San Gabriel Valley (聖蓋博谷)
The San Gabriel Valley (SGV, 聖蓋博谷) is one of the principal valleys of Southern California, covering about 200 square miles in Los Angeles County. It is widely recognized as the heart of the Taiwanese American community in the United States.
Geography
The San Gabriel Valley is bounded by:
- North: San Gabriel Mountains
- West: San Rafael Hills (with the Los Angeles Basin beyond)
- South: Puente Hills (with Orange County beyond)
- East: Chino Hills and San Jose Hills (with the Pomona Valley and Inland Empire beyond)
The valley derives its name from the San Gabriel River that flows southward through its center. The river was named for the Spanish Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, originally built in the Whittier Narrows in 1771.
Taiwanese American Community
The San Gabriel Valley is one of the most ethnically diverse regions in the United States and serves as the cultural and demographic center of the Taiwanese American community in Southern California.
Key Taiwanese American Institutions
- Good Shepherd Taiwanese Presbyterian Church (好牧者) — Monterey Park
- First Taiwanese Presbyterian Church (第一台灣基督長老教會) — Pasadena
- Formosa Presbyterian Church, Los Angeles (FPCLA)
- LA Taiwanese Cultural Association (大洛杉磯台灣會館)
- National Taiwanese Presbyterian Council (NTPC)
- Taiwanese Americans for Repatriation to the Southeast Asia (TARSA)
Key Cities
- Monterey Park — Historic center of the Taiwanese American community, still hosts annual Taiwanese cultural events during Taiwanese Heritage Week
- San Gabriel — Cultural hub with significant Taiwanese business presence
- Rowland Heights — Large Taiwanese residential community
- Arcadia — Home to Evergreen Fellowship (長青團契)
- Pasadena — Home to First Taiwanese Presbyterian Church
- Alhambra, Rosemead, Temple City, Hacienda Heights, South Pasadena, Walnut, Diamond Bar, San Marino
Economic Profile
The valley has one of the highest concentrations of Taiwanese businesses in the United States, including restaurants, grocery stores, bookstores, medical offices, and professional services catering to the Taiwanese community.