Largest Valley-Area cities: ranked by population.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

NORTH Hollywood maintains its ranking as the largest community in the Los Angeles portion of the Sun Fernando Valley. According to the San Fernando Valley Economic Research Center, the community's population of 151,731 is up more than 1,000 people from the Census 2000 population figures. Panorama City and Van Nuys, however, are close behind with populations of 127,571 and 126,146, respectively.

Though population may remain more static over the years, the housing value in these Valley communities continues to rise tremendously. In 2002, the Economic Research Center found the median home price in the Valley to be $320,000, but with the median housing value for Woodland Hills having doubled to $580,000 and tripled for Sun Valley to $357,000, the market in these communities clearly remains strong. Calabasas homes cost the most in the greater-Valley area, with the average price being $1.1 million.

--Marissa Greenberg 

THE PACESETTER

NORTH Hollywood, the largest L.A. community in the Valley, is currently divided into three areas, Northeast, Mid-Town and West, by their respective city councils.

It thrives on being at the forefront of the post-production industry, with some of its major employers being Universal and Walt Disney Studios. Yet in the days before Hollywood entertainment even mattered, this 116-year-old community was mainly agricultural.

Besides entertainment, the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) has put much effort toward renewing North Hollywood by creating the NoHo Arts District as the center of the Mid-Town section and restoring historical landmarks like the Lunkershim Train Depot.

Studio City, Toluca Lake, Valley Glen and Valley Village were once considered parts of North Hollywood, but ever since the 1920s have established their own communities.

--Marissa Greenberg

Rank   City                    Profile       Number of      Median
                            * population    Households     Housing
                           * year founded                   Value

   1   Los Angeles            3,984,579     1,375,434      $398,469
                                   1850
       * North Hollywood        151,731        54,275      $481,750
                                   1888
       * Panorama City          127,571        39,604      $320,000
                                   1948
       * Van Nuys               126,146        47,906      $428,500
                                   1911
       Northridge                88,081        31,087      $461,000
                                   1908
       * Woodland Hills          69,850        28,949      $580,000
                                   1923
       Chatsworth                69,499        25,960      $491,000
                                   1888
       * Pacoima                 67,961        14,863      $315,000
                                   1887
       * Sylmar                  63,000        18,698      $360,000
                                   1915
       * North Hills             56,950        17,995      $410,000
                                   1915
       * Sherman Oaks            55,804        27,514      $716,000
                                   1910
       * Sun Valley              53,919        14,561      $357,000
                                   1882
       * Winnetka                49,853        17,239      $394,000
                                   1922
       * Encino                  48,220        20,263      $620,000
                                   1915
       * Canoga Park             43,711        15,563      $390,000
                                   1892
       * West Hills              42,196            NA      $478,000
                                     NA
       * Studio City             41,037            NA      $691,000
                                   1928
       * Granada Hills           39,905        12,898      $450,000
                                   1927
       * Tarzana                 34,469        13,304      $885,000
                                   1927
       * Arleta                  29,010         6,775            NA
                                   1966
       * Tujunga                 25,585         8,920      $339,000
                                   1913
       * Sunland                 23,210            NA      $415,000
                                   1894
       * Valley Village          20,472         9,524      $562,000
                                   1991
       * Reseda                  11,817         4,135      $360,000
                                   1922
   2   Glendale                 202,003        74,238      $549,714
                                   1906
   3   Santa Clarita            160,282        49,978      $475,500
                                   1987
   4   Lancaster                124,218        41,003      $195,333
                                   1977
   5   Thousand Oaks            122,000        41,793      $604,000
                                   1964
   6   Simi Valley              117,726        36,421      $465,000
                                   1969
   7   Palmdale                 125,942        37,010      $214,500
                                   1962
   8   Burbank                  104,155        43,250      $494,600
                                   1887
   9   Camarillo                 61,422        21,483      $520,500
                                   1964
  10   San Fernando              24,618         6,068      $330,000
                                   1874
  11   Calabasas                 15,516            NA    $1,145,000
                                   1991

Rank   City                Status of Neighborhood    Representatives
                                  Councils            * phone number
                                (partal list)

