Granada Hills, Los Angeles facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Granada Hills
Neighborhood of Los Angeles
A welcome sign at Chatsworth Street and Zelzah Avenue
Motto(s):  "The Valley's Most Neighborly Town"
Boundaries of Granada Hills as drawn by the Los Angeles Times
Granada Hills, Los Angeles Location in San Fernando Valley Show map of San Fernando Valley Granada Hills, Los Angeles Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area Show map of the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Named for	Spanish for "pomegranate"
Area
• Total	15.11 sq mi (39.1 km2)
Elevation	959 ft (292 m)
Population  (2008)
• Total	53,998
• Density	3,574/sq mi (1,380/km2)
Time zone	UTC−8 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
Area code	818

Granada Hills is a lively neighborhood located in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles. It's known for its many sports programs and fun city recreation centers. This community is also home to many schools, with fourteen public schools and ten private schools.

Granada Hills: A Look at Its Past

The land where Granada Hills now stands was once the home of the Tongva and Chumash Native American groups. A Tongva village called Ceegenga might have been very close to this area.

This community started as a large farm called Sunshine Ranch. They grew fruits like apricots, oranges, and walnuts, along with beans. Even today, you can still see orange, lemon, or grapefruit trees in many yards, reminding us of the old farms. In 1916, the very first oil well in the San Fernando Valley was drilled here. It was at the northern end of Zelzah Avenue. The area was first named "Granada" in 1926. Fifteen years later, "Hills" was added to its name, making it Granada Hills.

Where is Granada Hills and What's the Weather Like?

Granada Hills is nestled at the base of the Santa Susana Mountains. It's north of North Hills and Northridge. To its west is Porter Ranch, and to its east are Mission Hills and Sylmar. The Ronald Reagan Freeway (State Route 118) runs through the southern part of the neighborhood. The Van Norman Reservoir, which is where the Los Angeles Aqueduct ends, is also located in Granada Hills.

Who Lives in Granada Hills?

In 2000, about 50,535 people lived in Granada Hills. By 2008, this number grew to around 53,998 residents. The neighborhood is a mix of many different cultures and backgrounds. Most residents are white, followed by Latinos and Asians. Many people living here were born in other countries, especially Korea and Mexico.

The average yearly income for families in 2008 was about $83,911. About 26% of the homes were rented. The average household had about 2.9 people, which is typical for Los Angeles. A high number of adults in Granada Hills are married. Also, many residents have served in the military.

Arts and Culture in Granada Hills

Cool Architecture in Granada Hills

One of the unique Eichler Homes

Many homes in Granada Hills feature a style called Mid-century modern architecture. This style was popular in the middle of the 20th century. A famous builder named Joseph Eichler built a special group of homes here called "Balboa Highlands." The Knollwood Country Club area also has many interesting homes. These homes have even been featured in movies, commercials, and magazines!

Granada Hills' Historical Landmarks

Deodar trees lining White Oak Avenue

White Oak Avenue is a special street in Granada Hills. On August 3, 1966, it was named a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument. This is because of the 101 beautiful Deodar Cedar trees that grow along the street. These trees originally come from the Himalayas and are loved for their large size and beauty. You might recognize these trees! They were used in the 1982 movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial as the background for the famous flying bicycle scenes.

Sports in Granada Hills

The stadium at Granada Hills Charter High School is called the John Elway Stadium. It's named after the famous quarterback John Elway, who went to school there. This stadium is currently home to the Los Angeles Rampage women's soccer team.

In 1963, the Granada Hills Little League baseball team won the Little League World Championship. This was a huge achievement for the community!

Parks and Outdoor Fun in Granada Hills

O'Melveny Park is the second largest park in Los Angeles. It has a big natural area and a smaller developed section. This developed part includes citrus trees, a small stream, and places for picnics. The park is 672-acre (2.72 km²) and has many hiking trails. From a grassy hill, you can see a great view of the northeastern part of the San Fernando Valley.

Mission Point is a popular spot for mountain biking and hiking. The view from the top of Mission Point, also called "Mission Peak," is amazing. You can see most of the San Fernando Valley. On clear days, you might even see the Pacific Ocean and Downtown Los Angeles! This area is home to many animals, including deer, golden eagles, bobcats, mountain lions, raccoons, and coyotes.

