City Terrace Name Origin: Terraced Lots Overlooking Rio Hondo

Originally named East Los Angeles, the community voted in 1925 to rename itself City Terrace. The name derives from the area's distinctive topography: many homes were built on terraced lots carved into hillsides overlooking the Rio Hondo River.

These terraced building platforms—created by cutting into slopes and building retaining walls—gave the neighborhood its characteristic stepped appearance. The "terrace" descriptor captured both the physical geography and the residential development pattern.

Located in unincorporated East Los Angeles County, City Terrace developed as a streetcar suburb in the 1920s-30s. The terraced lots allowed denser housing on steep terrain while providing views and yard space. The name change reflected community identity distinct from the broader East LA area.