Why Whittier
Situated in Los Angeles County, California, Whittier is a Gateway Cities municipality spanning 14.7 square miles with a population of 87,306 as of the 2020 census. Located roughly 15 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean, the city is bordered by neighboring communities such as Pico Rivera, City of Industry, and La Habra. It experiences a Mediterranean climate with dry summers and the majority of its 14 inches of average annual rainfall occurring during the winter months. Summer afternoon temperatures generally range between 84 and 97 °F, while winter daytime highs usually stay between 57 and 72 °F.
Originally inhabited by the Gabrielino people, the land was later included in a 1784 Spanish land grant awarded to soldier Manuel Nieto, whose family established a rancho with cattle, horses, and crops. By the 1840s, portions of the area belonged to Pio Pico, the final Mexican governor of Alta California. In the late 19th century, Quaker settlers purchased land to create a dedicated religious community, naming it after the poet John Greenleaf Whittier. Incorporated in 1898, the settlement developed into a major agricultural center known for its "Quaker Brand" citrus, pampas grass, and extensive walnut groves. Early rail connections built in 1887 and Pacific Electric trolley lines opened in 1904 helped link the community directly to Los Angeles.
Visitors exploring Whittier will find several designated historic districts, especially around Uptown Whittier—the city's core commercial district near Philadelphia Street and Greenleaf Avenue. Neighborhoods such as Central Park, Hadley-Greenleaf, and College Hills showcase prominent Craftsman and Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. Points of interest include Central Park, which features a statue of John Greenleaf Whittier, and the Whittier Museum, which houses an exhibit dedicated to the poet. The historic Jonathan Bailey House marks the homestead cabin where early Quaker settlers held initial gatherings, while the active 1975 Quaker meeting house incorporates stained glass and mahogany interiors saved from an earlier 1917 building.
Whittier is also home to Whittier College, which began operating as Whittier Academy in 1891. Former U.S. President Richard Nixon spent his youth in East Whittier, attended Whittier High School and Whittier College, and practiced law in Uptown Whittier during the 1930s. Following the 5.9-magnitude Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987, the city established a Historic Resources Commission to protect its historic architecture while revitalizing the uptown business district.
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