La Puente is a city in Los Angeles County, California, in the San Gabriel Valley about 15 to 20 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. Its name means "the bridge" in Spanish, and the city sits within the boundaries of Rancho La Puente, a historic land grant that once covered much of the eastern San Gabriel Valley. Its population was 38,062 at the 2020 census. The city is predominantly residential, a characteristic shaped by its history as a farming and then suburban area within the larger rancho. The communities that now make up the eastern San Gabriel Valley — including Hacienda Heights, West Covina, Baldwin Park, and the City of Industry — were all carved from the same rancho lands, giving La Puente a shared regional identity with its neighbors. La Puente's role today is that of a convenient, family-oriented residential city. The Hacienda La Puente Unified School District, one of the largest in the San Gabriel Valley, serves local students from kindergarten through adult education, and the city's neighborhoods are organized around schools, parks, and local commercial corridors. The Puente Hills form a greenbelt along the southern edge, adding open space and views. Transportation is a key asset. Freeway access is readily available from Interstate 10 and State Route 60, connecting residents to downtown Los Angeles and across the San Gabriel Valley, and the City of Industry's major employment base lies just south of the city. The result is a mature, built-out community offering practical commutes, established neighborhoods, and a central place within the eastern San Gabriel Valley.