CLIPBOARD

The only cow left in La Palma is the one depicted in the city seal.

Thirty-five dairies were situated in that 1 3/4-square-mile area home after World War II, and area residents named the city Dairyland in its initial incorporation in October, 1955.

But zoning had to be modified for the sake of survival. A master plan and zoning ordinance were passed in 1964 to gradually phase out the dairy industry, with most of the dairy operations moving to the Ontario area.

In February, 1965, the city was renamed La Palma. It experienced a steady increase in population over the next 20 years and was virtually built out by the mid-1970s.

Today the upper-middle-class residential community boasts the sixth-highest average household income of all Orange County cities, according to National Planning Data Corp. estimates.

But satisfaction has meant a low housing turnover rate, which in turn meant that property taxes were below the county average. This had a serious effect on the city’s general fund, since a large portion of revenue collected by any city is from property taxes.

By the 1980s, this idyllic municipality was in big trouble. Its expenses had far exceeded its revenues for some time and emergency reserves were nearly depleted.

One of the few vacant properties available for the city to buy was a neighboring 42-acre parcel along the Artesia Freeway northeast of La Palma. The city, in partnership with an affiliate of Laguna Niguel-based Birtcher Campbell DDA, developed and built a 42-acre business park on the site, bringing new hope for added property tax revenue.

Centerpointe La Palma, just off the Artesia Freeway on the border of Los Angeles and Orange counties, unfolds around a central circular drive with entrances on Orangethorpe Avenue and Valley View Street.

The $110-million, mixed-use project includes a 162-room Days Inn Hotel, two retail complexes (34,000 square feet of retail space and a three-level parking garage) and 11 office buildings, ranging from a single story to seven stories in height. The pedestrian walkways and pocket parks with benches and outdoor eating areas easily accommodate three major restaurants (Seafood Show, Panda Inn, and Togo’s) with another (A Roma Ristorante) under construction.

This office park, designed by Ware & Malcomb Architects, was begun in 1985; its construction, which occurred in three phases, was completed at the end of 1989. By some estimates, Centerpointe occupies more than two-thirds of the city of La Palma’s commercially zoned land.

Centerpointe was not expected to make up the budget shortfalls entirely. In November, 1989, voters were asked to approve higher taxes (specifically a 4% tax on utilities) or risk cuts in such basic community services as police protection and recreational programs. The utility tax measure was defeated.

But there was a substantial increase in sales and use-tax revenue after the final phase of Centerpointe was completed: La Palma received $136,063 in sales and use-tax revenue from the State Board of Equalization in March, 1991--up 465% from the previous year.

Today, La Palma spans 2.2 square miles, having incorporated a patch of land into the city. Homes that were built a little more than two decades ago are, for the most part, two stories in height. Often only a single story shows at street level; a pitched roof above disguises the second story. In a few instances windows peek out, breaking through the occasional wood-shingle roof.

The majority of adult residents are 25 to 44 in age, but children younger than age 9 come a close second in number. The two elementary schools within this small portion of La Palma reflect close interaction with larger neighboring communities. George B. Miller Elementary at 7751 Furman Road, with classes for kindergarten through sixth grade, is part of Centralia School District in Buena Park. The Luther School at 4631 E. La Palma Ave. (also kindergarten through sixth grade) is part of the Cypress School District.

The ABC Development Preschool, next door to the Luther School, runs a preschool program and provides extended day care for children ages 2 through 12 from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Peace of mind is half the motto behind the neighborhood watch program in northern La Palma. A neighborhood association lapsed two to three years ago and was replaced by an active neighborhood watch, whose notices are posted throughout the area.

“The effort (by the neighborhood watch) is to try to keep La Palma a nice place to live, work and play,” said David Barr, operations division commander of La Palma Police Department. “When things are quiet, apathy sets in” regardless of the potential for crime. A neighborhood watch “lets the average citizen know what’s going on around them.”

According to Barr, some of the more serious crimes committed in the area are car theft, car burglary and residential burglary.

“A lot of residential areas are vulnerable,” he said. “Cars (are) stolen primarily at night; residential burglaries (take place) in early evening.

“People who are still at home act as an extra set of eyes,” Barr said. “The people are the police. Without an effective neighborhood watch, we couldn’t do (our jobs).”

La Palma has “one of the lowest crime rates in the county, and we’re very proud of that,” he said.

Population Total: (1990 est.) 8,809 1980-90 change: +5.6% Median Age: 31.3

Racial/ethnic mix: White (non-Latino): 56% Latino: 15% Black: 3% Other: 26%

By sex and age: MALES Median age: 30.6 years FEMALES Median age: 32.0 years

Income Per capita: $15,484 Median household: $53,195 Average household: $52,501

Income Distribution: Less than $25,000: 14% $25,000-49,999: 31% $50,000-74,999: 36% $75,000-$99,999: 12% $100,000 and more: 7%