Burbank, California facts for kids
Burbank is a lively city in Los Angeles County, California, located in the southeastern part of the San Fernando Valley. It's about 7 miles (11 km) northwest of downtown Los Angeles. With a population of over 107,000 people, Burbank is often called the "Media Capital of the World." This is because many big media and entertainment companies have their main offices or large production studios here.
The city is named after David Burbank, who started a sheep ranch here in 1867. Burbank has two main parts: a downtown area near the Verdugo Mountains and a flatter area.
Some of the famous companies in Burbank include Warner Bros. Entertainment, The Walt Disney Company, Nickelodeon Animation Studio, The Burbank Studios, Cartoon Network Studios, and Insomniac Games. You can also find Universal Studios Hollywood nearby, which is a popular theme park. The TV network The CW is also based here.
The Hollywood Burbank Airport was once home to Lockheed's "Skunk Works," a secret facility that built advanced airplanes like the U-2 spy planes. Burbank also has the largest IKEA store in the United States!
Contents
History
Early Beginnings
The land where Burbank now stands was once part of two large Spanish and Mexican land grants. One was called Rancho San Rafael, and the other was Rancho Providencia. Long ago, a military fight happened here, which led to a new Mexican leader, Pío Pico, taking charge of California. People even found cannonballs near where Warner Bros. Studio is today!
In 1867, a dentist named Dr. David Burbank bought a huge amount of this land, about 9,200 acres (37 square kilometers). He started a sheep ranch and grew wheat. By 1876, the San Fernando Valley became the biggest wheat-growing area in Los Angeles County. But dry weather showed that a steady water supply was really needed.
Dr. Burbank was a smart businessman. He sold a path through his land to the Southern Pacific Railroad for just one dollar. The first train came through Burbank on April 5, 1874. This new train service helped people move to California, and in 1886, a group of investors bought much of Dr. Burbank's land for $250,000. They named the new town Burbank after him.
The investors created the Providencia Land, Water, and Development Company. They started selling farm lots on May 1, 1887. They also set up a water system, which helped farmers grow more crops. The railroad made it easy for farmers to sell their goods. A train station was built in Burbank in 1887.
The town's first telephone system was set up in August 1900, making it the first in the San Fernando Valley. By 1908, Burbank had its first bank, the Burbank State Bank, which opened with $30,000 in deposits. At that time, only about 300 people lived in the town.
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In 1911, a wealthy farmer named Joseph Fawkes tried to create a new way to travel called the "Fawkes Folly" aerial trolley. It was a cigar-shaped monorail that hung from an overhead track and was supposed to carry passengers from Burbank to downtown Los Angeles in just 10 minutes! But during its first and only test run, it only moved a little bit before falling apart. No one was hurt, but it became known as "Fawkes' Folly."
Instead, a streetcar line was extended from Glendale to Burbank, and the first "Red Car" arrived on September 6, 1911, with a big celebration.
Becoming a City
The town grew steadily. On July 8, 1911, the people of Burbank voted to become an official city. Thomas Story became the first mayor. The first city seal even featured a cantaloupe, a crop that helped the town survive after a land boom ended.
By 1916, Burbank had 1,500 residents. By 1930, with companies like First National Pictures, Lockheed Company, and Northrop Aircraft Corporation opening facilities, the population jumped to 16,662.
The Great Depression in 1929 caused tough times for Burbank, just like everywhere else. Building homes stopped, and companies cut jobs. The city council even cut city workers' wages by 10% to help. But by the mid-1930s, things started to get better, and by 1950, the population had reached 78,577. Burbank was no longer a small village; it was a growing city!
Early Factories
In 1887, the Burbank Furniture Manufacturing Company was the town's first factory. Later, in 1917, the Moreland Motor Truck Company moved to Burbank from Los Angeles. They built trucks that were known as "Made in Burbank." This brought many factory jobs to the city. Moreland was the biggest truck maker west of the Mississippi River!
