Monrovia
Established in 1887 as an incorporated city, Monrovia has grown from a sparse community of orange ranches to a residential community of 37,000 residents. People traveling between Los Angeles and San Bernardino traveled "via Monroe's Ranch," hence the name.
In 1841, California Governor Juan Alvarado gave Rancho Azusa de Duarte to Andres Duarte, a Mexican soldier, and he gave Rancho Santa Anita to Hugo Reid, a naturalized Mexican citizen of American birth. Monrovia is made of parts of these two ranchos.
In the mid-1800s, most of Rancho Azusa de Duarte was subdivided and sold by Duarte to settle his debts. Some of those parcels would eventually end up as part of the ranch of William N. Monroe, Monrovia's namesake.
The town was incorporated in 1887 under the leadership of prohibitionists who wished to control the arrival of an unwelcome saloon. The first order of business for the newly formed government was to pass a tippler's law, prohibiting the sale of alcohol.
In 1903 the Monrovia News was established. In the same year, the Pacific Electric was opened providing transportation to and from Los Angeles, making it possible for Monrovians to work in Los Angeles and have their homes in Monrovia.
In 1995 Monrovia received the All America City Award from the National Civic League. Related Properties:
