Porter Ranch, Los Angeles
| Porter Ranch | |
|---|---|
| Neighborhood of Los Angeles | |
  Porter Ranch Location within Los Angeles/San Fernando Valley | |
| Coordinates: 34°16′53″N 118°34′17″W / 34.28139°N 118.57139°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Los Angeles |
| City | Los Angeles |
| Elevation | 1,280 ft (390 m) |
| Population (2008 Los Angeles City Planner Estimate) | |
| • Total | 30,571 |
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) |
| • Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) |
| ZIP code | 91326 |
| Area code(s) | 818 |
Porter Ranch is an affluent neighborhood in the northwest region of the San Fernando Valley region of the city of Los Angeles, California. It is bounded by Brown's Canyon/Chatsworth on the south and west, Northridge on the south, and Granada Hills on the north and east. The Santa Susana Mountains, which separate the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys, lie to the north. The principal thoroughfares are Mason Ave., Corbin Ave., Porter Ranch Drive, Tampa Ave. and Reseda Blvd., running north-south, and Sesnon Blvd., Rinaldi St. and the Ronald Reagan Freeway (State Route 118), running east and west. The Porter Ranch ZIP code is 91326.
Geography
Situation
Porter Ranch is in the hilly northwestern tip of the San Fernando Valley, where, according to a 2008 Los Angeles Times article, it was a "calm outpost of Los Angeles" that attracted residents "seeking sanctuary from the urban hubbub." It was noted that the neighborhood had "some of the cleanest air in the Valley year-around—some of which is attributable to winds that sweep through the community regularly." Nevertheless, "those same winds, which have been clocked at 70 mph, take down trees and holiday lights."[1]
Nearby places
History
New home building that eventually took place in the Porter Ranch area in the 1990s–2000s, including the Renaissance Summit development, was mired in controversy and Los Angeles politics in the late 1980s and early 1990s.[2] Existing residents of the Porter Ranch area feared the increased traffic that would be brought by the planned building of an area commercial complex to service the new homes being built.[3] Developments were also criticized for destroying the natural beauty of the brush and wild areas that inhabited the space before the houses were built.[4]
However, Shapell Homes, a company founded by Nathan Shapell, a major Los Angeles builder,[2][4][5] brought together powerful Los Angeles political figures to support the new home building.[2][4]
Population
According to the U.S. Census in 2000, the population was 24,923. Based on the Los Angeles Department of City Planning estimates, the population was 30,571 in 2008.[6]
With 4,462 people in its 5.59 square miles, Porter Ranch is among the lowest-density neighborhoods of the city of Los Angeles, but the density is about average for the county.[6]
Ethnic makeup
According to Mapping L.A. of the Los Angeles Times, Porter Ranch was "moderately diverse," with a relatively high ratio of Asian and white people in the neighborhood. The figures for 2000 were 60.9% White, 26.8% Asian, 7.5% Latino, 1.8% black and 3.0%, other races.[6]
A total of 8,385 (33.6%) of residents were foreign born, about average for both the city and the county. Korea (21.4%) and Philippines (9.3%) were the most common foreign places of birth.[6]
Household makeup
Average household size was three people, about the same as the rest of the city and county. Bradbury, North Whittier and Bel-Air had the most similar percentage of homeowners in Los Angeles County. Of the housing units in Porter Ranch, 91.8% were occupied by homeowners, while 8.2% were occupied by renters.[6]
Income
The median household income was $121,428 in 2008 dollars, a high figure for the city and the county. In Los Angeles County, Bel-Air, Hidden Hills and Rolling Hills had the most similar household incomes. The percentages of households that earn $60,000 and above were high for the county.[6] Porter Ranch is rated the wealthiest neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley, with Encino ranked second.[7]
Government and infrastructure
Local
Los Angeles Fire Department Station 8 and Station 28 are in the area.
Los Angeles Police Department operates from the nearby Devonshire Police Station, serving the community.
County, state and federal
Porter Ranch is located in California's 25th congressional district, which is represented by Republican Buck McKeon.
The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Pacoima Health Center in Pacoima, serving Porter Ranch.[8]
The United States Postal Service Ranch Post Office is located at 19300 Rinaldi Street.[9]
Education
Fifty-one percent of Porter Ranch residents aged 25 and older had earned a four-year degree by 2000, a high percentage for the city.[6]
Schools
Schools within the Porter Ranch boundaries are:[10]
Public
- Castlebay Lane Charter School, 19010 Castlebay Lane
- Porter Ranch Community School, 12450 Mason Avenue
Private
There are no private schools within Porter Ranch,
Libraries
Los Angeles Public Library operates a branch library within the community.
Parks and recreation
Palisades Park is an unstaffed park in Porter Ranch.[11] Among others are Aliso Canyon Park, Rinaldi Park, Viking Park, Porter Ridge Park, Limekiln Canyon Park, Moonshine Canyon Park, and Holleigh Bernson Memorial Park.[12] Porter Ridge Park is known to locals as "E.T. Park" as it the location where shots from the movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) were captured.[13]
See also
- Robert M. Wilkinson (ca. 1921–2010), Los Angeles City Council member and Porter Ranch lobbyist[14][15]
- Hal Bernson, Los Angeles City Council member, 1979–2003, when Porter Ranch development was approved[16][17]
- Renaissance Summit, a subdivision at the highest point of Porter Ranch
References
- ↑ Diane Wedner, "Wind-Swept But Comfy on L.A.'s Fringe," Los Angeles Times, January 6, 2008
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Newman, Morris (August 17, 1999). "Porter Ranch Builder's Acts Speak Louder Than Words". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
- ↑ Nelson, Valerie J. (March 13, 2007). "Nathan Shapell, 85; builder who developed Porter Ranch was also noted philanthropist". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Wilcox, Gregory J. (August 8, 1999). "Gate More Than Threshold to Luxury". Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
- ↑ Griffiths, Connie (July 7, 2011). "On Campus: Stadium namesake was ‘a builder of lives'". Orange County Register. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 "Porter Ranch Profile - Mapping L.A. - Los Angeles Times". Projects.latimes.com. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
- ↑ "Vacation Rentals, Homes, Apartments & Rooms for Rent - Airbnb". Nabewise.com. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
- ↑ "Pacoima Health Center." Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Retrieved on March 17, 2010.
- ↑ "Post Office Location - RANCH." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.
- ↑ "Porter Ranch Schools," Mapping L.A., Los Angeles Times
- ↑ "Palisades Park." City of Los Angeles. Retrieved on March 23, 2010.
- ↑ https://www.google.com/maps/search/parks+in+Porter+Ranch,+Los+Angeles,+CA/@34.286437,-118.5505305,15z/data=!3m1!4b1
- ↑ http://onthesetofet.blogspot.com/
- ↑ "Robert M. Wilkinson dies at 89; longtime L.A. city councilman - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. 2010-10-01. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
- ↑ "Los Angeles Public Library |". Search.proquest.com.ezproxy.lapl.org. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
- ↑ "Growth Revolt Is a Factor : Development: Council members Hal Bernson and Ruth Galanter face June runoffs. Both had been broadly criticized for their policies on building. - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. 1991-04-11. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
- ↑ "Los Angeles Public Library |". Search.proquest.com.ezproxy.lapl.org. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
External links
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