Over the next few decades, many factories opened in Burbank, changing the area from farms to industrial zones. The Andrew Jergens Company, which made soaps and lotions, also opened a factory in Burbank in 1920.
Aviation Takes Flight
The 1930s brought a huge change to Burbank with the arrival of the aircraft industry and a major airport. This led to a lot of growth, especially during World War II.
The Lockheed Aircraft Company opened a factory in Burbank in 1928. A year later, famous airplane designer Jack Northrop built his unique Flying Wing airplane nearby.
The United Airport opened in 1930 and was the biggest commercial airport in Los Angeles for a while. Famous pilots like Amelia Earhart and Howard Hughes flew in and out of this airport. By 1935, it was the third-largest air terminal in the country!
During World War II, the entire area of Lockheed's Vega factory was cleverly camouflaged to trick enemy planes. It looked like a peaceful neighborhood with fake trees, shrubs, and even rubber cars! This allowed workers to keep building planes safely underneath.
Lockheed's presence made Burbank's population double between 1930 and 1940. During World War II, Lockheed employed about 80,800 people, making planes like the Lockheed P-38 Lightning and America's first jet fighter, the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star. Lockheed later created super-secret planes like the U-2 spy plane and the SR-71 Blackbird at its "Skunk Works" in Burbank.
After the war, Burbank continued to grow. Lockheed expanded into spacecraft, missiles, and electronics. However, when Lockheed eventually left Burbank, it was a big economic loss for the city.
Burbank's airport has changed its name seven times since 1930! It was known as Lockheed Air Terminal for a long time, then Hollywood-Burbank Airport, and later Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport. In 2003, it was renamed Bob Hope Airport to honor the famous comedian. In 2017, it officially became the Hollywood Burbank Airport again.
Entertainment City
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The movie business came to Burbank in the 1920s. In 1926, First National Pictures bought a large piece of land. Later, Warner Bros. took over First National.
Walt Disney's company also bought 51 acres (0.21 square kilometers) in Burbank and built its million-dollar studio in 1939. Disney originally wanted to build "Mickey Mouse Park" next to the studio, but the city council didn't want a "carny atmosphere" in Burbank. So, Disney built Disneyland in Anaheim instead.
By the 1960s and 1970s, more of the entertainment industry moved to Burbank. NBC moved its West Coast headquarters here in 1952. Comedians on shows like Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson often joked about "beautiful downtown Burbank" because their shows were taped there.
Today, many big entertainment companies are located close to each other in an area called the Media District. This includes Warner Bros., NBC, and Disney. Even though some NBC operations have moved to Universal City, many important shows and studios remain in Burbank. For example, Conan O'Brien tapes his talk show Conan at the Warner Bros. lot.
Movies Made in Burbank
Burbank has a rich history of movies being filmed there. Many famous films have been shot in Burbank, including:
- Casablanca (1942): The famous airport scene was filmed on Stage 1 at Warner Bros. Burbank Studios, not a real airport, because of World War II rules.
- Bonnie and Clyde (1967): Also filmed at Warner Bros.
- High Noon (1952): Shot on a western street at the Warner Brothers "Ranch."
- Mary Poppins (1964): Filmed at the Walt Disney Studios. The sound stage where it was made was later renamed "The Julie Andrews Stage" in honor of the star.
- Back to the Future (1985): Parts were filmed at the Burbank Community Center.
- Memento: Many scenes were shot around Burbank, including on Burbank Blvd and at local bars.
The Burbank Town Center mall is also a popular spot for filming movies, TV shows, and commercials. Shows like Gilmore Girls and Desperate Housewives have filmed scenes there.
In 2012, an international filmmaking and acting school, the International Academy of Film and Television, opened in Burbank, attracting students from many countries.
Burbank Today
Burbank is a great place to live and work, especially for people in the movie, digital, and TV industries. People are drawn to Burbank because it has its own police and fire departments, good schools, and a hospital. It also feels like a small town but is only 10 minutes away from the exciting clubs and restaurants of Hollywood.
The Bob's Big Boy Restaurant in Burbank (opened in 1949) is the oldest remaining Bob's Big Boy in America. It's even a California Point of Historical Interest!
Residents enjoy the Burbank Philharmonic Orchestra, the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, the Starlight Bowl, and many restaurants, shops, theaters, parks, and libraries. Visitors can take the Warner Bros. Studio VIP tour and easily visit other attractions in Los Angeles.
Burbank was the first American city in 1991 to require new buildings to have good communication systems for first responders like police and firefighters. In 2010, Burbank also passed a rule against smoking in apartment buildings that share ventilation systems, and on private balconies and patios.
Today, about 100,000 people work in Burbank every day. The city's aviation history is still visible. The Burbank Empire Center, a large shopping area, was built on the site of Lockheed's former "Skunk Works." It even has buildings designed to look like old manufacturing plants, and signs feature replicas of Lockheed aircraft!
Geography
Burbank covers about 17.4 square miles (45 square kilometers). Most of it is land, with a small amount of water. It is next to Glendale to the east, North Hollywood and Toluca Lake to the west, and Griffith Park to the south. The Verdugo Mountains are to the north.
The city's elevation ranges from about 500 feet (152 meters) in the lower areas to about 800 feet (244 meters) near the Verdugo Mountains.
Earthquakes
Burbank is in an area where earthquakes can happen. Several major fault lines are located within 13.5 miles (21.7 kilometers) of the city center. The San Fernando Fault, about 6 miles (9.7 kilometers) northwest, caused a 6.6 magnitude earthquake in 1971. The Verdugo Fault runs through the city and could cause an earthquake up to 6.5 magnitude. The much larger San Andreas Fault is about 28 miles (45 kilometers) away.
Burbank had $66.1 million in damage from the 1994 Northridge earthquake.
Climate
Burbank has a Mediterranean climate, which means it has warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters.
| Climate data for Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport, California (1981–2010, extremes 1939–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 93 (34) |
92 (33) |
98 (37) |
105 (41) |
107 (42) |
111 (44) |
110 (43) |
111 (44) |
113 (45) |
108 (42) |
98 (37) |
92 (33) |
113 (45) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 67.8 (19.9) |
68.0 (20.0) |
70.2 (21.2) |
73.2 (22.9) |
76.2 (24.6) |
80.5 (26.9) |
86.5 (30.3) |
88.1 (31.2) |
86.1 (30.1) |
79.7 (26.5) |
73.0 (22.8) |
67.0 (19.4) |
76.4 (24.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 41.9 (5.5) |
43.9 (6.6) |
46.4 (8.0) |
49.9 (9.9) |
54.7 (12.6) |
58.5 (14.7) |
62.3 (16.8) |
62.4 (16.9) |
60.1 (15.6) |
54.0 (12.2) |
46.0 (7.8) |
41.2 (5.1) |
51.8 (11.0) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 22 (−6) |
27 (−3) |
22 (−6) |
32 (0) |
39 (4) |
43 (6) |
45 (7) |
46 (8) |
43 (6) |
33 (1) |
29 (−2) |
22 (−6) |
22 (−6) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.53 (90) |
4.48 (114) |
2.97 (75) |
1.11 (28) |
0.35 (8.9) |
0.11 (2.8) |
0.02 (0.51) |
0.07 (1.8) |
0.23 (5.8) |
0.97 (25) |
1.07 (27) |
2.40 (61) |
17.31 (439.81) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 6.2 | 6.8 | 5.8 | 3.3 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 5.2 | 36.5 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
- Highest Recorded Temperature: 113°F (45°C)
- Lowest Recorded Temperature: 22°F (-6°C)
- Warmest Month: August
- Coolest Month: December
- Highest Precipitation: February
- Lowest Precipitation: July
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 2,913 | — | |
| 1930 | 16,662 | 472.0% | |
| 1940 | 34,337 | 106.1% | |
| 1950 | 78,577 | 128.8% | |
| 1960 | 90,155 | 14.7% | |
| 1970 | 88,871 | −1.4% | |
| 1980 | 84,625 | −4.8% | |
| 1990 | 93,643 | 10.7% | |
| 2000 | 100,316 | 7.1% | |
| 2010 | 103,340 | 3.0% | |
| 2020 | 107,337 | 3.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Burbank's population grew by 4.8% between 2000 and 2016, reaching 105,110 people. This growth happened because of more jobs, good public schools, and easy access to transportation and Los Angeles. Experts predict Burbank's population will reach about 118,700 by 2040.
