# Charter Oak, California

Charter Oak is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Los Angeles County, California, approximately 26 miles (42 km) east of downtown Los Angeles. The population was 9,310 at the 2010 census, up from 9,027 at the 2000 census.
Charter Oak is located in the eastern San Gabriel Valley, situated along Arrow Highway in between Covina to the south, Glendora to the north and San Dimas to the east. Residents tend to refer to the CDP portion as the "unincorporated part of Covina", or simply as "Covina".
Originally a small agricultural settlement (primarily citrus orchards) centered on the intersection of Arrow Highway and Bonnie Cove Avenue, population growth greatly expanded the area recognized as "Charter Oak". Since the 1960s, it has been known as a "bedroom community" suburb of Los Angeles and commercial agriculture is nearly gone.
Today, the generally accepted boundaries of historical Charter Oak are I-210 to the north, Valley Center Avenue to the east, Covina Hills Road to the south and Grand Avenue to the west, corresponding to the boundaries of Charter Oak Unified School District. However, the actual CDP area is notably smaller in the present day.

## Geography

Charter Oak is located at 34°6′5″N 117°51′28″W﻿ / ﻿34.10139°N 117.85778°W﻿ / 34.10139; -117.85778 (34.101308, -117.857656).
Charter Oak is primarily flat ground, though the South Hills of Glendora form much of the northern border, and there is a small valley in the southeast quadrant, with Walnut Creek flowing in the bottom. The other major water feature in Charter Oak is the San Dimas Wash, a concrete-lined flood control channel which was formerly the San Dimas River, a tributary of the San Gabriel River. Both Walnut Creek and San Dimas wash flow from east-northeast toward west-southwest, the wash in Glendora and the creek in Covina.
The ground is described as "dry riverbed," with sandy soil which was suitable not only for the citrus orchards which once were the primary industry in the area, but also for several nurseries growing cactus and other small plants.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.4 square kilometers (0.9 sq mi), all of it land.

## Education and culture

Most of the census-designated place is served by the Charter Oak Unified School District, while a portion is in Covina-Valley Unified School District The boundaries of the Charter Oak Unified School District, formed in areas which were at the time unincorporated area, eventually became the accepted boundaries of historical Charter Oak, attesting to the importance of the district in the community. There are also private schools in the area.
Community college students from Charter Oak generally attend Citrus College in Glendora or Mount San Antonio College ("Mount SAC") in Walnut.
Charter Oak Gymnastics has been a U.S. National Team training center since 1989, and has produced many elite athletes, including national champion Vanessa Atler and Olympian Jamie Dantzscher.

## Demographics

Charter Oak first appeared as a census designated place in the 1980 U.S. Census as part of the East San Gabriel Valley census county division.

### 2020

Charter Oak CDP, California – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race. :
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
| White alone (NH) | 4,172 | 3,169 | 2,277 | 46.22% | 34.04% | 23.38% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 398 | 369 | 379 | 4.41% | 3.96% | 3.89% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 56 | 32 | 34 | 0.62% | 0.34% | 0.35% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 817 | 975 | 1,113 | 9.05% | 10.47% | 11.43% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 9 | 14 | 14 | 0.10% | 0.15% | 0.14% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 10 | 28 | 44 | 0.11% | 0.30% | 0.45% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 263 | 177 | 278 | 2.91% | 1.90% | 2.85% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3,302 | 4,546 | 5,600 | 36.58% | 48.83% | 57.50% |
| Total | 9,027 | 9,310 | 9,739 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |

### 2010

At the 2010 census Charter Oak had a population of 9,310. The population density was 10,034.6 inhabitants per square mile (3,874.4/km$^2$). The racial makeup of Charter Oak was 5,602 (60.2%) White (34.0% Non-Hispanic White), 405 (4.4%) African American, 85 (0.9%) Native American, 1,035 (11.1%) Asian, 18 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 1,693 (18.2%) from other races, and 472 (5.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4,546 persons (48.8%).
The census reported that 9,178 people (98.6% of the population) lived in households, 132 (1.4%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.
There were 3,044 households, 1,264 (41.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,486 (48.8%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 553 (18.2%) had a female householder with no husband present, 226 (7.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 188 (6.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 19 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 601 households (19.7%) were one person and 203 (6.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.02. There were 2,265 families (74.4% of households); the average family size was 3.47.
The age distribution was 2,352 people (25.3%) under the age of 18, 990 people (10.6%) aged 18 to 24, 2,601 people (27.9%) aged 25 to 44, 2,446 people (26.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 921 people (9.9%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 35.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.
There were 3,144 housing units at an average density of 3,388.7 per square mile, of the occupied units 1,998 (65.6%) were owner-occupied and 1,046 (34.4%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.0%. 6,168 people (66.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 3,010 people (32.3%) lived in rental housing units.
According to the 2010 United States Census, Charter Oak had a median household income of $68,597, with 8.3% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

### 2000

At the 2000 census there were 9,027 people, 3,048 households, and 2,255 families in the CDP. The population density was 9,711.3 inhabitants per square mile (3,749.6/km$^2$). There were 3,115 housing units at an average density of 3,351.1 per square mile (1,293.9/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the CDP was 65.30% White, 4.77% Black or African American, 1.27% Native American, 9.19% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 14.02% from other races, and 5.28% from two or more races. 36.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 3,048 households 40.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples living together, 18.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 19.8% of households were one person and 6.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.41.
The age distribution was 29.6% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% 65 or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.
The median household income was $50,744 and the median family income was $55,294. Males had a median income of $37,153 versus $30,703 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $18,766. About 5.9% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.4% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.

## Government

In the California State Legislature, Charter Oak is in the 22nd Senate District, represented by Democrat Susan Rubio, and in the 48th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Blanca Rubio.
In the United States House of Representatives, Charter Oak is in California's 28th congressional district, represented by Democrat Judy Chu.