Chatsworth, Los Angeles
Chatsworth | |
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747 and 818 |
Chatsworth is a suburban neighborhood in
The area was home to Native Americans, who left caves containing rock art. Chatsworth was explored and colonized by the Spanish beginning in the 18th century. The land was part of a Spanish land grant, Rancho Ex-Mission San Fernando, in the 19th century, and after the United States took over the land following the Mexican–American War, it was the largest such grant in California.
Chatsworth has seven public and eight private schools. There are large open-space and smaller recreational parks as well as a public library and a transportation center. Distinctive features are the former Chatsworth Reservoir and the Santa Susana Field Laboratory.
The neighborhood has one of the lowest population densities in Los Angeles and a relatively high income level.
Chatsworth is the home of the
Population
The 2000 U.S. census counted 35,073 residents in the 15.2 square miles (39 km2) Chatsworth neighborhood, or 2,301 people per square mile, among the lowest
The neighborhood was considered to be ethnically "moderately diverse" for both the city of Los Angeles and its county, with a relatively high percentage of whites and Asian people, and a sizable Hispanic/Latino community. The population was 65.7%
The median yearly household income in 2008 dollars was $84,456, considered to be a high income for the city. The percentages of families that earned more than $40,000 was considered high for the county. Renters occupied 28.9% of the housing stock, and house- or apartment-owners held 71.1%. The average household size of 2.6 people was considered average for Los Angeles.[2]
In 2000, there were 2,933 military veterans, or 10.8% of the population, a high percentage compared to the rest of the city. The percentage of married people was among the county's highest. The rate of 10% of families headed by single parents was low for the city.[2]
Geography
Chatsworth is flanked by the Santa Susana Mountains on the north, Porter Ranch and Northridge on the east, Winnetka, Canoga Park, West Hills on the south, the Simi Hills, and unincorporated Los Angeles County and Ventura County on the west, and Twin Lakes, a community founded by San Francisco's George Haight in the early 20th century and unincorporated Los Angeles County which includes a 1,600 acre park with equestrian trails, to the north.[3][4]
Climate
This region experiences hot and dry summers, with average daily high temperatures of 90–100 °F. According to the
History
Indigenous
Chatsworth was inhabited by the
Spain and Mexico
The first European explorers came into the Chatsworth area on August 5, 1769, led by the Spanish military leader
The Native American trail that had existed from the Tongva-Tatavium village called rancheria Santa Susana (Chatsworth) to another village, replaced by
In 1821, after the
United States
In 1869, the grantee's son, Eulogio F. de Celis, returned from Spain to Los Angeles.[12] In 1874, the family sold their northern half of Rancho Ex-Mission San Fernando to northern Californians, California State Senator Charles Maclay and his partners George K. Porter, a San Francisco shoe manufacturer, and his brother Benjamin F. Porter. The Porters’ land was west of present-day Sepulveda Boulevard including most of Chatsworth, and the Maclay land was east of Sepulveda Boulevard.[13]
The
The Chatsworth name, which hails from the stately Chatsworth House in England, was first recorded in 1888, when George R. Crow filed with the Los Angeles County Recorder's Office a map of the San Fernando Valley with a subdivision he called "Chatsworth Park." Later a W. B. Barber, the president of the San Fernando Valley Improvement Company who was believed to be from England, filed an additional map with the Recorder's Office called the "Plat of Chatsworth Park Townsite."[15]
A new wagon route bypassing the deteriorating Devil's Slide was opened in 1895. Initially called El Camino Nuevo (the New Road), it was later named the Chatsworth Grade Road, which continued in use until Santa Susana Pass Road (now Old Santa Susana Pass Road) was built in 1917.[14]
Government and infrastructure
The Chatsworth Branch Library, operated by the Los Angeles Public Library, is located at 21052 Devonshire Street.[16] It was rebuilt in a modern style in 2002.[17]
The Chatsworth Post Office, of the United States Postal Service, is located at 21606 Devonshire Street.[18]
The
Transportation
The Chatsworth Transportation Center, a major transportation hub for the town and west valley, is served by 20 daily trains on the Metrolink Ventura County Line from Ventura to Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles. Amtrak California Pacific Surfliner has 10 trains daily traveling through here[21] on the Coast Line which also handles freight transport by Union Pacific Railroad and was involved in the 2008 Chatsworth train collision near here.
