Why West Covina
West Covina is a city situated in the central San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles County, California. Located approximately 19 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, the municipality is bordered by surrounding communities including Covina, Baldwin Park, Irwindale, La Puente, Valinda, Industry, and Walnut. The region experiences a hot-summer Mediterranean climate, characterized by average summer temperatures exceeding 23 °C (73 °F).
The area's earliest known inhabitants were the Tongva people. In 1845, California Governor Pío Pico sold much of the land to John Rowland and William Workman. Permanent settlement began in 1905 when homesteaders cleared local sagebrush and cactus to establish walnut groves. West Covina officially incorporated in 1923 under founding mayor Benjamin Franklin Maxson Jr. to prevent neighboring Covina from constructing a sewage farm in the vicinity. Following World War II, the population expanded rapidly during a major residential building boom between 1950 and 1960.
Divided into five distinct districts, West Covina features a variety of community amenities and distinctive sites. The West Covina Sportsplex is a 315-acre development constructed on a former landfill, encompassing a public golf course, commercial space, and a sports park. Among the municipality's notable features is the Shoehorn Museum, which holds the world's largest collection of shoehorns. The city is also home to the largest hazardous waste landfill in the state of California.
Retail activities in West Covina are centered around three main shopping destinations. Plaza West Covina is a two-story regional shopping center featuring fashion boutiques, a food court, and major department stores such as Macy's, JC Penney, Sears, and Best Buy. Eastland Center, an established shopping venue open since 1957, operates as a two-level complex anchored by Target. The Heights at West Covina covers 340,000 square feet and hosts additional retailers, including Home Depot and Target.
Public transportation throughout the city and the wider San Gabriel Valley is provided by Foothill Transit. Service includes the Silver Streak bus rapid transit network, which stops at key local points, along with the Go West local shuttle and microtransit options. Community healthcare facilities include Emanate Health Queen of the Valley Hospital, which provides emergency, surgical, pediatric, and maternity care.
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