Granada Hills is a district in the San Fernando Valley region of the City of Los Angeles, California.
It is located just north of the North Hills and Northridge districts, west of the Mission Hills and Sylmar districts, and just east of the Porter Ranch district. It is accessible by the Ronald Reagan (SR 118), San Diego (Interstate 405), and Golden State(Interstate 5) Freeways. Major thoroughfares include Balboa Boulevard, Woodley, Hayvenhurst, and Haskell Avenues, as well as Rinaldi Street, San Fernando Mission Boulevard, Chatsworth Street, and Devonshire Street.
In 1916, the San Fernando Valley’s first oil well was drilled in what is now Granada Hills. The oil well was located at the northern tip of Zelzah Avenue. Granada Hills was founded in 1927 (as “Granada;” the “Hills” was added 15 years later) and started out as a dairy farm and orchard known as the Sunshine Ranch. Among the crops harvested here as the nation prepared for the Roaring ’20s were apricots, oranges, walnuts and beans. Vestiges of former citrus groves can still be seen as small groups of orange, lemon or grapefruit trees in some residential yards.
Demographics
As of the 2000 census, and according to the Los Angeles Almanac there were 54,700 people and 28,833 households residing in Granada Hills. The racial makeup of the neighborhood was 65.36% White, 20.91% Hispanic(of any race), 16.40% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 3.93% African American, 0.49% Native American, 8.86% from other races and 4.87% from two or more races.
Median household income in 2000 was $68,801.
Government and infrastructure
Local government
Los Angeles City Council Council District 12 encompasses Granada Hills.
The area is served by two Neighborhood Councils:
- Granada Hills North Neighborhood Council: Representing the area bounded by LA City Line to the North, Aliso Canyon to the West, the 405 to the East and the 118 Freeway to the South. The Granada Hills North Neighborhood Council was formed in the Fall of 2002.
- Granada Hills South Neighborhood Council: Representing the area bounded by the 118 Freeway to the North, Aliso Canyon to the West, the 405 to the East and Devonshire Street to the South.
Los Angeles Fire Department Stations 18 (Knollwood/Granada Hills) and 87 (Granada Hills) are in the area.
Granada Hills is served by the Devonshire Community Police Station.
County, state, and federal representation
The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Pacoima Health Center in Pacoima, serving Granada Hills.
The United States Postal Service Granada Hills Post Office is located at 18039 Chatsworth Street.
Granada Hills is in California’s 27th congressional district. It is in the 38th and 40th State Assembly districts, and the 17th and 20th State Senate districts.
Education
Primary and secondary schools
Public schools
Granada Hills is served by the Los Angeles Unified School District.
K-5 elementary schools in Granada Hills include El Oro Way Elementary School, Haskell Elementary, Van Gogh Street Elementary School, Tulsa Street Elementary School, Danube Elementary School, Knollwood Elementary School and Granada Elementary School.
6-8 middle schools in Granada Hills include Patrick Henry Middle School (the Patriots), George K. Porter Middle School (the Trojans), and Robert Frost Middle School (the Timberwolves).
9-12 high schools in Granada Hills include Granada Hills Charter High School located at 10535 Zelzah Avenue, and John F. Kennedy High School, located at 11254 Gothic Avenue. Residents of the Granada Hills attendance zone are also eligible to attendNorthridge Academy High School.
6-12 schools include North Valley Charter Academy. Residents of Granada Hills are eligible to attend. Raffles are held for those outside the area.
Private schools
Bishop Alemany High School, a Catholic high school teaching grades 9-12, is located on the border between Granada Hills and Mission Hills at the old seminary grounds on the San Fernando Mission property, at 11111 North Alemany Drive in Mission Hills.
Hillcrest Christian School, Granada Hills, a Christian school teaching K-12, which is located on Rinaldi St., between Balboa and White Oak Ave at 17531 Rinaldi St.
Saint John Baptist De La Salle, a Catholic Elementary school K-8 and a Parish Church, which is located on Chatsworth Street and Hayvenhurst Ave at 16535 Chatsworth St.
Libraries
Los Angeles Public Library operates the Granada Hills Branch.
