Why La Mirada
La Mirada is a city situated in the southeastern region of Los Angeles County, California. Recognized as one of the area's Gateway Cities, it shares a border with neighboring Orange County. The municipality encompasses a total area of 7.8 square miles, consisting almost entirely of land. It is bordered by several neighboring communities, including Santa Fe Springs, Cerritos, East Whittier, South Whittier, Fullerton, La Habra, and Buena Park.
The town derives its name from a Spanish phrase meaning "the look." Its modern development began in 1888 when Andrew McNally, a Chicago mapmaker and printer, bought over 2,200 acres of Rancho Los Coyotes south of Whittier. McNally established Windermere Ranch—the present-day site of Neff Park—and planted wide tracts of olive, lemon, and orange groves. He also constructed a facility to produce olive oil and a railroad stop to distribute his agricultural goods across the country. In the early 1950s, the area attracted national notice for being designed as a completely planned community, leading to rapid suburban growth and its formal incorporation in 1960.
Today, La Mirada offers several prominent cultural, recreational, and educational sites. The La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts serves as a primary hub for stage productions and entertainment. For water-based recreation, visitors and residents utilize the Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center. Historic heritage is preserved at Neff Park, which marks the grounds of the city's original ranching era. The community is also the location of Biola University, a private evangelical Christian institution.
Navigating and reaching La Mirada is straightforward due to its network of arterial streets and highway connections. Interstate 5 cuts briefly through the city's southwestern corner, while State Route 39, also known as Beach Boulevard, passes through the eastern edge. Major local routes include Rosecrans Avenue, Imperial Highway, Alondra Boulevard, Valley View Avenue, and La Mirada Boulevard. Public bus transportation is provided by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Montebello Bus Lines, and Norwalk Transit, offering routes to downtown Los Angeles. Regional rail travelers can access nearby Metrolink stations located in neighboring Buena Park and Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs.
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