Willmore, Long Beach, California

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Willmore
Country Flag of the United States.svg United States
State Flag of California.svg  California
County Flag of Los Angeles County, California.svg Los Angeles
City Flag of Long Beach, California.png Long Beach

Willmore is a neighborhood in Long Beach, California. It is adjacent to Downtown Long Beach.

Contents

History

The neighborhood is named after a forerunner of Long Beach, Willmore City. The township was developed by William E. Willmore on 4000 acres leased from Jotham Bixby and Rancho Los Cerritos in 1881. [1] [2] In 1884, the Rancho reclaimed the land for non-payment and resold the area to the Long Beach Land and Water Company. [3] [4]

Drake Park is named for Col. Charles Rivers Drake, who donated the park's land in 1904. Drake developed the precursor of The Pike amusement zone, [5] and established the Virginia Country Club. [6]

The Willmore City Heritage Association was founded in 1976. [2]

Architecture

See also

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William Erwin Willmore was an English-born American headmaster and the founder of a small colony named after him, Willmore City in 1876. This piece of land, roughly 4000 acres, partitioned from the former Los Cerritos ranchero, was bought by Jotham Bixby, who helped found what would initially become the city of Long Beach, California. Willmore City was initially incorporated as a neighbourhood of the city of Long Beach in 1886.

References

  1. "Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site".
  2. 1 2 "About". Willmore City Heritage Association.
  3. "Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site".
  4. "Victory Park". www.longbeach.gov.
  5. Grobaty, Tim (8 June 2014). "Exploring the names behind Long Beach landmarks: Col. Drake had a vision for Long Beach". Press Telegram.
  6. "History - Virginia Country Club". virginiacountryclub.clubhouseonline-e3.com.
  7. 16.52.430 - Windham House (The Lord Mayor's Inn). "Municode Library". library.municode.com.

33°46′41″N118°12′00″W / 33.778°N 118.200°W / 33.778; -118.200