The
The Chatsworth Transportation Center also offers connections to several Los Angeles Metro,
Chatsworth is serviced by the
Education
Thirty-four percent of Chatsworth residents aged 25 and older had earned a
Schools
Schools within the Chatsworth boundaries are:[26]
Public
- Chatsworth Senior High School, 10027 Lurline Avenue
- William Tell Aggeler Opportunity High School, 21050 Plummer Street
- Stoney Point Continuation School, 10010 De Soto Avenue
- Ernest Lawrence Middle School, 10100 Variel Avenue
- Germain Street Elementary School, 20730 Germain Street
- Chatsworth Park Elementary School, 22005 Devonshire Street
- Superior Street Elementary School, 9756 Oso Avenue
- Our Community School, 10045 Jumilla Ave
Private
- Sierra Canyon School, pre-kindergarten through 12, 20801 Rinaldi Street
- Chatsworth Hills Academy, elementary, 21523 Rinaldi Street
- St. Paul's Christian Academy, 21621 Heather Lee Lane
- Al-Falaq / Me'raj Academy, elementary, 11070 Old Santa Susana Pass Road
- Egremont Schools, Inc., elementary, 19850 Devonshire Street
- Chaminade College Preparatory School, middle, 19800 Devonshire Street
- St. John Eudes, elementary, 9925 Mason Avenue
- Monarch Christian School,[27] 22280 Devonshire Street
Parks and recreation
The City of Los Angeles Parks and Recreation Department,
Open-space parks
- Chatsworth Park North: includes more than 20 acres (81,000 m2) of the scenic Simi Hills and is operated by the Los Angeles Parks Department,rockclimbing
- Chatsworth Park South: includes more than 100 acres (0.40 km2) of the rocky landmark Simi Hills.[31] Chatsworth Park South is adjacent to the Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park, a 174-acre (0.70 km2) National Register of Historic Places property consisting of historic features and deposits, prehistoric village site remnants, and portions of the Old Santa Susana Stage Road, which was the main route for mail and travelers between Los Angeles and San Francisco from 1861 until the opening of rail connections between the two cities in 1876. The stage route was also declared Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #92 (designated January 5, 1972) and Ventura County Historical Landmark #104 (designated October 21, 1986).[32] The park has miles of horseback, jogging, and hiking trails, picnic tables and barbecue pits, and bouldering outcrops[33]
- Chatsworth Recreation Center facilities are located within the lower area of Chatsworth Park South, with lighted indoor basketball courts, lighted outdoor basketball courts, a children's play area, an indoor gymnasium, a stage, and lighted tennis courts[34]
- The Minnie Hill Palmer House, one of the West Valley's historic original homestead houses, is in Chatsworth Park South for visits and the Chatsworth Historical Society archives
- The park had been closed from February 2008 to 2018 due to contamination discovered from when the park used to be a shooting range for Roy Rogers[35]
- Michael D. Antonovich Park at the Joughin Ranch: includes over 1600 acres of hiking, equestrian trails, creeks, waterfalls and the site of one of the historic Bannon Quarries[36]
- Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park (SSPSHP): a large natural area adjacent to and above the town's western side.Old Stagecoach Trail above Chatsworth to the west, is now a popular hiking trail in the Simi Hills. It goes through Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park and Chatsworth Park South and by Chatsworth Oaks Park. The State Park is open to the public with several parking and trailhead areas and many hiking and view opportunities[38]
- Chatsworth Oaks Park: an approximately 3-acre (1.2 ha) natural open space park. It has barbecue pits, a children's play area, and picnic tables near the parking area. Visitors may ride bicycles and hike in the park, which has no established trails but links to nearby Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park. The park overlooks the Chatsworth Nature Preserve, with birdwatching opportunities[39]
- Stoney Point Park: at Tongva settlement named Asha'awanga or Momonga. Browns Creek Bike Pathends near Stoney Point
- Chatsworth Trails Park: in the Santa Susana Mountains foothills just north of the 118 Freeway with parking at 11200 Mayan Drive. Chatsworth Trails Park has miles of horseback, hiking, and mountain biking trails and is also a hub connecting to the huge Michael D. Antonovich Regional Park at Joughin Ranch, the Indian Springs Open Space Park, and Rocky Peak Park at Rocky Peak.[41] The Rim of the Valley Trail passes through here, with trailhead access[42]
- Simi Valleys.[43] It is located in Simi Valley
Neighborhood parks
