Wikipedia

Topanga, California

"Topanga" redirects here. For other uses, seeTopanga (disambiguation).

Topanga(Tongva:Topaa'nga) is anunincorporated communityin westernLos Angeles County, California,United States.[2]Located in theSanta Monica Mountains,the community exists in Topanga Canyon and the surrounding hills. The narrow southern portion of Topanga at the coast is between the city ofMalibuand the Los Angeles neighborhood ofPacific Palisades.As of the2020 censusthe population of the Topanga CDP was 8,560.[3]For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Topanga as acensus-designated place(CDP). TheZIP codeis 90290 and thearea codeis primarily310,with818only at the north end of the canyon. It is in the 3rd County Supervisorial district.

Topanga, California
Topaa'nga(Tongva)
Census-designated place
View of Topanga Canyon from one of the hiking trails
View of Topanga Canyon from one of the hiking trails
Location of Topanga in California and Los Angeles County
Location of Topanga in California andLos Angeles County
Topanga is located in the United States
Topanga
Topanga
Location in the United States
Topanga is located in California
Topanga
Topanga
Topanga (California)
Topanga is located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Topanga
Topanga
Topanga (the Los Angeles metropolitan area)
Coordinates:34°05′23″N118°36′16″W/ 34.08972°N 118.60444°W/34.08972; -118.60444
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountyLos Angeles
Named forTopaa'nga,a Tongva word perhaps meaning "where the mountain meets the sea" or "the place above"
Government
•SenateHenry Stern(D)
•AssemblyRichard Bloom(D)
•U. S. CongressTed Lieu(D)
Area
[1]
• Total
19.137 sq mi (49.563 km2)
• Land19.129 sq mi (49.543 km2)
• Water0.008 sq mi (0.020 km2) 0.04%
Elevation
1,084 ft (330 m)
Population
(2020)
• Total
8,560
• Density450/sq mi (170/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8(PST)
• Summer (DST)UTC-7(PDT)
ZIP code
90290
Area code(s)310/424,747/818
GNISfeature ID2583164[2]
FIPS code06-78960

Topanga is the largest unincorporated area in Los Angeles County by area, although a majority of it is undeveloped.

History

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Topangais the name given to the area by the Native American indigenousTongvatribe,[4]and may mean "where the mountain meets the sea"[5]or "a place above." The name in theTongva language,Topaa'nga,has a roottopaa'-that likely comes from theChumash language.[6]It was the western border of their territory, abutting theChumashtribe that occupied the coast from Malibu northwards. Bedrock mortars can be found carved into rock outcroppings in many locations.

Topanga was then colonized byMexicansin 1839.[7]In the 1920s, Topanga Canyon became a weekend getaway for Hollywood stars with several cottages built for that purpose. The rolling hills and ample vegetation served to provide both privacy and attractive surroundings for the rich and famous. During the 1960s, Topanga Canyon became a magnet to many new artists.

In 1965,Wallace Bermansettled in the area. For a time,Neil Younglived in Topanga, first living with producerDavid Briggsthen later buying his own house. He recorded most of hisAfter the Gold Rushalbum in his basement studio in 1970.Charles Mansonhad previously been living in Topanga, where he had briefly befriended both Neil Young andDennis WilsonofThe Beach Boys.Members of theManson Familybegan their campaign of murder on July 31, 1969, with the murder of Topanga resident Gary Hinman, a music teacher who had opened his home to anyone needing shelter.

