Topic Explorer | Oviatt Library Digital Collection

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The San Fernando Valley History Digital Library has images and documents to support research in a wide range of topics related to the history of the San Fernando Valley. If you know what general research area interests you, this page is a good place from which to launch your exploration of specific subjects. Use the left-hand side to choose an area of interest, then choose a topic from the list on the right to view more information.

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Communities

Arleta: A neighborhood established in 1975 in the northeastern San Fernando Valley between Sun Valley and Pacoima. The name most likely is derived from Arleta Avenue, which runs through it.
Bakersfield: No description available.
Big Tujunga Canyon: No description available.
Burbank: An incorporated city founded on May 1, 1887 in the eastern San Fernando Valley north of Glendale. It was named for Dr. David Burbank, a Los Angeles dentist and early developer of the area. The city incorporated on July 15, 1911 and remained an independent city when most of the Valley consolidated with Los Angeles in 1915.
Buttonwillow: No description available.
Cahuenga Pass: No description available.
Calabasas: An incorporated city founded in the 1800s in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains near Woodland Hills. The name most likely derives from the Spanish word for squashes or gourds, a product of the region. The City of Calabasas incorporated on April 5, 1991.
California: No description available.
Canoga Park: A neighborhood founded in 1912 in the western San Fernando Valley between Reseda and West Hills. It was originally named Owensmouth by Los Angeles Times publisher Gen. Harrison Grey Otis, one of the investors in the Los Angeles Suburban Homes Company, which developed the town. It consolidated with Los Angeles on February 26, 1917. In 1931, residents adopted the name Canoga, which was the name of Southern Pacific train stop in the town. The "Park" was added later.
Carson City: No description available.
Chatsworth: A neighborhood founded in 1888 at the base of the Santa Susana Pass in the northwestern corner of the San Fernando Valley. It is most likely named after the country estate of England's Duke of Devonshire.
Chino: No description available.
Dallas: No description available.
Elysian Park: No description available.
Encino: A neighborhood in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains between Sherman Oaks and Tarzana. It was the location of a Tongva Indian village when the first Europeans arrived in 1769. "Encino" was first applied in the 1890s. The name loosely translates as "evergreen oak" of which there were plenty at that time due to a natural spring in the district.
Girard: A neighborhood founded in 1923 in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains between Tarzana and Calabasas. It was originally named Girard, for its founder and developer, Victor Girard. In 1941, residents renamed the community Woodland Hills.
Glendale: An incorporated city settled by 1887 in the southeastern San Fernando Valley between Burbank and Pasadena. It incorporated in 1906.
Granada Hills: A neighborhood in the north-central San Fernando Valley. The area was settled in 1855 by Geronimo Lopez. The name "Granada" was adopted officially in 1927 and in 1942 it was expanded to "Granada Hills."
Hidden Hills: A planned community established in the 1950s in the southwestern San Fernando Valley near Calabasas. It officially incorporated in 1961.
Highland Park: No description available.
Hollywood: No description available.
La Crescenta: No description available.
Lakeview Terrace: A neighborhood in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains near Pacoima in the San Fernando Valley.
Lankershim: A neighborhood founded in 1888 in the southeastern San Fernando Valley between Studio City and Van Nuys. The area was known as Toluca until 1911 when it was subdivided by the Los Angeles Suburban Homes Company and renamed Lankershim for Isaac Lankershim, an early land owner. It was annexed to Los Angeles in 1923 and renamed North Hollywood.
Las Virgenes: No description available.
Little Tuunga Canyon: No description available.
Los Angeles: No description available.
Malibu: No description available.
Malibu Creek State Park: No description available.
Mission Hills: A neighborhood in the northeastern San Fernando Valley between Pacoima and Granada Hills. The name most likely derives from the San Fernando Mission established in 1797 by Father Fernim Lasuen.
Monte Vista: No description available.
Montrose: No description available.
Napoleon Canyon: No description available.
Newhall: No description available.
North Hills: A neighborhood founded in 1915 in the central San Fernando Valley between Panorama City and Northridge. Originally known as Mission Acres, residents changed the name to Sepulveda in 1927 in honor of Fernando Sepulveda, an early landowner in the Los Angeles area. The name was changed to North Hills in 1992.
North Hollywood: A neighborhood founded in 1888 in the southeastern San Fernando Valley between Studio City and Van Nuys. The area was known as Toluca until 1911 when it was subdivided by the Los Angeles Suburban Homes Company and renamed Lankershim for Isaac Lankershim, an early land owner. It was annexed to Los Angeles in 1923 and renamed North Hollywood.
North Los Angeles: A neighborhood founded in 1908 in the north-central San Fernando Valley between North Hills and Winnetka. Originally named Zelzah, a biblical term for "oasis," it was renamed North Los Angeles in 1929 and Northridge in 1938.
Northridge: A neighborhood founded in 1908 in the north-central San Fernando Valley between North Hills and Winnetka. Originally named Zelzah, a biblical term for "oasis," it was renamed North Los Angeles in 1929 and Northridge in 1938.
Owens River: No description available.
