city, Orange county, southern California, U.S. The city lies just north of Fullerton and southeast of Los Angeles. Its name derives from the Spanish abra (“pass”), with reference to an opening in the nearby Puente Hills. A land grant, known as Rancho La Habra, was made in 1839, and cattle ranching quickly developed. The city was founded in 1896 and became a commercial centre for an extensive agricultural area (citrus fruit, avocados). A packinghouse was built after the arrival of the Pacific Electric Railroad in 1908. The nearby Coyote Hills oil fields were established in 1912. There is some industry, but the city is primarily a bedroom community of the larger Los Angeles area. La Habra hosts an annual corn festival. Inc. 1925. Pop. (1990) 51,266; (2000) 58,974.