On Monday January 10, 2005, a 25-foot, 300-ton boulder rolled down a hillside and landed in Topanga Canyon Blvd, in Topanga, CA.[8]It occurred after heavy rains the day before. Pictures of the boulder were in the news around the world.[9]The huge boulder blocked traffic for most of that week illustrating the drama of torrential rains and mudslides in Southern California. On TopangaOnline people tried unsuccessfully to gather support to save the boulder. They argued that the boulder brought serenity back to the canyon by cutting off thru traffic between the San Fernando Valley and the Pacific Coast Highway.[10]6-foot holes were drilled into the boulder, then low-yield explosives were used to partially blow up the boulder. A previous attempt with dynamite failed due to heavy saturation from rain.[8]

Geography

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Topanga Canyon

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1915 road map of Los Angeles to Topanga Canyon & Return

Topanga Creek drains Topanga Canyon and is the third largestwatershedentering theSanta Monica Bay.[11]The creek is one of the few remaining undammed waterways in the area, and is a spawning ground forsteelheadtrout.[12]The area typically receives about 22 inches (560 mm) of rain annually.[13]Topanga Beach[14]lies on the coast at the outlet of Topanga Creek. Topanga Canyon Boulevard,State Route 27,is the principal thoroughfare, connecting theVentura Freeway(US 101) to the north withPacific Coast Highway(SR 1) on the south. The southern portion of the boulevard largely follows Topanga Creek. North of the Old Topanga Canyon Road intersection, the boulevard traverses the Santa Monica Mountains.

Panorama from Viewpoint Trail in Topanga State Park

Topanga Canyon contains lands ofTopanga State Park,the largest park in the Santa Monica Mountains and one of the largestopen space preservessurrounded by a city in the world,[citation needed]as well as theSanta Monica Mountains Conservancy.It is part of theSanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.It primarily represents aCalifornia coastal sage and chaparral ecoregion,with large areas of theCalifornia oak woodlandplant community,and a wide variety ofnative plants.[15]

Climate

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This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F (22.0 °C). According to theKöppen Climate Classificationsystem, Topanga has awarm-summer Mediterranean climate,abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.[16]

Demographics

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The2010 United States Census[17]reported that Topanga had a population of 8,289. The population density was 433.2 inhabitants per square mile (167.3/km2). Topanga had a median household income of $120,711, with only 5.9% of the population living below the poverty line. The racial makeup of Topanga was 7,313 (88.2%)White(84.5% Non-Hispanic White),[18]117 (1.4%)African American,35 (0.4%)Native American,353 (4.3%)Asian,3 (0.0%)Pacific Islander,125 (1.5%) fromother races,and 343 (4.1%) from two or more races.HispanicorLatinoof any race were 534 persons (6.4%).

The Census reported that 8,289 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 3,442 households, out of which 996 (28.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,772 (51.5%) wereopposite-sex married couplesliving together, 262 (7.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 140 (4.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 239 (6.9%)unmarried opposite-sex partnerships,and 49 (1.4%)same-sex married couples or partnerships.903 households (26.2%) were made up of individuals, and 256 (7.4%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41. There were 2,174families(63.2% of all households); the average family size was 2.87.

The population was 1,682 people (20.3%) under the age of 18, 333 people (4.0%) aged 18 to 24, 1,917 people (23.1%) aged 25 to 44, 3,188 people (38.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,169 people (14.1%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.

There were 3,750 housing units at an average density of 196.0 per square mile (75.7/km2), of which 2,589 (75.2%) were owner-occupied, and 853 (24.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.8%. 6,597 people (79.6% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,692 people (20.4%) lived in rental housing units.

Topanga, California, as viewed from the Topanga Overlook

Lower Topanga Canyon

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The bottom of Topanga Canyon, where it meets Pacific Coast Highway and the ocean, was owned for many years[when?]by theLos Angeles Athletic Club,a wealthy private club in downtown Los Angeles. The 1,659-acre (6.71 km2) parcel was rented out to a variety of businesses and residents for decades at remarkably low rents, considering that it borders the city of Malibu. Thus Lower Topanga became unique as one of the last outposts of the classic Topanga Canyon bohemianhippielifestyle.

TheChumash peopleconsidered Lower Topanga a sacred, economic, and cultural meeting place for tribes all along the coast. One of the main neighborhoods, the "Rodeo Grounds", takes its name from an actual rodeo arena that existed there on a Mexican ranch in the 1800s.

