La Mirada is a city in southeast Los Angeles County, California, situated as one of the Gateway Cities along the border with Orange County. With a population of 48,008 at the 2020 census, it is a compact, family-oriented community that blends Southern California suburban living with a notable institutional and cultural presence. The city is home to Biola University, a private, nondenominational evangelical Christian university founded in 1908 as the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. Biola moved to its current 75-acre campus in La Mirada in 1959, and the university has since become a defining part of the community, drawing students and faculty from across the country. La Mirada's civic amenities punch above its size. The La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts stages Broadway-caliber plays and musicals, and the Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center is a major regional swimming and recreation facility. La Mirada Regional Park and the county-run community regional park add substantial green space, playgrounds, and athletic facilities, supported by the city's strong emphasis on beautification. The housing stock is largely mid-century and single-family, with traditional and ranch-style homes across neighborhoods such as Lemon Hills, Hillsborough, Hawks Pointe, and Green Hills. Public education is provided by the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District. The city's location near the 5 and 91 freeways keeps both downtown Los Angeles and northern Orange County's employment and entertainment within easy reach. For people seeking an established, well-kept suburb with good schools, cultural amenities, and access to both Los Angeles and Orange County, La Mirada offers a compelling and enduring choice in the Gateway Cities.