Beginning in 1953 incorporation and annexation fever were sweeping west Orange County. Anaheim was moving west down Lincoln and Katella Avenues.
Buena Park formed in 1953 and it was trying to grab industrial area to its west to use as a tax base. Garden Grove was also snaking its way west along Lampson and Garden Grove Avenues Westminster was expanding too.
The Civic leaders in Los Alamitos, especially the Chamber of Commerce, were very concerned about this, and saw a future where prime revenue producing parts of their area were gobbled up, leaving the less desirable residential pockets and islands to fend for themselves. In 1954 the Chamber formed an Incorporation Committee, with Los Al Elementary School Superintendent Jack L. Weaver as its chairman.
Simultaneously, the Dairy farmers of northwest Orange County — the third largest dairy producing area in the United States — had their own concerns about incorporation and annexation. Generally, they wanted nothing to do with this. Most of them had already been forced to relocate from towns like Lynwood, Paramount and Gardena as those areas fell to suburbanization, and they didn’t want to have to move again. They knew that once subdivisions went in nearby, the new residents would complain about the smells, and would force their new city councils to change zoning laws that would restrict dairy operations.
[1] Noted California historian Carey Williams noted in 1949 that one of the largest dairy districts had been the area around Paramount, Clearwater, Hynes, Norwalk, Bellflower and Artesia. By the mid-1950’s only Artesia and the areas southeast of that had not been for the most part forced out of the dairy business.
But Orange County was growing — and growing fast. From the 1950 census through the end of 1955, the county population would double — from 212,224 to 434,800. Los Angeles County was spreading east towards them, and fast-growing Anaheim, home of the new Disneyland theme park, was growing west. Rather than wait to be absorbed, the dairy farmers in what is now La Palma fought back with a unique idea — they formed their own city which they (the dairymen) would control. And one weapon in their arsenal were laws prohibiting the subdivision of large tracts of land. The farmers, most of them of Dutch descent, were already organized to some degree through their membership in the Dutch Reformed Church of Artesia. They quickly agreed on their plan and formed a committee to incorporate their area as Dairyland.
14 OCT 1955 — (Enterprise, p.10) City of Dairyland (current La Palma) is incorporated. “City of Cows” Formed Along West County Line. With only 94 registered voters in the two square mile area, the vote of 50 for and 19 against represented a heavy vote percentage.
Elected to serve as councilmen in the new and unique city were Jack DeVries (59 votes), Paul C. Furman, 51; William DeJager, 50; Peter G. Bouma, 43; and Pete DeGroot, 1.
Another example of how concentrated was the power of the dairies in the area was that in 1956 when the state distributed sales tax to the cities, Dairyland was the only city to not get a share of the state sales tax — for the simple reason, the town had no stores.
Across the county line the Cerritos dairymen started a drive to incorporate as Dairy Valley. And just south, the farmers north of Los Alamitos put together a drive to form a city called Dairy City. (An indicator of the influence of the diarymen, of the seven candidates for the city council — five were dairy farmers – Jake Van Dyke (53, been in area for 15 years), Martin Oolsthoorn (49, Chairman, OC Farm Bureau Dairy Dept), Jacon Van Leeuven (55, in dairy business for 31 years), John Cardoza Leal (32, 25 years in area, maintains dairy business), Thomas A. Baroldi (36, in area for 32 years). The two non-dairymen candidates were Pat Arnold (fire captain) and Walter Jay Arrowood (retired Chief Warrant Officer).
The Dairy City incorporators also included zoning policy language that prohibited subdivision.
The Cypress area dairy farmers initiative put it on a collision course with the incorporation efforts of the Los Alamitos Chamber of Commerce.
21 OCT 1955 — (Enterprise, p1) — In a race to file notices of intention to circulate petitions for incorporation of two new cities whose boundaries overlap, backers of Dairy City won by one hour and two minutes Monday morning.
Attorneys H. Rodger Howell and M.S. Bernard, representing the dairymen from the South Cypress area, appeared with their notice at 9am, and Jack L. Weaver, chairman of the Los Alamitos committee, filed at 10:02 am.
Since the north boundary of Los Alamitos and the south boundary of Dairy City overlap, county officials have not given a ruling yet as to which has legal claim on the disputed territory.
Proponents of both groups have told the Enterprise that a compromise could possibly worked out if the two should get together.
The move to incorporate Los Alamitos is backed by the community’s Chamber of Commerce.
