Pico Rivera

About Pico Rivera

Pico Rivera is a Southern California city located along the south side of the San Gabriel Valley. Less than 15 miles from downtown Los Angeles, it's a convenient home base for commuters who want to stay outside the busy downtown LA area while maintaining a residence within driving distance. Pico Rivera covers 9 square miles and encompasses nearly 100 acres dedicated to local parks, offering plenty of green space within the cityscape.

The History of Pico Rivera

For many years before it became a city, the area relied primarily on the agricultural industry. Because of its location between the Rio Hondo and the San Gabriel River, the community benefited from the rich, alluvial soil. However, the end of World War II led to a major shift in the quiet farming town. As demand for suburban living swept the nation, the land where Pico Rivera now sits was one of many areas in the U.S. that caught the eye of developers. Extensive residential development was paired with industrial growth, which included a major Ford Motor Co. assembly plant.

In 1958, Pico Rivera was officially founded through the merging of the communities of Pico and Rivera.

Living in Pico Rivera

Although you can generally expect a high cost of living in most California cities, Pico Rivera is fairly affordable by Southern California standards. This has attracted a very diverse population to the city, including many young families.

The city has plenty of local amenities to offer in addition to its convenient location near LA Nine parks and playgrounds are spread throughout Pico Rivera, and more than 120 city acres are dedicated to public recreational space. Among the city's recreational facilities are a skate park, a golf course, aquatic centers, athletic fields and community centers. The local senior center is also very popular. There, senior citizens can enjoy fitness rooms and recreational spaces, as well as a dance studio, computer lab and billiards room.

You can always make the short drive to LA for shopping and dining, but you certainly don't need to leave Pico Rivera if you'd rather stay close to home. The Pico Rivera Towne Center and Pico Crossing are just two of the city's large commercial developments, featuring a mix of big-box retailers, fitness centers, restaurants and small shops.

Pico Rivera Schools

Public school students in Pico Rivera attend El Rancho Unified School District and Montebello Unified School District. The area also has two parochial schools and one private school.

Resources for Moving to Pico Rivera

Here are a few handy resources for planning your move to Pico Rivera:

• Utilities: Pico Rivera's primary utilities providers include the Pico Water District, the city utilities department, Southern California Edison and Southern California Gas Co.
• Garbage and Recycling: You can expect regular collection of your trash and recyclables, on a schedule that's determined by your home's specific location.
• Transportation: Pico Rivera is part of the large public transit system that serves the LA metro area, which makes it easy to get around town and avoid the notorious traffic.

Pico Rivera Housing

You'll find a balance of properties for sale and for rent, so it shouldn't be too difficult to find something that fits your needs. Although Pico Rivera is affordable by LA standards, it's still quite a bit more expensive than the national average, in terms of both home prices and rent. You can sometimes find auction homes at a lower price, especially if you're willing to tackle a fixer-upper.