Woodland Hills, Los Angeles

Woodland Hills is a neighborhood bordering the Santa Monica Mountains in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California, United States.

History

The area was inhabited for around 8,000 years by Native Americans of the Fernandeño-Tataviam and Chumash-Venturaño tribes, who lived in the Santa Monica Mountains and Simi Hills and close to the Arroyo Calabasas (Calabasas Creek) tributary of the Los Angeles River in present-day Woodland Hills.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The first Europeans to enter the San Fernando Valley were the Portola Expedition in 1769, exploring Alta California for Spanish mission and settlement locations. Seeing it from present-day Sepulveda Pass, the oak savanna inspired them to call the area El Valle de Santa Catalina de Bononia de Los Encinos (Valley of St. Catherine of Bononia of the Oaks).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The Mission San Fernando Rey de España (Mission San Fernando) was established in 1797 and controlled the valley's land, including future Woodland Hills.<ref name=Pitt>Template:Cite book</ref>

Ownership of the southern half of the valley, south of present-day Roscoe Boulevard from Toluca Lake to Woodland Hills, by Americans began in the 1860s. First, Isaac Lankershim (as the "San Fernando Farm Homestead Association") in 1869, then Isaac Lankershim's son, James Boon Lankershim, and Isaac Newton Van Nuys (as the "Los Angeles Farm & Milling Company") in 1873,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and finally, in the "biggest land transaction ever recorded in Los Angeles County", a syndicate led by Harry Chandler of the Los Angeles Times with Hobart Johnstone Whitley, Gen. Moses Sherman, and others (as the Los Angeles Suburban Homes Company) in 1910.<ref name="Rod48">Roderick (2001), p. 48.</ref>

File:"Country Homes in Girard" Los Angeles Evening Express, November 17, 1923.jpg

"Country Homes in Girard" Los Angeles Evening Express, November 17, 1923

Victor Girard Kleinberger bought Template:Convert in the area from Chandler's group and founded the town of Girard in 1922.<ref name="WHTCC History">Template:Cite web</ref> He sought to attract residents and businesses by developing an infrastructure, advertising in newspapers, and planting 120,000 trees.<ref name="WHTCC History" /> His 300 pepper trees, forming a canopy over Canoga Avenue between Ventura Boulevard and Saltillo Street, became Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #93 in 1972.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Circa the area was described as "A small business district on Ventura Boulevard at Topanga Canyon Junction. The population is scattered, being found mostly throughout the surrounding agricultural country."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The community of Girard was eventually incorporated into Los Angeles, and in 1945, it became known as Woodland Hills.<ref name=Pitt/> Reference to the founding of Girard is part of the story arc in the first season of Perry Mason (2020).

Geography

Woodland Hills is located in the southwestern region of the San Fernando Valley. Situated to the north is West Hills, Canoga Park, and Winnetka, to the east is Tarzana, to the south is the Santa Monica Mountains, and to the west is Calabasas.<ref name=MappingSanFernandoValley>Template:Cite web</ref>

Running east–west through the community is U.S. Route 101 (the Ventura Freeway) and also Ventura Boulevard, the San Fernando Valley's main thoroughfare, whose western terminus is at Valley Circle Boulevard in Woodland Hills.

Climate

Woodland Hills can experience some of the more extreme temperature changes from season to season than other regions of the San Fernando Valley. During summer days, temperatures in Woodland Hills are often very high, and overnight winter temperatures can be among the lowest of the Valley. On September 5, 2020, Woodland Hills recorded the highest temperature ever in Los Angeles County, hitting Template:Convert at Pierce College,<ref name="NWS twitter">Template:Cite tweet</ref> tying with Chino's reading as the highest temperature on record in Southern California's coastal basin.<ref name="x720">Template:Cite web</ref> The climate is classified as a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Csa) in the Köppen climate classification, which is characterized by mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Precipitation in Woodland Hills averages much the same as most other regions of the west San Fernando Valley, although somewhat higher amounts of rainfall occur in the surrounding hills.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Demographics

In 2008, the population of Woodland Hills was approximately 63,000. The median age in 2000 was 40.<ref name="latimesprojects"/>

As of the 2000 census, and according to the Los Angeles Almanac, there were 67,006 people and 29,119 households residing in Woodland Hills. The racial makeup of the neighborhood was 79.90% White, 6.97% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 3.34% African American, 0.33% Native American, 4.80% from other races, and 4.52% from two or more races. 11.94% of the population were Hispanic of any race.