Population Breakdown (2020)
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 59,590 | 60,265 | 60,350 | 59.40% | 58.32% | 56.22% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,915 | 2,443 | 2,891 | 1.91% | 2.36% | 2.69% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 314 | 196 | 222 | 0.31% | 0.19% | 0.21% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 9,045 | 11,753 | 12,282 | 9.02% | 11.37% | 11.44% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 121 | 76 | 98 | 0.12% | 0.07% | 0.09% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 177 | 249 | 618 | 0.18% | 0.24% | 0.58% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 4,201 | 3,048 | 4,915 | 4.19% | 2.95% | 4.58% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 24,953 | 25,310 | 25,961 | 24.87% | 24.49% | 24.19% |
| Total | 100,316 | 103,340 | 107,337 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
In 2010, Burbank had 103,340 people. About 72.7% were White, 2.5% African American, 0.5% Native American, 11.6% Asian, and 0.1% Pacific Islander. About 24.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino. The average household size was 2.45 people.
In 2010, the average household income in Burbank was $66,240.
Economy
Burbank has the second-largest amount of office space in the San Fernando Valley. Most of this space is used by the entertainment industry. About 150,000 people work in Burbank every day, which is more than the number of people who live there!
Even though Hollywood is famous for movies, a lot of the actual production happens in Burbank. Many companies have their main offices or facilities here, including:
- Warner Bros. Entertainment
- Warner Music Group
- Legendary Pictures
- The Walt Disney Company
- ABC
- The CW
- Cartoon Network Studios
- Nickelodeon Animation Studios
- Insomniac Games
Many other companies that help make movies and TV shows, like those for cameras, lighting, and equipment, are also in Burbank.
The city's economy faced challenges during the recession, but it has been improving. In November 2022, Burbank's unemployment rate was 5.40%, which was lower than the rate for Los Angeles County.
Top Employers
Here are the top employers in Burbank as of 2021:
| # | Employer | # of employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Warner Bros. Entertainment | 4,000 |
| 2 | The Walt Disney Company | 3,800 |
| 3 | Hollywood Burbank Airport | 2,250 |
| 4 | Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center | 2,200 |
| 5 | Burbank Unified School District | 2,047 |
| 6 | City of Burbank Government | 1,500 |
| 7 | American Broadcasting Company | 1,160 |
| 8 | Deluxe Media | 627 |
| 9 | Nickelodeon Animation Studio | 602 |
| 10 | Entertainment Partners | 587 |
Shopping
Downtown Burbank has a great mix of shops, restaurants, and entertainment. The San Fernando Strip is a modern shopping area with apartments above the stores. The Empire Center is another upscale shopping district.
The Burbank Town Center is a large shopping mall that was built in the early 1990s. It helped Burbank's economy after many large factories, like Lockheed, left the city.
The Empire Center, which opened in 2001, was built on the site of Lockheed's old airplane factory. It brings in a lot of sales tax revenue for the city. The buildings in the Empire Center are designed to look like old manufacturing plants, and the signs feature model airplanes, reminding everyone of Burbank's aviation past.
