San Dimas, California

For many years, it was commonly accepted that the name "San Dimas" was given to the canyon by Don Ignacio Palomares because of the practice of horse thieves hiding their booty there. It was said that, in exasperation, the don made reference to St. Dimas, the crucified, repentant thief on the Cross, and wished that the horse thieves would also repent and stop the depredations of his livestock. However, it was discovered that Don Palomares had come from the little town of San Dimas in Mexico. In the early 1970's, the "Western Village" concept for the downtown core area was developed. Now, at about 36,000 residents our community within Los Angeles county stretches from Interstate 10 Freeway in the South to the foothills in the North.