Van Nuys facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Van Nuys
Neighborhood of Los Angeles
Van Nuys City Hall
Nickname(s):  The Heart of the Valley
Boundaries of Van Nuys as drawn by the Los Angeles Times
Van Nuys Location in San Fernando Valley Show map of San Fernando Valley Van Nuys Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area Show map of the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Country	United States
State	California
County	Los Angeles
City	Los Angeles
Named for	Isaac Newton Van Nuys
Elevation	217 m (712 ft)
Population  (2000)
• Total	136,443
Time zone	UTC-8 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code	91401, 91405, 91406, 91409, 91411
Area codes	747, 818

Van Nuys is a lively neighborhood located in the middle of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, California. It's a big place, home to the Van Nuys Airport and the Valley Municipal Building. In fact, it's the most populated neighborhood in the entire San Fernando Valley!

History of Van Nuys

W. P. Whitsett's real estate office in 1911.

The Van Nuys Post Office, built in 1935, has a Spanish Colonial Revival style.

In 1909, a group of people called the Suburban Homes Company bought 48,000 acres of land. This group included important figures like Hobart Johnstone Whitley and Harry Chandler. They paid $2.5 million for the land.

Soon after, Henry E. Huntington extended his Pacific Electric Railway (Red Cars) through the Valley. This railway helped connect the new towns. The Suburban Home Company then planned out roads and new towns like Van Nuys, Reseda, and Canoga Park.

The rural areas around these towns became part of Los Angeles in 1915.

How Van Nuys Got Its Name

The town of Van Nuys was officially started in 1911. It was named after Isaac Newton Van Nuys. He was a rancher and a businessman with Dutch family roots.

On May 22, 1915, Van Nuys became part of Los Angeles. This happened after the Los Angeles Aqueduct was finished. The aqueduct brought much-needed water, which helped the area grow. Van Nuys was the first new stop on the Pacific Electric Railway's San Fernando Line. This helped boost land sales and business early on.

Growth and Development

In 1932, the Valley Municipal Building was built. This building has a cool Art Deco style. It became a landmark and the center for government services in the Valley.

In 1991, a part of Van Nuys was officially changed to be part of Sherman Oaks. This area included a community called Magnolia Woods. Some residents showed old documents that said their area was always part of Sherman Oaks.

Modern Improvements

The G Line Bikeway in Van Nuys is great for biking.

In October 2005, the Metro Orange Line opened. It added two stations in Van Nuys: Van Nuys station (Los Angeles Metro) and Sepulveda station.

In 2014, Mayor Eric Garcetti started a "Great Streets" project. This project aimed to redesign Van Nuys Boulevard. Also, Sepulveda Boulevard was repaved. A new building for Los Angeles County family services was built in 2016.

Geography and Climate

Van Nuys is surrounded by several other neighborhoods. To the north is North Hills. To the northeast is Panorama City. Valley Glen is to the east.

To the south is Sherman Oaks. The Sepulveda Basin is to the southwest. Lake Balboa is to the west. And Northridge is to the northwest.

Neighborhood Boundaries

The borders of Van Nuys are marked by different streets and natural features. Roscoe Boulevard is on the north. Sepulveda Boulevard, the Tujunga Wash, Woodman Avenue, and Hazeltine Avenue are on the east. Oxnard Street is on the south.

The Sepulveda Basin is on the southwest. Odessa and Hayvenhurst avenues and Balboa Boulevard are on the west.

Changes to Borders

In 2009, some areas that used to be part of Van Nuys got approval to join other communities. These included parts of Lake Balboa, Valley Glen, and Sherman Oaks. This change was made to help increase property values in those areas.

Van Nuys Weather

Van Nuys has a warm climate. The summers are hot and dry, while winters are mild. It doesn't rain much, especially in the summer months.

Population

In 2000, about 136,443 people lived in Van Nuys. The neighborhood is about 8.99 square miles. This means there were about 11,542 people per square mile. The average age of residents was 28, which is considered young for Los Angeles.

Van Nuys is known for having a mix of different cultures. About 60.5% of residents were Hispanic, and 23.1% were white. Many people, about 49.8%, were born outside the United States. Most of these came from Mexico and El Salvador.

The average yearly household income in 2008 was $41,134. Most people in Van Nuys, about 73.9%, rent their homes.

Economy

Industry in Van Nuys.

Van Nuys Boulevard is a very busy street with many different shops and businesses. Other main streets in Van Nuys also have lots of commercial activity.

Car Manufacturing History

From 1947 to 1992, General Motors had a large car factory in Van Nuys. It was located on Van Nuys Boulevard. This factory made over 6.3 million vehicles! Some famous cars made there include the Chevrolet Impala and the Chevrolet Camaro.

The factory closed in 1992 due to concerns about air quality and changes in the car market. In 1999, a shopping center called The Plant opened on the old factory site. It has big stores and a movie theater.

Other Businesses

Sound City Studios is a very famous recording studio in Van Nuys. Many popular musicians have recorded their music there.

Grupo TACA, an airline company, also has a center in Van Nuys.

Parks and Recreation

Van Nuys has many great places for outdoor fun and activities.