Owensmouth: A neighborhood founded in 1912 in the western San Fernando Valley between Reseda and West Hills. It was originally named Owensmouth by Los Angeles Times publisher Gen. Harrison Grey Otis, one of the investors in the Los Angeles Suburban Homes Company, which developed the town. It consolidated with Los Angeles on February 26, 1917. In 1931, residents adopted the name Canoga, which was the name of Southern Pacific train stop in the town. The "Park" was added later.
Pacoima: A neighborhood established in 1887 in the northeastern San Fernando Valley between Sun Valley and San Fernando. "Pacoima" loosely translates as "rushing water" from the Gabrieleno language, possibly a reference to the runoff from Pacoima Wash.
Panorama City: A neighborhood founded in 1947 in the eastern San Fernando Valley between Van Nuys and Mission Hills. The Valley's first truly planned community, it was developed by Fritz B. Burns and Associates on lands that once belonged to the Panorama Dairy and Sheep Ranch.
Paradise Valley: No description available.
Porter Ranch: A planned community established in the 1950s in foothills of the Santa Susana Mountains in the San Fernando Valley north of Northridge. It is on a portion of the former 56,000-acre George K. Porter Ranch.
Reseda: A neighborhood founded in 1909 in the central San Fernando Valley between Van Nuys and Winnetka. It was originally named Marian after the daughter of Los Angeles Times publisher Gen. Harrison Gray Otis, one of the members of the Los Angeles Suburban Homes Company who subdivided the land in 1913. It was renamed Reseda, meaning "gives comfort" in Latin, in 1922.
Roscoe: A neighborhood developed in the 1880s in the eastern San Fernando Valley, between Burbank and Pacoima. Originally known as Roberts--for a general store in the area-- the name was changed to Roscoe in 1896. In 1948 residents renamed it Sun Valley.
San Fernando: An incorporated city in the northeastern San Fernando Valley between Pacoima and Sylmar. The name derives from the San Fernando Mission established in 1797 by Father Fernim Lasuen. It incorporated August 31, 1911.
San Fernando Valley: No description available.
San Gabriel: No description available.
Santa Monica: No description available.
Saugus: No description available.
Sherman Oaks: A neighborhood founded in 1927 in the southeastern San Fernando Valley between Studio City and Encino. It is named for Moses Hazeltine Sherman, a land owner and developer.
Studio City: A neighborhood in the southeastern San Fernando Valley between Universal City and Sherman Oaks. Originally known as Maxwell, it was renamed Studio City in 1928 by silent film director Mack Sennett.
Stunt Ranch: No description available.
Sun Valley: A neighborhood developed in the 1880s in the eastern San Fernando Valley, between Burbank and Pacoima. Originally known as Roberts--for a general store in the area-- the name was changed to Roscoe in 1896. In 1948 residents renamed it Sun Valley.
Sunland: An area developed in the 1880s in the eastern San Fernando Valley between the San Gabriel and Verdugo Mountains. Tujunga incorporated in 1925 and consolidated with Los Angeles in 1932. Sunland consolidated Los Angeles in 1926. Formerly considered two separate neighborhoods, the area is now known as Sunland-Tujunga.
Sylmar: A neighborhood established in the 1890s in the northeastern San Fernando Valley near San Fernando. "Sylmar" translates as "sea of trees," a reference to the vast olive groves that were part of Sylmar's early industry. It consolidated with Los Angeles in 1915.
Tarzana: A neighborhood founded in 1922 in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains between Encino and Woodland Hills in the San Fernando Valley. Originally known as Runneymede for the Runneymede Farms located in the area, the name was changed to Tarzana, a reference to early landowner Edgar Rice Burroughs' character Tarzan, in 1927.
Toluca Lake: A neighborhood in North Hollywood founded in 1888 in the southeast San Fernando Valley between Burbank and Universal City. As a part of North Hollywood, it consolidated with Los Angeles in 1923.
Topanga: A neighborhood established in 1839 in Topanga Canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains. "Topanga" was the Tongva Indian name for the area.
Topanga Beach: No description available.
Tujunga: An area developed in the 1880s in the eastern San Fernando Valley between the San Gabriel and the Verdugo Mountains. Tujunga incorporated in 1925 and consolidated with Los Angeles in 1932. Sunland consolidated Los Angeles in 1926. Formerly considered two separate neighborhoods, the area is now known as Sunland-Tujunga.
Universal City: A neighborhood founded in 1915 in the southeastern part of the San Fernando Valley between Glendale and Studio City. It is the location of Universal Studios, founded by movie mogul Carl Laemmle. It no longer has residents.
Van Nuys: A neighborhood established February 22, 1911 in the south-central San Fernando Valley between North Hollywood and Panorama City. It was named for Valley land owner Isaac Newton Van Nuys.
Vasquez Rocks: No description available.
West Hills: A neighborhood founded in 1988 in the western portion of the San Fernando Valley, west of Canoga Park, from land formerly a part of Canoga Park.
Winnetka: A neighborhood founded in 1922 in the west San Fernando Valley between Canoga Park and Reseda. It was established by chicken farmer Charles Weeks as a utopian poultry and agriculture colony. In 1934, residents renamed the neighborhood Winnetka after Weeks' former hometown, Winnetka, Illinois.
Woodland Hills: A neighborhood founded in 1923 in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains between Tarzana and Calabasas. It was originally named Girard, for its founder and developer, Victor Girard. In 1941, residents renamed the community Woodland Hills.
Zelzah: A neighborhood founded in 1908 in the north-central San Fernando Valley between North Hills and Winnetka. Originally named Zelzah, a biblical term for "oasis," it was renamed North Los Angeles in 1929 and Northridge in 1938.

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