Calabasas, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Calabasas, California
City
City of Calabasas
Clockwise: Aerial view of Calabasas looking northwest; Leonis Adobe; The Commons at Calabasas; Mulholland Highway; The Commons
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Location of Calabasas in Los Angeles County, California
Calabasas, California Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area Show map of the Los Angeles metropolitan area Calabasas, California Location in California Show map of California Calabasas, California Location in the United States Show map of the United States Calabasas, California Location in North America Show map of North America
Country	United States
State	California
County	Los Angeles
Incorporated	April 5, 1991
Named for	Spanish calabazas "winter squashes"
Government
• Type	Council–manager
Area
• Total	13.74 sq mi (35.59 km2)
• Land	13.71 sq mi (35.50 km2)
• Water	0.04 sq mi (0.09 km2)  0.38%
Elevation	928 ft (283 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	23,241
• Density	1,695.43/sq mi (654.63/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP codes	91301, 91302
Area code	747 and 818
FIPS code	06-09598
GNIS feature IDs	239994, 2409955

Calabasas is a city in Los Angeles County, California, in the United States. It is located in the southwestern part of the San Fernando Valley. The city sits between the Santa Monica Mountains and the Santa Susana Mountains. Calabasas is about 29.9 miles (48.1 km) northwest of downtown Los Angeles. As of July 1, 2022, about 22,491 people lived there.

What Does the Name Calabasas Mean?

The name Calabasas comes from an old Spanish word, calabazas. This word means "squashes" or "pumpkins" in English. The area was known for having many wild squashes. A Spanish botanist named Jose Longinos Martinez first wrote down "Las Calabazas" as a place name in 1792.

A Quick Look at Calabasas History

The land where Calabasas is now has been home to the Chumash and Tongva tribes for thousands of years. Spanish explorers were the first Europeans to visit the area. In 1770, an expedition led by Gaspar de Portolá traveled through here. Later, in 1776, Juan Bautista de Anza and his group camped in the area.

The name "Calabasas" was first used for a ranch in the Los Angeles area in 1795. The Leonis Adobe, a very old building in Old Town Calabasas, was built in 1844. It is one of the oldest buildings still standing in the greater Los Angeles area. Calabasas officially became a city on April 5, 1991. This makes it the newest city in Los Angeles County.

Where is Calabasas Located?

Calabasas is in the southwest part of the San Fernando Valley. It is nestled between the Santa Monica Mountains and the Santa Susana Mountains. The city is about 29.9 miles (48.1 km) northwest of downtown Los Angeles.

Calabasas shares borders with several other places. To the northeast is Woodland Hills. To the east is Topanga, and to the south is Malibu. Agoura Hills is to the west, and Hidden Hills is to the north. The Ventura Freeway (US 101) runs through Calabasas.

By 2015, the city had grown to cover about 13.6 square miles (35.2 km2) of land. One of the oldest neighborhoods is Park Moderne, also called the "Bird Streets." This area used to be an artists' colony. You can still find parts of the old club house, pool, and cabins there. The streets have bird names like Meadow Lark and Bluebird.

Calabasas Weather and Climate

Calabasas has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate. This means it has mild, somewhat wet winters. The summers are hot and dry.

Neighborhoods in Calabasas

Calabasas has many different neighborhoods. Here are some of them, grouped by the main streets they are connected to:

• From Parkway Calabasas:
  • Calabasas Hills, Calabasas Park Estates, Westridge, Vista Point, The Oaks.
• From Valley Circle Boulevard/Mulholland Highway:
  • Mulholland Heights, Mulwood, Las Villas, Bellagio, The Ridge, Creekside, Clairidge, Calabasas Country Estates, Calabasas Highlands, Mountain Park, Abercrombie Ranch Estates, Cold Creek, and Park Moderne.
• From Las Virgenes Road:
  • Mountain View Estates, Monte Nido, Deer Springs, Stone Creek, El Encanto, Mont Calabasas, Malibu Canyon Park, The Colony at Calabasas, and Avalon Calabasas.
• From Lost Hills Road:
  • Calabasas View, Saratoga Hills, Saratoga Ranch, Deer Springs, and Steeplechase.

Mont Calabasas became part of the city in 2011. Before that, it was an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County.

Who Lives in Calabasas?

In 2010, the population of Calabasas was 23,058 people. This means there were about 1,780 people per square mile. Most people lived in homes, not in group housing.

About 38.9% of homes had children under 18 living there. The average household had 2.70 people. The average family had 3.11 people. The median age in Calabasas was 41.6 years old. For every 100 females, there were about 93.6 males.

Most homes (73.6%) were owned by the people living in them. The rest (26.4%) were rented. In 2010, the average household income in Calabasas was $124,583. About 6.6% of the population lived below the poverty line.