- Mason Park:[44] offers barbecue pits, lighted and unlighted baseball diamond, children's play area, and picnic tables[44]
Chatsworth Reservoir
A distinctive feature in Chatsworth is the Chatsworth Dam and reservoir. Built in 1918 as part of the Los Angeles Aqueduct system, the property belongs to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Due to increasing concerns of the water quality because of algae plumes and storm water inflow, it was taken out of service in August 1969. After the 1971 San Fernando earthquake additional concerns for seismic safety led to its abandonment by the LADWP as a storage facility.[47] Chatsworth Oaks Park and the Chatsworth Nature Preserve are located here giving views of migrating birds and other animals, and their sounds such as the coyotes calling in the evening. The views of the rocky and dramatic Simi Hills surround the open space.[48]
Chatsworth Reservoir is classified by the Los Angeles Times as a city neighborhood, but "because there are relatively few homes in this area," the Times does not provide separate statistics for it, but adds them to Chatsworth.[49] The Devonshire and Topanga stations of the Los Angeles Police Department provide services in the area.[50]
Economy
Chatsworth is the home of the National Notary Association and the headquarters for Premier America (formerly Litton Federal Credit Union) and Matadors Community Credit Union.
The Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL), once busy with Rocketdyne testing rocket engines and Atomics International doing nuclear research, is quiet and high in the Simi Hills west of Chatsworth.[51] It has been closed, will undergo an extensive environmental cleanup, and will become an open-space park.[52] The park will permanently add to Chatsworth's scenic backdrop, greenway, and hiking opportunities.[53]
Some of the current large employers based in Chatsworth are
Seltzer Motor Industries, of Chatsworth, in 1979 produced the Willow, a two-seat sports car kit. It is the first transverse, inline four-cylinder, mid-engined kit car ever offered to the public.[55]
Notable people
- Amari Bailey (born 2004), NBA basketball player[56]
- Taurus Tremani Bartlett, or Polo G, American rapper[57]
- Donald Friese (born 1940), billionaire businessman[58]
- Doug Garwood, professional golfer[59]
- Mike Moustakas, Major League Baseball player[60]
- Larry Niven, science fiction and fantasy author[61]
- Jenny Y. Yang, chemist[62]
See also
- Lassen Street Olive Trees (Chatsworth, California)
- Old Santa Susana Stage Road
- Burro Flats Painted Cave
- Rancho Ex-Mission San Fernando
- History of the San Fernando Valley to 1915
- List of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments in the San Fernando Valley
- Von Sternberg house by Neutra
References
- ^ "Los Angeles Almanac: City of Los Angeles Population by Community & Race 2000 Census". Archived from the original on January 11, 2010. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e "Chatsworth Profile – Mapping L.A." Los Angeles Times. 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- ^ "Colored map, Mapping L.A." (PDF). Los Angeles Times. 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- ^ "Northwest County – Mapping L.A." Los Angeles Times. 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- ^ "Chatsworth, California Köppen Climate Classification". Weatherbase. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ "Stoney Point Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
- ^ Lubas, Kenneth (January 31, 1971). "Indians Trying To Safeguard Cave Paintings of Ancestors: Mission Tribe Will Ask Rocketdyne To Enclose Historic Works in Glass for Protection Against Any Vandalism". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Report of the Surveyor General 1844–1886" (PDF). State Lands Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 20, 2013.
- ^ "Finding Aid to the Documents Pertaining to the Adjudication of Private Land Claims in California, circa 1852–1892". California Digital Library. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ "Diseño del Rancho Simi : Calif". California Digital Library. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ Ensign, C. A. (1903). "Notes of Litigation on the Title of a Mexican Land Grant". The Michigan Engineer. 22–25. Michigan Engineering Society: 1124–1147.
- ^ Romantic Day, Pathetic End: Sad Burial of Once Wealthy Scion of Spain, Los Angeles Times, May 26, 1903, Eulogio F. de Celis
- ISBN 978-1-883792-55-8.
- ^ a b Bevill, Arthur D. (2007). Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park Cultural Resource Survey Historic Overview (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 27, 2008.
