The area was historically, and remains, a
barrio or
colonia settled by
Hispanics of
Mexican heritage, as well some
Californio and
Spanish American settlers in the first half of the 19th century (1790-1850) before the annexation of
California by the United States during the
Mexican American War (1846-1848). In 1883
Quaker settlers arrived and established a local chapter of the Society of Friends. El Modena's agricultural days have had a rich cultural impact on the town's history. Between the time of its foundation in the 1880s to the suburban development boom in the late 1950s, El Modena was an area filled with citrus groves. Roses grown and shipped to Eastern markets were also a major part of the agricultural industry. It is now fully urbanized with the majority of its residents being low to middle income families; the annexed areas of the city became upper income in the real estate booms of the 1990s and 2000s (decade). The original Quaker church still exists and currently operates as a Mexican restaurant. In June 1993, the El Modena Family Resource Center opened to combat gang violence in the area. The project valiantly succeeded, and gang related crime dropped drastically, as well as violent incidents. The center and surrounding neighborhood is declared neutral turf by the members of the rival Pearl Street and Varrio Modena Locos gangs, mutually agreeing on keeping relations peaceful between members when in the area. The
Southern Pacific Railroad formerly had an El Modena Station, located off La Veta Avenue, just south of the present-day La Veta Park. ==Demographics==