Van Nuys Recreation Area

The Van Nuys Recreation Area is a large park. It has an auditorium and a gym for sports and events. There are also barbecue pits, baseball fields, and basketball courts. Kids can enjoy the play area. You'll also find handball courts, picnic tables, a soccer field, and tennis courts.

Delano Park

Delano Park in Van Nuys also has an auditorium and barbecue pits. It features a baseball field, a children's play area, and a football field. There's an indoor gym and picnic tables, too.

The picnic area at Woodley Park.

Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area

To the west of Van Nuys is the huge Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area. This park is located behind the Sepulveda Dam. The Metro Orange Line bicycle path connects Van Nuys to this area.

The Sepulveda Basin has many fun things to do. It includes a wildlife preserve, a cricket complex, and an archery range at Woodley Park.

Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Park

The Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Park is located nearby in Sherman Oaks. This park has an auditorium and many baseball diamonds. It also has indoor and outdoor basketball courts. There's a play area for kids and a community room.

You can find a football field, picnic tables, a soccer field, and tennis courts here. The Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Pool is a heated outdoor swimming pool open during certain seasons.

The Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Senior Citizen Center is also on the park grounds. It has rooms for meetings and events, kitchens, and a shuffleboard area.

Education

Van Nuys High School.

Columbus Avenue Elementary School.

About 15% of adults in Van Nuys have a four-year college degree. However, a higher percentage of adults have not finished high school compared to other parts of Los Angeles.

Public Schools

The Los Angeles Unified School District runs several public schools in Van Nuys:

• Kittridge Street Elementary School
• Van Nuys Senior High School
• Cohasset Street Elementary School
• Robert Fulton College Preparatory School
• Valerio Street Elementary School
• Hazeltine Avenue Elementary School
• Columbus Avenue Elementary School
• Van Nuys Elementary School
• Will Rogers Continuation School
• Sylvan Park Elementary School
• Van Nuys Adult School
• NVOC- Aviation Center

There is also a charter school:

• Charter High School of Arts — Multimedia and Performing

Van Nuys Middle School moved to Sherman Oaks in 1991, but it still uses the Van Nuys name.

Private Schools

Some private schools in Van Nuys include:

• Pacific Ridge School
• Crossroads School
• St. Elisabeth School (elementary)
• Grace Christian Academy
• The Crawford Academy
• Children's Community School

Public Libraries

The original Van Nuys Branch Library, built in 1927.

The Van Nuys Branch Library is part of the Los Angeles Public Library system. It serves the people living in Van Nuys.

Transportation

Air Travel

Van Nuys Airport is located right in Van Nuys. It's a busy airport for private and charter flights.

For commercial flights, the closest airport is Hollywood Burbank Airport in Burbank. You can get there by train or bus from Van Nuys.

The FlyAway bus service runs every hour from Van Nuys to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Public Transit

Van Nuys has two Metro G Line stations: Van Nuys (Los Angeles Metro station) and Sepulveda (Los Angeles Metro station). These stations will be rebuilt on elevated bridges by 2024. The G Line connects to the Metro B Line subway. This allows you to reach Hollywood, Downtown Los Angeles, and other Metro lines.

The Metro Busway also uses the Van Nuys station. Many bus lines serve the major streets in the neighborhood. The Metro G Line bicycle path is a great way to bike or walk alongside the route.

Van Nuys also has Amtrak and Metrolink train service at Van Nuys station. You can take the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner and Coast Starlight trains from here. The Metrolink Ventura County Line also stops in Van Nuys.

There are also Amtrak Thruway buses that connect Van Nuys to other cities like Santa Monica, Burbank Airport, and Bakersfield.

Future Transit Plans

Van Nuys Boulevard is planned to be the route for the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Project. This new light rail system is expected to open by 2031.

Freeways

The 405 Freeway (also known as the San Diego Freeway) passes through Van Nuys.

Other nearby freeways include the 101 Freeway (Ventura Freeway), the 170 Freeway (Hollywood Freeway), the 118 Freeway (Simi Valley Freeway), and the Golden State Freeway section of Interstate 5.

Healthcare

Valley Presbyterian Hospital is a hospital in Van Nuys with 350 beds. It has an emergency room that can help children. The Southern California Hospital in Van Nuys is a facility for mental health care. The nearest Kaiser Permanente hospital is Kaiser Panorama City Medical Center.

Notable People from Van Nuys

Notable Places in Van Nuys

• Van Nuys Boulevard
• Van Nuys City Hall
• Busch Gardens theme park (closed in 1979)
• Sound City Studios

Images for kids

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  Van Nuys Post Office

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  Erwin Street Pedestrian Mall in Government Center

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  Government Center, Van Nuys Boulevard and Erwin Street

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  Marvin Braude San Fernando Valley Constituent Service Center, at Government Center

• 

  Van Nuys State Office Building at Government Center

• 

  Los Angeles Superior Court, Van Nuys Division, at Government Center

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  New Van Nuys Branch, Los Angeles Public Library, Sylmar Avenue Mall

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  Van Nuys Community Police Station, 6240 Sylmar Avenue Mall

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  Van Nuys Civic Child Development Center

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  Van Nuys Boulevard and Delano St.

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  Valley Presbyterian Hospital

See also

In Spanish: Van Nuys (California) para niños