Hacienda Heights is an unincorporated census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2000 census, the community had a total population of 53,122.
Hacienda Heights location: in the eastern county in the San Gabriel Valley. Nearby communities include: Rowland Heights, La Habra Heights, Whittier, La Puente and City of Industry.
In 2003, voters were asked to decide whether the community should incorporate and become a city. Proponents argued that a new city would be able to better control development and provide increased police and fire service, while opponents argued that the new city would increase taxes and redevelop residential neighborhoods for revenue-generating businesses. Most of the prime commercial land had already been annexed by the City of Industry to escape taxes levied by the County on unincorporated areas.
John Rowland and William Workman purchased the title to the almost 49,000 acres Rancho La Puente when they arrived here in 1841. Workman lost his rights to the property through bad investments to Elias J. Baldwin. Soon after this time Baldwin began to subdivide his holdings. In 1912, Anita Baldwin, one of his descendents, sold 1,826 acres to Edwin Hart and Jed Torrance who further subdivided the area and named it North Whittier Heights. It quickly became known for its avocado, citrus and walnut crops. It wasn't until after World War II that the largely agricultural area became to develop into a residential suburb.
North Whittier Heights changed its name to Hacienda Heights in 1961. There have been several attempts to incorporate though by 2001, these attempts had all failed.
Many of the original homes of the area remain around the area between Gale Avenue and Valley Blvd. Others are found scattered about the community with some belonging to direct descendants of the founders.
Learn more about this city.
City of Hacienda Heights, CA official site
City of Hacienda Heights, CA Chamber of Commerce
City of Hacienda Heights, CA newspaper
County of Hacienda Heights, CA official site
State of California official site