Overview

Introduction to Whittier, California

Located about 12 miles southeast of Los Angeles and about 20 miles northwest of Anaheim, the city of Whittier, California is home to Whittier College and also to the Southern California University of Health Sciences. The city was incorporated in 1898, and like many other southern California communities, underwent a population increase following World War II. Whittier experienced an even more rapid population spike starting in the 1990's. Many of the early settlers of Whittier were followers of the Quaker religion, and its citizens eventually named the city after John Greenleaf Whittier, a respected Quaker poet. Whittier wrote a dedication poem, and to this day is honored with an exhibit at the Whittier museum, a statue located in the park, and another statue representing his poem "The Barefoot Boy" near the City Hall. Although Whittier never set foot there, the city still bears his name and is still rooted in the Quaker tradition.

Whittier has a variety of freeways, including the San Gabriel River Freeway (Interstate-605) which transverses the city's northern end. Other nearby freeways include the Golden State Freeway (Interstate-5), Santa Monica Freeway (Interstate-10), Century Freeway (Interstate-105), Pomona Freeway (California State Highway 60) and the Orange Freeway (California State Highway 57).

Whittier Landmarks and Attractions:

Whittier is home to several landmarks. Some of the more notable of these are: The Casa de Governor Pio Pico (home of the last Mexican Governor of California and a designated California Historical Landmark); Pio Pico Historical State Park; El Camino Real; Mt Olive and Broadway Cemeteries; the Jonathan Bailey House (home of one of Whittier's first settlers); The Historic Whittier Transit Depot; President Richard M. Nixon's First Law Office; and the Whittier Historical Society Museum.

Although located in Los Angeles County, Whittier is less than a 30-minute drive to Anaheim. Consequently, a large array of very popular attractions in both the Los Angeles and Orange County regions are easily accessible from Whittier. Some of these include the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Knott's Berry Farm & Knott's Soak City in Buena Park, Universal Studios in Hollywood, and the Los Angeles Zoo.

Likewise, sports fans can enjoy the same level of access to home games for the following professional teams:

  • Major League Baseball: Dodgers (Los Angeles); L.A. Angels of Anaheim.
  • Professional lacrosse: Los Angeles Riptide (MLL).
  • Pro basketball (Los Angeles): Lakers, Clippers (NBA); Sparks (WNBA).
  • Pro hockey (NHL): Kings (Los Angeles); Mighty Ducks (Anaheim).
  • Pro football: Los Angeles Avengers (AFL).
  • Pro soccer: Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS).

Demographics

People

Total Population86,523
Male Share of the Population49%
Female Share of the Population51%
Senior Citizens14.1%
Employed Population 16+40,711
Age of the Population37

Families

% of people married44.7%
Average household size3

Education and Earnings

Population % with Bachelor Degree or Higher23.4%
Median Earnings25+$42,257
Median Earnings Without High School Qualification$23,309
Median Earnings With High School Degree$35,540

Wealth

Median Family Income$83,234
% Above Poverty Level89.2%
% Below Poverty Level10.8%

Commute & Sprawl

Average Commute Time33 minutes
% Working from Home4.4%
% Walking and Biking to Work1.7%
% Using Public Transportation2.2%

Housing

People Living Alone21.8%
Median Gross Rent$1,312
Median House Value$528,400

Ancestry

Other(often includes Hispanic and African American)70.4%
German5%
Italian3.8%
Irish3.6%
English3.4%
French Except Basque1.3%
Dutch0.8%
Norwegian0.8%
Scottish0.8%
US/American0.6%
Polish0.6%
Swedish0.6%
Russian0.6%
Arab0.5%
Greek0.3%
Danishn0.3%
Palestinian0.2%
Lebanese0.2%
African0.2%
Welsh0.2%
Basque0.2%
Portuguese0.2%
Hungarian0.2%
Egyptian0.1%
Swiss0.1%
Ukrainian0.1%
Croatian0.1%
Nigerian0.1%
Austrian0.1%
Romanian0.1%
Canadian0.1%
Iranian0.1%
Latvian0.1%
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Whittier Almanac

CategoryValue
CountyLos Angeles County
Standard Zip Codes90602, 90604, 90605, 90603, 90606, 90601
P.O. Box Zip Codes90607, 90608, 90609, 90610
Phone Area Codes562
Time ZoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
Approximate Latitude33.97
Approximate Longitude-118.01

Whittier Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

  • Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
  • Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