Parks and recreation
O’Melveny Park, the second largest park in Los Angeles, consists of a large undeveloped area and a much smaller developed section with several dozen citrus trees, a small intermittent stream, and grass and picnic areas. Hiking trails and fire roads invite exploration of this 672-acre (2.72 km2) park, including a grassy promontory from which a view of the northeastern portion of the San Fernando Valley may be seen.
Mission Point and its environs are popular mountain biking and hiking areas. The view from the top of Mission Point, the highest point in Granada Hills, is striking, taking in most of the San Fernando Valley. In clear weather, one can see the Pacific Ocean and Downtown Los Angeles. The area around the peak is home to quails, bobcats, mule deer, mountain lions and rattlesnakes.
The Granada Hills Recreation Center (also known as Petit Park) is located at 16730 Chatsworth Street, at Petit Avenue. It features an auditorium, playground, sports facilities, and picnic areas.
Zelzah Park, an unstaffed park, has a bridal trail, a children’s play area, and picnic tables.
Sports
Granada Hills High School’s stadium, the John Elway Stadium (named after the quarterback, an alumnus), is the home of the Los Angeles Rampage women’s soccer team and the former home of the San Fernando Valley Quakes.
In 1963, the Granada Hills Little League won the Little League World Championship in baseball.
In 1994, the Granada Hills Little League made it all the way to the Little League World Championship in baseball, but lost to Maracaibo, Venezuela with the score of 4-3.
Significant Events
Los Angeles Jewish Community Center shooting
On August 10, 1999, at around 10:50 a.m. local time, white supremacist Buford O. Furrow, Jr. walked into the lobby of the North Valley Jewish Community Center in Granada Hills and opened fire with a semiautomatic weapon, unloading 70 shots into the complex. The gunfire wounded five people: three children, a teenage counselor, and an office worker. Shortly thereafter, Furrow murdered a mail carrier, fled the state, and finally surrendered to authorities.
Khrushchev visit
On September 19, 1959, a special visitor entered Granada Hills with a large entourage. Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev arrived in California with two requests: to visitDisneyland and to meet John Wayne, Hollywood’s top box-office draw. Disneyland was ruled out due to security concerns and the Cold War, and as a result, he was taken on a visit to a modern American neighborhood on Sophia Drive in Granada Hills.
On his visit, the Soviet leader got a show of American consumerism and the American way of life. Khrushchev’s visit marked the first time a Soviet leader set foot on U.S. soil. His whirlwind 20-hour Los Angeles journey, part of a six-day, coast-to-coast tour, is better remembered for the Kremlin boss’ bumptious antics than for his talks with U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower at the White House and at Camp David.
Although he declared himself outraged at missing Mickey Mouse and offended when he saw a rousing Hollywood rendition of the can-can, then finally threatened to go home when Los Angeles Mayor Norris Poulson needled him, his visit gave fascinated Granada Hills and L.A. area residents a close look at him.
Shortly after his noon arrival, Khrushchev, already irritated that Disneyland had been placed off-limits, was further annoyed that the main event of the day was a lunch with 300 movie stars and other celebrities and a visit to the set of the movie “Can-Can” at 20th Century Fox, rather than an inspection of an aerospace plant.
After Khrushchev left the studio, gawkers pasted tomatoes on his limo as the doubly offended leader and his 30-car, heavily guarded caravan made its way through city streets. Angelenos, six-deep at the curb, offered not one wave or audible greeting while the open limo lumbered by. Authorities would later report that a bomb was planted in a tree along the route and that a 47-year-old Hawthorne man who said he was “deer hunting” was arrested on suspicion of carrying concealed weapons—a .45-caliber handgun and a bow and arrow—just moments before Khrushchev’s motorcade passed on Sepulveda Boulevard.
Heading toward the San Fernando Valley, the premier was escorted by a Jewish Russian emigre whom the mayor had appointed to accompany the Soviet leader while he inspected two types of housing developments on Sophia Drive just south of Rinaldi Street. Ironically, the Ronald Reagan Freeway (State Route 118) was later built within a mile of the housing site and named after the former U.S. President who is credited with ending America’s long Cold War with the Soviet Union. Crowds of several hundred gathered to observe the Soviet leader’s reaction to an American model home. As it turned out, the earlier visit to 20th Century Fox had cut into Khrushchev’s time, and his only inspection of the housing project was a fleeting glance from a motorcade.