   1   Los Angeles         NA                        Mayor James K.
                                                     Hahn
                                                     [phone]
       * North Hollywood   North Hollywood           Tony Cardenas,
                           Northeast NC,             Tom LaBonge
                           Certified: 9/24/02;       [phone],
                           Elections Held            [phone]
       * Panorama City     NA                        Tony Cardenas,
                                                     Alex Padilla
                                                     [phone],
                                                     [phone]
       * Van Nuys          Van Nuys NC, Certified:   Tony Cardenas
                           7/23/02; Elections Held   [phone]
       Northridge          Old Northridge NC,        Greig Smith
                           Certified: 3/09/02;       [phone]
                           Elections Held
       * Woodland Hills    Woodland Hills/Warner     Dennis P. Zine
                           Center NC, Certified:     [phone]
                           3/6/02; Elections Held
       Chatsworth          Chatsworth NC,            Greig Smith
                           Certified: 4/29/03;       [phone]
                           Elections Held
       * Pacoima           Pacoima NC, Certified:    Tony Cardenas,
                           3/7/02; Elections Held    Alex Padilla
                                                     [phone],
                                                     [phone]
       * Sylmar            Sylmar NC, Certified:     Alex Padilla
                           5/6/03; Elections Held    [phone]
       * North Hills       North Hills West NC,      Alex Padilla,
                           Certified: 2/25/03;       Greig Smith
                           Elections Held            [phone],
                                                     [phone]
       * Sherman Oaks      Sherman Oaks NC,          Wendy Greuel,
                           Certified: 10/29/02;      Jack Weiss
                           Elections Held            [phone],
                                                     [phone]
       * Sun Valley        Sun Valley Area NC,       Tony Cardenas,
                           Certified: 5/7/02;        Wendy Greuel
                           Elections Held            [phone],
                                                     [phone]
       * Winnetka          Winnetka NC,              Dennis P. Zine
                           Certified: 7/29/03;       [phone]
                           Elections Held
       * Encino            Encino NC,                Wendy Greuel,
                           Certified: 10/8/02;       Jack Weiss
                           Elections Held            [phone],
                                                     [phone]
       * Canoga Park       Canoga Park NC,           Dennis P. Zine
                           Certified: 6/18/02;       [phone]
                           Elections Held
       * West Hills        West Hills NC,            Greig Smith,
                           Certified: 1/22/02;       Dennis P. Zine
                           Elections Held            [phone],
                                                     [phone]
       * Studio City       Studio City NC,           Wendy Greuel,
                           Certified: 10/29/02;      Tom LaBonge
                           Elections Held            [phone],
                                                     [phone]
       * Granada Hills     Granada Hills North NC,   Greig Smith
                           Certified: 9/10/02;       [phone]
                           Elections Held
       * Tarzana           Tarzana NC, Certified:    Wendy Greuel,
                           1/14/03; Elections Held   Dennis P. Zine
                                                     [phone],
                                                     [phone]
       * Arleta            Arleta NC, Certified:     Tony Cardenas
                           10/22/02;                 [phone]
                           Elections Held
       * Tujunga           Sunland-Tujunga NC,       Wendy Greuel
                           Certified: 5/27/03;       [phone]
                           Elections Held
       * Sunland           Sunland-Tujunga NC,       Wendy Greuel
                           Certified: 5/27/03;       [phone]
                           Elections Held
       * Valley Village    Valley Village NC,        Wendy Greuel,
                           Certified: 9/10/02;       Jack Weiss
                           Elections Held            [phone],
                                                     [phone]
       * Reseda            Reseda NC, Certified:     Dennis P. Zine
                           10/8/02; Elections Held   [phone]
   2   Glendale            NA                        Mayor Bob
                                                     Yousefian
                                                     [phone]
   3   Santa Clarita       NA                        Mayor Bob Kellar
                                                     [phone]
   4   Lancaster           NA                        Mayor Frank C.
                                                     Roberts
                                                     [phone]
   5   Thousand Oaks       NA                        Mayor Bob Wilson
                                                     [phone]
   6   Simi Valley         NA                        Mayor Bill Davis
                                                     [phone]
   7   Palmdale            NA                        Mayor James C.
                                                     Ledford Jr.
                                                     [phone]
   8   Burbank             NA                        Mayor Marsha Ramos
                                                     [phone]
   9   Camarillo           NA                        Mayor Don Waunch
                                                     [phone]
  10   San Fernando        NA                        Mayor Jose
                                                     Hernandez
                                                     [phone]
  11   Calabasas           NA                        Mayor Michael
                                                     Harrison
                                                     [phone]

NA--Not Available

* Valley communities in the City of Los Angeles.

Information was provided by the San Fernando Valley Economic Research
Center at California State University, Northridge.

To the best of our knowledge, this information is accurate as of press
time. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and the
thoroughness of the list, omissions and typographical errors sometimes
occur. Please send corrections or additions on company letterhead to
the Research Department, San Fernando Valley Business Journal, 21600
Oxnard St., Suite 250, Woodland Hills, CA 91367. [c] 2004 San Fernando
Valley Business Journal. This list may not be reprinted in whole or
in part without prior permission from the editor. Reprints are
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