They called the area 'El Monte,' which in Spanish means 'the mountain' or 'the mount'. Most people assume the name refers to a mountain, but there were no mountains in the valley. The word is an archaic Spanish translation of that era, meaning "the wood".

What is El Monte known for?

Historically, El Monte is known as “The End of the Santa Fe Trail,” and today the city's rich transportation history is reflected in a bustling transit center; the state-of-the-art El Monte Bus Station is the largest west of Chicago, connecting the San Gabriel Valley to Downtown L.A. and serving 22,000 passengers daily ...

Is El Monte a good place?

Belmont is in San Mateo County and is one of the best places to live in California. Living in Belmont offers residents an urban suburban mix feel and most residents own their homes. ... Many families live in Belmont and residents tend to be liberal. The public schools in Belmont are highly rated.