In 2017, the new, larger IKEA store opened in Burbank, becoming the biggest IKEA in the United States. The old IKEA site is also being redeveloped with new homes and shops.
Education
Burbank is part of the Burbank Unified School District. The district started in 1879 with just one schoolhouse, built for $400 on land given by Dr. Burbank. This first school served nine families.
In 1908, citizens voted to build a high school. The original Burbank High School opened on September 14, 1908, with 42 students and two teachers.
Burbank has several "California Distinguished Schools," including Luther Burbank Middle School and David Starr Jordan Middle School. Both public and private schools in Burbank usually have test scores above the state and national averages.
The largest university in Burbank is Woodbury University, which offers programs in business, architecture, and design. There are also smaller colleges, including those for makeup and beauty, that serve the entertainment industry.
Infrastructure
Transportation
Air Travel
The Hollywood Burbank Airport serves over 4 million travelers each year. It has six major airlines and more than 70 flights daily. The airport is in the northwest part of the city and is a big source of traffic. There have been discussions about reducing noise from the airport, and there's a suggestion for a voluntary curfew on flights from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
In 2000, a Southwest Airlines plane overshot the runway and went through a fence, stopping near a gas station. Luckily, no one was seriously hurt.
Roads and Highways
Major freeways built in the 1950s connect Burbank to the rest of Los Angeles. The Golden State Freeway (I-5) goes through the city, and the Ventura Freeway connects Burbank to other major routes.
Improvements are being made to the Golden State Freeway in Burbank, including a new interchange at Empire Avenue. This will make it easier to get to the Empire Center shopping area. There are also plans to build a bridge over the railroad tracks at Buena Vista Street to make it safer.
Burbank has about 227.5 miles (366 kilometers) of streets and many sidewalks and bike paths, like the Burbank Chandler Bike Path.
Public Transport
The Metro operates public transportation in Los Angeles County, including Burbank. Commuters can use Metrolink and Amtrak trains to travel to downtown Los Angeles, Ventura, and Palmdale. Burbank has three train stations: Burbank Airport–North, Burbank Airport–South, and Downtown Burbank.
Burbank also has its own public transportation system called the Burbank Bus. In 2006, Burbank opened its first hydrogen fueling station for cars.
The future California High-Speed Rail route will pass through Burbank and include a stop near the airport, connecting San Francisco to Los Angeles with very fast trains.
Hospitals
In 1907, Burbank's first hospital, Burbank Community Hospital, opened with 16 beds. It helped the community during a smallpox outbreak in 1913.
In 1943, the Sisters of Providence Health System founded Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center. Even with challenges during World War II, they built a one-story hospital. It has grown a lot since then and now has 431 beds. It's one of the largest hospitals in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys, with about 2,500 employees and over 600 doctors.
The medical center has special centers for cancer, heart care, and children's services. The Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center, which opened in 2010, was built with money from the family of Roy E. Disney, Walt Disney's nephew.
Notable people
- Sterling Beaumon (b. 1995), actor, musician
- Tim Burton (b. 1958), film director, producer
- Carrie Fisher (1956–2016), actress, writer
- Mark Harmon (b. 1951), actor
- Ron Howard (b. 1954), actor, director
- Ashley Johnson (b. 1983), actress, voice actress
- Blake Lively (b. 1987), actress
- Sean Penn (b. 1960), actor
- Bonnie Raitt (b. 1949), blues singer-songwriter
- Debbie Reynolds (1932–2016), actress, singer
- John Ritter (1948–2003), actor, born and raised in Burbank
- Adam Schiff (b. 1960), U.S. congressman
- Wil Wheaton (b. 1972), actor
- Mara Wilson (b. 1987), playwright, author, actress
Sister cities
Burbank is connected with cities around the world:
Images for kids
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Burbank as envisioned by Providencia Land, Water & Development Co.
See also
In Spanish: Burbank para niños
