La Habra

Long before seven-year-old Tariq’s love of sweetcorn at a New York festival went viral, the citizens of La Habra were shouting the same message from the northeast corner of Orange County. And after more than 70 years, the annual La Habra Corn Festival is still going strong — even though the area’s agricultural endeavors never included the crop. Known as a home for both citrus and avocado industries, La Habra’s reverence for corn was actually born from the area’s lack of leafy cobs, which many of the original Mexican and Midwestern residents missed dearly. Today, La Habra’s small-town quality makes it the perfect place to carry on the decades-long tradition, which, along with local organizations, parks and amenities like a community theater and children’s museum, helps keep residents connected.

Cruising La Habra’s streets, you’ll notice a collection of charming midcentury ranch-style and Craftsman homes sitting neatly on landscaped lots. Morning strolls along the sidewalk take you past bright white picket fences, bushy orange trees and welcoming front patios where neighbors can sit and chat over coffee. You’ll also find gated communities like Westridge, which offer newer 3,000-square-foot Spanish Revival-style homes with stucco facades, barrel tile roofs and three-car garages. What you gain in square footage you might lose in front yard space, but backyards still provide plenty of room for a patio with a barbecue grill. Prices and sizes range from $650,000 for 1,800 square feet to nearly $2 million for a 6,000-square-foot home.

You’ll also find a community for residents 55 and older here. Known as Lake Park La Habra, this area offers modern manufactured homes surrounding a reflection lake in a tree-filled, tranquil park-like setting, which makes it unique among age-restricted communities. “I've seen manufactured homes in other parks, but you don't get the same atmosphere as you do here,” says Betty Lopez, owner and broker with Better Homes Whittier Inc. “Plus, there are lots of activities for seniors, like bingo, bunco and dances.” Averaging 1,500 square feet, homes in Lake Park La Habra are incredibly affordable, often listing between $200,000 and $300,000.

Among the many parks in La Habra is La Bonita Park, a prime pick for its amenities. You'll find basketball courts and baseball diamonds among the multiple acres of green grass and shady trees, along with a colorful playground and a skate park. Paved pathways offer calm walking routes, and there are plenty of benches and picnic tables for relaxing on a sunny afternoon. The park is also home to the La Habra girls’ softball team, and the community vibrates with support from the stands during weekend games. Less than 2 miles east at El Centro-Lions Park, you can join more than 50,000 other visitors for the three-day fall Corn Festival, where buttery ears of corn are consumed at an astonishing rate. Come on Saturday morning for the community parade, or spend an afternoon enjoying carnival rides, games and live music.

Staying busy in La Habra is easy, and there are many opportunities to get involved with your neighbors. Kids’ Night Out at the La Habra Community Center is a popular event for the community’s youngest residents, as are trips to the enlightening La Habra Children’s Museum, which features a carousel and exhibits on trains, dinosaurs and wild animals. If you’re hoping to stretch your creative wings, you can sign up to be part of a local theater production at the La Habra Depot Playhouse. Or, practice your swing with a few rounds at Westridge Golf Club. And with additional events like a Fourth of July celebration and car shows scheduled throughout the year by the La Habra Host Lions Club, you’re unlikely to run out of things to do here.

The same goes for dining options: La Habra is home to many family-owned establishments, including La Central Bakery, which offers baked goods like pan dulce or tamales by the dozen. At Higo Sushi, you can experience a culinary adventure with Japanese-Peruvian fusion dishes such as deep-fried tofu with Japanese radish or sushi rolls stuffed with salmon, mango and jalapeno. To complete your weekly errands, head to Westridge Plaza, where you’ll find Walmart and Target. Nearby, you can pick up groceries at Sprouts Farmers Market or Trader Joe’s, and you’ll find almost everything else you need at one of the dozens of popular retailers off Imperial Highway.

During the week, students living in La Habra can attend Lowell Joint School District options, such as El Portal Elementary, which maintains a grade of B+ on Niche. Many students will move on to attend Rancho-Starbuck Intermediate School, which also maintains a grade of B+ on Niche. And in high school, students can attend La Habra High, which maintains a grade of A- on Niche and offers focus areas including the arts, Naval JROTC and agriculture. With proximity to major roadways that lead to routes like the 5 freeway, La Habra puts all of LA County at your fingertips. But if you’re looking for the kind of community that keeps you busy close to home, you might find it hard to step away from all the action in La Habra.

Written By

Amber Steinmetz-Cole

Photography Contributed By

Justin Bradley