Toluca Lake, Los Angeles facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Toluca Lake
Neighborhood of Los Angeles
Toluca Lake sign
Toluca Lake boundaries as drawn by the Los Angeles Times
Toluca Lake Location in California
Country	United States
State	California
County	Los Angeles
City	Los Angeles and Burbank
Established	1923
Population  (2009)
• Total	7,782
Time zone	UTC−8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP Code	91602
Area code(s)	818

Toluca Lake is a cool neighborhood in Los Angeles, California. It's located in the San Fernando Valley, about 12 miles (19 km) northwest of downtown Los Angeles. The area is named after a special private lake. This lake gets its water from wells and is cared for by the people who live nearby. Long ago, before the Los Angeles River was paved in 1938, the lake was fed by natural springs.

The story of Toluca Lake goes way back to the Tongva Native American people. Later, it was part of Spanish and then Mexican lands. It was once a large ranch. In 1923, some investors bought the land and started to build the community we see today. They called it "Toluca Lake Park."

Many famous people have lived in Toluca Lake. Comedian Bob Hope lived here for a long time. Other stars like Audie Murphy, Jonathan Winters, and film composer Erich Wolfgang Korngold also called it home. Famous actress Bette Davis built a house here. Bing Crosby had a house that was later owned by Andy Griffith. Amelia Earhart and Frank Sinatra also lived in Toluca Lake. More recently, stars like Hilary Duff, Steve Carell, Melissa McCarthy, and Ray Romano have lived here.

History of Toluca Lake

Early Times and Native Americans

The Tongva people lived in the San Fernando Valley for about 8,000 years. They used the springs and marshy areas around what is now Toluca Lake. These natural spots provided water, fish, and plants like tule for building.

After the Spanish arrived in the 1790s, the San Fernando Valley became part of the Mission San Fernando Rey de España. When Mexico became independent in 1823, these mission lands were given out as Mexican land grants. The area of Toluca Lake was part of a large ranch called Rancho Ex-Mission San Fernando.

In 1862, a man named Pío Pico sold his part of the land to Isaac Lankershim. Later, Lankershim's son, James Boon Lankershim, and his son-in-law, Isaac Newton Van Nuys, took over. They managed the land, which included the lake.

Original Toluca Lake land parcels in 1887

In 1893, people wanted a post office for the area. They chose the name "Toluca Post Office." A rich landowner, Charles Forman, said he picked "Toluca" from a Native American word meaning "fertile" or "beautiful valley." Forman owned a large ranch here, which included much of the lake. By 1923, his ranch grew many peaches, apples, and walnuts.

How Toluca Lake Grew

In 1923, a group of investors bought the land to create "Toluca Lake Park." This first plan didn't work out. But a new company, the Toluca Lake Company, took over. They wanted to create a "bedroom community" – a quiet place for people to live while working in Los Angeles. They officially named the area "Toluca Lake." Their logo was a swan on water, which is still used today.

The Lakeside golf course was built in 1924. This brought famous people like actor Richard Arlen to live in Toluca Lake. He even became its honorary mayor!

Newlyweds Ronald and Nancy Reagan in Toluca Lake, 1952

Famous aviator Amelia Earhart lived in Toluca Lake after she got married in 1931. She chose to live here because the best airplanes were being built nearby in Burbank.

Entertainer Bob Hope moved to Toluca Lake in the late 1930s and lived there until he passed away in 2003 at 100 years old. Many other stars also moved here, including Bette Davis, W. C. Fields, Dorothy Lamour, and Bing Crosby. Frank Sinatra lived in a house built by actress Mary Astor. Former actor and 40th President of the United States Ronald Reagan had his wedding party here in 1952.

More recently, stars like Steve Carell, Miley Cyrus, Viola Davis, and Kirsten Dunst have made Toluca Lake their home.

Geography of Toluca Lake

The Community Area

The Toluca Lake neighborhood covers about 1.22 square miles in the southeastern San Fernando Valley. It is bordered by Universal City to the south, Studio City to the west, North Hollywood to the north, and the city of Burbank to the east.

It's interesting because Toluca Lake is a neighborhood in Los Angeles, but it also extends into Burbank! Different groups draw the boundaries slightly differently. For example, the Toluca Lake Chamber of Commerce helps the whole community, even parts in Burbank.

The Lake Itself

The actual Toluca Lake is a 6-acre (2.4-hectare) body of water. Historically, it was fed by natural springs from underground water. But over time, as Los Angeles used more water and the river was paved, the water level dropped. Now, community wells around the lake keep the water level steady. The bottom of the lake is covered with asphalt to stop water from leaking out.

The lake is owned by the people who live around it. The Toluca Lake Property Owners Association, a non-profit group started in 1934, takes care of it. The lake is surrounded by private homes and a golf club, so it's not open to the public.

Climate in Toluca Lake

People of Toluca Lake

In 2000, about 7,782 people lived in Toluca Lake. By 2008, this number grew to an estimated 8,563. The area has fewer people per square mile compared to other parts of Los Angeles. Most residents are white (71.9%), with smaller numbers of Black and Asian residents. About 14% of people are Latino.

The average household income in 2008 was about $73,111, which is high for the city. Many adults (48.4%) have a four-year college degree. The average household size is small, with about 1.9 people. More people rent their homes (62.2%) than own them (37.8%). The average age of residents is 37, which is a bit older than other parts of Los Angeles.

Schools in Toluca Lake

The schools in the Los Angeles part of Toluca Lake are managed by the Los Angeles Unified School District. The schools in the Burbank part are managed by the Burbank Unified School District.

Here are the schools located in Toluca Lake:

• Toluca Lake Elementary School, LAUSD, 4840 Cahuenga Boulevard
• Toluca Crossroads School, a private elementary school, 4814 Cahuenga Boulevard

See also

In Spanish: Toluca Lake para niños