The notice of intention filed by by Dairy City was signed by Hubert J. Stigers, 10831 Miller (Valley View) Rd; Harold Struikmans. 5151 Ball Rd; Jake Van Dyke 5252 Orange; and Jake Van Leeuven, 5731 Orange.
Vessels Is Opposed
The Los Alamitos Race Course is included within both boundaries. It is operated by Frank Vessels Sr, and is on the south side of the dairymen’s proposal and the north side of Los Alamitos.
In an earlier discussion of incorporation in regard to the track, Vessels told the Enterprise it was not to the track’s advantage to be in a city, and he would prefer to be left out of any incorporation plans.
Besides Vessels, there are other large holdings in the area which are expected to protest the move when hearings are held by the County Board of Supervisors later in the incorporation proceedings.
THE Texas Company’s tank farm is also located in Dairy City, although no official word has been receive from company spokesmen regarding th attitude it has toward incorporation. They requested withdrawal from the Cypress County Water District, earlier, on the basis they would not benefit from sewers, and did not want to pay the taxes in the district.
4 NOV 1955 — (Enterprise, p1) — Dairy City, Los Alamitos plans blocked.
LOS ALAMITOS—Plans for the two proposed cities of Dairy City and Los Alamitos are still blocked by legal proceedings.
Neither can make a move until a settlement is reached regarding the territory which both factions included in their boundaries.
They filed at approximately the same time, and according to County Counsel Joel Ogle, there is no existing case on which the situation can be based. He said that either it would have to go to court to be settled, or a compromise would have to be reached by the two groups.
2 DEC 1955 — (Enterprise, p.3) — First Compromise Meeting of Dairy City, Los Alamitos Fails.
No action has apparently been taken on a compromise offered to Dairy City leaders by Los Alamitos backers in a step to solve the boundary dispute now holding up the incorporation of each potential city.
At a meeting between the two incorporation committees last week, it was suggested that Dairy City join with Los Alamitos with the plan to leave the dairies and potential industrial areas of Dairy City as an industricial and agricultural zone.
Lawyers for the two groups to meet to discuss the compromise offer, but so far nothing has been disclosed.
9 DEC 1955 — (Enterprise, p.1) Los Alamitos Incorporation Is Stymied.
For the time being the incorporation move for Los Alamitos is stopped.
Petitions calling for an incorporation vote were not filed with the county clerk by the deadline Monday, and an appeal for an extension was denied.
County Counsel also ruled that the filing of the Dairy City intention to circulate petitions was first, so the Los Alamitos filing would have to wait until the Dairy City Move came to a vote, or Los Alamitos would have to withdraw that portion of their boundaries which lie inside the Dairy City proposal.
A meeting of the Los Alamitos Incorporation Committee will be held this week to decide what the next steps will be.
Main reason for the failure of the committee to file in time was due to the difficulty some large landowners whose officers are in other cities, spokesmen said.
An article above states:
Dairy City Petition In; Date for Hearing Will be Set After Check
Petition calling for the incorporation of about five square miles in south Cypress as Dairy City was fild with County Clerk B.J. Smith Monday.
It is now being checked for sufficiency, and if it is found that enough qualified names are on it, a date for a public hearing on the issue by residents of the area will be set.
Dairy City, which may have its name changed before the city is actually formed, contains about 2,000 residents and also encompasses two valuable properties, the Los Alamitos Race Course and the Texaco Tank Farm. The latter is valued presently at $7,000,000.
Although there is no other industry in the area, except the highly valued dairies, spokesmen said a large land-owner has signified intentions of putting in an industrial tract if the city is formed. This would aid the tax burden of the city considerably.
Present value of the land is estimated at $500,000, and there is no figure available on the value of the improvements, but it is believed to be in the millions.
The Board of Supervisors will consider the proposal this week and set the date for a hearing.
February
Due to press of business, incorporation head Jack L. Weaver resigned as head of the committee.
16 MARCH 1956 — (Enterprise, p1) — Dairy City Boundaries Approved. Boundaries for the Proposed Dairy City were approved as they were presented to the Orange County Board of Supervisors, with no changes, it was announced by that group Tuesday.
Three major groups who protested approximately one quarter of the area were not let out as they requested.
The Board set the election for the incorporation for June 26.
Dates to file for City offices, the Board said, will be from April 12 to 12 o’clock, May 3.