In the early 1900s, Lower Topanga was a Japanese fishing village.William Randolph Hearstowned the property for a time and turned it into a weekend getaway spot with beach shacks for his andMarion Davies' guests.

In the '60s, a lively community of artists and surfers sprang up in Lower Topanga. They maintained their houses without assistance, sometimes digging them out of the mud after floods or settingbackfiresto prevent a spreading wildfire from burning down their neighborhood. The roads remained unpaved.[19]

In 2001, Lower Topanga was sold toCalifornia State Parks.Even though the Lower Topanga community occupied less than 2% of the total purchased land, State Parks had an aggressive policy to relocate everyone and bulldoze all of the houses. (State Parks had already evicted residents who lived directly on Topanga Beach in the late '70s.[20])

A group of 10 Lower Topanga poets calling themselves the "Idlers of the Bamboo Grove" published a book of the same name in 2002, celebrating their community and lamenting the prospect of having to leave. Their publisher,Brass Tacks Press,continued publishing works about Lower Topanga, as well as maintaining an onlineLower Topanga Photo Archive.

Even though Lower Topanga residents were given money to leave, some fought bitterly against their relocation in court. However, the last holdouts were forced off the land in March 2006.[19]Currently there are active efforts byTreePeopleand Mountains Restoration Trust to restore the area to its pristine condition as it was prior to development.

Culture

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Topanga is known as abohemianenclave attracting artists, musicians, filmmakers, and others. Numerous music festivals have been organized in the canyon, including the Topanga Days Festival and Topanga Earth Day. The Topanga Film Institute[21]hosts the annual Topanga Film Festival.

In the 1950s,blacklistedactorWill Geerhad to sell his large Santa Monica home and move his family to a small plot in the canyon where they could grow their own produce. Geer's friendWoody Guthriehad a small shack on the property. They unintentionally founded what became anartists' colony.Since its founding in 1973, the Geer family has continued to operate theWill Geer Theatricum Botanicum.It has grown into anEquitytheater, and occupies a natural outdoor amphitheater. It featuresShakespeareanplays, modern classics, and original productions, as well as musical concerts. Performers have includedPete Seeger,Arlo Guthrie,Della Reese,andBurl Ives.[citation needed]Odettawas part of the early music scene in the 1960s.[22]

A famous venue in the canyon was theElysium Institute,also known as Elysium Fields, anudist clubstarted byEd Langein 1967.[23]After surviving extended battles withcountyofficials the 9-acre (3.6 ha) property was sold in 2002 by its founder's heirs.[24]

EveryMemorial Dayweekend on the grounds of the Topanga Community House, Topanga has an annual fair and parade, called Topanga Days. Topanga Days Country Fair features music, belly dancing, over 80 unique craft vendors and a variety of food from Cajun to Mexican to vegan. A parade is held on Memorial Day.[citation needed]

Topanga Canyon also hosts an annual reggae festival titled Reggae on the Mountain[25]that has grown to be one of the largest events in the area. The event serves as a fundraiser for the Topanga Community Club in a similar fashion as Topanga Days.[citation needed]

The Topanga Film Institute presents the annual Topanga Film Festival each July. The festival endeavors to bridge cultures, create and expand community, provide cultural exchange and networking opportunities.[21][26][27]

Two outdoor shopping centers featuring local businesses form the hub of local commerce. There are no hotels, motels or gas stations in Topanga, nor are there any chain or big box stores.

The location of Topanga in the Santa Monica Mountains also makes the natural surroundings an important part of the culture. Streams, waterfalls, cliffs of exposed bedrock, landmark rock outcroppings, and overlooks with panoramic views of the mountains, Pacific Ocean and Los Angeles are common attractions. There are many trails for short walks, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, birdwatching, and rock climbing, all of which are important parts of the local community.

