San Marino, CA Area Guide

San Marino is located in Southern California, adjacent to the City of Pasadena at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains. As of 1990, the population was reported to be 12,988. In 2009, the city was ranked the 79th most expensive area to live in the United States by Forbes magazine. San Marino was named after the Republic of San Marino, which is also present on the city’s seal, with the Three Towers of San Marino. Also, as of 2009, San Marino Unified School District was ranked the top performing school district in California. San Marino’s high school consistently ranks as one of the highest API scores among public high schools in California, and each of its public schools are honored as a California Distinguished School and a United States National Blue Ribbon School.

In 1830, the principal portions of San Marino were included in a Mexican Land Grant to a woman named Senora Victoria Reid, which she named Huerta de Cuati. Prior to the grant, the land had belonged to the San Gabriel Mission and before that was occupied by the Gabrielino Indians.

In 1852, Mrs. Reid deeded her Rancho to Don Benito Wilson. Later, Wilson deeded the main portion to J. de Barth Shorb, who named his Rancho after his grandfather's plantation in Maryland, which in turn had received its name from the Republic of San Marino, in Italy.

In 1903, the Shorb Estate was purchased by Henry E. Huntington and in 1913 the three primary Ranchos of Wilson, Patton, and Huntington, together with the subdivided areas from those and smaller Ranchos, such as Stoneman, White, Rose and others, were incorporated as the city of San Marino. The first mayor of San Marino was General George S. Patton, Sr.

The San Marino Seal contains the three summits of Mt. Titano, upon each of which reposes a tower, fortified with walls built from native rock and capped with a bronze plume, all surrounded by a heart-shaped scroll with two roundels and a lozenge (of unknown significance) at the top. Underneath the left side is a graceful palm frond and underneath the right side, a branch from an orange tree. The crown representing the monarchy on the original was removed and five stars representing the five members of the City's governing body were added. For more information on San Marino’s rich history, please visit San Marino’s official website. http://www.cityofsanmarino.org/about.htm

San Marino is home to a variety of family friendly attractions that are great for people of all ages and interests. Come to San Marino and see the beautiful Botanical Gardens or experience San Marino’s rich history at The Old Mill. Please visit the links below to learn more about what draws people from all over the globe to San Marino.

The Huntington Library, Art Collection, and Botanical Gardens
http://www.huntington.org/

San Marino Lacy Park
http://www.ci.san-marino.ca.us/lacy.htm

The Old Mill – El Molino Viejo
http://www.old-mill.org/