Best Web Design in Pico Rivera, CA (2026)

Web Design for Pico Rivera, California

Pico Rivera is a predominantly Mexican-American city in southeast Los Angeles County, cradled between the Rio Hondo and San Gabriel River in the belt of 'Gateway Cities.' Its very name is a portmanteau, born in 1958 when the farming communities of Pico and Rivera merged into a single city. Behind an unassuming suburban surface sits a remarkable secret: the B-2 stealth bomber was largely developed on the site of a former Ford plant here.

AppWT works with Pico Rivera, CA businesses from Livonia, Michigan, mostly online and travelling as needed.

About Pico Rivera

Also known as. One of the 'Gateway Cities' of southeast Los Angeles County.

History. The area developed on farmland between the Rio Hondo and San Gabriel River after rail lines arrived in the 1880s, growing as the separate communities of Pico (named for Pio Pico, the last Mexican governor of Alta California) and Rivera ('riverbank'). The decisive Battle of Rio San Gabriel (January 1847) of the Mexican-American War was fought at a ford of the San Gabriel River in this vicinity. Post-World War II housing demand transformed the farming plain into a residential and industrial community. On January 29, 1958, the two communities merged and incorporated as the city of Pico Rivera. The city's Hispanic/Latino share grew from about 76% in 1980 to more than 90% by 2020.

Local economy. Ford Motor Company opened its Los Angeles Assembly plant here in 1958; it built roughly 1.4 million vehicles before closing in 1980. Northrop (later Northrop Grumman) bought the former Ford site in 1982 for its Advanced Systems Division, employing thousands until the site closed and was demolished around 2001. The former plant site was redeveloped into the Pico Rivera Towne Center, a roughly 60-acre open-air shopping complex along Washington Boulevard. Major employers include the El Rancho Unified School District, Walmart, Target and Feit Electric.

Culture and community. The Pico Rivera Sports Arena (capacity ~6,200) is a landmark venue for banda, ranchera and mariachi concerts serving the region's Mexican-American community. Ranchera legend Vicente Fernandez performed there many times; the city renamed the arena's access road 'Avenida Vicente Fernandez' in his honor. The city's culture is heavily Mexican-American, reflected in its restaurants, music venues and civic events. City parks, the Senior Center and community shopping centers such as Village Walk anchor local life.

What makes Pico Rivera distinct. The Northrop Advanced Systems site on the old Ford plant grounds was where much of the top-secret B-2 Spirit stealth bomber was developed, revealed only when the aircraft was unveiled in 1988. The city's name is a portmanteau that did not exist until the 1958 merger of Pico and Rivera. Actress Lupe Ontiveros, pioneering Latina politician Gloria Molina and soccer player Cristian Roldan are among its notable residents. A magnitude 4.4 earthquake was centered near Pico Rivera on March 16, 2010.

A predominantly Latino, family-oriented suburb in southeastern Los Angeles County, formed in 1958 from the farming communities of Pico and Rivera near the San Gabriel River

Pico Rivera Landmarks and Local Life

• Pico Rivera Sports Arena - Outdoor arena hosting concerts, rodeos, and community events
• Pico Rivera Towne Center - 60-acre open-air shopping center along Washington Boulevard
• B-2 Spirit development site - Former Northrop plant where the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber was developed
• Smith Park - City park along Rosemead Boulevard
• Pico Park - Neighborhood park on Beverly Boulevard

Pico Rivera at a Glance

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023.

• Median household income: About $86,956
• Adults with a bachelor degree or higher: About 15.8%
• Housing: About 70% of housing units are owner-occupied
• Housing: Roughly 76% of homes are single-family houses