A real estate market’s history often sheds a lot of insight into an area and its homes. Looking at the history can result in better esteem for the area and its lifestyle. In the case of the history of Whittier real estate, when the Spanish came, it began with a land grant in the late 1700s. The grant was given to a Spanish soldier named Manuel Nieto. At that time, he owned much of the region. It included the hills north of Whittier. It included Fullerton and Brea, south to the Pacific ocean. It stretched from the Los Angeles River, east to the Santa Ana River. Manuel Nieto settled and built a home for his family. His property was handed down to his descendants for awhile. Later on, part of the area was owned by Pio Pico, the last Mexican Governor of California. Today, Pio Pico State Historic Park is the site of his hacienda, one of the first Whittier homes, near the San Gabriel River.
History of Whittier Real Estate to Present Day
In the 1800s, Jacob Gerkens bought some of the land under the U.S. Homestead Act. He built a home on what is now Camilla Street. It was then owned by Jonathon Bailey. It still stands as a museum. It remains one of the most historic, Whittier homes. It was the site for local meetings. Jacob Gerkens and Jonathon Bailey were both active in the early town. In fact, Jacob Gerkens was the first Chief of Police of the Los Angeles Police Dept.
Around the same time, Quakers settled down. They began a growing industry. They produced “Quaker Brand” citrus and walnuts. The brand got so popular, it was shipped all over the U.S. The Quakers added to a rich and growing history of Whittier real estate. Later, the area of Earlham grew in the early 1900s. It included Whittier College and homes for college staff. These vintage homes make up much of the Earlham Historic District. Today, the city has 3 other historic districts with vintage homes. These are Hadley/Greenleaf District, Central Park District and College Hills District.
After WWII, Whittier grew. Whittier real estate also grew. It resulted in well-planned neighborhoods and homes. Whittier homes became some of the most sought after in Southern California real estate. Today, the history of Whittier real estate blends with modern features and a bright future. The blend sets the stage with a diversity of living choices for a diverse population.
If you would like to find out more about Whittier real estate history and today’s homes, browse www.LarocheTeam.com. Find great real estate values all around Los Angeles. Contact Whittier real estate agents, who provide a Full Range of Value Added Services. Contact the LaRoche Team.
