Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California
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Chatsworth is a district in the San Fernando Valley region of the City of Los Angeles, California.
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[edit] Geography
The district is bordered by the Santa Susana Mountains and unincorporated Los Angeles County lands to the north, Porter Ranch to the northeast, Northridge to the east, West Hills to the south, and the Simi Hills, Ventura County, Simi Valley to the west.
The town was named after Chatsworth House, near Sheffield the country estate of England's Duke of Devonshire. ("Devonshire" is also the name of a major street in Chatsworth.) The nearby Chatsworth Peak in eastern Simi Hills overlooks the city.
[edit] Modern terrain
The topography of modern Chatsworth is varied, with many industrial areas, sleepy home communities, large apartment and condominium complexes, parks, ranches, horse stables, horse trails, and farms, a few shopping centers, restaurants, and a train station. Congressman Buck McKeon (25th District) notes on his web page, "Chatsworth still has a lot of horse zoned properties and it is not unusual to see horses tied to the hitching post out back of the Los Toros Mexican Restaurant or the Cowboy Palace Saloon."
Chatsworth's residential homes are mostly single-story classic American ranch houses. The district's boundaries are not visible, marked only by signs on the streets, as a profusion of stores, apartments, and automobile traffic dominate.
[edit] Chatsworth History
Chatsworth was originally inhabited by the Fernandeo and Chumash tribes. The first European explorers came into the Chatsworth area on August 5, 1769, led by Gaspar de Portola. After the San Fernando Mission was established in 1797, Spain granted the land of the San Fernando Valley, including Chatsworth, to the new mission.
An Indian trail ran from Chatsworth to the San Fernando Mission, and was part of the El Camino del Santa Susana y Simi trail that connected the San Fernando Mission to the Santa Buenaventura Mission. The trail crossed into the valley over the Santa de Susana Pass near Chatsworth Park.
In 1821, after the Mexican people revolted against Spain and claimed independence, the San Fernando Mission became part of Mexico. In 1834, the Mexican government ordered the sale of all mission lands, and as a result, Chatsworth was divided - the Eastern part became Rancho San Fernando and the Western part became part of the Simi land grant. The border line extended down the center of what is now Andora Avenue.
During the late 1800s, Chatsworth was a main thoroughfare for the figures of the American West. Joaquin Murrieta and his bandits hid out in the rocky crevices around Stony Point. In 1861, a stagecoach trail was established through Chatsworth. It followed the old El Camino del Santa Susana y Simi trail over the Santa Susana Pass. That stagecoach route was used until about 1877. As late as 1891, another stage line still used the pass to provide a link between the city of San Fernando and Simi Valley. It is now a popular hiking trail in the Santa Susana Hills.
[edit] Ties to television and movie industries
Chatsworth remained mostly rural until the 1980s, and as a result, it became the site for many western films and rural-themed television shows. The setting fit the popular conception of the American West; boulders larger than houses were strewn against a backdrop of mountains. Tumbleweeds were and still are a common sight. Oaks and sycamores, the native trees, along with imported Eucalyptus trees, and orange groves also lent to the rural feeling. Movie stars Roy Rogers and Dale Evans had a horse ranch in Chatsworth for several decades, as did Errol Flynn, and cowboy film star Montie Montana.
Between 1912 and 1960, Hopalong Cassidy, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and hundreds of other cowboys made movies at the Iverson Ranch. The Zorro television series was filmed in Chatsworth, as was the opening scene of every Lone Ranger episode. Mr. Ed, the 1960s equine star, once lived near Topanga Canyon and Devonshire.
The Iraq scenes for the TV series Over There were filmed at Chatsworth.
Though Chatsworth continues to house numerous mainstream production offices, including that of the television show 24, it is now known mainly as the unofficial "capital" of the American pornography trade. It houses a significant percentage of the world's adult production and distribution studios, including Anabolic Video, Wicked Pictures, Adult Video News magazine, and Red Light District Video.
Chatsworth is also the home of the National Notary Association.
Actors Val Kilmer, Kevin Spacey, Mare Winningham, Adam Rich, and Kirk Cameron graduated from Chatsworth High School. Spacey thanked the drama department of his alma mater when he won his first Oscar.
Additionally, actor Will Smith and his family reside in Chatsworth and attend the local schools.
Philosopher Ayn Rand lived in Chatsworth for a period of time with her husband.
Hip-hop/rapper Lazy Bone resides in the richer West Chatsworth District.
Rocker Marilyn Manson lives in Chatsworth.
[edit] Education
Chatsworth residents are zoned to the Los Angeles Unified School District. Chatsworth High School is in the neighborhood.
The area has several private schools including Chatsworth Hills Academy.
Los Angeles Public Library operates the Chatsworth Branch.
[edit] External links
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
- Chatsworth Historical Society
- Chatsworth Historical Trivia (Chatsworth Equine Cultural Heritage Organization)
Lucy and Desi Arnaz owned a 5 acre rancherito on Devonshire Street at Corbin Ave from 1941-1955.
