Woodland Hills, Los Angeles facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Woodland Hills
Neighborhood
Woodland Hills from the Top of Topanga Overlook, 2006
Woodland Hills Location in San Fernando Valley Show map of San Fernando Valley Woodland Hills 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
Population  (2022)
• Total	79,451
Time zone	UTC-8 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP Code	91364, 91365, 91367
Area code(s)	747/818

Woodland Hills is a neighborhood located in the San Fernando Valley part of Los Angeles, California. It sits right next to the beautiful Santa Monica Mountains.

Exploring the History of Woodland Hills

Early Inhabitants: Native American Tribes

For about 8,000 years, Native American tribes lived in this area. The Fernandeño-Tataviam and Chumash-Venturaño tribes made their homes in the Santa Monica Mountains and Simi Hills. They also lived near the Arroyo Calabasas, a stream that flows into the Los Angeles River.

European Arrival and Spanish Influence

The first Europeans came to the San Fernando Valley in 1769. This was the Portola Expedition, looking for places to build Spanish missions. They saw the many oak trees and named the valley "Valley of St. Catherine of Bononia of the Oaks." Later, in 1797, the Mission San Fernando Rey de España was built. This mission then controlled all the land in the valley, including what is now Woodland Hills.

How Americans Came to Own the Land

In the 1860s, Americans started buying land in the southern part of the valley. Important figures like Isaac Lankershim and Isaac Newton Van Nuys bought large areas. Later, in 1910, a group led by Harry Chandler of the Los Angeles Times bought even more land. This was one of the biggest land deals ever in Los Angeles County.

The Founding of Girard and Its Transformation

In 1922, Victor Girard Kleinberger bought a large piece of land and started a town called Girard. He worked hard to attract people and businesses. He built roads and advertised in newspapers. He even planted 120,000 trees! About 300 of his pepper trees on Canoga Avenue are now a special landmark. In 1945, the community of Girard became part of Los Angeles and was renamed Woodland Hills.

Understanding Woodland Hills' Geography

Woodland Hills is in the southwest part of the San Fernando Valley. To the north, you'll find West Hills, Canoga Park, and Winnetka. To the east is Tarzana, and to the west is Calabasas. The Santa Monica Mountains are to the south.

Major Roads and Freeways

Two important roads run through Woodland Hills. U.S. Route 101, also known as the Ventura Freeway, goes from east to west. Ventura Boulevard, the main road of the San Fernando Valley, also ends here.

Climate and Weather Patterns

Woodland Hills has a unique climate. It can get very hot in the summer and quite cool in the winter. On September 5, 2020, Woodland Hills recorded the highest temperature ever in Los Angeles County, reaching 121°F (49°C) at Pierce College. This type of climate is called a hot-summer Mediterranean climate. This means it has mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers.

People and Community: Demographics

In 2022, Woodland Hills had about 79,451 people. The average age in 2000 was 40.

Diversity and Education Levels

According to the 2000 census, most residents were White (about 80%). There were also significant numbers of Asian, African American, and Hispanic people. Woodland Hills has fewer people per square mile compared to other parts of Los Angeles. Many adults (47%) have a four-year college degree, which is high for the area.

Income and Veterans

In 2008, the average household income was $93,720, which was high for both Los Angeles city and county. A good number of residents (10.7%) are veterans, meaning they served in the military. Many of these veterans served during World War II or the Korean War.

Arts, Culture, and Recreation

Libraries for Learning

The Los Angeles Public Library has two branches in Woodland Hills: the Woodland Hills Branch Library on Ventura Boulevard and the Platt Branch Library on Victory Boulevard. These are great places to find books and learn.

Parks and Fun Activities

Woodland Hills offers many places to play and relax.

• Woodland Hills Country Club: This is a private club with a golf course, dining, and entertainment.
• Woodland Hills Recreation Center (Shoup Park): This large park has a gym, a baseball field, basketball courts, a children's play area, a football field, picnic tables, and tennis courts. It also has an outdoor swimming pool that's open in the summer.
• Warner Center Park: Also known as Warner Ranch Park, this park has a children's play area and picnic tables.
• Serrania Park: A smaller park with a play area, hiking trails, and picnic tables.
• Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve: Located on the western edge of Woodland Hills, this huge park has many miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. You can also find the Top of Topanga Overlook nearby, which offers amazing views of Woodland Hills and the valley.

Schools and Learning Opportunities

Public Schools in Woodland Hills

The Los Angeles Unified School District manages the public schools here.

• Elementary Schools: Calabash Street, Lockhurst, Serrania, Woodlake Avenue, Woodland Hills Charter for Enriched Studies, Ivy Academia Entrepreneurial Charter School, and Calvert Street Elementary School.
• Middle Schools: Woodland Hills Charter Academy (formerly Parkman Middle School) and George Ellery Hale Charter Academy.
• High Schools: El Camino Real High School, William Howard Taft High School, and Henry David Thoreau Continuation High School.
• Adult School: West Valley Occupational Center.

Charter Schools

Charter schools are public schools that have more freedom in how they operate. Woodland Hills has several:

• El Camino Real High School
• William Howard Taft Charter High School
• Ingenium Charter School (Kindergarten to 6th Grade)
• George Ellery Hale Charter Academy (6th to 8th Grade)
• Chime Charter School (Kindergarten to 8th Grade)
• Serrania Charter for Enriched Studies (Kindergarten to 5th Grade)
• Calvert School for Enriched Studies (Kindergarten to 5th Grade)

Private Schools

There are also private schools for different age groups:

• The Alexandria Academy (1st to 12th Grade)
• Halsey Schools (6 weeks to 6 years old)
• Louisville High School (all-girls Catholic high school)
• St. Bernardine of Siena (preschool to 8th Grade)
• St. Mel (preschool to 8th Grade)
• Woodland Hills Private School (preschool to 5th Grade)

Colleges and Universities

For higher education, Los Angeles Pierce College is located in Woodland Hills. It is part of the Los Angeles Community College District.

Community Services and Infrastructure

The Los Angeles Fire Department has two stations in Woodland Hills (Station 84 and Station 105) to help keep the community safe. The Los Angeles Police Department also serves the area from its Topanga Division station.

Famous People from Woodland Hills

Many well-known people have lived in Woodland Hills. Some of them include:

• Sara Paxton, actress
• Christopher Mintz-Plasse, actor
• Dr. Dre, famous rapper and producer
• Jeff Fisher, NFL football coach
• Andy Gibb, singer
• Buster Keaton, actor and director
• Jack Klugman, actor
• Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, actress
• Nichelle Nichols, actress from Star Trek: The Original Series
• Tupac Shakur, rapper and actor
• Dean Smith, Olympic sprinter and stuntman
• Robin Yount, Baseball Hall of Fame player

Images for kids

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  "Country Homes in Girard" Los Angeles Evening Express, November 17, 1923

See also

In Spanish: Woodland Hills (Los Ángeles) para niños