Whittier

Etymology

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 religious faith and practice and held religious meetings on their porch. Other early settlers, such as Aquila Pickering, also espoused the Quaker faith. As the city grew, the citizens named it after John Greenleaf Whittier, a respected Quaker poet, and deeded a lot to him. 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 Whittier's Central Park, and another representing his poem "The Barefoot Boy" used to reside by the City Hall and is now in front of the main library. Whittier never set foot there, but wrote the poem "My Name I Give to Thee" about the city. Many of the streets in Uptown Whittier bear the names of Quaker settlers of Whittier or other prominent Quakers, such as Greenleaf Avenue (for Whittier), Bailey Street, Pickering Avenue, Penn Street (for William Penn), Hadley Street and Washington Avenue (both for Washington Hadley), and Painter Avenue (for John Hunt Painter).

History

The Gabrielino first inhabited the area.

Whittier's roots can be traced to Spanish soldier Manuel Nieto. In 1784, Nieto 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. The area of Nieto's land grant was reduced in 1790 as the result of a dispute with Mission San Gabriel. Nonetheless, Nieto still had a claim to 167,000 acres (680 km2) stretching from the hills north of Whittier, Fullerton, and Brea, south to the Pacific Ocean, and from what is known today as the Los Angeles River east to the Santa Ana River. Nieto built a rancho for his family near Whittier, purchased cattle and horses for his ranch, and planted cornfields. When he died in 1804, his children inherited his property.

At the time of the 1840s Mexican–American War, much of the land that became Whittier was owned by Pio Pico, a rancher and the last Mexican governor of Alta California. Pio Pico built a hacienda on the San Gabriel River, known today as Pio Pico State Historic Park. After the war, German immigrant Jacob F. Gerkens paid the U.S. government $234 to acquire 160 acres (0.6 km2) of land under the Homestead Act and built the cabin known today as the Jonathan Bailey House. Gerkens later become the Los Angeles Police Department's first chief of police. His land was owned by several others before a group of Quakers purchased it and expanded it to 1,259 acres (5 km2), intending to found a Quaker community. The area soon became known as a thriving citrus ranching region, with "Quaker Brand" fruit shipped all over the United States. Beginning in 1887, walnut trees were planted, and Whittier became the nation's largest walnut grower. In addition to walnuts and citrus, Whittier was also a significant producer of pampas grass.

For many years, the sole means of transport from this area to Los Angeles was by foot or horse and wagon over rough dirt roads, impeding settlement, development, and the export of agriculture. Thus in 1887 "enterprising and aggressive businessmen" contracted with the Southern Pacific Railroad to build the first railroad spur to Whittier, including a depot. The businessmen covered the $43,000 construction cost for the six-mile spur, which branched off from the Southern Pacific mainline at a junction near what is now Studebaker Road between Firestone Boulevard and Imperial Highway. By 1906, 650 carloads of oranges and 250 carloads of lemons were shipped annually by rail. In 1904, the Pacific Electric opened the trolley line known as "Big Red Cars" from Los Angeles to Whittier. In the first two decades, over a million passengers a year rode to and from Los Angeles on the Whittier Line.

Quakers

The first Quaker meetings were held on the front porch of the Jonathan Bailey House. As more Quakers arrived, the need for an actual Quaker meeting house arose, and the first one was built in 1887 on the corner of Comstock Avenue and Wardman Street. The meeting soon outgrew this 100-seat meeting house, and a larger building was erected on the corner of Philadelphia Street and Washington Avenue in 1902. By 1912, membership had grown to 1,200, and a third building was dedicated on the same site in 1917. With a capacity of 1,700, the 1917 meeting house had a balcony and was constructed of brick with mahogany paneling and pews. The present meeting house, dedicated in 1975, has many architectural elements and materials from the 1917 building, including the stained glass windows and mahogany interior. The Quakers also founded Whittier Academy (later Whittier College), and additional meetings met in East Whittier and at Whittier College's Mendenhall. The Mendenhall and East Whittier meetings kept the silent meeting longer than the main church.