In population, it is one of the least dense neighborhoods in Los Angeles, and the percentage of white people is high for the county. The percentage of residents 25 and older with four-year college degrees is 47.0%, which was high for both the city and the county. The percentage of veterans, 10.7% of the population, was high for the city of Los Angeles and high for the county overall. The percentage of veterans who served during World War II or Korea was among the county's highest.<ref name="latimesprojects"/>

The 2008 Los Angeles TimesTemplate:'s "Mapping L.A." project supplied these Woodland Hills neighborhood statistics: population: 59,661; median household income: $93,720. The Times said the latter figure was "high for the city of Los Angeles and high for the county."<ref name="latimesprojects">Template:Cite news</ref>

Iranian (8.8%) and German (7.8%) were the most common ancestries in 2000. Iran (27.7%) and the United Kingdom (4.8%) were the most common foreign places of birth.<ref name="latimesprojects"/>

Arts and culture

The Los Angeles Public Library operates the Woodland Hills Branch Library (Ventura Boulevard) and the Platt Branch Library (Victory Boulevard) in Woodland Hills.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Parks and recreation

Woodland Hills is home to the Woodland Hills Country Club, a private equity golf club. The country club is complete with golf course, fine dining, and entertainment options.

The Woodland Hills Recreation Center (Shoup Park) is a Template:Convert park in Woodland Hills. The park has a small indoor gymnasium without weights and with a capacity of 300 people, it may be used as an auditorium. The park also has a lighted baseball diamond, outdoor lighted basketball courts, a children's play area, a lighted football field, picnic tables, a lighted soccer field, and lighted tennis courts.<ref name="WHPark">Template:Cite web</ref> Woodland Hills Pool is an outdoor seasonal unheated swimming pool.<ref name="WHPark"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Warner Center Park, also known as Warner Ranch Park,<ref name="WCPark">Template:Cite web</ref> is located in Woodland Hills.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The park, unstaffed and unlocked, has a children's play area and picnic tables.<ref name="WCPark"/> Serrania Park in Woodland Hills is an unstaffed, unlocked pocket park. It has a children's play area, hiking trails, and picnic tables.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Alizondo Drive Park in Woodland Hills is an unstaffed, unlocked, and undeveloped park used for brush clearance once per year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Along the western boundary of Woodland Hills is the large Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve, a regional park with a trail network for miles of hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian rides. The trailhead and parking are at the very western end of Victory Boulevard in Woodland Hills. Scheduled walks and programs are offered.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area has various parks nearby to the south of the community. The Top of Topanga Overlook gives panoramic views of the verdant Woodland Hills neighborhoods and the Valley.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Government

Local government

Woodland Hills Warner Center Neighborhood Council is the local elected advisory body to the city of Los Angeles representing stakeholders in the Woodland Hills and Warner Center areas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Woodland Hills is located within Los Angeles City Council District 3 represented by Bob Blumenfield.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

State representation

Woodland Hills is within California's 46th State Assembly district represented by Democrat Jesse Gabriel<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and California's 27th State Senate district represented by Democrat Henry Stern.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Federal representation

• Woodland Hills is represented in the United States Senate by California's Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Woodland Hills is located within California's 32nd congressional district represented by Democrat Brad Sherman.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools

File:Taft High School Woodland Hills.JPG

William Howard Taft High School

Public schools serving Woodland Hills are under the jurisdiction the Los Angeles Unified School District. Much of the area is within Board District 4.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Elementary schools include:

• Calabash Street Elementary School<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Lockhurst Elementary School
• Serrania Elementary School<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Woodlake Avenue Elementary School<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Woodland Hills Charter for Enriched Studies<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Ivy Academia Entrepreneurial Charter School<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Calvert Street Elementary School

Middle schools include:

• Woodland Hills Charter Academy (formerly known as Parkman Middle School)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • The school opened in 1959 as "Parkman Junior High School." It received its current name in 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• George Ellery Hale Charter Academy

High schools include:

File:El Camino Real Charter.PNG

El Camino Real High School

• El Camino Real High School
• William Howard Taft High School
• Henry David Thoreau Continuation High School

Adult School:

• West Valley Occuptional Center, 6200 Winnetka Avenue<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Charter schools

• El Camino Real High School
• William Howard Taft Charter High School
• Ingenium Charter School – Kindergarten through Sixth Grade
• George Ellery Hale Charter Academy 6–8 grade
• Chime Charter School K-8
• Serrania Charter for Enriched Studies – K-5
• Calvert School for Enriched Studies – K-5

