History of Pacoima, Los Angeles in Timeline

Pacoima is a neighborhood located in Los Angeles, California, specifically within the San Fernando Valley region. As one of the oldest neighborhoods in the area, it holds historical significance within the valley. Its identity is closely tied to its location within Los Angeles and the broader San Fernando Valley.

May 22, 1915: Annexation of Pacoima by Los Angeles

On May 22, 1915, Los Angeles annexed Pacoima as part of ordinance 32192 N.S.

1916: Establishment of the Pacoima Chamber of Farmers

In 1916, the Pacoima Chamber of Commerce was established as the Pacoima Chamber of Farmers. The area produced olives, peaches, apricots, oranges, and lemons.

June 1, 1950: Pacoima Recreation Center Opening

On June 1, 1950, the Pacoima Recreation Center originally opened to the public.

1950: Property values increased on Van Nuys Boulevard

Between 1950 and 1955, property values on Van Nuys Boulevard increased six times.

1952: Slum clearance project started

In late 1952, the Los Angeles City Council allowed the Building and Safety Department to begin a slum clearance project to try to force homeowners who had houses deemed substandard to repair, demolish, or vacate those houses.

November 1953: Establishment of San Fernando Valley Commercial & Savings Bank

In November 1953, area businessmen established the San Fernando Valley Commercial & Savings Bank to finance area rehabilitation projects after other banks persistently refused to give loans to those projects.

1955: Residents' attachment to Pacoima

In 1955, Ed Meagher and P.M. Gomez highlighted the hard-working nature and strong community ties of Pacoima residents, with most preferring homeownership over moving to the San Fernando Gardens complex.

1955: Description of Pacoima and Rising Property Values

In 1955, Ed Meagher of the Los Angeles Times described Pacoima as an area with substandard housing and a lack of infrastructure. Also in 1955, residential property values increased significantly, and the city began a $500,000 project to improve curbs, sidewalks, and streets.

January 31, 1957: Douglas DC-7B Crash at Pacoima Middle School

On January 31, 1957, a Douglas DC-7B operated by Douglas Aircraft Company crashed into the schoolyard of Pacoima Middle School, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries.

June 10, 1957: Light Aircraft Crash in Pacoima

On June 10, 1957, a light aircraft crashed into a house in Pacoima, resulting in the deaths of the four passengers on board and injuries to eight people in the house.

1958: Negotiations Begin for Pacoima Library Site

In 1958, the City of Los Angeles began negotiations to purchase a site for a library in Pacoima.

May 1960: Bids Requested for Library Construction

In May 1960, the city of Los Angeles was scheduled to ask for bids for the construction of a library in Pacoima.

1960: African American Population in Pacoima

By 1960, almost all of the 10,000 African Americans in the San Fernando Valley lived in Pacoima and Arleta, making it the center of African-American life in the Valley.

August 23, 1961: Pacoima Library Opening

On August 23, 1961, the Pacoima Library was scheduled to open as part of a $6.4 million library expansion program.

1962: Hansen Dam Municipal Golf Course Opens

In 1962, the Hansen Dam Municipal Golf Course opened as an addition to the Hansen Dam Recreation Area.

1966: Lack of Civic Pride in Pacoima

A 1966 city planning report criticized Pacoima for lacking civic pride and a central community image.

1966: City Planners' Report on Pacoima

In 1966, Los Angeles city planners issued a report noting that Pacoima lacked a coherent business structure, civic pride, and had poor house maintenance.

1966: City Planning Report on Pacoima's Business District

In 1966, a city planning report described Pacoima's central business district as a shallow strip pattern with a depressing physical image, recommending smaller community shopping centers. The report also noted the lack of parking spaces, disrepair of storefronts, and neglect of residences, advocating for improvements to sidewalks, trees, and the establishment of a community center.

1974: Clubhouse added to Hansen Dam Municipal Golf Course

In 1974, a clubhouse was added to the Hansen Dam Municipal Golf Course.

1978: Protests Against Decreased Library Services

In 1978, Pacoima residents protested after the City of Los Angeles decreased library services in Pacoima due to the passing of Proposition 13.

June 1, 1990: David M. Gonzales Recreation Center Rededication

On June 1, 1990, the Pacoima Recreation Center was rededicated and renamed the David M. Gonzales Recreation Center, including a plaque honoring David M. Gonzales, a World War II soldier.

1990: Demographic Shift in Pacoima

According to the 1990 U.S. Census, 71% of Pacoima's population was of Hispanic/Latino descent while 10% was African American.