Colleges

In 1887, the Pickering Land and Water Company set aside a 20-acre (81,000 m2) parcel of land to develop a college, but a collapse in the land boom stalled construction. Progress on developing a college was sporadic, but on July 30, 1896, the Whittier Academy, operating since 1891, officially changed its name to Whittier College and enrolled 100 students. The school mascot is "The Poet". By 1906, Whittier College was an educational institution with laboratories, boarding halls, a large gymnasium, and athletic fields. Due to an economic depression in the 1890s, the first bachelor's degrees were not awarded at the college for 17 years.

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

Whittier was the first home to Azusa Pacific University, established in 1899 by the Quaker community and a Methodist evangelist under the name Training School for Christian Workers.

Whittier Narrows earthquake

On October 1, 1987, at 7:42 a.m., the Whittier Narrows earthquake struck, the epicenter six miles (9.7 km) north-northwest of Whittier. The seismic event, which registered 5.9 on the moment magnitude scale, killed eight people and damaged many of uptown Whittier's historic buildings. Three days later, on October 4 at 3:59 a.m., a major aftershock measuring 5.2 caused further damage. Buildings and residential structures that were already borderline unsafe were now deemed unsafe or uninhabitable. In the years following the earthquake, the city's deteriorating uptown business district became the focus of renewed development, meeting opposition from many Whittier citizens. The Whittier Conservancy was formed in 1987 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 landmark designations, historic districts, and Mills Act proposals. The Whittier Narrows earthquake destroyed The Quad at Whittier, a shopping mall that was rebuilt.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 14.7 square miles (38 km2), virtually all land.

Whittier is bordered by Hacienda Heights to the northeast, City of Industry to the north, and several other unincorporated communities in the San Gabriel Valley mostly along its northern sections. Pico Rivera lies to the west, La Habra Heights to the east, La Habra to the southeast, and Santa Fe Springs to the south.

Neighborhoods

Whittier has several neighborhoods. The area around Philadelphia Street and Greenleaf Avenue is known as Uptown Whittier and contains the traditional central business core. Just north of it are the neighborhoods known as Central Park and Hadley-Greenleaf. They have been designated historic districts by the city Historic Resources Commission and comprise most of the Whittier Historic Neighborhood Association area. These districts contain many Craftsman and Spanish Colonial Revival homes. In and abutting the hills north of the historic districts is Starlite Estates. The area surrounding Whittier College is known as College Hills and was also designated a historic district, as has a small cluster of homes along Earlham Drive. The area east of College Avenue is called East Whittier. It was an unincorporated agricultural community until the postwar era. The eastern part of East Whittier, developed in the 1950s and 1960s, is known as Friendly Hills, and was developed at the same time as Murphy Ranch and Leffingwell Ranch. Friendly Hills and Murphy Ranch are generally considered north of Whittier Boulevard, while Leffingwell Ranch is south of it. The area at the extreme east of Whittier is occasionally called Sunglow.

Climate

Whittier is about 15 miles (24 km) inland of the Pacific Ocean, resulting in higher daytime temperatures, and since it lies at a higher elevation than the cities further west, cold air drains into the lower elevation of the Los Angeles Basin, causing warmer nighttime lows, an example of thermal inversion. Winter daytime highs typically range from 57 to 72 °F (14 to 22 °C) with overnight lows dropping to about 41 °F to 50 °F (6° to 12 °C). In the summer highs range from 84 to 97 °F (29 to 36 °C) and corresponding overnight lows in the 62 to 70 °F (17 to 21 °C). Rainfall follows a Mediterranean pattern, with most falling during winter, while summers tend to be rather dry. The mean annual rainfall is about 14 inches (360 mm).

Demographics

Whittier first appeared as a town in the 1890 U.S. Census; and as a city in the 1900 U.S. Census.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Whittier had a population of 87,306. The population density was 5,824.9 people per square mile. The median age was 38.4 years. 22.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.8% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 94.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males age 18 and over.

99.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.5% lived in rural areas.