Friday, March 8 – Enterprise:
Try for City Not Dropped Los Alamitos C of C told
Members attending the Los Alamitos Chamber of Commerce meeting last week were told by President Jim Bell that incorporation moves had not been dropped, but that it had to wait for Dairy City (Cypress) to either form, or action be discontinued.
Since the boundaries of the two proposed cities overlapped, and Dairy City filed first, Los Alamitos must wait until they have finished their incorporation one way or another.
March 16, 1956
Dairy City Boundaries Approved
DAIRY CITY — Boundaries for the proposed Daity City were approved as they were presented to the Orange County Board of Supervisors, with noc ahnges, it was announced by that group Tuesday.
Three major groups who protested approximately one quarter of the area were not let out as they requested.
The Board set the election for incorporation for June 26.
Dates to file for city offices, the Board said, will be from April 12, to 12 o’clock May 3.
Three landowners who controlled about 600 acres total were still not satisfied with the incorporation filed suit to stop it. W.C. Kuppens, Cerritos Blvd., William H. Beasely, John Harada. The three tried to withdraw at the boundary hearings but were denied by the Board of Supervisors. and
One of the men said he could sell his land now if it was in Los Alamitos, but if it was in Cypress he couldn’t.
The key thing for Los Alamitos is that Frank Vessels did not ask to be removed from the incorporation area. He found it to his value to be part of the new city.
In early May 1956 the Chamber announced it had resumed it incorporation efforts, and formed a new incorporation committee. (Enterprise, May 10, 1956)
Serving on the new committee will be Bill Brown, Dick Fulford, Tom Harris, Bud Cook, Jim Bell and Charles Burrows.
The incorporation move was tabled two months ago when Dairy City filed its boundaries ahead of Los Alamitos, and the two proposed cities overlapped. Dairy City was given the go ahead by the county.
Major decision to be made by the new committee will be whether to redraw the proposed city’s boundaries and proceed with the incorporation proceedings or wait until after June 26 to see if Dairy City’s attempt passes or fails. Another committee had made much progress on incorporation before the Dairy City conflict, but the chairman, Jack Weaver had to resign because of pressing duties at the school.
The next week’s Enterprise reported that Tom Harris and Jim Bell were elected as chairmen of the committee. Lura Labourdette was the recording secretary-treasurer.
30 AUG 1956 — (Enterprise, p1) — Another Dispute on Boundaries.
SANTA ANA—A problem of overlapping boundaries loomed again this week as Dairy City and Los Alamitos became entangled in the same territory—one for annexation and the other for incorporation.
Dairy City filed to annex the remaining portion of the Vessels Ranch, which is not already in their city, and the Los Aamitos incorporation committee filed a new boundary, which also included the area.
County officials pointed out that Dairy City had made the move first, so Los Alamitos will probably have to refile their boundaries or their Intent to Circulate Petitions for a fourth time.
Committee Chairman Jim Bell could not be reached at press time for official word as to what the committee would do.
The October 11, 1956 issue of the Enterprise did not pull punches
Incorporation of Los Alamitos Doomed if Petitions are not Completed Today
LOS ALAMITOS — Hopes for incorporation of Los Alamitos looked dark today, which is the final day of the 50-day period allowed to get signatures on petitions to call for an election.
The attorney for the incorporation committee, James Monroe, of Santa Ana, failed to get petitions into the hands of the circulators, according to the committee officials, and there wasn’t enough time to get the required number.
Residents were out circulating them this week, but although no official count had been taken at press time, Chairman Jim Bell did not think there would be enough.
Monroe promised to word the petitions so that they would be legally correct and he said he would have them out here ten days after the Intent to Circulate Petitions was filed by the county.
The petitions were not sent out, and repeated efforts by Bell to get them failed. Monroe finally put them in the committee’s hands only seven days before the deadline.
The incorporation move failed two times before and observers feel that this last time would kill chances for a chance of forming a city for some time to come.
And then on October 25, 1956, they more or less officially called it quits.
Incorporation Move in Los Alamitos is Dead
LOS ALAMITOS — After months of hard work and expectatins, a series of “bad breaks,” doomed the last attempt at incorporated (sic) of the town, and it will be shelved for awhile.
Chamber President, and incorporation committee head, Jim Bell, thaked all the people who worked so hard up until the last day and regretted that their efforts were to no avail.
Bell said the few days left them by the legal counsel to circulat the petitions made it impossible to secure enough names to meet the requirements.
Although no official decision has been made by the Chamber, Bell said, he didn’t think it would be advisable to try it again for a while.