[9] In 1841, William and Nicolasa Workman, who emigrated from Mexico with John Rowland and others, received a land grant for Rancho La Puente from the governor of Alta California, Juan Bautista Alvarado.

Valley Boulevard, a major artery connecting Los Angeles with points east, was also laid through what would become the City of Industry.

The presence of the railroads and Valley Boulevard would lead to the development of warehouses that became a large part of Industry's economy.

[13] A little under fifteen years from its incorporation, the City of Industry created a general plan to guide its future development.

The City of Industry was named for the goals and objectives section of the general plan which identified the primary goal of the city as "creating and maintaining an ideal setting for manufacturing, distribution and industrial facilities.

"[14] In 1962, the City of Industry Chamber of Commerce formed[16] and in 1974, the Workman House became a historical landmark.

[18] In 1981, the Industry Hills Expo Center opened as a community multi-purpose event facility.

[19] In 1985, the inaugural Charity Pro Rodeo took place, to raise funds for youth in the San Gabriel Valley.

The three-phased program of improvements consists of ramp and interchange reconfigurations as well as the addition of bypass lanes to reduce weaving, resulting in less congestion for the sixth-worst congested and dangerous freeway interchange in the nation.

According to the 2010 United States Census, the City of Industry had a median household income of $49,329, with 1.0% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

[48] The United States Postal Service City of Industry Post Office is located at 15559 Rausch Rd.

[50] The few residences in the city either existed before incorporation, are on properties adjacent to either Industry Hills Golf Club, Industry Hills Recreation Center or in the small neighborhood adjacent to City Hall.

In addition, there are residents at the El Encanto Healthcare Center, a nursing home owned by the city.

[52] In addition, there is a revenue-generating hillside hotel resort, known as the Pacific Palms Resort (formerly the Industry Hills Sheraton), which is almost completely surrounded by the city of La Puente but actually located in the City of Industry.

[76] Adjacent to the mall's property is a SpeedZone entertainment center, which was featured in a prominent scene of Kevin Smith's Clerks II.

Another movie called Fun with Dick and Jane was filmed as a fictional retail store KostMart (a parody of Costco Wholesale).

[77] The City of Industry also features a fake McDonald's restaurant that is used strictly for filming movies and commercials,[78] which is inside the 30-mile studio zone.