What is the "Whittier Area"?

WAGS stands for the "Whittier Area Genealogical Society," and the majority of our activities are based in and around Whittier. However, when we named our organization the "Whittier Area Genealogical Society" we never intended its outreach to be limited to the city of Whittier, California.

Since April 2020, when we launched our first Zoom meeting, we expanded the reach of the Whittier Area Genealogical Society far beyond our corner of Southern California. If you have roots in or around Whittier, if you live near Whittier or far away, and whether you visit us online or in person, consider yourself part of the "Whittier Area."

Even though we welcome everyone from anywhere to be a part of our group, we also feel anyone can benefit from a better understanding of where we are coming from (and we mean that literally), so to find out more about the city of Whittier, see below.

A Quick Overview of Whittier

Whittier, California is located in southeastern Los Angeles County, and is considered one of the "Gateway Cities," a group of suburbs that serve as a gateway between Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Whittier is 12 miles southeast of Los Angeles and 15 miles north of Disneyland.

Whittier is a city of 14.8 square miles with a population of 86,459. The largest industries in the city are education and health care, followed by retail, manufacturing, hospitality and government.

Famous Whittierites

Notable people who live or have lived in Whittier include Andrea Barber, actress; Jessamyn West, author; Lou Henry Hoover, wife of President Herbert Hoover; John Lasseter, co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios and film director; Richard Nixon, U. S. President; Lauren Tewes, actress; Melissa Villasenor, comedian and singer.

Whittier in the Movies

When you visit Whittier, you may find it seems familiar. This may be due to your memories of seeing some of our city on the "silver screen." Due to its proximity to Hollywood and its small-town feel, Whittier has long been a favorite location for the film industry. Listed below are some of the more recent movies which contain scenes filmed in Whittier.

A Brief History of Whittier - Ye Friendly Towne