Private schools

• The Alexandria Academy – secular school serving First through Twelfth Grade
• Halsey Schools – 6 weeks – 6 years.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Louisville High School – All-female Catholic High School
• St. Bernardine of Siena – preschool through Eighth Grade
• St. Mel – preschool through Eighth Grade
• Woodland Hills Private School – serving Preschool (starting at 2 years old) through Fifth Grade.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Lycée International de Los Angeles had a Woodland Hills campus, which had over 140 students as of 2001. This was in a public school building,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> rented from the Los Angeles Unified School District. In 2001 LAUSD announced that it would not renew the lease.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Lycée Français de Los Angeles operated a San Fernando Valley campus in Woodland Hills,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> on the site of Platt Elementary School.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Colleges and universities

Colleges and universities in Woodland Hills include:

• Los Angeles Pierce College (part of the Los Angeles Community College District)

Infrastructure

Los Angeles Fire Department Station 84<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (Woodland Hills) and Station 105<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (Woodland Hills) serve the community.

The Los Angeles Police Department operates the Topanga Division station in Canoga Park<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which provides service to the Woodland Hills area.

Notable people

The Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital, a private retirement, nursing care and acute-care hospital facility is reserved for industry professionals. The section includes some people who lived and/or died there, among other residents.

• Sara Paxton, actress<ref name="family">Template:Cite news</ref>
• Christopher Mintz-Plasse, actor<ref name=cineplex>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Bud Abbott, actor<ref name=nytobit>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Jacques Aubuchon, actor, lived in Woodland Hills at the time of his death<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Rick Auerbach, Major League Baseball player<ref name="Rick Auerbach Stats">Template:Cite web</ref>
• Orr Barouch, Israeli professional soccer player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Justine Bateman, actress<ref name="Fast">Template:Cite web</ref> (Originally from Rye, New York)
• Roy Campanella, Major League Baseball player<ref name="Rick Auerbach Stats"/>
• Helena Carroll, actress<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Mary Carver, actress<ref name=emmy>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Ted Cassidy, actor; his cremated remains are buried in an unmarked location at his former Woodland Hills residence<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Mary Dodson, art director<ref name=thr>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Dr. Dre, rapper, producer, entrepreneur<ref name=lat>Template:Cite news</ref>
• John Feldmann, musician, songwriter, and producer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Jeff Fisher, NFL head coach, attended high school in Woodland Hills<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Andy Gibb, singer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Raymond Greenleaf, actor<ref name=IMdB>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Ryan Hurst, actor, producer, and director<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Buster Keaton, actor and director<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Chief Keef, rapper<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Jack Klugman, actor<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Ryan Lavarnway, Major League Baseball catcher<ref name="autogenerated1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="jewishbaseballnews1">Template:Cite news</ref>
• Geoffrey Lewis, actor<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Mikey Madison, Academy Award winning actress <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Austin Matelson (aka Luchasaurus), professional wrestler, grew up in Woodland Hills<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Charles McPhee, author, talk-show host, "The Dream Doctor Show", Dream Researcher, 1962–2011<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, actress <ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Janel Moloney, actress<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Dolores Moran, actress
• Nichelle Nichols, actress on Star Trek: The Original Series, recruiter for NASA<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Joy Picus, City Council member, 1977–91; Ms. magazine Woman of the Year<ref name=SpotlightOn>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Rafa Sardina, 4-time Grammy Award and 10-time Latin Grammy Award winner recording and mixing engineer resides in Woodland Hills<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Tupac Shakur, rapper, writer, and actor<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Thomas D. Shepard, City Council member, 1961–67<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=CityCouncilCandidates>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=IncumbentCouncilman>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Tyler Skaggs, Major League Baseball player for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
• Dean Smith, Olympic sprinter, John Wayne's stuntman, and actor
• Jan Smithers, actress<ref name="Kassel(B.)1993">Template:Cite book</ref>
• Russell Thacher (1919-1990), author and film producer who co-produced the films Soylent Green and The Last Hard Men together with Walter Seltzer<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Laurence Trimble, actor, writer, film director<ref name="NYT Obit">Template:Cite news</ref>
• Troy Van Leeuwen, musician and record producer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Don Van Vliet (aka Captain Beefheart), musician, singer and composer. Captain Beefheart's definitive album Trout Mask Replica was composed and rehearsed in a communal house in Woodland Hills in 1968–1969<ref name="curbedla1">Template:Cite web</ref>
• Robin Yount, Hall of Fame baseball player<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Cooper Koch, actor and model<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

• Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
• Simi Hills

External links

• Woodland Hills Warner Center Neighborhood Council
• Woodland Hills-Tarzana Chamber of Commerce
• About Woodland Hills