The Granada Hills Recreation Center, also known as Petit Park, offers many activities. It has an auditorium, baseball fields, basketball courts, and play areas for kids. There's also a gym, picnic tables, tennis courts, classrooms, a dance room, and a library. You can join sports programs, and arts and crafts classes here.

Zelzah Park is another park in the area. It has a bridle path for horses, a play area for children, and picnic tables.

Learning and Education in Granada Hills

By 2000, about 32% of adults aged 25 and older in Granada Hills had earned a four-year degree. This is about average for the city.

Schools in Granada Hills

Granada Hills Charter High School

John F. Kennedy High School

Here are some of the schools located in Granada Hills:

Public Schools

• John F. Kennedy High School, 11254 Gothic Avenue
• Granada Hills Charter High School (formerly Granada Hills High School), 10535 Zelzah Avenue
• Granada Hills Charter TK-8, 17081 Devonshire Street
• Jane Addams High School (continuation high school), 16341 Donmetz Street
• North Valley Charter Academy, 16651-A Rinaldi Street
• Valley Academy of Arts and Sciences, 10445 Balboa Boulevard
• George K. Porter Middle School, 15960 Kingsbury Street
• Robert Frost Middle School, 12314 Bradford Place
• Patrick Henry Middle School, 17340 San Jose Street
• El Oro Way Elementary Charter School, 12230 El Oro Way
• Knollwood Elementary School, 11822 Gerald Avenue
• Danube Avenue Elementary School, 11220 Danube Avenue
• Tulsa Street Elementary School, 10900 Hayvenhurst Avenue
• Haskell Elementary School, 15850 Tulsa Street
• Van Gogh Street Elementary School, 17160 Van Gogh Street
• Granada Elementary Community Charter School, 17170 Tribune Street
• Rinaldi Adult Center (Adult School), 17540 Rinaldi Street #6

Private Schools

• St. Euphrasia School, Elementary, 17637 Mayerling Street
• Jewish Educational Trade School, 16601 Rinaldi Street
• Concordia Schools, preschool–8th grade, 16603 San Fernando Mission Boulevard
• Granada Hills Baptist Elementary School, 10949 Zelzah Avenue
• De La Salle Elementary School, 16535 Chatsworth Street
• Abraham Joshua Heschel Day School (elementary), 17701 Devonshire Street
• Heritage Christian School (formerly Hillcrest) Christian School, 17531 Rinaldi Street (K–8), 10949 Zelzah Street (Preschool)
• Heritage Christian School (formerly Los Angeles Baptist High School), 9825 Woodley Ave.
• Iqra Elementary School, 11439 Encino Ave, Granada Hills, CA 91344 (preschool–7th)

Community Services in Granada Hills

Public Services

The Los Angeles Fire Department has two stations in the area: Station 18 (Knollwood/Granada Hills) and Station 87 (Granada Hills). The Los Angeles Police Department Devonshire Community Police Station serves the community.

Postal Service

The United States Postal Service Granada Hills Post Office is located at 18039 Chatsworth Street.

Libraries

The Los Angeles Public Library operates the Granada Hills Branch. You can find it at 10640 Petit Avenue.

Famous People from Granada Hills

Ryan Braun

John Elway

Many notable people have connections to Granada Hills, including:

• Hal Bernson, a Los Angeles City Council member.
• Ryan Braun, a professional baseball player and Granada Hills High School alumnus.
• Jeff Bregel, a professional football player.
• Corey Burton, a voice actor, was born here.
• James Cagney, a famous actor who owned a large ranch in Granada Hills.
• Chao-Li Chi, an actor.
• John Elway, a famous Denver Broncos quarterback.
• Cuba Gooding Jr., an actor and Kennedy High School alumnus.
• Stuart Gray, a professional basketball player.
• Maurice Greene, a track athlete.
• Ashley Judd, an actress, was born in Granada Hills.
• Michaele Pride-Wells, an architect and educator.
• Jim Rodnunsky, an inventor.
• C. J. Sanders, a football player.
• Frank Wilcox, an actor and "honorary mayor" of Granada Hills in the 1960s.
• Steve Yeager, a Major League Baseball catcher.

See also

In Spanish: Granada Hills (Los Ángeles) para niños