Encino is a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California.
History Etymology The name Encino is the misspelling in masculine of Encina, the Spanish word for "holm oak" (Quercus ilex). The Spanish name reflects the original Tongva-language name for the village of Siutcanga, which can be translated to "the place of the oaks."
Early history
In 1769, the Spanish Portolá expedition, first Europeans to see inland areas of California, traveled north through Sepulveda Pass into the San Fernando Valley on August 5 and stayed two nights at the Tongva village of Siutcanga ("the place of the oaks") near what is now Los Encinos State Historic Park. Fray Juan Crespi, a Franciscan missionary traveling with the expedition, named the valley "El Valle de Santa Catalina de Bolonia de Los Encinos" (The Valley of St. Catherine of Bologna of the Oaks). All of Crespi's name was later dropped except "Encino".
Rancho Los Encinos (Ranch of Holm Oaks) was established in 1845 when a large parcel of former Mission San Fernando land was granted to three Mission Indians by governor Pio Pico. Many ranchos were created after the secularization of the California missions, which began in 1834. Encino derives its name from the rancho.
Geography Encino is situated in the central portion of the southern San Fernando Valley and on the north slope of the Santa Monica Mountains. It is flanked on the north by Reseda, Lake Balboa, and the Sepulveda Basin, on the east by Sherman Oaks, on the south by Brentwood, and on the west by Tarzana. Colored map, Mapping L.A., Los Angeles Times
Climate
Demographics The 2000 U.S. census counted 41,905 residents in the Encino neighborhood — , among the lowest population densities for the city but average for the county. In 2008, the city estimated that the resident population had increased to 44,581.
In 2000, the median age for residents was 42, considered old for city and county neighborhoods; the percentages of residents aged 50 and older were among the county's highest. "Encino," Mapping L.A., Los Angeles Times
The neighborhood demographic breakdown was Whites, 80.1%; Latinos, 8.5%; Asians, 4.9%; Blacks, 2.4%; and others, 4.1%.
Iran (30.1%) and Russia (6.4%) were the most common places of birth for the 32.8% of the residents who were born abroad—an average percentage for Los Angeles.
The median yearly household income in 2008 dollars was $78,529, considered high for the city. The percentage of households that earned $125,000 and up was high for Los Angeles County. The average household size of 2.3 people was low when compared to the rest of the city and the county. Renters occupied 38.4% of the housing stock and house- or apartment-owners held 61.6%.
The percentages of divorced residents and of widowed men and women were among the county's highest. In 2000 military veterans amounted to 10.6% of the population, a high rate for the county.
Economy
The local economy provides jobs primarily in health care (including one of two Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center hospitals), social services, and professional services (accounting and financial services, real estate, and legal) sectors. There are approximately 3,800 businesses employing about 27,000 people at an annual payroll of $1.4 billion.
Arts and culture Attractions
The Encino Velodrome has provided an outdoor oval bicycle racing track since 1961.
Los Encinos State Historic Park features historic buildings, a small museum, and picnic grounds. In 2009 it faced closure due to California's budget crisis. The Park remains open today.
The Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area is a large area with multiple golf courses, tennis courts, soccer fields, baseball diamonds, bike paths, and a lake bordered by about 2,000 Pink Cloud cherry trees that blossom in the spring. Encino Park was founded around 1937 and has a playground, as well as basketball courts and two lighted tennis courts.
For over a millennium, the area known as Encino was the home of a massive California live oak known as the Encino Oak Tree. It is possible that Encino is named because of this particular tree. (Encino is the Spanish word for "evergreen" or "holm oak.") It was known for its size and longevity. The tree died on February 7, 1998, after an El Niño storm felled it. Today there is a monument to the tree at the corner of Ventura Boulevard and Louise Avenue where the Encino Oak once stood.
Parks and recreation California State Parks operates the Los Encinos State Historic Park in Encino.Home page. Los Encinos State Historic Park. Retrieved on March 19, 2010. The park includes the original nine-room de la Ossa Adobe, the Garnier Building, a blacksmith shop, a pond, and a natural spring."Los Encinos SHP." California State Parks. Retrieved on March 19, 2010.
The Sepulveda Dam Recreation Area, located in Encino, includes the Woodley Worel/Magnus Cricket Complex. Also included in the basin is the Encino Golf Course and the Balboa Golf Course."Balboa Municipal Golf Course ." City of Los Angeles. Retrieved on March 19, 2010."Encino Municipal Golf Course ." City of Los Angeles. Retrieved on March 19, 2010.
The Balboa Sports Complex in Encino includes a lighted baseball diamond, lighted outdoor basketball courts, a children's play area, a community room, a lighted football field, a lighted handball court, an indoor gymnasium without weights and with a capacity for 400 people, an unlighted soccer field, lighted tennis courts which can be used as Pickleball courts, and lighted volleyball courts."Balboa Sports Complex ." City of Los Angeles. Retrieved on March 19, 2010. The Sepulveda Basin Off-leash Dog Park is a dog park in Encino. The dog park has of leash-free dog area, a small dog area, an on-leash picnic area, 100 parking spots, and public telephones."Sepulveda Basin Off-leash Dog Park." City of Los Angeles. Retrieved on March 19, 2010. The Sepulveda Garden Center, a community garden area in Encino, has about of land and 420 garden plots."Sepulveda Garden Center ." City of Los Angeles. Retrieved on March 19, 2010.
Government Encino is in Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors district 3 and Los Angeles City Council District 4. It is also represented within the city of Los Angeles by the Encino Neighborhood Council, an advisory body.
