Glendale, California facts for kids

Glendale is a city mostly found in the Verdugo Mountains area, with a small part reaching into the San Fernando Valley. It's located in Los Angeles County, California, in the United States. In 2023, about 187,050 people lived in Glendale. This makes it the 4th largest city in Los Angeles County and the 24th largest in California. Glendale is about 10 miles (16 km) north of downtown Los Angeles.

Glendale is a suburb in the greater Los Angeles area. It is surrounded by other communities like Burbank, Pasadena, and different neighborhoods of Los Angeles. Major highways like the Golden State, Ventura, Glendale, and Foothill freeways pass through the city.

History of Glendale

Early Days: Spanish and Mexican Rule

In 1798, a Spanish soldier named José María Verdugo was given a large piece of land called Rancho San Rafael. He had been using this land for his animals and farming since 1784. This was a special permission from the Spanish king, not a full ownership.

In 1821, New Spain became independent from Spain, forming the new Mexican Republic. Rancho San Rafael then became part of Mexico.

Becoming Part of the United States

Mexican rule ended in 1847 after the Mexican-American War. The Treaty of Cahuenga was signed, and California became part of the United States. The new government promised to respect the land grants given earlier. In 1882, the land of Rancho San Rafael was officially given to Julio and Catalina Verdugo.

In 1860, Teodoro Verdugo, José María Verdugo's grandson, built the Catalina Verdugo Adobe. This is the oldest building in Glendale. It's also where early Californian leaders met in 1847 to decide to surrender to the American forces.

The Catalina Verdugo Adobe is Glendale's oldest building. It was built on Rancho San Rafael, a large land grant from 1784 that included all of modern-day Glendale.

The Verdugo family later sold parts of their ranch. These pieces of land now make up parts of Atwater Village, Eagle Rock, and Highland Park in Los Angeles.

In 1884, people living in the area decided to form a town and named it "Glendale." A nearby community called Tropico was formed in 1887.

A view of Glendale in the 1870s.

Growth and Development

An important person in Glendale's early growth was Leslie Coombs Brand. In 1904, he built a grand home called El Miradero. It looked like a mix of Spanish, Moorish, and Indian styles.

Brand worked with Henry E. Huntington to bring the Pacific Electric Railway, also known as the "Red Cars," to Glendale. This train service ran from 1904 to 1955, connecting Glendale to Downtown Los Angeles and Burbank.

Brand Street in Glendale in 1915. A "Red Car" streetcar is stopped to pick up passengers.

Leslie Brand also loved to fly. In 1919, he built a private airstrip. This airstrip was a direct link to the Grand Central Airport, which was built nearby later. Today, Brand's estate is a city park called Brand Park, and his mansion is the Brand Library.

Forest Lawn Memorial-Park opened in 1906. In 1920, a doctor named Henry Harrower opened his clinic in Glendale. For many years, it was the city's largest business.

The Glendale Transportation Center began construction in 1922.

The city flag of Glendale was adopted on September 18, 1924. It was designed by Hugh A. Maron. The flag was later changed to the current one in 2001.

The Grand Central Airport became famous as the starting point for the first commercial flight across the United States from west to east, flown by Charles Lindbergh.

The historic Hotel Glendale was built in the 1920s.

Community Changes and Diversity

In the past, Glendale had rules that made it difficult for non-white people to live or stay in the city after dark. However, over time, the city became much more diverse. By the 1970s, many new groups, including Armenians, Cubans, Filipinos, and Koreans, began to move to Glendale.

In 1972, the city manager encouraged the Rotary Club of Glendale to prepare for a more diverse future. This shows how Glendale started to become a welcoming place for people from all backgrounds.

Geography of Glendale

Glendale is located in the southeastern part of the San Fernando Valley. The city covers about 30.5 square miles (79.2 square kilometers) of land, with a small amount of water. It is the fourth largest city in Los Angeles County.

Glendale is bordered by several communities. To the north are La Cañada Flintridge and La Crescenta. To the south are the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Atwater Village and Glassell Park. To the east are Pasadena and Eagle Rock. To the west are Griffith Park and the city of Burbank.

A view of Glendale with the San Gabriel Mountains and the Verdugo Mountains in the background.

Earthquakes and Geology

Like much of Southern California, Glendale is located near several earthquake faults. These include the Sierra Madre, Hollywood, Verdugo, and Raymond faults. The famous San Andreas Fault is about 29 miles (47 km) from Glendale.

