Baldwin Park

Baldwin Park is a small city in the eastern part of the San Gabriel Valley in California, around 14 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. The streets follow a grid pattern, lined with residential blocks, small parks, and low-rise apartment complexes that house a mix of families and working commuters.

The area first served as grazing land for the San Gabriel Mission and was settled starting in 1860 under the name Vineland, before being renamed in 1906 after landowner Baldwin. The city was officially incorporated in 1956 as the population grew rapidly and farming declined.

The name comes from Elias Jackson Baldwin, called Lucky, a 19th-century businessman who owned land here and ran a racetrack. Today the city feels like a typical Southern California residential neighborhood, with wide streets, small single-family homes with yards, and shopping strips along the main roads.

The place sits close to several freeways, so reaching it by car is easy, while public buses connect to neighboring cities. First-time visitors find their way around quickly because the streets follow a regular pattern and the center stays manageable.

The first In-N-Out restaurant with drive-through service in California opened here on October 22, 1948, marking the start of a statewide fast-food format. Today a small museum stands on the same spot, recalling that moment with old photographs and promotional material on display.

Location: Los Angeles County

Inception: 1880

Elevation above the sea: 114 m

Shares border with: Irwindale, Avocado Heights, City of Industry, West Puente Valley, West Covina, El Monte

Website: http://baldwinpark.com

GPS coordinates: 34.08278,-117.97111

Latest update: December 13, 2025 19:45