Montebello

About Montebello

Montebello is a growing city in Los Angeles County, just a short drive east of downtown Los Angeles. It's considered one of the area's "Gateway Cities" and home to a very diverse population. It's a popular home for families, thanks to a variety of parks and recreation facilities, community events and relatively affordable home prices for the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

The History of Montebello

Franciscan Missionaries were the first to settle in what is now Montebello, California. They built the San Gabriel Mission, one of the largest and best-known missions in the state. However, due to large amounts of rainfall, they abandoned the Montebello location in 1776 in favor of the San Gabriel Valley.

Later, Montebello served as a battleground against Mexican armies. The Battle of Rio San Gabriel ended the physical conflict in 1847, and the iconic Juan Matias Sanchez Adobe has recently been restored in the heart of Montebello. It serves as a museum so that Montebello visitors and residents can learn and benefit from the historical context of the region.

Montebello took its first steps toward becoming an official city when Alessandro Repetto constructed his home in this area. When he passed away, his brother sold his land to a group of Los Angeles businessmen. They called the new town Montebello, which means "beautiful hills" in Italian, and established the Montebello Land and Water Co.

In 1920 Montebello was incorporated as a California city. The Standard Oil Co. found oil here, which transformed the area from an agricultural oasis into a booming oil town. Farm land still exists in Montebello, though it's become far more urban since the early 20th century.

Living in Montebello

While Montebello is close to Los Angeles and other larger cities, you'll never lack for amenities in town. Shopping destinations, quaint eateries, cozy coffee-houses and large fitness centers are some of the places to spend your free time There are also several public parks and libraries in the city. Montebello is the site of numerous community events and parades.

Low crime rates and a booming housing market make Montebello an attractive place to call home. The unemployment rate here is lower than both the state and national averages, so you shouldn't have trouble finding a job.

Montebello Schools

The Montebello Unified School District manages the public schools in the area. In addition to traditional elementary, middle and high schools, the district also offers the Applied Technology Center, a technical training school. In addition, there are a number of private parochial schools in Montebello.

Resources for Moving to Montebello

Here are a few resources to help you plan your move to Montebello:

• Utilities: Southern California Gas and Southern California Edison provide electricity and natural gas to Montebello. Several different organizations manage local water services, including the Metropolitan Water District.
• Garbage and Recycling: Trash and recyclables are collected curbside on a weekly basis. You can also request free pick-up of bulky items.
• Transportation: There are several different bus routes providing public transportation throughout Montebello. You can also utilize the Metrolink shuttle in certain areas of the city.

Montebello Housing

The median home price in Montebello is higher than the national average but actually fairly reasonable when compared to the rest of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Rent is fairly expensive, partly because rental properties are in high demand.