Education Schools within the Encino boundaries are: "Encino: Schools," Mapping L.A., Los Angeles Times
Public Encino is served by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). Hesby Oaks Leadership Charter School (K-8 school) Encino Charter Elementary School Emelita Street Elementary School Fred E. Lull Special Education Center Lanai Road Elementary School
As of 2009, there were no public high schools in Encino. Public high schools serving portions of Encino were Birmingham High School in Lake Balboa, and Reseda High School in Reseda.Crosby, p. 74.
In 1984 the LAUSD board of trustees voted to close the Rhoda Street School.Savage, David G. "L.A. Board to Close 5 More Schools ." Los Angeles Times. February 7, 1984. Part II C2. Retrieved on January 16, 2012. Clipping from Newspapers.com
Private
Westmark School Holy Martyrs Armenian High School/Ferrahian Crespi Carmelite High School Valley Beth Shalom
Media The movie Fast Times At Ridgemont High filmed several scenes in Encino
The entire town scenery of Bedford Falls was built in 1946 on 4 acres in Encino, CA for the movie 'It's a Wonderful Life' starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. (see DVD special features for more specific details).
Notable people
A–K Bud Abbott, comedian Leonidas Alaoglu, mathematician Steve Allen, actor, author Don Ameche, actor Daniel Amen, psychiatrist, born in Encino Marc Anthony, singer-songwriter Gilbert Arenas, former NBA player David Arquette, actor Catherine Bach, actress Scott Baio, actor Colleen Ballinger, actress, comedian, singerPaul, Arielle. "My Favorite Room: Colleen Ballinger makes room in her office for Miranda and her YouTube fans" , Los Angeles Times, June 23, 2018 Foster Brooks, comedian Edgar Rice Burroughs, author Reggie Bush, former NFL player Richard Carlson, actor and film directorJarvis, Everett Grant (1996). Final Curtain: Deaths of Noted Movie and TV Personalities, 1912-1996 (8 ed.). Carol Pub. Group. p. 65 Jack Carson, actor Dana Carvey, actor-comedian Richard Crenna, actor James Charles, makeup artist, influencer Kelly Clarkson, singer and talk-show host Marie Currie, singer and actress, born in Encino Sondra Currie, actress Olivia Culpo, model Alexis Denisof, actor Lenny Dykstra, professional athlete Percy Faith, bandleader, orchestrator, composer and conductor Alice Faye, actress David Forst, general manager of Oakland Athletics Annette Funicello, actress Clark Gable, actor David Gregory, television journalist"David Gregory's Jewish roots, and how they define him" by Steve North Jewish Journal. November 5, 2015. Dave Grohl, musician Selena Gomez, singer and actor Alyson Hannigan, actress Phil Harris, musician Phil Hartman, actor George Harrison musician. David Hasselhoff, actor and singer Chick Hearn, sportscasterChick Hearn , House of Representatives Edward Everett Horton, actor Ron Howard, actor, director and producer Ice Cube, rapper and actor Jackson family, musical group Izza, singer and rapper Samuel L. Jackson, actor and producer Kelly Johnson, engineer, Lockheed Aircraft executiveJohnson, Clarence L.; Smith, Maggie (1985). More than My Share of It All. Smithsonian Institution. Al Jolson, singer and actor Victoria Justice, actress and singer Daren Kagasoff, actor, born in Encino Wiz Khalifa, rapper Lisa Kudrow, actress Ted Greene, jazz guitarist, music educator
L–Z Nick Lachey, singer Tim Laker, professional baseball player Robin Lane, rock singer/songwriter Martin Lawrence, actor and comedian Carole Lombard, actress Julie London, actress Sean McVay, head coach of the Los Angeles Rams Jayne Meadows, actress, author Leighton Meester, actress and singer Idina Menzel, singer Michael Milken, financier; born in Encino Mahbod Moghadam, internet entrepreneur Graham Nash, singer Lori Nelson, actress Stephanie Niznik, actress Barney Oldfield, race car driver Kelly Paris, baseball player; born in Encino Candace Parker and Shelden Williams, basketball stars Chris Paul, NBA player Logan Paul, YouTuber, actor, and director Daniel Pearl, journalistAt home in the world: collected writings from the Wall Street Journal, Daniel Pearl, Editor Helene Cooper, Simon and Schuster, 2002, , accessed January 31, 2010 Dan Peña, businessman and motivational speaker Tom Petty, singer-songwriter Richard Pryor, actor and comedian"Comedian Richard Pryor Dead at 65 — Groundbreaking Black U.S. Comedian Richard Pryor Has Died after Almost 20 Years with Multiple Sclerosis". December 10, 2005. BBC News. Retrieved January 11, 2010. Jeff Rake, producer and screenwriter Billy Ray (born 1971), screenwriter and film director Sally Ride, physicist and astronaut; born in Encino Jenni Rivera, singer Mickey Rooney, actor Kyle Richards, actress Daniel Rotman, entrepreneur Ann Sheridan, actress Ashlee Simpson, singer and actress Slash, musician Kenny Smith, NBA player and TNT host Cassius Stanley, NBA player; raised in Encino. Kader Sylla, professional skateboarder Joy Taylor, media personality and television host for Fox Sports 1 Bob Thomas, Hollywood reporter and author John Travolta, actor Arthur Treacher, actor Steve Vai, guitarist Frankie Valli, singer Earl Watson, former NBA player and coach John Wayne, actor and director Deryck Whibley, Sum 41 member Jack Webb, actor and director Roger Williams, pianist Pete Wentz, member of Fall Out Boy Leslie Woodard, volleyball player John Wooden, basketball coach
In popular culture Patchy the Pirate, the live-action host of special episodes of the animated children's television series SpongeBob SquarePants, played by Tom Kenny, lives in Encino.