What is the Economy Like in Calabasas?

The Commons at Calabasas shopping center

Headquarters of The Cheesecake Factory

Calabasas is known as one of the wealthiest cities in the United States. Several large companies have their main offices here. These include Harbor Freight Tools, The Cheesecake Factory, and DTS Inc..

Top Employers in Calabasas

Here are some of the biggest employers in Calabasas, based on a 2020 report:

Calabasas as a Technology Hub

During the "dot-com bubble" in the late 1990s, many technology companies moved to Calabasas. This area along Agoura Road became known as the "101 Technology Corridor." Companies like Xylan, Netcom Systems, and Ixia Communications were located here. Even though some companies have moved or changed, the area still has a strong technology presence today.

Arts and Culture in Calabasas

Calabasas hosts many fun events throughout the year.

Annual Events

The city organizes several yearly events for everyone to enjoy:

• The Pumpkin Festival
• Eggstravaganza
• The Fine Arts Festival
• The Fourth of July Spectacular
• The Calabasas Film Festival

Weekly Events

You can visit the Calabasas Farmers Market every Saturday. It is open from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM at 23504 Calabasas Road.

Places to Visit in Calabasas

King Gillette Ranch

King Gillette Ranch, main residence courtyard, designed by Wallace Neff in the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture style in the 1920s

Leonis Adobe in Old Town Calabasas

The King Gillette Ranch is a beautiful historic property. It was once owned by the Claretians, a Catholic religious group, from 1952 to 1977. They called it Claretville and used it as a seminary. Today, the ranch is part of Malibu Creek State Park. It features historic buildings designed by architect Wallace Neff in the 1920s.

Malibu Hindu Temple

The Malibu Hindu Temple is located on Las Virgenes Road. Many Hindu people and others from California and beyond visit this temple. The Hindu Temple Society of Southern California started this non-profit religious organization in 1977.

Parks and Recreation in Calabasas

The City of Calabasas Community Services Department manages many parks and facilities for residents.

These include:

• Calabasas Senior Center: 300 Civic Center Way
• Calabasas Tennis and Swim Center: 23400 Park Sorrento
• Calabasas Klubhouse and Creekside Park: 3655 Old Topanga Canyon Road
• Juan Bautista de Anza Park: 3701 Lost Hills Road
• Grape Arbor Park: 5100 Parkville Road
• Gates Canyon Park and Brandon's Village: 25801 Thousand Oaks Blvd
• Wild Walnut Park: 23050 Mulholland Highway
• Highlands Park: 23581 Summit Drive
• Calabasas Pickleball Club: 5155 Old Scandia Lane

Brandon's Village Playground

Brandon's Village is a special playground at Gates Canyon Park. It is designed for children with special needs from Calabasas and nearby areas. The playground is about 1 acre (4,000 m2) in size. Most of its equipment can be used independently by children with disabilities. It also offers fun play for all children.

Grape Arbor Park

Grape Arbor Park is a smaller park with green space. It has a baseball diamond, tennis court, and a playground. In 2018, the park was damaged by the Woolsey Fire. The city repaired and renovated it, finishing the work in 2020.

Calabasas Bark Park

Calabasas Bark Park is a dog park with grass. It has a separate, fenced area for children and water fountains. The park also connects to a small hiking trail.

Wild Walnut Park

Wild Walnut Park is an outdoor preserve along Mulholland Highway. It has walking paths and picnic tables. In 2020, part of the park was approved to be used as a dog park.

Education in Calabasas

Students in Calabasas attend schools in the Las Virgenes Unified School District. This district also serves nearby communities like Agoura Hills and Hidden Hills. Calabasas High School is part of this district.

In January 2004, Alice C. Stelle Middle School opened. It serves students in the eastern part of the city. Students in the western part attend Arthur E. Wright Middle School. Before 2004, Arthur E. Wright was the only middle school in the city.

Calabasas also has several public elementary schools. These include Chaparral, Round Meadow, Lupin Hill, and Bay Laurel. The private Viewpoint School is also located here.

Public Services in Calabasas

Calabasas provides its own public transportation. This includes a shuttle and trolley service. The city also has its own public library. It runs the Calabasas Tennis and Swim Center and manages public parks. There is also a protected historic area called "Old Town Calabasas."

The United States Postal Service has two branches in Calabasas. Emergency services are provided by Los Angeles County. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has a station in Calabasas. The Los Angeles County Fire Department provides fire and medical services. They operate two fire stations in the city.

Famous People from Calabasas

Sister Cities

Calabasas has two sister cities, which are cities that form a special bond to promote cultural ties:

• Anqing, Anhui, China
• Mevaseret Zion, Jerusalem District, Israel

See also

In Spanish: Calabasas para niños