StationMONTEBELLO
Distance4.7 miles
Jan Temp48 to 70 F
Apr Temp53 to 77 F
Jul Temp64 to 89 F
Oct Temp58 to 82 F
Annual Precip14.4 inches
StationSAN GABRIEL FIRE DEPT
Distance9.2 miles
Jan Temp43 to 70 F
Apr Temp50 to 77 F
Jul Temp62 to 89 F
Oct Temp55 to 83 F
Annual Precip18.5 inches
StationANAHEIM
Distance13 miles
Jan Temp45 to 69 F
Apr Temp51 to 73 F
Jul Temp62 to 84 F
Oct Temp56 to 80 F
Annual Precip11.2 inches

Nearby Cities and Towns

LocationPopulationMedian Family Income
Hacienda Heights54,970$89,235
La Mirada48,974$96,450
Montebello63,099$59,332
Pico Rivera63,432$69,487
Santa Fe Springs17,791$75,345
South El Monte20,727$51,250

Whittier Public Libraries

Whittier Public Library
7344 S. WASHINGTON AVE.
Whittier, California
(562) 567-9920

library logo

More Information for Librarians

Whittier Hospitals

Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital
(Non-profit)
12401 East Washington Blvd.
Whittier Hospital Medical Center
(Proprietary)
9080 Colima Road

Whittier Public Schools

Longfellow Elementary
6005 S. Magnolia Ave.
ZIP: 90601
Primary
Total Enrollment 593
Lou Henry Hoover Elementary
6302 S. Alta Ave.
ZIP: 90601
Primary
Total Enrollment 485
Mill Elementary
4030 S. Workman Mill Rd.
ZIP: 90601
Primary
Total Enrollment 455
Orange Grove Elementary
10626 E. Orange Grove Ave.
ZIP: 90601
Primary
Total Enrollment 401
Wallen L. Andrews Elementary
1010 S. Caraway Dr.
ZIP: 90601
Primary
Total Enrollment 540
Walter F. Dexter Middle
11532 E. Floral Dr.
ZIP: 90601
Middle
Total Enrollment 1097
Whittier High
12417 E. Philadelphia St.
ZIP: 90601
High
Total Enrollment 2164
Evergreen Elementary
12915 E. Helmer Dr.
ZIP: 90602
Primary
Total Enrollment 468
Lydia Jackson Elementary
8015 S. Painter Ave.
ZIP: 90602
Primary
Total Enrollment 430
Jordan Elementary
10654 Jordan Rd.
ZIP: 90603
Primary
Total Enrollment 407
Leffingwell Elementary
10625 S. Santa Gertrudes
ZIP: 90603
Primary
Total Enrollment 652
Murphy Ranch Elementary
16021 Janine Dr.
ZIP: 90603
Primary
Total Enrollment 566
California High
9800 S. Mills Ave.
ZIP: 90604
High
Total Enrollment 2955
Ceres Elementary
10601 S. Ceres Ave.
ZIP: 90604
Primary
Total Enrollment 347
El Camino High (continuation)
14625 Keese Dr.
ZIP: 90604
High
Total Enrollment 311
Granada Middle
15337 Lemon Dr.
ZIP: 90604
Middle
Total Enrollment 1087
Hillview Middle
10931 S. Stamy Rd.
ZIP: 90604
Middle
Total Enrollment 676
Howard J. Mckibben Elementary
10550 Mills Ave.
ZIP: 90604
Primary
Total Enrollment 434
La Colima Elementary
11225 Miller Rd.
ZIP: 90604
Primary
Total Enrollment 522
Los Altos Elementary
12001 Bona Vista Ln.
ZIP: 90604
Primary
Total Enrollment 387
Meadow Green Elementary
12025 S. Grovedale Dr.
ZIP: 90604
Primary
Total Enrollment 487
Monte Vista Middle
12000 Loma Dr.
ZIP: 90604
Middle
Total Enrollment 319
Orchard Dale Elementary
10625 S. Cole Rd.
ZIP: 90604
Primary
Total Enrollment 620
Rancho-starbuck Intermediate
16430 Woodbrier Dr.
ZIP: 90604
Middle
Total Enrollment 774
Scott Avenue Elementary
11701 Scott Ave.
ZIP: 90604
Primary
Total Enrollment 644
Carmela Elementary
13300 Lakeland Rd.
ZIP: 90605
Primary
Total Enrollment 490
East Whittier Middle
14421 E. Whittier Blvd.
ZIP: 90605
Middle
Total Enrollment 1287
Frontier High (continuation)
9401 S.painter Ave.
ZIP: 90605
High
Total Enrollment 613
La Serna High
15301 E. Youngwood Dr.
ZIP: 90605
High
Total Enrollment 2940
Lake Marie Elementary
10001 Carmenita Rd.
ZIP: 90605
Primary
Total Enrollment 244
Laurel Elementary
13550 Lambert Rd.
ZIP: 90605
Primary
Total Enrollment 713
Loma Vista Elementary
13463 E. Meyer Rd.
ZIP: 90605
Primary
Total Enrollment 526
Mulberry Elementary
14029 E. Mulberry Dr.
ZIP: 90605
Primary
Total Enrollment 620
Ocean View Elementary
14359 E. Second St.
ZIP: 90605
Primary
Total Enrollment 795
Richard L. Graves Middle
13243 E. Los Nietos Rd.
ZIP: 90605
Middle
Total Enrollment 744
Sierra Vista High (alternative)
9401 S. Painter Ave.
ZIP: 90605
High
Total Enrollment 338
Ada S. Nelson Elementary
8140 S. Vicki Dr.
ZIP: 90606
Primary
Total Enrollment 397
Aeolian Elementary
11600 Aeolian St.
ZIP: 90606
Primary
Total Enrollment 548
Christian Sorensen Elementary
11493 E. Rosehedge Dr.
ZIP: 90606
Primary
Total Enrollment 471
Daniel Phelan Elementary
7150 S. Cully Ave.
ZIP: 90606
Primary
Total Enrollment 490
Katherine Edwards Middle
6812 S. Norwalk Blvd.
ZIP: 90606
Middle
Total Enrollment 732
Pioneer High
10800 Ben Avon
ZIP: 90606
High
Total Enrollment 1414
Tri-cities Rop
10800 Benavon St., Unit E
ZIP: 90606
High
West Whittier Elementary
6411 S. Norwalk Blvd.
ZIP: 90606
Primary
Total Enrollment 384
Whittier Area Community Day
5777 Lockheed Ave.
ZIP: 90606
Middle
Total Enrollment 20
Whittier Independent Study
5777 Lockheed Ave.
ZIP: 90606
Primary
Total Enrollment 5

