Tarzana History

In 1797 Tarzana was occupied by Spanish settlers and missionaries who established the San Fernando Mission. In 1848 it was surrendered to the United States. It was then purchased by the Los Angeles Homes company in 1909 and the founder of the LA Times, General Harrison Gray Otis invested into the area and bought 550 acres of the modern Tarzana. Edgar Rice Burroughs bought the ranch from Otis in 1919 and established Tarzana Ranch.

Trzana Demographics

According the the latest census, there are 24,524 people living in Tarzana, 66% White, 17% Hispanic, 6% Asian, 6% two or more races, 5% African American.

Median Household income in Tarzana is $111,710

Notable people

• Paul Abrahamian, reality television participant
• Paul Thomas Anderson, filmmaker
• Marc Anthony, singer
• Ed Asner, actor
• Banks, singer
• Judy Blumberg, competitive ice dancer
• Edgar Rice Burroughs, author
• Cindy Bortz, 1987 World Junior Champion figure skater
• Chris Brown, singer
• Doja Cat, rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer
• Shavahn Church, American-British gymnast
• Jordan Cohen (born 1997), American-Israeli basketball player
• Mike Connors, actor
• Kaley Cuoco, actress and producer
• Jason Derulo, singer
• Jordan Farmar (born 1986), American-Israeli basketball player
• Amanda Fink, tennis player
• Selena Gomez, actress, singer
• David Gregory, television journalist
• Chubby Johnson, actor; served as honorary mayor of Tarzana
• Gabe Kapler (born 1975), Major League Baseball outfielder, and manager (San Francisco Giants)
• Khloé Kardashian, television personality
• Luke Kennard, NBA player with the LA Clippers, lives in Tarzana
• Lisa Kudrow, actress, grew up in Tarzana
• Blake Lively, actress, born in Tarzana
• Jon Lovitz, comedian and actor, born in Tarzana
• David Oyelowo, actor, lives in Tarzana
• Rosanna Pansino, YouTube personality
• Lyndsey Parker, entertainment journalist
• Paul Rodriguez, skateboarder, born in Tarzana
• Jim Rome, radio personality, born in Tarzana
• JoJo Siwa, YouTube personality and reality television star
• Hailee Steinfeld, actress and singer
• Brody Stevens, comedian
• Benny Urquidez, kickboxer, martial arts choreographer, and actor
• Wilmer Valderrama, actor
• Bobby Womack, soul singer-songwriter
• Anton Yelchin, actor

Tarzana and Schools

Schools within Tarzana are:

• Gaspar de Portola Middle School, LAUSD, 18720 Linnet Street
• Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies (4–12), LAUSD alternative, 18605 Erwin Street
• Vanalden Avenue Elementary School, LAUSD, 19019 Delano Street
• Tarzana Elementary School, LAUSD, 5726 Topeka Drive
• CHIME Institute’s Schwarzenegger Community School, LAUSD charter, 19722 Collier Street
• Wilbur Charter for Enriched Academics, LAUSD K–5, 5213 Crebs Avenue
• Nestle Avenue Elementary School, LAUSD, 5060 Nestle Avenue

Zoned high schools serving Tarzana include:

• Birmingham High School in (Lake Balboa area)
• Reseda High School (in Reseda area)
• Taft High School (in Woodland Hills area)

Private schools include:

• Lycée International de Los Angeles West Valley Campus

Postsecondary schools

• Columbia College Hollywood, a private nonprofit film school on Oxnard Street.

Public libraries

The Los Angeles Public Library operates the Encino-Tarzana Branch on Ventura Boulevard in Tarzana.

Tarzana Recreation Center

• building capacity 600
• gymnasium with an auditorium
• Lighted baseball fields
• lighted basketball courts
• playground
• community room
• indoor gym with weights
• picnic tables
• lighted volleyball courtes

Caballero Canyon

• offers multiple trails for hiking and mountain biking
• great views of the San Fernando Valley