Uptown Whittier

The happening historical district of Uptown Whittier is just blocks from the Whittier College campus. With residential streets throughout, it's ideal for your long-term home. Bernadette Ramirez, a Realtor with PLF Real Estate Solutions, says, "It has a really nice vibe. It's like a downtown area, but they call it Uptown. You can walk to markets, eateries and shopping centers."

Along the residential streets, you'll see lovely landscaping and well-kept lawns, some set off by picket fences, palms or flowering trees. At one time a thriving citrus ranching area and the largest walnut grower in the nation, Whittier has been designated as a Tree City by the National Arbor Day Foundation since 1984.

The historical nature of Uptown Whittier expands to its homes. You'll see impressive vintage architecture, including late Victorians with distinctive wood trim and bay windows, early 20th-century Craftsmans with ample front porches and 1920s Spanish Revival homes finished with smooth stucco and clay tile roofs. In terms of midcentury builds, multiunits, like duplexes or apartment buildings, are most common. And some newer homes and condominiums round out the housing options. Ramirez says, "Prices start at $700,000 and go all the way up to $2 million." The lower price points include homes of less than 1,500 square feet.

Kids have various school options, including private or faith-based ones. Whittier Friends School, a Quaker establishment serving transitional kindergarten through sixth grade, incorporates peace studies and service projects. Public schools include Hoover Elementary and Dexter Middle, graded B- and B, respectively, by Niche. Whittier High, a Gold Ribbon School and Title I Academic Achievement Award winner, boasts an active theater department and athletics, including volleyball, water polo, wrestling and more.

Just a few blocks east of Uptown Whittier is Whittier College, a private liberal arts college with over 30 majors and a graduate program in education. Founded in 1887, it has a U.S. president as an alumnus; Richard Nixon was a 1934 graduate.

Visit Central Park, where you can admire the statue of Quaker poet and abolitionist John Greenleaf Whittier, whom the city was named after. And you'll want to mark your calendar for events here; each May, there's Founders Day, presented by the city and the Whittier Historical Society. You're encouraged to wear period garb while enjoying local vendors, vintage vehicles on display and a beard and mustache competition.

There are tons of choices in Uptown Whittier when it comes to retail and dining. Ramirez recommends Azabu Sushi, which brings an LA vibe with upscale menu items like wagyu dumplings, truffle sashimi tacos and craft cocktails. Catina Urbana Kalveras pays homage to el Día de Los Muertos with colorful murals. Pick an entrée like Pasta a la Diabla, and don't miss the apple chimichanga for dessert.

In 2019, Whittier's first food hall, Poet Gardens, opened in the historic Nixon Building. With a brewery, wine bar and tasty choices like pizza, Indian food, tacos and ice cream, Poet Gardens enlivens the Whittier culinary scene. The Whittier Village Cinemas is a top spot for entertainment — you can see the newest movie releases — and there's reduced admission on bargain days. If it's a Friday and you need your dose of microgreens or a dozen eggs, check out the Uptown Whittier Farmers Market on the corner of Philadelphia Street and Bright Avenue.

Uptown Whittier is part of the Gateway Cities region, nicely placed between LA and Anaheim, so getting around is easy, with Interstate 605 to the west and State Route 72 toward the south. This dynamic district and historical residential neighborhood is delightful.

Written By

Robin Silberman

Photography Contributed By

Michael Rutt

Video By

Luke Basinger