Through the Spanish and Mexican periods, San Gabriel played an important role in the development of Los Angeles and Californio society.

[13] After the Spanish missionaries banned converts to Christianity from dancing and participating in ceremony, a major rebellion of eight villages was staged against the mission in 1785 led by Toypurina and Nicolás Josè.

[15] The city of Pico Rivera was named to honor him as the last governor of California to be born in Mexico.

[16] In 1853, a company of Army Engineers, which included the geologist William P. Blake, passed by the mission in search of the best route for an intercontinental railroad.

"[17] In the first United States census made in California in 1860, 586 people lived in the San Gabriel township, an area encompassing the mission lands and several adjacent ranchos stretching north to what is now Pasadena.

[17] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.1 square miles (11 km2), virtually all of it land.

Along with these programs, the department provides a variety of trips and special events throughout the year for youth of all ages.

[29] In prior years, the area was part of the unincorporated portion of the now defunct San Gabriel Township (pop.

There were 13,237 housing units at an average density of 3,193.3 per square mile (1,232.9/km2), of which 6,168 (49.2%) were owner-occupied, and 6,374 (50.8%) were occupied by renters.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Chinese and Mexican were the most ancestries in 2000, with 52.6% of residents foreign born, Vietnam and China being the most common places of birth.

These were the ten neighborhoods in Los Angeles County with the largest percentage of Asian residents, according to the 2000 census:[46] According to the city's 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:[47] In the state legislature San Gabriel is located in the 21st Senate District, represented by Democrat Anthony Portantino, and in the 49th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Ed Chau.

He symbolized San Gabriel's rise as the new center of the region's Chinese community.

Huang submitted his resignation October 19, 2010, following a late-night domestic dispute with his girlfriend and subsequent arrest.

[54] Second- and third-generation Chinese Americans patronize its diverse array of stores and eateries.

"[55][56] This stretch of Chinese shops and bold architecture, with roofs of Spanish-style tile, is the model for the new ethnoburbs recently recognized in places like Las Vegas and Houston.

[54][57] San Gabriel is currently served by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

The San Francisco to Los Angeles/Anaheim project is scheduled to be built first, at a cost of $43 billion, with a completion date in 2029.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority is responsible for planning, designing, and building the system.

When the California High-Speed Rail Authority recently met with the city councils and residents of San Gabriel, El Monte, Rosemead[59] and Alhambra, to discuss the four proposed routes for phase two, the members of the three city councils expressed that residents were very concerned that the railway could possibly end up in their backyards.

[58] Mayor David Gutierrez said, "We made a promise to the community that the city of San Gabriel will never allow anything like this to happen if there is any consideration that people might lose their home.