City, Orange County
© McCormack's Guides
Zip Code: 90623
Bedroom
community, one of the smallest in the county, its residential section about two
dozen blocks at its widest point. Population 16,176. Upscale middle-class.
Crime low, school scores high. www.mccormacks.com
Located on
border of L.A. County (separated by Coyote Creek) and just west of Buena Park
and, compared against that town, a good illustration of how Orange County grew.
Children
attend Cypress and Centralia Elementary School districts. La Palma rankings in
the 70th to 90th percentile, indicating good community support of education.
Click for regional or detailed map
Older kids
go on to Kennedy High in the Anaheim Union High School District, which in 2002
passed a renovation bond. Kennedy rankings land generally in the 80th
percentile. High-school district also runs a school, Oxford Academy, for high
achievers. See Schools.
One
homicide in 2005, zero in 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, one in 1998, zero
in 1997 and 1996 and 1995, one each in 1994 and 1993 and zero for the preceding
six years. See Crime.
The state
in 2008 counted 5,131 housing units, of which 3,637 were single detached, 376
single attached, 1,091 multiples and 27 mobile homes. Census placed 28 percent
of residents under age 21. Median age is 38. Many of the kids are in their
teens. A family town growing older. Home and condo owners outnumber renters 74
percent to 26. www.mccormacks.com
“Ask not
what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.” Spoken
by John F. Kennedy in his inaugural address, the words decorate the exterior of
John F. Kennedy High School in La Palma. The high school was one of probably
hundreds so named built across the nation shortly after JFK was
assassinated, and it effectively dates La Palma.
The city
was incorporated in 1955 and got its growth spurts soon after. The 2000 census
reported that 38 percent of all of La Palma’s residential units were built in
the 1960s and 45 percent in the 1970s. In the 1980s, the city erected about 500
units, in the last decade, about 200. Between 2000 and 2006, only 65 units were
built.
Built out.
Added fewer than 25 residents in the 1990s (seemingly a contradiction given the
200 housing units built but probably explained by more empty nesters and fewer
kids at homes).
The U.S.
emerged from World War II fearful that the Depression would return. When it
didn’t, developers cautiously expanded the size of homes. Buena Park, whose
building boom started in the 1950s, demonstrates the growing confidence; for
example, one-car garages initially, then the ascent to two-car.
By 1960, a
move-up market had come into existence, created in part by the equity people
had built up in their homes. La Palma, dairy land at the time, walked into this
market. www.mccormacks.com
Among
owner-occupied units, four-bedroom homes outnumber three- bedroom, census
reported. One-story homes gave way, in many instances, to two-story. The
two-car garage expanded a bit, then blossomed into three-car. The landscaping
became a little more accomplished. More trees were planted.
Many of
the first residents had college educations (the G.I. Bill). The children at
home got a strong push to succeed at school — the scores in the higher
percentiles.
The
result: what you see today. A disciplined, peaceful city: low crime, high
academics, appearances kept up. New generation of owners has moved in; values
still hold.
One
library. Community center (under renovation in 2007). One large park. City
offers activities and kid sports through its recreation department but the setting
is often a private facility or a facility in a nearby city.
Of note,
La Palma borders Cerritos (L.A. County), which has a large performing arts
center, a large fairly new library and upscale shopping, including a Nordstrom's.
Also in Cerritos, a Trader Joe’s, movies and a large county park that sits on the
La Palma border. www.mccormacks.com
Choir
popular at high school. Town celebrates itself in November with La Palma Days.
Short drive to two community colleges. Good choice of restaurants in and about
town: Italian, Chinese, Korean, fast food.
Kennedy
High is scheduled to open a performing arts center in 2008.
Many residents work in the job centers
of Los Angeles County and are forced to travel freeways that often jam. On the
plus side, La Palma is close to job centers around Long Beach and Anaheim. On
its north side, La Palma has a nice cluster of offices and light industry. Local
jobs.
Highway 91
traverses the north end of town and ties into the freeway networks serving L.A.
and Orange County. Buses.
Chamber of
commerce (714) 228-1488.
• Time
warp. Kennedy High students are called the Fighting Irish. Many of today’s residents
are of Asian descent. www.mccormacks.com
• La Palma
has a Coyote Creek and Los Coyotes Elementary School and it has the real thing:
coyotes, who have adapted themselves very well to urban life. City hall urges
residents to keep small pets indoors.
City web
site: www.cityoflapalma.org
