Pico Rivera is a city located in southeastern Los Angeles County, California.

The city is situated approximately 11 miles (18 km) southeast of downtown Los Angeles, on the eastern edge of the Los Angeles basin, and on the southern edge of the area known as the San Gabriel Valley.

Pico Rivera is bordered by Montebello to the west, Downey to the south, Santa Fe Springs to the southeast, and Whittier to the east.

The Los Nietos Townsite Company was established by J. Fletcher Isbell and William T. Bone in 1887, selling land that had once been part of Pio Pico's Rancho Paso de Bartolo.

One of their first sales was to Joseph Burke, whose family cultivated orchards and operated a winery near Rivera.

The area was once predominantly agricultural; but, at the end of WWII, the fast rising demand for homes lured builders to the attractive terrain.

They approved a Council-Manager form of government, and the name "Pico Rivera" was established for the new city.

[10] Pico Rivera is bordered by Downey on the southwest, Santa Fe Springs on the southeast, Whittier on the east, City of Industry on the northeast, Montebello on the northwest, and Commerce on the west.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 23.003 square kilometers (8.882 sq mi).

[25] Prior to 1960, the area was included in the unincorporated portion of the now defunct Whittier Township (1950 pop.

[38] The Los Angeles Assembly, a 157-acre (0.64 km2) manufacturing facility at the corner of Rosemead and Washington boulevards, was owned and operated by the Ford Motor Company.

The plant opened in 1958 and closed in 1980 and was purchased by Northrop Grumman in 1982 for its Advanced Systems Division.

[39] Upon the unveiling of the B-2 Spirit bomber in 1988, it was revealed that much of the development for the former black project had occurred at the site.

[40] The site was closed and then demolished in 2001 partially due to air quality remediation efforts, and became a large retail center.

years along historic Whittier Boulevard[41] More developments include the "Pico Rivera Village Walk", a $22 million, 12-acre shopping center (4.9 ha) located at the southwest corner of Whittier and Paramount boulevards.

[41] The 8.10-acre Pico Rivera Market Place Shopping Center (3.28 ha) has opened at the corner of Washington and Rosemead Boulevards.

[47] In 1965, the Pico Rivera Municipal Golf Course was built for the communal enjoyment of not only its residents and golfers, but also for those in the surrounding communities.

Lighting throughout the golf course and driving range enables play and practice until 10:00 p.m.[47] Pico Rivera's Congressional Representative, Grace Napolitano, helped with the funding, and city officials launched a newly renovated senior center that includes a high-tech computer lab with 16 computers and a modern dance room.

Funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the city's general fund, the US$350,000 renovation of the over 20-year-old center "is an example of your tax dollars at work," Napolitano told a crowd of local officials and residents, who toured the new facility.

The fitness room has 18 exercise machines, a set of free weights and two 40-inch flat screen TVs.

The activity room has a mirrored wall with a ballet barre and a state-of-the-art sound system.

[56] The city is served by the El Rancho and Montebello Unified School Districts (K-12) with nearby university and college systems in Los Angeles and Orange counties providing higher education.