There were 28,959 households in Whittier, of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.7% were married-couple households, 15.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 20.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 29,953 housing units, of which 3.3% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 3.8%.

16.6% of residents were foreign born, and 3.1% were veterans. Of residents aged 25 years and older, 88.5% were high school graduates, and 26.7% had a bachelor's degree or higher. 61.5% of residents aged 16 years and older were in the civilian labor force.

2016–2020 estimates

The median household income during 2016–2020 was $76,026, and 9.5% of the population was living in poverty.

2010 census

The 2010 United States census reported that Whittier had a population of 85,331. The population density was 5,818.6 inhabitants per square mile (2,246.6/km2). The racial makeup of Whittier was 55,117 (64.6%) White (28.3% Non-Hispanic White, 36.3% White Hispanic), 1,092 (1.3%) African American, 1,093 (1.3%) Native American, 3,262 (3.8%) Asian, 123 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 20,848 (24.4%) from other races, and 3,796 (4.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 56,081 persons (65.7%).

The Census reported that 83,696 people (98.1% of the population) lived in households, 1,083 (1.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 552 (0.6%) were institutionalized.

There were 28,273 households, out of which 11,289 (39.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 14,152 (50.1%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 4,566 (16.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,896 (6.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,770 (6.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 247 (0.9%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 6,096 households (21.6%) were made up of individuals, and 2,495 (8.8%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96. There were 20,614 families (72.9% of all households); the average family size was 3.46.

The population was spread out, with 21,686 people (25.4%) under the age of 18, 9,198 people (10.8%) aged 18 to 24, 23,627 people (27.7%) aged 25 to 44, 20,819 people (24.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 10,001 people (11.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.

There were 29,591 housing units at an average density of 2,017.8 per square mile (779.1/km2), of which 16,207 (57.3%) were owner-occupied, and 12,066 (42.7%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.1%. 49,393 people (57.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 34,303 people (40.2%) lived in rental housing units.

During 2009–2013, Whittier had a median household income of $68,522, with 12.4% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

Mapping L.A.

Mapping L.A. reported that in 2000, Mexican and German were the most common ancestries. Mexico and El Salvador were the most common foreign places of birth.

Homelessness

In 2022, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority's Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count counted 127 homeless people in Whittier.

Economy

Whittier's Redevelopment Agency has numerous projects underway to revitalize the community. This includes a $7 million project near the Hoover Hotel and development of a 480-acre (1.9 km2) project area near Whittier Blvd. The city council adopted the master plan in 2005. In 2019, Whittier's first food hall, Poet Gardens, opened in Uptown Whittier.

The Whittwood Town Center is a shopping destination in Whittier.

Top employers

According to the city's 2013 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

Arts and culture

On April 17, 1900, the Whittier Public Library Board of Trustees held its first meeting in Landrum Smith's drugstore. With an initial collection of 60 books and 200 magazines, the library facilities began in the Woody Building as a reading room maintained by Hester in exchange for space for his telegraph office. In 1907, a Carnegie grant funded building construction at Bailey and Greenleaf that many Whittierites fondly remember. As the city expanded, a more extensive library was needed, and the Friends of the Library was organized in 1956 to raise money for a new building. Through their efforts and those of the board members, librarians, and citizen fundraising groups, the new library was completed at the Washington Avenue site in May 1959. In 1968, service was further expanded with the construction of the Whittwood Branch Library on Santa Gertrudes Avenue.

Historical landmarks and entertainment locations

Rose Hills Memorial Park, the largest single-location cemetery in the world, is located just outside the city western edge in unincorporated Whittier.

Whittier is home to the following California Historical Landmarks

Pio Pico State Historic Park, California Historical Landmark No. 127: The Casa de Governor Pío Pico/Home of Governor Pío Pico, home of the last Mexican Governor of California.

California Historical Landmark No. 646: Grave of George Caralambo, (Greek George). Grave marker is located at the Whittier Museum:

California Historical Landmark No. 681: Paradox Hybrid Walnut Tree:

California Historical Landmark No. 947: Reform School for Juvenile Offenders (Fred C. Nelles School — Closed May 27, 2004, and redeveloped for business and residential use.)

