Editing Pico Rivera, California (section)

== History ==
[[File:Portrait_of_Pio_Pico_(Californian_State_Library).jpg|thumb|left|upright|Pico Rivera is partly named for [[Californio]] statesman [[Pío Pico]], the last [[Governor of Alta California]].]]
[[File:Battle of Río San Gabriel.jpg|thumb|left|The 1847 [[Battle of Río San Gabriel]] was a decisive victory of American forces against the [[Californios]] during the [[conquest of California|U.S. conquest of California]].]]
Situated on a rich alluvial plain between the [[Rio Hondo (California)|Rio Hondo]] and the [[San Gabriel River (California)|San Gabriel River]],<ref name="history"/>  Pico Rivera was originally two unincorporated agricultural communities: Pico (named for [[Pío Pico]], the last [[Mexico|Mexican]] governor of California and located in the northern portion of what is now Pico Rivera) and Rivera (the Spanish word for "riverbank", located in the southern portion).  By the end of the 19th century, the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]] had been built through Rivera, while the [[Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad]] (later the [[Union Pacific Railroad|Union Pacific]]) had been built through Pico.<ref name=Homestead>{{cite web|url=https://homesteadmuseum.blog/2022/07/15/thats-the-ticket-early-pico-rivera-history-through-a-quintet-of-agents-stubs-for-the-rivera-station-of-the-southern-california-railway-may-july-1897/ |title=That's the Ticket: Early Pico Rivera History Through a Quintet of Agent's Stubs for the Rivera Station of the Southern California Railway, May-July 1897 |author=Paul R. Spitzzeri |date=July 16, 2022 |publisher=[[Workman and Temple Family Homestead Museum|Homestead Museum]]}}</ref><ref name=CountyLibrary>{{cite web|url=https://lacountylibrary.org/pico-rivera-local-history/ |title=Pico Rivera: Community History |publisher=[[Los Angeles County Library]]}}</ref>  In 1902, they were joined by the [[Pacific Electric]]'s [[Whittier Line]] through Rivera.   The Los Nietos Townsite Company was established by J. Fletcher Isbell and William T. Bone in 1887,  selling land that had once been part of Pio Pico's [[Rancho Paso de Bartolo]]. One of their first sales was to Joseph Burke, whose family cultivated orchards and operated a winery near Rivera.<ref name=Homestead/>  The area was served by three schools: Ranchito (northern), Rivera (southern), and Pico (around Jimtown), all of which fed into [[Whittier Union High School]]. 

The area was once predominantly agricultural; but, at the end of WWII, the fast rising demand for homes lured builders to the attractive terrain.<ref name="history">{{Cite web|url=https://www.pico-rivera.org/community/|title=City of Pico Rivera &#124; HISTORY|date=March 30, 2021 }}</ref>  Since the 1950s, it has been both residential as well as industrial. It had a [[Ford Motor Company]] plant for many years: [[Los Angeles Assembly]]. Pico Rivera lies below the [[Whittier Narrows]], making it one of the "[[Gateway Cities]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chooselacounty.com/laregions/gateway.html|title=Choose LA County &#124; Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation|website=www.chooselacounty.com}}</ref>  In January 1958, 56 percent of the electorate voted for incorporation. They approved a [[Council-Manager]] form of government, and the name "Pico Rivera" was established for the new city. Five citizens were chosen from a slate of 24 candidates to serve as members of the first City Council; Pico Rivera officially became the 61st city in Los Angeles County.<ref name="history"/>