Whittier City Map Poster

About Whittier

The city is in the southern San Gabriel Valley, an area with a rich agricultural heritage and historic ties to citrus growing. Whittier was founded by Quakers in 1887. In its early years, it was primarily agricultural; grapes were grown and used for wine making. The city has gradually expanded from its rural roots to become a bedroom community for the Los Angeles metropolitan area; most of its residents now commute to work in Los Angeles County's urban center or live within the surrounding San Gabriel Valley communities of La Habra Heights, Hacienda Heights or Walnut as well as other neighboring cities such as Santa Fe Springs (the home of South Coast Plaza), Cerritos and Artesia (home of Lakewood Center). Whittier's many parks include Leffingwell Park which features an historic all-volunteer flower garden with more than 150 varieties planted annually without chemical pesticides or herbicides.