How a sprawling California citrus empire transformed into a meticulously planned modern city
In short: La Mirada began as a massive 2,200-acre agricultural estate defined by olive groves and fruit packing houses. By the 1950s, it pivoted to become a blueprint for the modern planned community, eventually growing from a few hundred residents to a structured city of over 48,000 people today.
In 1888, Andrew McNally, a Chicago mapmaker, purchased 2,200 acres of Rancho Los Coyotes for $200,000. He transformed this land into the Windermere Ranch, cultivating extensive groves of olives, lemons, and oranges. McNally’s operation was so significant that he built a private railroad station to ship his olive oil and fruit across the United States. By 1896, the property transitioned to his daughter and son-in-law, Edwin Neff, who marketed the area as a scenic destination for the country gentleman.
The trajectory of the land shifted dramatically in the mid-20th century. In 1953, the property was sold for $5.2 million, and by 1954, developer Louis M. Halper purchased 2,100 acres for $8 million. Halper envisioned a $150 million community, aiming to complete 10,000 homes within two years. His approach was innovative for the era: he wholesaled land to various builders while establishing the La Mirada Civic Council to enforce strict quality control, earning the city the moniker of the nation's most completely planned city.
This rapid development saw the population surge from 100 homes to over 8,000 by 1960, the year the city was incorporated. Originally named Mirada Hills, voters approved the name change to La Mirada later that same year. Today, the city maintains this legacy of structure, spanning 7.8 square miles with a population of 48,008 as of the 2020 census. The area now balances its suburban residential character with modern infrastructure, including plans for a hydrogen highway station.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: La Mirada, California
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