- ^ Bickell, Lara. "CHS England Collection". Chatsworth Historical Society. Archived from the original on April 2, 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
- ^ "Chatsworth Branch Library". Los Angeles Public Library. 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- ^ Stassel, Stephanie (October 2, 2000). "Valley Libraries Branching Out in Building Boom". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- ^ "Post Office Location – Chatsworth". United States Postal Service. Archived from the original on February 21, 2009. Retrieved December 6, 2008.
- U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
- ^ "Boundary Map" (PDF). Chatsworth Neighborhood Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2005. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
- ^ "Metrolink website".
- ^ "Orange Line website". metro.net.
- ^ "Orange Line website". metro.net.
- ^ "Metro Net website". metro.net.
- ^ "Metrolink website" (PDF). metro.net.
- ^ "Chatsworth: Schools, Mapping L.A." Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Monarch Christian School
- ^ "Chatsworth Park North". LAMountains.com. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
- ^ "Chatsworth Park North". City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
- ^ "Chatsworth North Park". City of Los Angeles. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
- ^ "Chatsworth Park South". LAMountains.com. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
- ^ "Santa Susana Pass SHP". Parks.ca.gov. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
- ^ "Chatsworth Park South". City of Los Angeles. Archived from the original on March 28, 2010. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
- ^ "Chatsworth Recreation Center". City of Los Angeles. Archived from the original on January 18, 2010. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
- ^ Schrader, Tina (September 28, 2010). "Park Tainted by Lead from Roy Rogers' Days May Reopen". Northridge-Chatsworth, CA Patch. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
- ^ "Michael D. Antonovich at the Joughin Ranch". LAMountains.com. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
- ^ "Santa Susana Pass SHP". ca.gov. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ "SSPSHP Hikes + Trails Map". L.A. Parks.
- ^ "Chatsworth Oaks Park". City of Los Angeles. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
- ^ "Stoney Point Park". City of Los Angeles. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
- ^ "Michael D. Antonovich Regional Park at Joughin Ranch". LA Mountains.
- ^ "Rim of the Valley". National Park Service.
- ^ "Sage Ranch Park". LA Mountains.com.
- ^ a b "Mason Park". City of Los Angeles. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- ^ "Mason Recreation Center". City of Los Angeles. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
- ^ "Mason Child Care Center". City of Los Angeles. Archived from the original on January 14, 2010. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
- ^ Rogers, J. David (2012). "DAMS AND DISASTERS: a brief overview of dam building triumphs and tragedies in California's past" (PDF). University of California Davis. p. 51. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
- ^ "Chatsworth Reservoir Park – Los Angeles". RecreationParks.net. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ "Chatsworth Reservoir". Mapping L.A., Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Crime: Chatsworth Reservoir". Mapping L.A., Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Aerospace Contamination Museum of Education". acmela.org. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ "Site cleanup: Santa Susana Field Lab". Department of Toxic Substances Control.
- ^ "The Rocketdyne Information Society". Yahoo! Groups. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ "Contact". Titus Interactive. Archived from the original on June 3, 2004. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
- ^ Alexander, George (1983). Kit Car Encyclopedia. Fifth Genesis Publications. pp. 9-14. Aug.-Sep. 1983. Vol 83 No. 5
- ^ "Amari Bailey Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more".
- ^ Jack Flemming, “Rapper Polo G lands a Chatsworth Mansion for $4.9 Million,” ‘’Los Angeles Times,’’ June 8, 2021
- ^ "This billionaire once thanked two of his employees with $1-million checks". June 4, 2017. Retrieved October 29, 2017 – via LA Times.
- ^ "Doug Garwood PGA TOUR Champions Profile - News, Stats, and Videos". Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ^ "Chatsworth Baseball". Chatsworth High School Athletic Department. 2006. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
- ^ "Known Space: The Future Worlds of Larry Niven". Retrieved January 8, 2014.
- Sina Corp. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
External links
- Chatsworth Neighborhood Council
- Chatsworth Historical Society Archived February 2, 2020, at the Wayback Machine
- California State Parks Dept. – official Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park website
- LAMountains.com – Santa Susana Pass Historic Park hiking website
- Official Los Angeles City Parks: Chatsworth Park South website
- Chatsworth crime map and statistics
- Bike Travel in the SFV - Chatsworth