Whittier, California
Whittier (/ˈhwɪtiər/) is a city in Southern California in Los Angeles County, part of the Gateway Cities. The 14.7-square-mile (38.0 km2) city had 87,306 residents as of the 2020 United States census, an increase of 1,975 from the 2010 census figure. Whittier was incorporated in February 1898 and became a charter city in 1955.[6] The city is named for the Quaker poet John Greenleaf Whittier and is home to Whittier College.
Whittier, California
United States
February 25, 1898[1]
Joe Vinatieri
Jessica Martinez
Fernando Dutra
Cathy Warner
Octavio Cesar Martinez
Brian Saeki
Shannon DeLong
14.66 sq mi (37.98 km2)
14.65 sq mi (37.94 km2)
0.02 sq mi (0.04 km2) 0.11%
367 ft (112 m)
87,306
95th in California
5,824.9/sq mi (2,249.0/km2)
Whittierite
Etymology[edit]
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, 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"[7] used to reside by the City Hall and is now in front of the main library. Whittier never set foot there, but the city still bears his name and is rooted in the Quaker tradition.[6]
Government[edit]
City government[edit]
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.[33]
The current mayor of Whittier is Joe Vinatieri.[34] The city council is currently made up of Fernando Dutra, Octavio Martinez, Cathy Warner, and mayor pro tempore Jessica Martinez.[35] Brian Saeki is currently serving as the city manager, with Shannon DeLong as the assistant city manager.[36]
Federal and state representation[edit]
In the California State Legislature, Whittier is in the 30th Senate District, represented by Democrat Bob Archuleta, and in the 56th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Lisa Calderon.[37]
In the United States House of Representatives, Whittier is in California's 38th congressional district, represented by Democrat Linda Sánchez.[38]
The following school districts serve the city of Whittier:[39]
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
The schools are operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, with one (St. Mary of the Assumption School) being 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 years in a row.
Whittier Friends School [43] is a member of the Friends Council on Education [44] and associated with First Friends Church of Whittier,[45] the founding Quaker meeting of Whittier. Whittier Friends School includes a licensed preschool and an elementary school (TK-6th grade).
Trinity Lutheran School,[46] a ministry of Trinity Lutheran Church, serves kindergarten through eighth grade.
Whittier Christian School,[47] a ministry of Calvary Baptist Church, Association of Christian Schools International serves the Whittier community. They have an elementary campus, two preschool campuses, one junior high school, and one high school.
Plymouth Christian School,[48] a ministry of Plymouth Church, serves preschool through sixth grade.
Higher education institutions in the area include Rio Hondo College, which lies just outside the city, Southern California University of Health Sciences, and historic Whittier College.
Media[edit]
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. Music fanzine Los Angeles Flipside published locally from 1977 to 1990. Former newspapers include: Coast Reporter, Whittier Californian, Whittier Graphic, Whittier Star Reporter, and more.[49][50]
Various notable movies and television shows have been filmed in the city, including:
