Theme Parks and Lots of Fun!
Mood:  vegas lucky
Topic: My New Home!


The Children's Museum at La Habra opened in December 1977 and is located in a historic 1923 Train Depot. It features 7 galleries and 14 different hands on exhibits, many of which remain unique to the field today. In addition to these exhibits, an outdoor dinosaur topiary and historic 1942 caboose, the Museum features an exhibit which changes 4 times a year. The Children's Museum at La Habra was the first children's museum to open west of the Rocky Mountains, and was one of only a few such museums to open on the West Coast during the 1970s. The Children's Museum welcomes local, national and international visitors. Children can ride a kid-size carousel, take a walk in T-Rex's footprints, pet an Arctic fox, pump gas, drive a bus, dress up and perform, and dig for fossils all in one afternoon!
The Children's Museum at La Habra shows how important play is to learning. Through play, children develop skills, express creativity, discover the larger world and learn to work with others.

La Habra, California - Today
Mood:  lucky
Now Playing: Have a Little Faith in Me - Michelle Branch
Topic: My New Home!

Huntington Beach Pier, just a few miles away! Sunny and clear skies! Picture provided by Orange County, California.


Huntington Beach Pier, just a few miles away! Not so sunny and clear skies. Picture provided and taken by Randy.




The City has a wide range of recreation opportunities, including twenty public parks, comprising 117 collective acres of parkland. These parks are divided into three categories: mini parks (six), neighborhood parks (nine) and community parks (five). These parks include sports fields, tennis courts, a skate park, as well as green areas, picnic tables, barbecues and playgrounds. Facilities located within the parks include the Depot Theatre, the Children's Museum, the Boys & Girls Club, the Scout Hut, the Girls Activity Building and the Tennis Center. Additional facilities located outside the parks are the Veterans Memorial Building, the Club House and the Community Center. These facilities are available for both organized City programs and classes, as well as for rent to the public for meetings, parties and other special events.

Population of La Habra has grown over the past 50 plus years. In 1950, it was 4,961. The numbers jumped dramatically in 1960, just a short 10 years later the population grew to be 25,136. The population has grown ever since and it was last reported in 2004 to be 61,454.

Located at Orange County's northernmost corner, La Habra today is 7.3 square miles, with a population of 61,000 and 22,000 households. A quiet bedroom community, it is conveniently located within an hour's drive of many beaches, mountain, and desert recreation areas.

A full-service city employing 300 people, La Habra provides a full range of services, including police protection, water and sanitation services, street maintenance, and animal control. The City's water supply has been diversified to produce a lower cost and more flexible delivery system to its customers. Within the City are three outstanding school districts, which combined, operate 8 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 2 high schools. A number of private and specialty schools also exist including preschools and those for the developmentally challenged. The City continues to focus on public safety, economic enhancement, redevelopment beautification, and infrastructure improvements.

La Habra also offers a distinctive and well-rounded program of civic, recreational, social and cultural services to its residents, including 20 parks, a Children's Museum, Community Theater, Tennis Center, and diverse Community Center. Community services include ESL, Community Resource Center, facility rentals, an active volunteer program, and a variety of recreation classes and excursions, and senior programs.



A house in the heart of La Habra with a Rolls Royce in the drive. Picture provided and taken by Randy.

History of La Habra, California
Mood:  happy
Topic: My New Home!
City Flower: Hibiscus
City Tree: Avocado
City Motto: "A Caring Community"

Mission Statement:

"The government of the City of La Habra is dedicated to creating, maintaining, and guiding community services and resources that contribute to a safe, healthy, attractive, and engaging community with a high quality of life for all residents."

Founding:

In the ranchos days when vast herds of Mexican cattle and horses grazed over the hills and valleys of Southern California, Don Mariano Reyes Roldan was granted 6,698 acres and named his land Rancho Canada de La Habra. The year was 1839, and the name referred to the "Pass Through the Hills," the natural pass to the north first discovered by Spanish explorers in 1769. In the 1860's Abel Stearns purchased Rancho de La Habra. Soon thereafter, heavy flooding followed by a severe drought brought bankruptcy to many cattle ranchers.

Settlers arrived to buy parcels of land on Rancho La Habra in the 1890's. Most came by rail, but some, by wagons. These newcomers reaped a golden harvest of grain from the lands and raised sheep. Among the early settlers were the Milhous family, grandparents of the nation's 37th president, Richard Milhous Nixon. Nixon opened his first law office in La Habra adjacent to the Civic Center.

The community was founded in 1896 and named "La Habra" when a United States Post Office was started in the corner store. A rural school was built the same year through the efforts of one of the founding fathers, Willets J. Hole.

After many early struggles with droughts, lines brought precious water from the San Gabriel River area to irrigate the semiarid land. Then the walnut, citrus, and avocado industries flourished here. In 1908, the Pacific Electric Railroad line was completed through La Habra. In 1912 the Standard Oil Company established the Coyote Hills District and built a pipeline to El Segundo the same year. In 1913 La Habra became a "tent city" due to influx of oil and citrus workers. By 1916 commercial activities included a bank, 3 general stores, meat market, small hotel, 2 restaurants, barber shop, bakery, dance hall, and a local newspaper. Industry was in full production, and property values skyrocketed.


History:

The City was incorporated under general law in January 20, 1925 with a population of 3,000. The Police Force was organized in 1926 and employed a Chief, Traffic Officer and Patrolman. By 1928, the City bore the distinction of being the largest avocado center in Southern California. In 1930 the first Fire Department building was constructed followed by the original City Hall in 1935. By 1950 the population reached nearly 5,000. The Civic Center took shape when the existing County Library was dedicated in 1966. followed by the present Administration Building in 1969.


The National Municipal League honored La Habra with the prestigious All-America City award in 1974. La Habra was found to be outstanding in the areas of human relations, housing needs, environmental protection, business revitalization, broadening educational opportunities, boosting industry, and community services. The City also helped improve the effectiveness of civic organizations. At the time over 100 service clubs and civic organizations contributed to the City's progress and success, and this integral community participation continues today. La Habra was also chosen as a Bicentennial City during 1974 in recognition of its commemoration of this significant year in Amercan history.

The City, through Council policy and the leadership of its Management Team, maintained its reputation for finding innovative solutions to local needs. Through the years, numerous programs were implemented including the formation of a Neighborhood Housing Service, a Local Development Company, and a Child Development/Headstart program. The City and community supporters also built the first Children's Museum west of the Mississippi River; Dial-A-Ride and Meals-implemented; and a community hospital was built. The Police Department continues to administer model programs for crime prevention, Community Based Policing and drug abuse prevention (DARE).


Present:

Located at Orange County's northernmost corner, La Habra today is 7.3 square miles, with a population of 61,000 and 22,000 households. A quiet bedroom community, it is conveniently located within an hour's drive of many beaches, mountain, and desert recreation areas.

A full-service city employing 300 people, La Habra provides a full range of services, including police protection, water and sanitation services, street maintenance, and animal control. The City's water supply has been diversified to produce a lower cost and more flexible delivery system to its customers. Within the City are three outstanding school districts, which combined, operate 8 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 2 high schools. A number of private and specialty schools also exist including preschools and those for the developmentally challenged. The City continues to focus on public safety, economic enhancement, redevelopment beautification, and infrastructure improvements.

La Habra also offers a distinctive and well-rounded program of civic, recreational, social and cultural services to its residents, including 20 parks, a Children's Museum, Community Theater, Tennis Center, and diverse Community Center. Community services include ESL, Community Resource Center, facility rentals, an active volunteer program, and a variety of recreation classes and excursions, and senior programs.


Additional Points of Interest:? Boulevard of the Bells:

In commemoration of the original El Camino Real route that traversed Central Avenue (now La Habra Boulevard) during the mission days, replica 1906 bells have been placed at significant historical sites along that route, establishing this historical corridor as "The Boulevard of the Bells."

The bell and plaque at the corner of La Habra Boulevard and Euclid Street marks "La Habra's Birthplace" according to the wording on the plaque as follows: "The first post office officially naming this settlement La Habra was granted in 1898 and was established in a corner of Coy's Store, located on this site. El Camino Viejo, the old road between the missions, passed this corner, which became a central trading point in the fertile La Habra valley." The plaque was designated Historical Site No. 29 in 1978 by the Orange County Board of Supervisors and Orange County Historical Commission.
(For more information on the Boulevard of the Bells please click below)
Boulevard of the Bells

? La Habra is also home to the annual Corn Festival, an event that attracts several thousand visitors from La Habra and surrounding communities.
? The Milhous Family, grandparents of the nation's 37th President, Richard Milhous Nixon, were among the first settlers in La Habra. Richard Nixon opened his first law office in La Habra, located on La Habra Boulevard, at the site of the current Community Center.
? Home to the Children's Museum at La Habra, which is housed in a 1923 Union Pacific Train Depot. The museum was conceived in 1972 and opened in 1977. It is a unique hands-on and educational facility devoted to children, and the first of its kind west of the Mississippi River. The Museum boasts 90,000+ visitors a year.
? On January 20, 2005, La Habra celebrated 80 years of incorporation and civic pride










Historical Sites:

La Habra's Birthplace - Southeast corner of Euclid Street and La Habra Boulevard
This is the original site of the town of La Habra's store and post office. La Habra was founded in 1896. The site now is that of a statue, which contains the bell of the first Catholic church in the area.

La Habra Pacific Electric Depot - 301 S. Euclid St
The site is that of the earliest railroad line in the La Habra area. The depot was moved from its original site across the street to complement a museum. The depot has been refurbished and now is used as a communtiy theater.