Earthquakes have affected Glendale in the past. In 1971, the San Fernando earthquake caused damage to many buildings in the city. The 1994 Northridge earthquake also caused damage to parking structures and other buildings in Glendale.

Forest Lawn Memorial Park and the Verdugo Mountains.

Climate of Glendale

Glendale has a Mediterranean climate. This means it has hot summers and mild winters with some rain. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Glendale was 115°F (46°C) in September 2020. The coldest was 17°F (-8°C) in February 1990. August is usually the warmest month, and January is the coolest.

Glendale gets about 17 inches (434 mm) of rain each year, mostly from November to April. Sometimes, the hills and mountains in northern Glendale get a rare snowfall, but this only happens every five to ten years.

People and Culture

Population and Diversity

In 2023, Glendale had an estimated population of 187,050 people. About 22.9% of the population was under 18 years old.

Glendale is known for its diverse population. As of 2021, the city had about 54,000 children under 18.

Armenian Community

Glendale is home to one of the largest communities of Armenian people in the United States.

An Armenian genocide memorial in Glendale.

Armenian families have lived in Glendale since the 1920s. However, many more arrived starting in the 1970s, especially after the Lebanese Civil War and the Iranian Revolution. Later, Armenians from the former Soviet Union also began to move to Glendale.

Armenian Americans are very involved in the city. There are many Armenian businesses, schools, and cultural groups. By 1999, about 25% of Glendale's population spoke Armenian. In 2005, Armenians made up about 40% of the city's total population.

Other Ethnic Groups

The Mexican American community has been in Glendale since the 1960s. Many moved here for better schools and a safer environment.

Several cities in Korea have also built business and cultural ties with Glendale.

As of 2012, Filipino Americans were the third largest minority group in Glendale. In 2022, a monument celebrating Filipino American friendship was unveiled in Central Park.

Religions in Glendale

Glendale has many different places of worship:

• Christianity: St. Mark's Episcopal Church (built 1948) and Holy Family Catholic Church (built 1922) are historic churches. The Armenian Apostolic Church and Armenian Catholic Church also have important cathedrals in Glendale.
• Islam: The Islamic Center of Glendale, a Sunni mosque, has served the community since 2012.
• Judaism: Temple Sinai, a Reform synagogue, has been in Glendale since 1949.
• Other: A Self-Realization Fellowship temple has served Glendale since 2008.

LGBT+ Community

Since 2019, glendaleOUT has worked to support LGBT+ residents in Glendale. They host an annual "Glendale Pride in the Park" event, which is a family-friendly picnic.

The GALAS LGBTQ+ Armenian Society helps the local Armenian LGBT+ community. They are recognized by Glendale officials for their work.

Economy and Jobs

Many large companies have offices in Glendale. These include the U.S. headquarters for International House of Pancakes. Avery Dennison Corp., a company that makes labels, moved its headquarters to Glendale in 2013.

As of 2024, some of the top employers in Glendale include:

• Glendale Unified School District (4,000 employees)
• Adventist Health Glendale (2,600 employees)
• City of Glendale (1,904 employees)
• Countrywide Home Loans (1,815 employees)
• Glenair Inc. (1,768 employees)
• Glendale Community College (1,500 employees)
• Walt Disney Imagineering (1,011 employees)
• DreamWorks Animation (847 employees)

Aviation History

Grand Central Airport was a very important airport in Glendale. It opened in 1923 and was the largest employer in the city for many years. It played a big role in the development of aviation in the United States. The main terminal building, with its unique Art Deco and Spanish styles, still stands today.

During World War II, the airport building was camouflaged to protect it. The airport closed in 1959 and is now the Grand Central Business Centre, an industrial park.

Film and Television Industry

Glendale, along with nearby Burbank, is a major center for the American film industry, especially for animation.

Film and television studios located in Glendale as of 2024.

The Alex Theatre was a favorite place for Walt Disney in the 1930s to see how audiences reacted to his cartoons. After his death, Disney was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

When The Walt Disney Company needed more space, they expanded into Glendale's Grand Central Business Centre. This is where Imagineering is located. From 1985 to 1995, Walt Disney Animation Studios was also headquartered here. Today, Disneytoon Studios, Marvel Animation, and The Muppets Studio are in Glendale.

DreamWorks Animation is also located in the Grand Central Business Centre. The television network Fuse and the LGBT+ streaming network Revry are also based in Glendale.

In 2024, new film production studios called "Glendale" and "Griffith" (still being built) were announced.

