History of the Name

As far as I can make out, East Whittier has a history going back to the 1800s. I found a reference here to one Joseph McGee who "came to Whittier just after the turn of the century to join his parents, James and Lillii Cammack McGee, pioneer East Whittier ranchers. In 1912, Joseph McGe married Leona Gibson, who had been a teacher in Whittier and school principal in East Whittier." His wife was involved in many organizations, including the East Whittier Woman's Improvement Club. The club building is a historical landmark in what is now incorporated Whittier. (See page 55 of this register.)

Nixon grew up in East Whittier.

In a description of the neighborhoods of Whittier, Wikipedia says,“The area east of College Avenue is referred to as East Whittier. East Whittier was a separate agricultural community until the postwar era. The eastern parts of East Whittier, developed in the 1950s and 60s, are Friendly Hills, Murphy Ranch and Leffingwell Ranch.”

In a newsletter of the Whittier Historic Neighborhood Association, Karen Bennett explains, "East Whittier, mainly citrus, avocado and walnut groves, was never incorporated as a separate city..."

According to the city of Whittier's website, "“The City continued to grow as the City annexed portions of Whittier Boulevard and East Whittier.  The 1961 annexation added over 28,000 people to the population, bringing the total to about 67,000.”

I haven't found maps that would confirm that what is now being called East La Mirada by some, and which I am suggesting should be called East Whittier, was the remaining unincorporated portion of East Whittier after the rest was annexed by Whittier, but that seems like a reasonable assumption.