Mission Statement

The City of La Verne strives to maintain a full range of efficient municipal services to preserve our hometown charm and quality of life while being responsive to the community’s current and emerging needs.

History of La Verne

The area that is now La Verne was for centuries the home of Native Americans and many "Indian" artifacts have since been discovered by archeologists. A collection of such artifacts discovered locally were displayed in City Hall at one time.

This community was founded in 1887 when Isaac Wilson Lord, a Los Angeles businessman, persuaded the Santa Fe Railroad to extend its line through this area where he owned considerable property. On May 25, 1887, Lord hosted what was reported as the largest land sale in Southern California up to that date. Lord sent brass bands up and down the streets of Los Angeles and San Bernardino inviting people for a free ride to the new town of "Lordsburg." Over 2,500 people accepted the invitation and they bought $200,000 worth of lots. Building began immediately. The most notable building was a large hotel with more than 60 rooms. Lord and others had invested some $70,000 or more in it. Water mains were put in, a post office opened, a newspaper published and stores opened, all within four months.

Competition between the Southern Pacific Railroad and the Santa Fe Railroad became intense, and for a time, passenger rates from the Midwest to Los Angeles dropped to $1 per person. This brought an avalanche of people to California. Thousands came just to see, while many stayed and bought land.

The hotel in Lordsburg was completed and waited for its first guests. None came. It is believed that it never had a paying guest. Taking stock of the conditions in the community, it was realized that except for tradesmen and construction workers, there were only a few residents. The speculators were left with land which became worthless. This was true all over Southern California. The fever had subsided.