Half of East Whittier’s homes were built after 1964
More historic than 15% of U.S. towns · #590 of 847 in California. What drives it
Most of East Whittier was built recently: 3% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1964. Below: maps from 1896 on and the census since 1970.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, East Whittier is more historic than 15% of U.S. towns, #590 of 847 in California. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls it down.
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HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of East Whittier’s overall grade.
Few California towns list much on the Register (a typical California town has 0.0 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so East Whittier’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (31% of California towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on two of the three inputs, so a change in either one moves the letter more than it would with three. The pre-1940 share (±2.5 points) is firm at this size.
Founding year: our sources. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about East Whittier’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of East Whittier. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1896Anaheim sheet · 1:62,500
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of East Whittier.
The story so far
East Whittier, in brief
Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of East Whittier yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.
East Whittier () is an unincorporated community in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 10,394 at the 2020 census, up from 9,757 at the 2010 census. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined this community as a census-designated place (CDP). The name was changed from East La Mirada in 2012, likely due to its precise location in relation to the city of Whittier. The previous delineation of East Whittier CDP occurred during the 1960 census, when the area recorded a population of 19,884. This delineation encompassed different boundaries than the current East Whittier, including areas that were annexed to Whittier, California in the 1960s.
Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.
By decade
No old photos in the archives yet
Weddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Be the first to add onePhotograph a print flat, in daylight, no flash.
East Whittier is more historic than 15% of U.S. towns, #590 of 847 in California. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
How old are the homes in East Whittier?
3% of East Whittier’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±2.5 points), against a typical 3.4% for a California town; the median home was built in 1964.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
