History of North Hills, Los Angeles in Timeline

North Hills, formerly known as Sepulveda, is a neighborhood located in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California. It's primarily a residential area characterized by a mix of housing options and a diverse population. The neighborhood is served by several schools and parks, contributing to its family-friendly atmosphere. While not a major commercial or entertainment hub, North Hills provides convenient access to amenities in surrounding Valley communities. Its location within the larger Los Angeles area allows residents to easily reach employment centers and cultural attractions throughout the region.

October 1903: Porter Sells Land Company

In October 1903, George K. Porter sold his firm and transferred the remaining lands to a syndicate led by Leslie C. Brand, which was then incorporated as the San Fernando Mission Land Company.

1905: Los Angeles Aqueduct Plans Announced

In 1905, the City of Los Angeles announced plans to bring water from the Owens Valley to the city.

1908: Construction Begins on Los Angeles Aqueduct

In 1908, construction began on the Los Angeles Aqueduct, which spurred development in the San Fernando Valley.

December 1911: Pacific Electric Railway Reaches Van Nuys

In December 1911, the Pacific Electric Railway extended its service into the valley, reaching Van Nuys, enhancing transportation connections.

April 1912: San Fernando Mission Land Co. Marketing

In April 1912, the San Fernando Mission Land Co. began marketing its land to the public, advertising tracts suitable for agriculture.

October 1912: Angeles Mesa Land Company Purchase

In October 1912, The Angeles Mesa Land Company purchased Henry E. Huntington's share in the Mission Land property holdings.

March 1913: Pacific Electric Railway Arrives in San Fernando

In March 1913, the Pacific Electric Railway completed its expansion to the city of San Fernando, providing better connections to Los Angeles.

1913: Irrigation Supplied by Los Angeles Aqueduct

In 1913, Mission Acres was an agricultural community supplied with irrigation by the Los Angeles Aqueduct.

1913: Work advances on Brand Boulevard

In 1913, work on Brand Boulevard advanced with workers spreading asphalt on the first mile. Also in 1913, the aqueduct water reached the valley.

1927: Mission Acres Renamed Sepulveda

In 1927, the residents of Mission Acres renamed the area Sepulveda, after the Californio Sepulveda family.

1937: Resolution for Flood Protection

In 1937, councilman Jim Wilson offered a resolution for flood protection in Sepulveda.

1939: Year of Construction of Structures in North Hills

As of 2020, approximately 1.3% of the occupied structures in North Hills were built in 1939 or earlier. Most structures were built between 1940 and 1979.

1940: Year of Construction of Structures in North Hills

As of 2020, approximately 34.9% of the occupied structures in North Hills were built from 1940 to 1959. Most structures were built between 1940 and 1979.

1944: Our Lady of Peace Parish Established

In 1944, the Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church was built, and the parish was established.

1945: Good Knight Inn Construction Begins

In 1945, construction began on the Good Knight Inn, a motel along Sepulveda Boulevard designed to resemble a castle.

1951: Our Lady of Peace Catholic School Opens

In 1951, the Our Lady of Peace Catholic school began to hold classes.

1952: Plummer Elementary School Completed

In 1952, Plummer Elementary School, designed by E. R. C. Billerbeck for LAUSD, was completed.

1954: Our Lady of Peace Church Completed

In 1954, the new Our Lady of Peace church, designed by Armet and Davis, was completed. The former church was repurposed as Schneider's Hall.

1955: Sepulveda Veterans Administration Hospital Completed

In 1955, the Sepulveda Veterans Administration Hospital was completed on a 160-acre property.

1956: Our Lady of Peace School is Largest Elementary School

By 1956, the Our Lady of Peace Catholic School was the largest elementary school in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

1959: Year of Construction of Structures in North Hills

As of 2020, approximately 34.9% of the occupied structures in North Hills were built from 1940 to 1959. Most structures were built between 1940 and 1979.

1960: Year of Construction of Structures in North Hills

As of 2020, 34% of the structures in North Hills were built from 1960 to 1979.

1960: Francisco Sepulveda Junior High School Completed

In 1960, Francisco Sepulveda Junior High School, designed by Arthur Froelich, was completed after four years of construction.

1960: Voters Approved Bonds for Schools and Colleges

In 1960, county voters approved propositions D and E for bonds totaling over $153 million for elementary schools and junior colleges, with about a third of the projects assigned to the San Fernando Valley.

January 29, 1962: Lassen Elementary School Opens

On January 29, 1962, Lassen Elementary School opened in the northeast of Sepulveda with 700 students and 19 faculty members, led by Principal Bonnavier Wildes.

1978: Dedication of Nordhoff Recreation Center Site

In 1978, a 7.5-acre site was dedicated as the Nordhoff Recreation Center before funds were available to build the library.

1979: Year of Construction of Structures in North Hills

As of 2020, 34% of the structures in North Hills were built from 1960 to 1979.

1987: Order to Remove Ivy Poodle Sculpture

In 1987, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power ordered the removal of the ivy poodle living sculpture, but the creator ignored the order.

1990: North Hills Population Increase

Compared to 1990, by the year 2000, North Hills had a population increase of 22%, with significant increases in Latino American (73.7%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (52.6%) residents.

1991: Name Change to North Hills

In 1991, residents of the western half of Sepulveda voted to secede and form North Hills. The city then renamed the remaining area North Hills, creating North Hills West and North Hills East sub-neighborhoods.

