La Mirada, California

Refimprove|date=August 2007

Infobox Settlement
official_name = City of La Mirada
other_name =
native_name =
nickname =
motto = Dedicated to Service


imagesize =
image_caption =


flag_size =
image_

seal_size = 74px
image_shield =
shield_size =
image_blank_emblem =
blank_emblem_size =


mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of La Mirada in Los Angeles County, California|, California


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = California
subdivision_name2 = Los Angeles
subdivision_type3 =
subdivision_name3 =
subdivision_type4 =
subdivision_name4 =
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Hal Malkin [cite web | url = http://www.cityoflamirada.org/citycouncil.htm | title = City Council information | accessdate = 2008-03-25]
leader_title1 = City Manager
leader_name1 = Andrea Travis
leader_title2 =
leader_name2 =
leader_title3 =
leader_name3 =
established_title =
established_date =
established_title2 =
established_date2 =
established_title3 = Incorporated (city)
established_date3 = 1960-03-23 [cite web | url = http://www.cacities.org/resource_files/20457.IncorpDateLO.doc | title = Incorporation Dates of California Cities | accessdate = 2007-01-18|format=DOC]
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 20.40
area_total_sq_mi = 7.88
area_land_km2 = 20.33
area_land_sq_mi = 7.85
area_water_km2 = 0.07
area_water_sq_mi = 0.03
area_water_percent = 0.34
area_urban_km2 =
area_urban_sq_mi =
area_metro_km2 =
area_metro_sq_mi =
population_as_of = 2007
population_note =
population_footnotes = [cite web | url = http://www.cityoflamirada.org/Jobs_07/RedevelopManager2.pdf | title = La Mirada Redevelopment Manager Application| accessdate = 2007-05-16|format=PDF]
settlement_type = City
population_total = 50,093
population_density_km2 = 2301.4
population_density_sq_mi = 5960.6
population_metro =
population_density_metro_km2 =
population_density_metro_sq_mi =
population_urban =
population_density_urban_km2 =
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timezone = PST
utc_offset = -8
timezone_DST = PDT
utc_offset_DST = -7
latd = 33 |latm = 54 |lats = 8 |latNS = N
longd = 118 |longm = 0 |longs = 35 |longEW = W
elevation_m = 59
elevation_ft = 194
postal_code_type = ZIP Code
postal_code = 90637-90639 [cite web | url = http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/zcl_1_results.jsp?visited=1&pagenumber=0&state=ca&city=La%20Mirada | title = USPS - ZIP Code Lookup - Find a ZIP+ 4 Code By City Results | accessdate = 2007-01-18]
area_code = 562/714 [cite web | url = http://www.nanpa.com/nas/public/npa_city_query_step2.do?method=displayData&cityToNpaModel.stateAbbr=CA&cityToNpaModel.city=La%20Mirada | title = Number Administration System - NPA and City/Town Search Results | accessdate = 2007-01-18]
website = [http://www.cityoflamirada.org/ http://www.cityoflamirada.org/]
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 06-40032
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1652736
footnotes =

La Mirada is a city within Los Angeles County, California [ [http://www.csac.counties.org/default.asp?id=49 Cities Within Each County] , California State Association of Counties] [ [http://www.cityoflamirada.org/factsht.htm City of La Mirada Web Site Fact Sheet] ] , California, United States. The population was 46,783 at the 2000 census.

It is best known as the home of Biola University (formerly the Bible Institute of Los Angeles), an evangelical Christian institution of higher education. It is also the home of the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. McCoy/Rigby Entertainment produces six musicals per season. That company includes the actress-gymnast Cathy Rigby, noted for starring in the staged production of Peter Pan.

Splash!, a pirate-themed aquatics center, had its grand opening celebrations on November 10th and 11th, 2007. The center includes a 50-meter pool, 25-yard pool, and a fun area titled "Buccaneer Bay" which has three water slides, a lazy river, and much more.

The City of La Mirada was named a “Best Place to Live” by CNN Money Magazine. La Mirada placed 34th on the list, with the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and the Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center as two of its main attributes. The list features 100 U.S. cities with 7,500 to 50,000 citizens with a population that is less than 90% Caucasian. California had the most nominations with eight other cities making the list. The nominations were based on data such as low crime rates, education scores, population growth, accessibility, housing affordability, school quality, arts and leisure opportunities and racial diversity.

History

La Mirada ("The Look" or "The Gaze") was the creation of two men, Andrew McNally, a printer and mapmaker from Chicago (see Rand McNally) and his son-in-law Edwin Neff.

