most expensive area to live in the United States.There are little to no homes priced under US$1,000,000, with the median list price of a single family home at US$2,159,000.

San Marino was known for its old-money wealth and as a bastion of the region's WASP gentry. By mid-century, other European ethnic groups had become the majority; in recent decades, immigrants of Chinese (especially Taiwanese) ancestry have come to represent more than half of the population, perhaps due to its close proximity to the San Gabriel Valley, known to be a popular place of residency amongst Asian Americans and Asian immigrants.

San Marino is the location of the Huntington Library and gardens with its art collections, and to the rare books and historical documents. In the middle of San Marino lies Lacy Park, a huge 30-acre expanse of grass and trees. Originally named Wilson Lake in 1875, the land was purchased by the city in 1925 and dedicated as a park. Families in San Marino have enjoyed the park for years. A picnic area is often the site of musical concerts, civic events and pancake breakfasts.

San Marino consists only of single family residences: there are no apartment buildings, condominiums or townhouses in the city. All homes must have a 2-car garage. No fast food or drive-through restaurants are allowed in San Marino.