Architecture
Granada Hills is a hot spot of mid-century architecture which returned to vogue in the 1990s, known as mid-century modern. The most notable tract is “Balboa Highlands,” a small tract designed by iconic architect Joseph Eichler. Many of these homes, which are North of Rinaldi/West of Balboa, have been featured in movies, commercials, magazine pictorials and often pop up in books both on Eichler and classic examples of mid-century architecture.
While the Eichler homes are the most famous examples of MCM in this North Valley suburb many areas of Granada Hills feature the aesthetic style that includes pitched roofs and beam ceilings including numerous homes surrounding the Knollwood golf course to the east of Balboa, Knollwood Grove to the west of Balboa (behind the Eichler tract) and dotted throughout the areas south of Rinaldi.
Historical landmarks
White Oak Avenue, between San Fernando Mission and San Jose Street was declared a Historical Landmark on August 3, 1966 for the 101 Deodar Cedar Trees that line the street (which has been dubbed “Christmas Tree Lane”). The trees are native to the Himalayas and valued for their size, beauty and timber.
Filming location
- The actual location of the cul-de-sac in the prime time soap opera Knots Landing was on Crystalaire Place in the Knollwood Country Club Estates area of Granada Hills.
- Multiple TV shows and commercials were filmed in the Greyhawk Ranch subdivision, including one episode of V.I.P. (TV series) starring Pamela Anderson, The Handler (TV series) episode Jar of Spiders (2003) starring Joe Pantoliano and Lou Diamond Phillips, and an Isuzu commercial with Joe Isuzu.
- In the fifth episode of season 6 of the television show 24, Jack Bauer visits Granada Hills and rescues a man from a crashed helicopter.
- Many locations along Chatsworth Street in Granada Hills were filmed in My Tutor.
- In Fast Times at Ridgemont High the pirate hat scene featuring Judge Reinhold was shot along Chatsworth Street.
- My Name Is Earl is frequently filmed in Granada Hills.
- Several scenes from the movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial were filmed in Granada Hills, including one notable scene having been filmed on White Oak Avenue between Chatsworth Street and San Fernando Mission Boulevard.
- The 40-Year-Old Virgin’s final musical segment was shot near O’Melveny Park, located in Granada Hills.
- One episode of Scrubs where J. D. went to see his girlfriend at another hospital was filmed at the now demolished Granada Hills Hospital.
- Keith: The Movie filmed a scene at a house residing in Granada Hills.
- A March 2009 Jack in the Box commercial was shot near the corner of Chatsworth Street and Zelzah Avenue.
Notable residents
- Garret Anderson, professional baseball player, Kennedy High School alumnus
- Valerie Bertinelli, actress, 1978 Granada Hills High School graduate
- Ryan Braun, professional baseball player, Granada Hills High School alumnus
- James Cagney, actor, owned a ranch here
- Darren Daye, professional basketball player, Kennedy High School alumnus
- Gustavo Diaz, actor/director and businessman who co-founded Project One Source; attended Granada Hills High School and Kennedy High.
- Bo Diddley, rock & roll musician
- John Elway, professional football player, Granada Hills High School alumnus, but lived in Northridge.
- Robert Englund, actor, Granada Hills High School alumnus
- Vivica A. Fox, owns a home in Granada Hills, CA
- Jon Garland, professional baseball player, Kennedy School alumnus
- Cuba Gooding, Jr, actor, Kennedy High School alumnus
- Stuart Gray, professional basketball player, Kennedy High School alumnus
- Ashley Judd, actress, was born in Granada Hills.
- Gary Matthews, Jr., professional baseball player, Granada Hills High School alumnus
- Lee Meriwether, actress
- Jimmie Rodgers, pop singer, lived here for several years
- Jeff Suppan, professional baseball player
- Cheech Marin, actor, comedian, grew up here
Showing properties
1 - 50 of 84.
See more city of Granada Hills real estate.
