A small city in Los Angeles County, the community of La Verne has a fascinating history. Previously a rural community with a huge emphasis on citrus farming, La Verne is now primarily residential. Families enjoy their life here in La Verne, as they are provided with a small-town feel while still not being far away from all of the big-city amenities of nearby Los Angeles.
As many towns in this part of Southern California got their start, La Verne’s modern beginnings came along with the “ranchero” land grants issued by the Spanish government in an effort to stimulate growth and settlement to the area. The ranchero that encompassed what is now modern day San Dimas, Glendora, La Verne, Claremont, and Pomona was called Rancho San Jose and was owned by a Mexican politician and entrepreneur.
Some of the original adobe buildings that are built back in Rancho San Jose’s heyday are still standing in a city near La Verne, the neighboring community of Pomona. It wasn’t until the late 1800s that the Rancho San Jose land was purchased by an American businessman and opportunist by the name of Isaac W. Lord. It was Mr. Lord who surveyed the land and developed it for more modern growth. With a large ego, Mr. Lord named this land after himself, naturally, and so the area was called Lordsburg. A college was also founded with his namesake. Mr. Lord eventually lost out in his business venture that was Lordsburg when the housing boom ended, and the community was renamed La Verne at that time.
La Verne is located in an area of Los Angeles County that has been known for centuries for its fertile soil and great farming opportunities. La Verne became a huge citrus producer and was even known as a big name in the citrus industry. Sadly, as World War II came to a close and the Great Depression struck the United States, La Verne’s previously successful and lucrative citrus industry came to a drastic halt. Now in La Verne you will only find two of the original orange groves that once ruled the area — one is located at a local park, and one at a famous local mansion.
With a few local private, public, and charter schools, residents of La Verne are provided with a fair selection when it comes to education. A local college, University of La Verne, is well known for its high quality of continued education and draws in many students from around the nation. Students of any level that need a little extra after-school help can call local La Verne tutors. These local tutors provide help in a wide range of subjects and education levels, and work hard to help each individual reach their personal educational goals.