cartoon by Matt Hill

cartoon by Matt Hill

The city of La Verne has evolved from a citrus-growing town into a residential magnet. Although Los Angeles’ urban sprawl has spread eastward, engulfing and absorbing countless once-isolated rural communities—and threatening to eradicate their unique attributes—La Verne has managed to retain elements that make it stand out, even today. We dug up a few facts that some residents might be unaware of.

• “Hollywood” has featured La Verne several times. The United Methodist Church, at 3205 D Street, has been used in a number of films, including “The Graduate,” “Wayne’s World 2” and “Bubble Boy.”

• La Verne, with an area of slightly more than nine square miles, is about 20 times bigger than Dodger Stadium.

• The first building in La Verne—the Lordsburg Hotel—contained 60 rooms, but never had a paying guest.

• At one time, 10 transcontinental railroads stopped in Lordsburg, and mail trains came six times a day.

• The oldest thing on the University of La Verne campus—aside from Miller Hall—is probably a palm tree.

• The entire population of La Verne could completely fill Angel Stadium in Anaheim, which seats 45,050, and have several seats left. The city of La Verne has a population of 32,916.

• La Verne’s average rainfall is 15 inches, this is about the average size of a decorative collectable doll.

• The city of La Verne offers about 75 restaurants, cafes, fast food and take-out places.

• The border of La Verne and San Dimas is marked for more than a mile by a 50-foot cliff.

cartoon by Matt Hill

cartoon by Matt Hill