La Habra : FOCUS : Bedroom community

A never-ending flow of “little people” visit the La Habra Children’s Museum every day. About 80,000 to 100,000 children each year learn by touching the 45 life-like examples of the taxidermic art placed along the nature walk. The world of the disabled--visual, hearing and orthopedic impaired--is brought home to the children by donning blindfolds, using canes, speaking with sign language and traveling in wheelchairs.

Ground-breaking for an addition is scheduled for this summer and will expand the museum’s capacity to 200,000. The new wing, when it is completed next year, will include a theater, science center and an exhibit for toddlers.

A former resident, Richard M. Nixon, began his pre-presidential legal career in an office on La Habra Boulevard in 1939. While the office is no longer there, a placard remains as a public reminder.

Fifteen years ago the city of La Habra had hoped to attract developers by adding two freeways. But the freeway plan fell through, and the city remains a small bedroom community that seems to be content with slow growth.

Government

City Council: James Flora (mayor), William D. Mahoney (mayor pro tem), Douglas Bystry, Dorothy Wedel, John Holmberg

City Manager: Lee Risner

Fire Chief: Ben Wilkins

Chief of Police: Ron Meehan

Statistics

Population (1986 est.): 48,418

Area: 6.4 square miles

Incorporation: Jan. 20, 1925

Median household income: $32,139

Median home value: $88,502

Racial/ethnic mix: white, 85.2%; Latino, 26.3%; black, .4%; other, 14.4% (Total is more than 100% because racial/ethnic breakdowns overlap) Population

Median Age: 32.7 years Education Adults over 25 Years of school completed: 0-11 years: 26.3%

12 years: 35.1%

13-15 years: 22.6% 16+ years: 16.1% Median years completed: 12.6 City Services

City Hall (213) 694-1011

201 E. La Habra Blvd.

Police (business) (213) 691-0941

150 N. Euclid

Fire (business) (213) 694-1011

850 W. La Habra Blvd.

Post Office 992-5620

1001 W. Imperial Hwy

In Emergency, Dial 911

Statistics: Donnelley Demographics