(all data current as of
2/22/2012)
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$489,900 : 11215 Zelzah Avenue, Granada Hills3 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths
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$619,900 : 11547 Vimy Road, Granada Hills5 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
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$379,900 : 17172 Tulsa Street, Granada Hills3 beds, 2 full baths
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$405,000 : 11603 Aldea Avenue, Granada Hills4 beds, 2 full baths
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$425,000 : 17080 SIGNATURE DR, Granada Hills4 beds, 1 full, 1 part baths
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$389,000 : 15940 Lahey St, Granada Hills4 beds, 1 full, 1 part baths
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$389,900 : 11201 Petit Avenue, Granada Hills3 beds, 1 full, 1 part baths
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$408,300 : 16257 Barneston Street, Granada Hills4 beds, 1 full, 2 part baths
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$354,900 : 16308 Minnehaha Street, Granada Hills3 beds, 2 full baths
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$430,000 : 17263 MAYERLING Street, Granada Hills4 beds, 3 full baths
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$424,950 : 11916 Woodley Avenue, Granada Hills3 beds, 2 full baths
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$400,000 : 13243 Constable Avenue, Granada Hills4 beds, 2 full baths
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$569,000 : 17442 Candia Street, Granada Hills5 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
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$499,000 : 13347 Mission Tierra Way, Granada Hills4 beds, 1 full, 2 part baths
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$650,000 : 16322 Marilyn Drive, Granada Hills4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
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$869,000 : 12052 Louise Avenue, Granada Hills4 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths
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$569,000 : 11710 Balboa Boulevard, Granada Hills5 beds, 3 full baths
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$549,950 : 11514 Odessa Avenue, Granada Hills5 beds, 4 full baths
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$398,000 : 12913 Winthrop Avenue, Granada Hills5 beds, 1 full, 2 part baths
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$379,900 : 16011 Ludlow Street, Granada Hills3 beds, 2 full baths
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$424,000 : 17957 Tulsa Street, Granada Hills4 beds, 1 full, 1 part baths
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$399,999 : 10544 Haskell Avenue, Granada Hills3 beds, 2 full baths
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$725,000 : 17901 Mayerling Street, Granada Hills4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
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$440,000 : 16815 Bircher Street, Granada Hills4 beds, 2 full baths
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$599,000 : 11237 Jellico Avenue, Granada Hills3 beds, 3 part baths
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4 beds, 2 full baths
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$370,000 : 12022 SALEM DR, Granada Hills4 beds, 2.0 baths
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$459,000 : 16411 Gothic Place, Granada Hills4 beds, 3 full baths
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$350,000 : 10507 Andasol Avenue, Granada Hills4 beds, 2 full baths
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$429,000 : 17027 Simonds St, Granada Hills4 beds, 3 full baths
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$550,000 : 11900 Mallot Place, Granada Hills4 beds, 3 full baths
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$359,000 : 17108 Jersey Street, Granada Hills4 beds, 3 full baths
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$364,000 : 10341 Densmore, Granada Hills4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
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$529,000 : 11232 Yarmouth Ave, Granada Hills3 beds, 1 full, 2 part baths
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$380,000 : 16511 Midwood Drive, Granada Hills3 beds, 2 full baths
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$479,000 : 12620 JIMENO AVE, Granada Hills4 beds, 3.0 baths
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$469,000 : 13000 Meadowlark Avenue, Granada Hills5 beds, 2 full, 2 part baths
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$538,000 : 11824 Shoshone Avenue, Granada Hills5 beds, 4 full baths
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$437,800 : 17301 Mayerling Street, Granada Hills4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
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$359,000 : 17325 Tribune Street, Granada Hills2 beds, 1 full, 1 part baths
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$399,999 : 17730 San Jose Street, Granada Hills3 beds, 2 full baths
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$358,000 : 11225 Paso Robles Avenue, Granada Hills3 beds, 2 full baths
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$399,000 : 15919 Harvest Street, Granada Hills4 beds, 2 full baths
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$499,000 : 17011 Paulette Place, Granada Hills4 beds, 1 full, 2 part baths
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$529,000 : 13002 Louise Avenue, Granada Hills4 beds, 3 full baths
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$839,000 : 16847 Nanette Street, Granada Hills4 beds, 5 full baths
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$442,900 : 17146 Sesnon Boulevard, Granada Hills4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
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$429,000 : 11651 Woodley Avenue, Granada Hills4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
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$459,000 : 12061 Gothic Avenue, Granada Hills3 beds, 1 full, 1 part baths
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$399,000 : 10557 DEMPSEY Avenue, Granada Hills4 beds, 2 full baths
Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.
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