Whittier Museum - 6755 Newlin Ave, Whittier 90601. Open for public tour Fridays and Saturdays 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:

Pio Pico House, 6003 Pioneer Blvd.

Hoover Hotel, 7035 Greenleaf Ave.

Southern Pacific Railroad Depot, 7333 Greenleaf Ave.

Standard Oil Building, 7257 Bright Ave.

Jonathan Bailey House, 13421 E. Camilla St.

Government

City government

Whittier uses a council–manager form of government. Until 2014, all five city council members were elected at-large, with the mayor being elected by the council. Following the 2016 elections, four city council members were elected to four-year terms in districts, whereas the mayor was directly elected to two-year terms. The council also appoints a city manager.

The current mayor of Whittier is James Becerra. The city council is currently made up of Aida Macedo, Vicky Santana, Cathy Warner, and mayor pro tempore Mary Ann Pacheco. Conal McNamara is serving as the city manager and Shannon DeLong as the assistant city manager.

Federal and state representation

In the California State Legislature, Whittier is in the 30th senatorial district, represented by Democrat Bob Archuleta, and in the 56th Assembly district, represented by Democrat Lisa Calderon.

In the United States House of Representatives, Whittier is in California's 38th congressional district, represented by Democrat Linda Sánchez.

Education

The following school districts serve the city of Whittier:

Fullerton Joint Union High School District

Whittier Union High School District

East Whittier City School District

Los Nietos School District

Lowell Joint School District

South Whittier School District

Whittier City School District

Five high schools, California High School, La Serna High School, Pioneer High School, Santa Fe High School, and Whittier High School comprise the Whittier Union High School District. There is one alternative continuation high school Frontier High School and a homeschooling hq, Sierra Vista High School. Although they still have Whittier postal addresses, both California High School and Pioneer High School lie outside the city limits in unincorporated Los Angeles County. Santa Fe High School is located within the City of Santa Fe Springs. Adults may attend the Whittier Adult School, which belongs to the Whittier Union High School District. The city also has three private Catholic elementary schools, K-8:

St. Bruno's Parish School

St Gregory The Great Parish School

St. Mary of the Assumption School

The schools are operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles. One (St. Mary of the Assumption School) is one of the largest Catholic elementary schools in Los Angeles County. St Gregory The Great School has been Number One in their deanery for the Academic Decathlon two consecutive years.

Whittier Friends School is a member of the Friends Council on Education and associated with First Friends Church of Whittier, the founding Quaker meeting of Whittier. Whittier Friends School includes a licensed preschool and an elementary school (TK-6th grade).

Media

The local newspaper is the Whittier Daily News. Other area papers include the San Gabriel Valley Tribune (the parent paper of the Whittier Daily News), the Los Angeles Times, and the Orange County Register. The Music fanzine Flipside was published locally from 1977 to 1990. Former newspapers include the Coast Reporter, Whittier Californian, Whittier Graphic, and the Whittier Star Reporter.

Infrastructure

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Whittier Health Center in Whittier.

The California Youth Authority operated the Fred C. Nelles Youth Correctional Facility from 1890 until it closed in 2004.

Transportation

Various bus routes operate in Whittier. Metro, Foothill Transit, Montebello Bus Lines, and the Norwalk Transit are the main ones. Foothill Transit line 274 originates at Beverly & Norwalk and proceeds north to Baldwin Park via Workman Mill Road and Puente Avenue. Foothill Transit line 285 travels through Whittier on Whittier Boulevard and Colima Road between La Habra and Hacienda Heights. Montebello Transit Line 10 originates at Whittwood Mall and proceeds west to Montebello and the Atlantic E Line station via Whittier Boulevard. Montebello 40 originates at Beverly and Norwalk and proceeds west to Montebello and Downtown Los Angeles via Beverly Boulevard and 4th Street. Montebello 50 travels through Whittier between La Mirada and Downtown Los Angeles. Metro Bus line 120 originates at Whittwood Mall and travels west to the Norwalk C Line station, then to the Aviation/Imperial C Line station via Imperial Highway.