1990: Unemployment Rate in Pacoima

In the 1990 U.S. Census the unemployment rate in Pacoima was almost 14%, while the City of Los Angeles had an overall 8.4% overall unemployment rate.

1991: Census Bureau Data on Education

Starting in 1991, data from the United States Census Bureau shows the percentage of Pacoima residents aged 25 and older who had obtained a four-year degree or higher is generally lower than the percentage of Los Angeles City and Los Angeles County residents.

1992: Closure of General Motors Plant

General Motors closed its Van Nuys plant in 1992, causing the loss of 2,600 jobs.

1994: Economic Impact of Factory Closures in Pacoima

By 1994 many Pacoima residents were employed at area factories. In 1994, Timothy Williams wrote about job losses at Lockheed and General Motors, impacting Pacoima residents. Lockheed cut over 8,000 jobs and General Motors closed its Van Nuys plant in 1992, eliminating 2,600 jobs.

1994: Pacoima's Economic Challenges and Federal Empowerment Zone Bid

By 1994, Pacoima was the poorest area in the San Fernando Valley, with high rates of public housing and poverty. Despite this, the area presented well. Howard Berman and Richard Alarcon advocated including Pacoima in a bid for a federal empowerment zone in 1994.

1994: Park Renaming and Ritchie Valens Fest

In 1994, Los Angeles City Council member Richard Alarcon proposed renaming Paxton Park to Ritchie Valens Park to honor Ritchie Valens and to encourage Pacoima residents to emulate his accomplishments. The annual Ritchie Valens Fest was also created in 1994 to honor the renaming of the park.

1994: Community Involvement and Crime Reduction in Pacoima

In 1994, Officer Minor Jimenez credited community involvement for a decrease in crime in Pacoima, with residents cooperating with the police. Agreements with liquor store owners to erase graffiti and stop the sale of individual cold beers, along with resident meetings with Latino gang members, contributed to positive changes.

1994: Description of Pacoima's Commercial Strip

In 1994, Pacoima's main commercial strip along Van Nuys Boulevard had few boarded-up storefronts and no vacancies in its main shopping center, but consisted mainly of check-cashing outlets, storefront churches, pawn shops, and automobile repair shops. Almost one third of Pacoima's residents lived in public housing complexes.

1994: Community Pride and Ethnic Relations in Pacoima

In 1994, Timothy Williams noted the community pride in Pacoima, as highlighted by Cecila Costas. Relations between African-American and Hispanic populations shifted from conflict to conciliation as the town became increasingly Latino.

1994: Homework Center Opens

In 1994, the Homework Center opened in the Pacoima Library.

1996: Founding of Juicy Couture

In 1996, Juicy Couture, an apparel company, was founded in Pacoima.

1998: Need for a New Library

In 1998, Angelica Hurtado-Garcia, the branch librarian of the Pacoima Branch, stated that the community had outgrown the library. A committee recommended spending $600,000 in federal grant funds to develop plans to build a new library.

2000: Ancestry and Birthplace Demographics

According to Mapping L.A., in 2000, Mexican and German were the most common ancestries in Pacoima, while Mexico and El Salvador were the most common foreign places of birth.

2000: Pacoima Library Book Count

In 2000, the Pacoima Library had around 50,300 books.

2000: New Pacoima Branch Library Groundbreaking

In 2000, the groundbreaking for the current Pacoima Branch Library was held.

2002: New Pacoima Branch Library Opens

In 2002, the new Pacoima Branch Library opened.

2006: Positive Reception of the New Library

In 2006, Hurtado stated that the new library was "more attractive and inviting to the community" than the previous one.

2008: Population Estimate

In 2008, the city estimated that Pacoima's population was 81,318 with a density of approximately 10,510 people per square mile.

2010: Census Data

The 2010 U.S. census counted 103,689 residents in Pacoima's 91331 ZIP Code. The median age was 29.5, and the median yearly household income at that time was $49,842.

2020: Census Bureau Data on Education

In 2020, data from the United States Census Bureau shows the percentage of Pacoima residents aged 25 and older who had obtained a four-year degree or higher is generally lower than the percentage of Los Angeles City and Los Angeles County residents.

2031: Opening of East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Project

In 2031, Metro will open the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Project light rail project with three stations at Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Van Nuys Boulevard, San Fernando Road and Van Nuys Boulevard, and San Fernando Road & Paxton Street.