Tarzana, Los Angeles facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tarzana, Los Angeles
Neighborhood of Los Angeles
Tarzana
Mulholland Park Gate in Tarzana in 2007
Location of Tarzana (highlighted in blue) in Los Angeles
Tarzana, Los Angeles Location in San Fernando Valley Show map of San Fernando Valley Tarzana, Los Angeles Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area Show map of the Los Angeles metropolitan area Tarzana, Los Angeles Location in California Show map of California
Country	United States
State	California
County	Los Angeles
City	Los Angeles
Named for	Tarzan
Time zone	UTC-8 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP Code	91356, 91357, 91335
Area code(s)	747 and 818

Tarzana (/tɑːrˈzænə/) is a neighborhood in Los Angeles, California. It is located in the San Fernando Valley. This area used to be a large ranch owned by the famous author Edgar Rice Burroughs. He is known for creating the character Tarzan, and that's how the neighborhood got its name!

Newspaper advertisement for sale of hogs, 1921

Tarzana's Past: A Look at Its History

The land that is now Tarzana has a long history. In 1797, settlers and missionaries from New Spain arrived. They built the San Fernando Mission nearby. Later, the area became part of Mexico.

In 1848, after the Mexican–American War, the land became part of the United States. It then turned into huge cattle ranches. By the 1870s, investors started growing large amounts of wheat on these fields.

How Tarzana Got Its Name

In 1909, a company called Los Angeles Suburban Homes bought the land. General Harrison Gray Otis, who founded the Los Angeles Times newspaper, invested in this company. He also bought about 550 acres (2.2 km2) in the middle of what is now Tarzana.

In February 1919, Edgar Rice Burroughs, the author of the popular Tarzan books, moved to California. He loved the warm climate. On March 1, 1919, Burroughs bought Otis's land. He named his new property Tarzana Ranch. Burroughs then divided the land and sold it for homes and small farms.

Tarzana's Location and Weather

Tarzana is about 8.79 square miles (22.8 km2) in size. It has clear boundaries with other areas.

Providence Tarzana Medical Center

Tarzana's Borders

• To the south, it borders Topanga State Park.
• To the east, it is next to Encino.
• To the north, you'll find Reseda.
• To the west, it touches Woodland Hills.

Victory Boulevard forms the northern edge. Lindley Avenue is on the eastern side. Corbin Avenue, with a small shift to Oakdale Avenue, marks the western border. Topanga State Park is the southern boundary.

Tarzana's Climate

Tarzana has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate. This means it has hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Because it's inland, the temperature changes more between day and night compared to areas closer to the coast.

People Living in Tarzana

In 2000, about 35,502 people lived in Tarzana. By 2008, this number grew to an estimated 37,778. The area has about 4,038 people per square mile. This is one of the lower population densities in Los Angeles.

Diversity in Tarzana

According to the 2000 Census, most residents were white (70.7%). Other groups included Asian (5%) and black or African American (3.6%). The Los Angeles Times described the area as "moderately diverse."

About 35.1% of the people living in Tarzana were born outside the U.S. Many came from Iran (24.2%) and Mexico (12.1%). The most common backgrounds for residents were Iranian (10.3%) and Russian (9.1%).

Income and Age

The average household income in Tarzana was considered high, at $73,195 in 2008. The median age of residents is 38. The percentage of people aged 50 and older is higher than in many other parts of the county.

Famous People from Tarzana

Many well-known people have lived in or are from Tarzana. Here are a few:

Jordan Farmar

Gabe Kapler

• Paul Abrahamian, reality television participant
• Paul Thomas Anderson, filmmaker
• Marc Anthony, singer
• Ed Asner, actor
• Banks, singer
• Judy Blumberg, competitive ice dancer
• Edgar Rice Burroughs, author and founder of the neighborhood
• Cindy Bortz, 1987 World Junior Champion figure skater
• Chris Brown, singer
• Doja Cat, rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer
• Shavahn Church, American-British gymnast
• Jordan Cohen (born 1997), American-Israeli basketball player
• Mike Connors, actor
• Kaley Cuoco, actress and producer
• Jason Derulo, singer
• Jordan Farmar (born 1986), American-Israeli basketball player
• Amanda Fink, tennis player
• Selena Gomez, actress, singer
• David Gregory, television journalist
• Chubby Johnson, actor; served as honorary mayor of Tarzana
• Gabe Kapler (born 1975), Major League Baseball outfielder and manager
• Khloé Kardashian, television personality
• Luke Kennard, NBA player
• Lisa Kudrow, actress, grew up in Tarzana
• Blake Lively, actress, born in Tarzana
• Jon Lovitz, comedian and actor, born in Tarzana
• Heather McDonald, comedian
• David Oyelowo, actor
• Rosanna Pansino, YouTube personality
• Lyndsey Parker, entertainment journalist
• Paul Rodriguez, skateboarder, born in Tarzana
• Jim Rome, radio personality, born in Tarzana
• Eric Schwartz, comedian, musician, and actor
• JoJo Siwa, YouTube personality and reality television star
• Hailee Steinfeld, actress and singer
• Brody Stevens, comedian
• Benny Urquidez, kickboxer, martial arts choreographer, and actor
• Wilmer Valderrama, actor
• Bobby Womack, soul singer-songwriter
• Anton Yelchin, actor

Education in Tarzana

Many adults in Tarzana have a good education. About 40.3% of residents aged 25 and older have a four-year college degree. The number of people with bachelor's or master's degrees is also high for the county.

Schools for Kids and Teens

Here are some of the schools located within Tarzana:

Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies

• Gaspar de Portola Middle School, LAUSD, 18720 Linnet Street
• Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies (grades 4–12), LAUSD alternative, 18605 Erwin Street
• Vanalden Avenue Elementary School, LAUSD, 19019 Delano Street
• Tarzana Elementary School, LAUSD, 5726 Topeka Drive
• CHIME Institute's Schwarzenegger Community School, LAUSD charter, 19722 Collier Street
• Wilbur Charter for Enriched Academics, LAUSD K–5, 5213 Crebs Avenue
• Nestle Avenue Elementary School, LAUSD, 5060 Nestle Avenue

High schools that serve students from Tarzana include:

• Birmingham High School (in the Lake Balboa area)
• Reseda High School (in the Reseda area)
• Taft High School (in the Woodland Hills area)

There is also a private school:

• Lycée International de Los Angeles West Valley Campus

Colleges and Universities

• Columbia College Hollywood is a private film school on Oxnard Street.

Public Libraries

Encino-Tarzana Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library, 2008

The Los Angeles Public Library has the Encino-Tarzana Branch. It is located on Ventura Boulevard in Tarzana.

Fun and Parks in Tarzana

Tarzana has a great Recreation Center. It has a gym that can also be used as an auditorium, holding up to 600 people. The park also offers:

• Barbecue pits
• A lighted baseball field
• Lighted outdoor basketball courts
• A children's play area
• A community room
• Picnic tables
• Lighted volleyball courts

Exploring Caballero Canyon

Caballero Canyon is on the north side of the Santa Monica Mountains in Tarzana. It has many trails for hiking and mountain biking. You can get clear views of the San Fernando Valley from here.

There's a 3.6-mile (5.8 km) loop trail that is popular. You can bring dogs on a leash. At the top of the trail, signs will lead you to the entrance of Topanga State Park. You don't need to pay any fees or get permits to hike in Caballero Canyon.

See also

In Spanish: Tarzana para niños