Whittier also has a variety of roads. One freeway, the San Gabriel River Freeway (I-605), runs along the city's northern end. State Route 72 runs via Whittier Boulevard and forms part of El Camino Real. Other major streets in Whittier include Beverly Boulevard, Colima Road, Greenleaf Avenue, Lambert Road, Mar Vista Street, Mills Avenue, Norwalk Boulevard, Painter Avenue, Philadelphia Street, and Washington Boulevard.

Police

The Whittier Police Department provides law enforcement services.

Fire

There are three fire stations within Whittier city limits: Los Angeles County Fire Department Station 28 (Engine, Quint, Paramedic Squad, Mobile Aid, and the Battalion Chief), Station 17 (Engine), and Station 59 (Engine and IRT).

Fred C. Nelles Youth Correctional Facility

The Fred C. Nelles Youth Correctional Facility served as a state reform school for boys and girls until 1916 when the girls were moved elsewhere. Opened in 1891, before Whittier was incorporated, Nelles was California's longest-running state school for juvenile offenders and has been declared a California State Historical Landmark. It closed in 2004, and the facility was used as a television filming site. In 2014, Brookfield Residential Properties announced plans for a large retail, commercial and residential project on the site. Much of Whittier is built out, so the 74-acre (30 ha) site brings a unique chance for growth in the city. Although over 50 buildings were demolished, discussions have focused on how many of the eight historic buildings should be preserved. The administration building that was constructed in 1928–29 has a historical designation. Housing and commercial space are under construction on the site.

Notable people

George Allen, former Virginia governor and U.S. Senator

Glenn Allison, professional ten-pin bowler and member of the PBA and USBC Halls of Fame

Deborah Babashoff, swimmer

Shirley Babashoff, swimmer, winner of eight Olympic medals

Bad Dude Tito, professional wrestler

Andrea Barber, actress, Full House/Fuller House

Mitch Callahan, former prospect for the Detroit Red Wings

Raymond F. Chandler III, SMA, US Army, former Sergeant Major of the US Army

Carl Cheffers, NFL referee

Tricia Nixon Cox, daughter of President Richard Nixon

Jeff B. Davis, comedian and actor

Andy Etchebarren, professional baseball player

Justin De Fratus, pitcher for Philadelphia Phillies

M.F.K. Fisher, food writer

Nomar Garciaparra, professional baseball player

Jeff Loveness, American screenwriter and producer

John Gay, screenwriter

Matt Gourley, American podcaster, actor and writer

Film and television locations

Various notable movies and television shows have been filmed in the city, including:

Gardens of the Night (2008) – Film starring Gillian Jacobs, John Malkovich, Ryan Simpkins and Tom Arnold. Scenes were filmed in Michael's Super Burgers.

Masters of the Universe (1987) - Film starring Frank Langella. Key battle scenes in a music store and on rooftops during Skeletor's invasion of Earth were shot here, among others.

Amish Grace (2010) – Television film. The carriage procession was filmed on Greenleaf St. in Uptown Whittier, and the funeral home scene was filmed at The Good Shepherd Family Bible Church, across the street from the post office on Bailey St.

Back to the Future (1985) and Back to the Future Part II (1989) – Films starring Michael J. Fox. Whittier High School was used as the setting for Hill Valley High School.

Hocus Pocus (1993) – Film starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Thora Birch and Vinessa Shaw. Parts were filmed in Uptown Whittier and East Whittier Middle School.

Father of the Bride Part II (1995) – Film starring Steve Martin. Parts were filmed in uptown Whittier.

The Wonder Years (1988–1993) – Television series starring Fred Savage. The parade scene in the last episode was filmed in uptown Whittier.

The Next Best Thing (2000) – Film starring Madonna and Rupert Everett was filmed in the Whittier Hills.

Bringing Down the House (2003) – Film starring Queen Latifah and Steve Martin was filmed at the Friendly Hills Country Club, in East Whittier.

Sister cities

Changshu, Jiangsu, China