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THE
HISTORY
Westminster
was founded by Presbyterian Rev. Lemuel Webber
in 1870.
Now, over 100 years later, the Asian American
community contribute largely to the city with
a substantial number of businesses. The
area, now recognized as "Little Saigon" has the
largest concentration of Vietnamese in the United
States. This 1.5-mile stretch along Bolsa Avenue
of Asian-owned restaurants and shops, has been
designated by city officials as an official tourist
attraction.
In
the 1930s, residents tried to stay afloat during
the Depression, and the 1933 Long Beach earthquake
and flood hit the area. During World War II, several
orange groves and lima-bean fields were supplanted
by shipyards and aircraft factories where defense
workers from the Midwest came to work - and stayed,
according historical accounts.
Residents
voted in incorporate in 1957 as a bedroom community
to the aerospace, industrial and commercial centers
of Los Angeles. By 1970, the city's population
had nearly quadrupled from 16,000 in 1957 to 60,000.
In
the 1970s, Westminster Mall was built, adding
to the city's financial base. Their motto is "The
City of Progress Built on Pride."
Historical
Site:
McCoy-Hare
House - Corner of Beach Blvd. and Hazard Ave.
The board-and-batten house was built in 1874 as
a drugstore by Dr. James McCoy, first physician
in Westminster. It was the home of educator Marie
Hare from 1912 to 1974, and was restored in 1976.
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