A city born to block a sewage farm

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: West Covina wasn't planned as a sprawling suburb; it was incorporated in 1923 as a defensive move to prevent a neighboring city from building a sewage farm in the area. This act of local preservation sparked a transformation from walnut groves into a major urban hub.

The roots of West Covina lie in the San Gabriel Valley, where the Tongva were the earliest inhabitants. In 1845, Governor Pío Pico sold much of the land to John Rowland and William Workman. The first permanent settlers arrived in 1905, clearing sagebrush and cactus to plant the area's first walnut trees, establishing an agricultural community defined by citrus and walnut groves.

The city's modern identity was forged in 1923 when Benjamin Franklin Maxson Jr. initiated the incorporation process. The primary motivation was to protect the land from Covina's plans to establish a sewage farm. This move secured West Covina's independence, leading to a population of just 769 in 1930. However, the post-World War II building boom triggered a staggering demographic explosion. Between 1950 and 1960, the city became one of the fastest-growing in the United States, with its population surging by 1,025.69%—from fewer than 5,000 to over 50,000 residents.

Today, West Covina is a diverse hub with a population of 109,501 as of the 2020 census. It is characterized by a predominantly Hispanic and Asian population, with over 53% of residents identifying as Hispanic or Latino. While it hosts major retail centers like Plaza West Covina and the headquarters of Jollibee, the city also manages complex environmental legacies, including California's largest hazardous waste landfill, which is estimated to cost nearly $1 billion to clean up.

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