Technology Industry

Glendale Tech Week started in 2016 to celebrate technology through events and workshops. In 2017, Glendale adopted a plan to grow its technology sector.

In 2023, Glendale and Burbank launched Upstart Valley, a program to support new technology companies and entrepreneurs.

Some notable technology companies in Glendale include:

• Evite
• LegalZoom
• ServiceTitan

Arts and Culture

Food and Cuisine

Glendale's food scene is very diverse, thanks to its many immigrant communities. You can find a wide range of international foods, including Filipino cuisine and Armenian cuisine.

Zhengyalov Hatz, a restaurant that serves zhingyalov hats, is the only Armenian restaurant in the United States recognized by the Michelin Guide.

Famous Places

Important landmarks in Glendale include the Alex Theatre, the Glendale Main Post Office, and the Glendale Transportation Center.

Libraries and Museums

The Glendale Public Library has 8 public libraries in the city.

Museum of Neon Art

The Museum of Neon Art (MONA), which shows historical neon signs, moved to downtown Glendale in 2016. The museum has featured exhibits about the local Armenian and LGBTQ+ communities.

In 2024, the Martial Arts History Museum moved to Glendale. It has displays about different martial arts from around the world, including Chinese kung fu, Filipino kali, Japanese judo, Korean taekwondo, and Thai Muay Thai. The new location will also feature Armenian kokh and Mexican lucha libre.

Performing Arts

The Alex Theatre.

The Alex Theatre opened in 1925. It used to show vaudeville acts and silent films. Today, it is a performing arts center that hosts live shows and film screenings.

Glendale also has local theatre companies like Antaeus Theatre Company. The city sponsors several concert series throughout the year.

Public Art

Glendale has a "Beyond the Box" program, which turns utility boxes into more than 150 murals. There's also a "Creative Crosswalks" program that adds murals to crosswalks.

In 2016, an old 1936 gas station was turned into a public art gallery.

Parks and Recreation

Glendale has almost 50 public parks. These range from Deukmejian Wilderness Park in the north to Cerritos Park in the south.

Education

Glendale Community College.

The Glendale Unified School District runs the public schools in Glendale. It includes 20 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, 4 high schools, and 3 facilities for homeschoolers and students with special needs. There are also several private schools in the city.

Glendale Community College has been serving Glendale students since 1927.

Media

Newspapers

Glendale's main English newspaper is the weekly Glendale News-Press, which has been published since 1928. Another English weekly, the Crescenta Valley Weekly, covers the northern part of Glendale. Nor Hayastan is the city's Armenian language newspaper. For the Filipino community, Balita Media publishes two weekly English newspapers: Balita Midweek and Balita Weekend.

Radio and Television

Several radio stations broadcast from Glendale, including KRLA (870 AM) and KFSH (95.9 FM).

KABC-TV, an ABC television station, has its facility in Glendale. Since 2013, USArmenia TV, which features Armenian language shows and news, has been based in Glendale.

Transportation

The Glendale Transportation Center, with its unique California Churrigueresque style.

Bus Services

Several bus services operate in Glendale, including LADOT, Metro Local, Metro Rapid, and Glendale Beeline. The Glendale Transportation Center also connects to Greyhound buses.

There are plans for new bus rapid transit lines, including one connecting downtown Burbank to Glendale via Glenoaks Boulevard. Another proposed line would connect downtown Glendale to East Los Angeles College.

Train Services

Metrolink trains on the Antelope Valley Line and Ventura County Line stop at the Glendale Transportation Center. Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner also stops there.

Studies are being done to see if more frequent train service or even a light rail line could be added through Glendale.

Streetcar Project

The City of Glendale is studying the possibility of building a streetcar system. It would have about 16 stops and run for about 2.88 miles (4.63 km) between Stocker Street and the Glendale Transportation Center.

Airports

The closest airport to Glendale is the Hollywood Burbank Airport. It is owned by the cities of Burbank, Glendale, and Pasadena.

Freeways and Major Roads

Glendale is served by four major freeways: the Glendale Freeway (State Route 2), the Ventura Freeway (State Route 134), the Foothill Freeway (Interstate 210), and the Golden State Freeway (Interstate 5).

Many important surface streets run through the city, such as Brand Boulevard, Colorado Boulevard, Glenoaks Boulevard, and San Fernando Road.

Notable People from Glendale

Sister Cities

Glendale has "sister city" relationships with several cities around the world. These partnerships help promote cultural understanding and exchange.

Images for kids

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  Old flag of Glendale

See also

In Spanish: Glendale (California) para niños