City of Whittier, CA

• City of Whittier, California
• History of Whittier
• Whittier Education and Schools
• Things To Do in Whittier

• Whittier Real Estate
• Whittier Community Directory and Links
• Whittier Demographics

Welcome to wonderful Whittier, located in in sunny Los Angeles County, California. Whittier is located only 12 miles southeast of LA with a comfortable population of 80,000+ residents as of the 2000 census and a projected 90,000 resident by the year 2010. Whittier is one of the Gateway Cities because it's so close to LA, it's practically living in the giant city's backyard! Enjoy all the benefits of city living without the hustle and bustle and hectic nature of downtown. To the east of Whittier is La Habra Heights and to the southeast is La Habra. Whittier is close to a large number of destinations within Los Angeles county.

John Greenleaf Whittier's dedication poem
Although John Greenleaf Whittier never visited the city, he did write a poem in honor of it:

"My Name I Give To Thee"
Dear Town, for whom the flowers are born,
Stars shine, and happy songbirds sing,
What can my evening give to thy morn,
My Winter to Thy Spring?
A life not void of pure intent
With small desert of praise or blame;
The Love I felt, the Good I meant,
I leave Thee with My Name.

Whittier's Values
(as expressed by our local representatives)

The Government of the City of Whittier requires a high degree of moral/ethical behavior by its members acting in any and all official capacities in carrying out their assigned responsibilities and in their personal lives to the extent that their behavior will not reflect negatively upon the City Government and will not interfere with the City’s efforts in carrying out its missions and goals; and

• Integrity is inseparable from ethics, but deserves special recognition. Integrity is that essential value that will facilitate adherence to a high degree of ethical/moral conduct; and
  
• Cooperation or teamwork is vital to the success of achieving the City’s missions and goals. The requirement of cooperation or teamwork extends to all City officials and employees, and the citizens of Whittier, who are, in reality, partners in government; and
  
• The City shall maintain and improve excellence in delivery of municipal services to the people of the community. This will necessitate continual review of the City operational and organizational considerations and the application of innovative methods to maintain and improve City services at reasonable cost levels; and
  
• The City cares for its employees. The City highly values the selection and retention of highly qualified, dedicated and loyal employees. To this end, the City shall endeavor to make all positions within the City challenging, interesting and rewarding.

PEOPLE, PRIDE & PROGRESS

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The roots of Whittier can be traced to a Spanish soldier, Manuel Nieto, who in 1784 received a Spanish land grant of 300,000 acres (1,200 km²), Rancho Los Nietos, as a reward for his military service and to encourage settlement in California. Nieto's area was reduced in 1790 because of a dispute with the Mission San Gabriel, but he still laid claim to 167,000 acres (680 km2) stretching from the hills north of Whittier, Fullerton and Brea, south to the Pacific ocean, and from today's Los Angeles River, east to the Santa Ana River. Nieto constructed a dwelling for his family near the present town of Whittier, stocked the land with cattle and horses, and cultivated corn. Upon his death in 1804, his children inherited his property.

At the time of the Mexican-American War, much of Whittier was owned by Pio Pico, a rancher and the last Mexican Governor of California. Pio Pico built a hacienda in Whittier on the San Gabriel River, which today is Pio Pico State Historic Park

After the war, Jacob F. Gerkens, a German immigrant who paid $234 to the U.S. government to acquire 160 acres (0.6 km2) of land under the Homestead Act, built a cabin on the land which is today known as the Jonathan Bailey House. Gerkens would later become the first Chief of Police of the Los Angeles Police Department. The land had several owners before a group of Quakers bought the land, which had since been expanded to 1,259 acres (5 km2), with the purpose of founding a Quaker community. The area soon became known as a thriving citrus ranching region, with "Quaker Brand" fruit being shipped all over the United States. Soon after, walnut trees were planted, and Whittier became the largest walnut grower in California.
Whittier, California, late 19th century

Whittier became a charter law city and was incorporated in 1898. Like many other southern California communities, Whittier experienced a population increase after World War II.

Origin of name
In the founding days of Whittier, when it was a small isolated town, Jonathan Bailey and his wife, Rebecca, were among the first residents. They followed the Quaker religion, and held religious meetings on their porch. As the city grew, the citizens named it after John Greenleaf Whittier, a respected Quaker poet. Whittier wrote a dedication poem, and is honored today with statues and a small exhibit at the Whittier museum; a statue of him sits in the park, and another representing his poem The Barefoot Boy resides by the City Hall. Consequently, the college there is called Whittier College, and the mascot, appropriately, is "The Poet." Whittier never set foot there, but the city still bears his name and is rooted in the Quaker tradition.