In 1888, McNally purchased over 2200 acres (8.9 km²) of Rancho Los Coyotes, south of Whittier, for $200,000. He developed 700 acres (2.8 km²) into his own home called Windemere Ranch and surrounded it with olive, orange and lemon groves. McNally built a plant to process the olive oil, which was of the best quality, as well as a railroad station on Stage Road. From here his olive oil and fruit were shipped all over the U.S.

In 1896, McNally and Neff formed the La Mirada Land Company, which published a booklet entitled "The Country Gentleman in California", advertising parcels of land for sale including pictures, a map and descriptions of the scenic olive, alfalfa, lemon and grapefruit groves.

In 1946, "Along Your Way", a "Station by Station Description of the Santa Fe Route Through the Southwest," describes La Mirada with a population of 213, surrounded by orange, lemon, walnut and olive groves; oil wells; olive oil factory; and fruit packing houses.

In 1953, the land was sold to subdivisions for 5.2 million dollars, one of the largest real estate transactions in California. By 1960, the year the city was incorporated, La Mirada had grown from a mere 100 homes to over 8,000. The city was incorporated as "Mirada Hills" on March 23, 1960. On November 8, 1960, voters approved a change of name to the current La Mirada, which was officially certified on December 15, 1960.

A husband and wife were killed when their plane crashed into the KFI radio tower in La Mirada on Sunday, December 19, 2004.

Geography

La Mirada is located at coor dms|33|54|8|N|118|0|35|W|city (33.902130, -118.009663)GR|1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20.4 km² (7.9 mi²). 20.3 km² (7.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.38%) is water. The city is on the border between Orange and Los Angeles Counties. Cities which border it are Fullerton and La Habra on the east; Buena Park on the south; Norwalk and Santa Fe Springs to the west; and unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County and small portions of Orange County to the north.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 46,783 people, 14,580 households, and 11,518 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,301.0/km² (5,960.6/mi²). There were 14,811 housing units at an average density of 728.5/km² (1,887.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 64.46% White, 1.93% Black or African American, 0.75% American Indian, 14.88% Asian, 0.27% Pacific Islander, 13.64% from other races, and 4.08% from two or more races. 33.47% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 14,580 households out of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.1% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.0% were non-families. 17.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.10 and the average family size was 3.49.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $61,632, and the median income for a family was $66,598. Males had a median income of $47,364 versus $31,993 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,404. About 3.7% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

In the state legislature La Mirada is located in the 30th Senate District, represented by Democrat Ronald S. Calderon, and in the 60th Assembly District, represented by Republican Bob Huff. Federally, La Mirada is located in California's 39th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of D +13 [cite web | title = Will Gerrymandered Districts Stem the Wave of Voter Unrest? | publisher = Campaign Legal Center Blog | url=http://www.clcblog.org/blog_item-85.html | accessdate = 2008-02-10] and is represented by Democrat Linda Sánchez.

In the 2000 presidential election, La Mirada was statistically the most Republican area in L.A. county, with over 90% of residents voting for President George W. Bush over Al Gore. The city remains one of the most conservative areas in the county, in part because of the central presence of conservative evangelical college, Biola University. Former Mayor Steve Jones is a Biola alum.

Emergency services

Fire protection in La Mirada is provided by the Los Angeles County Fire Department with ambulance transport by Care Ambulance Service. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department provides law enforcement. Along with the construction of the aquatics center, an expansion of the La Mirada Sheriff's Station has been completed. It is located in the civic center.In the event of a major disaster La Mirada HamWatch volunteers provide real time communications support to law enforcement and life saving agencies through the use of Amateur (Ham) Radio.

Notable residents

*Gary Allan, country singer
*Jacqueline Castillo, softball player.
*Tony Corrente, NFL referee
*Jennie Finch, Olympic softball player.
*Eddie Glass, rock musician Nebula
*Eric Winter, Actor from "Days of Our Lives" 2002-2005
*Janine Lindemulder, American exotic dancer and adult film actress
*Johnny Martin, Musician The Chelsea Smiles

References

External links

* [http://www.cityoflamirada.org/ La Mirada Official Website]
* [http://lacdcs.com/station-end-page-4.html LA County Disaster Communications Service ( DCS ) Norwalk Station]
* [http://www.lamiradahighschool.com/ La Mirada High School Official Site]
* [http://www.ourlamirada.com/ Old pictures of schools, churches, shopping center, etc]