1991: Renaming of Sepulveda to North Hills

In 1991, the suburban community, formerly known as Sepulveda, was renamed North Hills.

1996: Library Campus Established at Nordhoff Recreation Center Site

In 1996, the park became the library campus when the library building and parking spaces covered more than half of the original site. The Mid-Valley Library in North Hills West was built on the 7.5-acre site which had been previously dedicated as the Nordhoff Recreation Center.

June 1999: Airplane Landing on Hayvenhurst Avenue

In June 1999, a damaged airplane made a safe landing on Hayvenhurst Avenue while en route to Van Nuys Airport.

2000: Ancestry and Birthplace Statistics

According to Mapping L.A., in 2000, the most common ancestries were Mexican (38.4%) and German (2.8%). Mexico (47.3%) and El Salvador (12.2%) were the most common foreign places of birth.

2000: Year of Construction of Structures in North Hills

As of 2020, 5.2% of structures in North Hills were built from 2000 to 2009.

2000: North Hills Population

By the year 2000, the neighborhood had a population of 52,333.

2001: Establishment of Sepulveda Park West

In 2001, a recreational space was established as Sepulveda Park West, now known as North Hills Community Park.

2009: Year of Construction of Structures in North Hills

As of 2020, 5.2% of structures in North Hills were built from 2000 to 2009.

2009: Los Angeles Times "Mapping L.A." Project Statistics

In 2009, the Los Angeles Times's "Mapping L.A." project supplied North Hills community statistics: median household income was $52,456 and the North Hills West neighborhood had 24,000 residents.

January 2010: Petition to separate from North Hills

Beginning in January 2010 and completed January 2011, residents of Woodley Hill initiated a petition to separate from North Hills.

2010: 2010 Census Data and North Hills East Residents

According to the 2010 Census data, the population size in North Hills was 60,254, and the North Hills East neighborhood had nearly 40,000 residents.

2010: Year of Construction of Structures in North Hills

As of 2020, 0.9% of structures in North Hills were built from 2010 to 2013.

January 2011: Petition to separate from North Hills

Beginning in January 2010 and completed January 2011, residents of Woodley Hill initiated a petition to separate from North Hills.

August 3, 2012: Woodley Hill's Application Approved

On August 3, 2012, the application for Woodley Hill to separate from North Hills was approved and adopted.

September 20, 2012: North Hills West Neighborhood Council Seated

On September 20, 2012, the 2012–2014 North Hills West Neighborhood Council was seated into office.

2012: Los Angeles Baptist High School Combined with Heritage Christian High School

In 2012, Los Angeles Baptist High School was combined with Heritage Christian High School.

2012: North Hills Boundaries

Since 2012, North Hills' northwest area is bounded by the community of Woodley Hill in Northridge, located in a square area between Woodley Avenue to the west and Plummer Street to the south.

March 22, 2013: Transfer of Woodley Hills to Northridge East

On March 22, 2013, the North Hills West Neighborhood Council approved the transfer of Woodley Hills to Northridge East.

2013: Year of Construction of Structures in North Hills

As of 2020, 0.9% of structures in North Hills were built from 2010 to 2013.

2013: Northwestern Section Joins Northridge East

In 2013, a northwestern section of North Hills became part of the Northridge East Neighborhood Council.

December 6, 2014: Opening of Nanak Sadan Sikh Temple

On December 6, 2014, a celebration was held for the opening of the Nanak Sadan Sikh Temple and Community Center.

2014: Year of Construction of Structures in North Hills

As of 2020, 1% of structures in North Hills were built from 2014 or later.

2014: International Students in North Hills

As of early 2014, about 50 foreign exchange students are attending school in the North Hills area.

2014: North Hills East Approved as Certifying Organization

In early 2014, the North Hills East Neighborhood Council was approved as an Official Certifying Organization for the President's Volunteer Service Awards program.

March 2016: Murder of Amir "Rocky" Issa

In late March 2016, Shehada Issa murdered his wife and son, Amir "Rocky" Issa, in North Hills East. The murder of Amir was later classified as a hate crime due to his sexual orientation, which led to community rallies and calls for acceptance.

September 2017: Shehada Issa Convicted of Murder

In September 2017, Shehada Issa was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder, with Amir's murder enhanced as a hate crime, and was sentenced to life in prison.

May 2020: State Supreme Court Refuses to Review Issa Case

In May 2020, the state's Supreme Court refused to review the case of Shehada Issa, who was convicted of murder.

2020: Year of Construction of Structures in North Hills

As of 2020, approximately 1.3% of the occupied structures in North Hills were built in 1939 or earlier. Most structures were built between 1940 and 1979.

2020: Racial Identity Makeup in North Hills

In 2020, the racial makeup of North Hills was recorded including 26.5% White, 4.3% Black or African-American, 1.7% Native American, 15.3% Asian, and 37.9% other races.

2020: North Hills Census Data

In the 2020 census, North Hills had a population of 53,764 within its Neighborhood Council boundaries. The population in the 91343 ZCTA was 62,595.

2022: ZCTA Employment Rate and Household Income

According to 2022 estimates, the 91343 ZCTA had a 60.9% employment rate and a median household income of $77,790.

2022: Movement Against Charter School Construction

In 2022, there was an unsuccessful movement by community members to prevent the construction of a new charter school and promote a park, however, plans went forward for the construction of the Valor Academy Elementary School.