Quaker history in Whittier
The first Quaker Meeting, "First Friends Church" still stands on Philadelphia Street in Uptown Whittier, though its original structure was condemned after the Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987. First Friends is a 'programmed' Quaker meeting and is similar to other churches in the Christian mainstream. A more traditional 'unprogrammed' Quaker Meeting group known as the Whitleaf Meeting meets in the Mendenhall Building on the Whittier College campus every Saturday morning. Many are members of both meetings.

The Mendenhall Building at Whittier College was donated by Leona May Mendenhall in honor of her husband, Oscar Mendenhall. The Mendenhalls were among the founding families of Whittier. Oscar's brother, Samuel Mendenhall, helped bring in the water system and post office. The Mendenhalls were large growers for Sunkist oranges and Blue Diamond walnuts.

Whittier Narrows earthquake
On Oct. 1, 1987, at 7:42 a.m., the Whittier Narrows earthquake struck, the epicenter six miles (10 km) north by northwest of Whittier. The seismic event, which registered 5.9 on the Richter scale, resulted in eight casualties and massive damage to uptown Whittier's historic buildings. In the years following the earthquake, the city's deteriorating uptown business district, which suffered substantial damage in the earthquake, became the focus of renewed development, which has met with opposition from many Whittier citizens. Out of the rubble of the earthquake the Whittier Conservancy was formed in 1987 in an effort to stop the demolition of many historic buildings and residences after the disaster. The city also created a Historic Resources Commission to oversee the approval of historic designations and Mills Act proposal.

(Historical summary courtesy of wikipedia)

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For reviews and more information on Whittier education and schools please visit this link. (will open in a new window)

Whittier offers a large variety of activities and attractions. Please visit the respective links for more detailed information.

Cultural Arts Calendar (courtesy of City of Whittier)

Places of Interest in Whittier

• Rose Hills Memorial Park, considered to be one of the largest cemeteries in the world, is located just outside the city limits.
  
• The Principia Discordia was revealed to its authors in the city's local bowling alley
  
• Whittier is home to the following California Historical Landmarks 1:
  o Pio Pico State Historic Park, California Historical Landmark No. 127: The Casa de Governor P&#38iacuteo Pico/Home of Governor P&#38iacuteo Pico, home of the last Mexican Governor of California.
  o California Historical Landmark No. 646: Grave of George Caralambo, (Greek George):
  o California Historical Landmark No. 681: Paradox Hybrid Walnut Tree:
  o California Historical Landmark No. 947: Reform School for Juvenile Offenders (Fred C. Nelles School &#38#8212 Closed May 27, 2004 and currently being redeveloped for business and residential use)
  
• Whittier Museum - 6755 Newlin Ave, Whittier 90601. Open to the public Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. and is free of charge
  
• Whittier is the home to the following places listed in the National Register of Historic Places:
  o Pio Pico House, 6003 Pioneer Blvd.
  o Hoover Hotel, 7035 Greenleaf Ave.
  o National Bank of Whittier Building, 13002 E. Philadelphia
  o Southern Pacific Railroad Depot, 7333 Greenleaf Ave.
  o Standard Oil Building, 7257 Bright Ave.
  o Jonathan Bailey House, 13421 E. Camilla St.
  o Orin Jordan House, 8310 S. Comstock Ave.

Film and television locations
Various movies and television shows have been filmed in the city including:

• Back to the Future/Back to the Future Part II - Films starring Michael J. Fox. Whittier High School was used as the setting for Hill Valley High School.
• Hocus Pocus - Film starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Thora Birch and Vinessa Shaw. Parts were filmed in Uptown Whittier.
• Father of the Bride Part II - Film starring Steve Martin. Parts were filmed in uptown Whittier.
• The Wonder Years - Television series starring Fred Savage. The parade scene in the last episode was filmed in uptown Whittier.
• The Next Best Thing- Film starring Madonna and Rupert Everett was filmed in the Whittier Hills.
• Matilda - Film starring Danny DeVito was filmed in East Whittier.
• Bringing Down the House- Film starring Queen Latifah and Steve Martin was filmed at the Friendly Hills Country Club, in East Whittier.
• Terminator 3 (2003) - Film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Various parts were shot in Whittier including in Rose Hills Memorial Park.
• Blow - Film starring Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz. Scenes were filmed at the Fred C. Nelles boys' correctional facility, which closed in January 2004, and in a residential neighborhood.
• Masters of the Universe - Film starring Dolph Lundgren. Most of the movie was filmed in Whittier.
• Walk, Don't Run - Film Directed by Henry Winkler. All of this movie was filmed at Whittier High School in 1980.
• Ali - directed by Michael Mann, portions of which were filmed at a residence in the historic neighborhood near the uptown village.
• South of Nowhere - filmed Whittier Adult School, formerly known as Sierra Vista High School, and Frontier High School.
• The Oh in Ohio - Film starring Parker Posey and Paul Rudd. Various scenes were shot in the city.
• Big Fat Liar (2002) - Film starring Frankie Muniz, Amanda Bynes, and Paul Giamatti. One major scene was shot at a house on Greenleaf Ave in Uptown Whittier.
• Disturbia (film) (2007) - Film starring Shia LaBeouf, Carrie Anne Moss, and Amanda Walsh. Was shot on Painter Ave, the deli scenes were filmed at &#38quotOur Cleaners&#34on Comstock Ave. in uptown Whittier.
• Moonlight - Television series starring Alex O'Loughlin and Sophia Myles. Exteriors of a state execution facility were filmed at the Fred C. Nelles correctional facility, the facility name being clearly shown in multiple shots.
• What Just Happened? (2008) - Film starring Robert De Niro, Bruce Willis, Sean Penn and Robin Wright Penn. Scenes were filmed in Rose Hills Memorial Park.
• Crime and Punishment in Suburbia (2000) - Film starring Monica Keena, Ellen Barkin and James DeBello. Interior shots of a 1950's coffee shop were filmed in a local bowling alley. The corner of Painter and Telegraph Rd can be seen through the windows showing a Sizzler restaurant and adjacent gas station.

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Estimated median house or condo value in 2007: $614,300 (it was $209,800 in 2000)
Whittier: $614,300
California: $532,300

Mean prices in 2007: All housing units: $643,889; Detached houses: $675,353; Townhouses or other attached units: $448,955; In 3-to-4-unit structures: $388,462; In 5-or-more-unit structures: $324,688; Mobile homes: $37,941

Median gross rent in 2007: $984.

Sample recent home sales in WHITTIER, CA (zip code 90601):

• 5433 BEN ALDER AVE: $565,000 on 2008-06-25
• 10812 INDIANA ST: $333,000 on 2008-06-23
• 4140 WORKMAN MILL RD 142: $193,031 on 2008-06-19 (COOP OR CONDO)
• 5918 PALM AVE: $326,700 on 2008-06-18
• 6332 SOUTHWIND DR: $640,000 on 2008-06-17
• 11758 HILLVIEW CT: $299,900 on 2008-06-11
• 5702 NEWLIN AVE: $487,025 on 2008-06-10
• 12428 FAMOSA ST: $270,000 on 2008-06-09
• 13037 THOROUGHBRED WAY: $318,930 on 2008-06-05
• 13103 NEWMARKET ST: $428,000 on 2008-06-03

Sample recent home sales in WHITTIER, CA (zip code 90602):

• 8001 WASHINGTON AVE: $400,000 on 2008-06-23 (MULTI-FAMILY (2 - 4))
• 13124 HELMER DR: $256,750 on 2008-06-18
• 8728 VILLA DR: $396,346 on 2008-06-17
• 8011 MILLIKEN AVE: $560,000 on 2008-06-13
• 8717 BLUFORD AVE: $278,100 on 2008-05-28
• 8232 WASHINGTON AVE: $233,437 on 2008-05-27
• 7936 CALDWELL AVE: $435,000 on 2008-05-23
• 12832 LAMBERT RD: $210,000 on 2008-05-22
• 12701 PUTNAM ST: $310,250 on 2008-05-20
• 12709 WALNUT ST: $390,000 on 2008-05-19 (MULTI-FAMILY (2 - 4)

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Community directory courtesy of City of Whittier and Chamber and Commerce

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As of the census of 2000, there were 83,680 people, 28,271 households, and 20,468 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,208.4/km² (5,719.4/mi². There were 28,977 housing units at an average density of 764.7/km²(1,980.5/mi².

There were 28,271 households out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.38.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

Zip codes: 90601, 90602, 90603, 90604, 90605, 90606, 90607, 90608, 90609, 90610, 90612.

Estimated median household income in 2007: $62,210 (it was $49,256 in 2000)
Whittier: $62,210
California: $59,948

Estimated per capita income in 2007: $27,319
Whittier: $27,319
California: $28,678

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