Whittier Private Schools

Calvary Chapel Christian School Of Whittier
12817 Hadley St
ZIP: 90601
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 54
Hadley School
11703 Hadley St
ZIP: 90601
Elementary
Total Enrollment 13
Lad N Lassie Preschool
12620 Broadway
ZIP: 90601
Elementary
Total Enrollment 22
Plymouth Christian School
12058 Beverly Blvd
ZIP: 90601
Elementary
Total Enrollment 102
Trinity Lutheran School
11716 Floral Dr
ZIP: 90601
Elementary
Total Enrollment 61
Victory Outreach Children's Learning Center
6726 Milton Ave
ZIP: 90601
Elementary
Total Enrollment 30
Whittier Christian Schools - Newlin Campus
6548 Newlin Ave
ZIP: 90601
Elementary
Total Enrollment 283
Whittier Friends School
6726 Washington Ave
ZIP: 90601
Elementary
Total Enrollment 8
Joyland Nursery School & Kindergarten
9122 Painter Ave
ZIP: 90602
Elementary
Total Enrollment 6
Oralingua School North Whittier
7056 Washington Ave
ZIP: 90602
Elementary
Total Enrollment 48
Remnant Christian School
7346 Painter Ave
ZIP: 90602
Secondary
Total Enrollment 8
St Mary Of The Assumption School
7218 Pickering Ave
ZIP: 90602
Elementary
Total Enrollment 216
East Whittier Umc Preschool
10005 Cole Rd
ZIP: 90603
Elementary
Total Enrollment 6
Primanti Montessori School Whittier
10947 Valley Home Ave
ZIP: 90603
Elementary
Total Enrollment 103
St Bruno Parish School
15700 Citrustree Rd
ZIP: 90603
Elementary
Total Enrollment 308
Carden Whittier School
11537 Grovedale Dr
ZIP: 90604
Elementary
Total Enrollment 299
Faith Lutheran Church & School
9920 Mills Ave
ZIP: 90604
Elementary
Total Enrollment 28
L'heritage Francais
14128 Leffingwell Rd
ZIP: 90604
Elementary
Total Enrollment 37
St Gregory The Great School
13925 Telegraph Rd
ZIP: 90604
Elementary
Total Enrollment 200
Whittier Christian Schools-maybrook Campus
11700 Maybrook Ave
ZIP: 90604
Elementary
Total Enrollment 272
Whittier Adventist Elm School
8841 Calmada Ave
ZIP: 90605
Elementary
Total Enrollment 16
Family Life Center Christian Academy
7435 Norwalk Blvd
ZIP: 90606
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 27
Sources :
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