Government and infrastructure

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TheCounty of Los Angeles Public Libraryoperates the Topanga Library located on 122 N Topanga Canyon Blvd.[28]

TheLos Angeles County Fire Departmentoperates Fire Station No. 69 in Topanga as a part of Battalion 5.[29]During the 1960s and 1970s, "problematic firefighters" were placed here under the supervision ofJames O. Page.[30]

TheLos Angeles County Sheriff's Department(LASD) operates the Malibu/Lost Hills Station inCalabasas,serving Topanga.[31][32]

TheUnited States Postal ServiceTopanga Post Office is located at 101 South Topanga Canyon Boulevard.[33]

The California Highway Patrol, West Valley Area, handles the traffic on the State Route and in the unincorporated areas.[citation needed]

The Topanga Coalition for Emergency Preparedness (T-CEP) operates an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) near the Topanga Town Center.[citation needed]

Education

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Palisades Charter High School
William Howard Taft High School

Most Topanga residents are zoned to schools in theLos Angeles Unified School District.[34]LAUSD schools which have attendance boundaries including the majority of Topanga include:[35]

  • Topanga Elementary School
    • A teacher stated in a 1998Los Angeles Magazinearticle that the fact that the parents are creative professionals contributes to the school's high test scores. As of 1998 many parents conduct music and art lessons at this school, as Topanga itself is an artists' colony.[36]
  • A choice between Revere Charter Middle School or Woodland Hills Academy (formerly known as Parkman Middle School)
  • A choice betweenPalisades Charter High SchoolandTaft High School[37]

The area is within Board District 4.[38]As of 2010 Steve Zimmer represents the district.[39]

Some portions are in theSanta Monica-Malibu Unified School District(SMMUSD).[34]Those portions are zoned to Webster Elementary School andMalibu High School.[40]Some are in theLas Virgenes Unified School District.[34]

Private schools:

  • Manzanita School at Big Rock Ranch
  • Viewpoint School inCalabasas

TheCounty of Los Angeles Public Libraryoperates the Topanga Library.[41]

Notable people

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Main article:List of people from Topanga, California
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The popular television series,Boy Meets World,and its sister series,Girl Meets World,both prominently feature a character namedTopanga Matthews(nee Lawrence). In Season One, Episode Nine of Girl Meets World, titledGirl Meets 1961,it is revealed she is named for Topanga Canyon. Her daughter, Riley, learns Topanga's grandmother, Rosie, was told about Topanga Canyon in a chance meeting with a stranger who was headed there. Rosie then wrote in her journal: "Topanga: What a beautiful name for something that you want to love."


The Tongva Valley, which appears in the 2013 videogameGrand Theft Auto V,is based on the Topanga Canyon.[42]

See also

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References

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  1. ^"Census.gov – gazetteer".Archived fromthe originalon February 20, 2011.RetrievedJanuary 13,2019.
  2. ^ab"Topanga".Geographic Names Information System.United States Geological Survey,United States Department of the Interior.
  3. ^"QuickFacts: Topanga CDP, California".U.S. Census Bureau.
  4. ^Bright, W. (1998).1500 California Place Names3rd Ed. UC Press. pg 155.
  5. ^"Topanga Baby Name".babynames.RetrievedNovember 11,2019.
  6. ^Johnson, John R."Ethnohistoric Overview for the Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park Cultural Resources Inventory Project"(PDF).RetrievedJuly 19,2020.
  7. ^"Topanga".Before the Spanish settled the area, land was given to Mexican soldiers. In 1828, the Mexican governor of Alta California, or upper California, gave Francisco Sepulveda 30,000 acres of land. The California State University Northridge.ArchivedJuly 6, 2007, at theWayback Machine
  8. ^ab"Topanga Tidbits: Boulder on the Boulevard".One Topanga - Topanga Town Council.Archived fromthe originalon February 4, 2024.RetrievedFebruary 4,2024.
  9. ^King, Anahita."A boulder fell on Topanga Canyon Blvd".Topanga Historical Society Digital Archive.Archived fromthe originalon February 1, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 4,2024.
  10. ^Cleveland, Rick (January 14, 2005)."All Thins Considered: A Big Rock Hits Close to Home".NPR.RetrievedFebruary 4,2024.
  11. ^"Department of Public Works".Dpw.lacounty.gov. Archived fromthe originalon May 21, 2014.RetrievedMay 21,2014.
  12. ^Rainey, James (April 1, 2023)."Here's where California's remarkably wet year is bringing welcome recovery".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedJuly 8,2023.
  13. ^"Topanga Tidbits".Topangaonline. Archived fromthe originalon July 25, 2008.RetrievedMay 21,2014.
  14. ^"Topanga Beach".Beaches.co.la.ca.us. Archived fromthe originalon July 16, 2011.RetrievedMay 21,2014.
  15. ^"Topanga SP".Parks.ca.gov.RetrievedMay 21,2014.
  16. ^"Topanga, California Koppen Climate Classification".Weatherbase.RetrievedJanuary 13,2019.
  17. ^"2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA – Topanga CDP".U.S. Census Bureau. Archived fromthe originalon July 15, 2014.RetrievedJuly 12,2014.
  18. ^"Topanga CDP QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau".Quickfacts.census.gov. Archived fromthe originalon July 2, 2012.RetrievedMay 21,2014.
  19. ^abCapra, Pablo.Idlers of the Bamboo Grove: Poetry from Lower Topanga Canyon.Brass Tacks Press, 2002.
  20. ^Lovas, Paul.Topanga Beach Experience.Brass Tacks Press, 2011.
  21. ^ab"Topanga Film Institute & Festival".Topangafilminstitute.RetrievedMay 21,2014.
  22. ^McDonnell, Evelyn (October 9, 2018).Women Who Rock: Bessie to Beyonce. Girl Groups to Riot Grrrl.Hachette.ISBN978-0316558860.RetrievedAugust 9,2019.
  23. ^Slater, Eric (March 16, 1995)."Nudist Colony Founder Voted Citizen of Year".L.A.Times.RetrievedOctober 27,2012.
  24. ^"Southern California Naturist Association First Press Release".Bohemian.org.RetrievedMay 21,2014.
  25. ^"Reggae on the Mountain".Reggae on the Mountain.RetrievedMarch 18,2018.
  26. ^Lisa Marks (August 8, 2012)."Hounded out of Hollywood: Topanga film festival and the legacy of Will Geer | Film".The Guardian.RetrievedMay 21,2014.
  27. ^[1]"Topanga Film Festival 2013 Showcases Documentaries— “See. Change.” "at theWayback Machine(archived October 23, 2013)
  28. ^Topanga Library."Topanga Library".County of Los Angeles Public Library.RetrievedJune 28,2016.
  29. ^Hometown Fire Stations.County of Los Angeles.ArchivedSeptember 13, 2007, at theWayback Machine
  30. ^Karns, Jameson (November 2018)."Between a Stethoscope and a Gavel -The legacy of James O. Page's early career".Journal of Emergency Medical Services.RetrievedJanuary 8,2018.
  31. ^"Malibu Lost Hills Station webpage".Lasd.org. Archived fromthe originalon September 7, 2015.RetrievedMay 21,2014.
  32. ^"American FactFinder".Factfinder.census.gov. Archived fromthe originalon June 6, 2011.RetrievedMay 21,2014.
  33. ^"Find Mail Services in 90290 – Topanga, CA".Usps.whitepages.RetrievedMay 21,2014.
  34. ^abc"2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Los Angeles County, CA"(PDF).U.S. Census Bureau.p. 9 (PDF p. 10/19).RetrievedNovember 20,2023.
    2010 map:"SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Los Angeles County, CA"(PDF).U.S. Census Bureau.p. 5.RetrievedMarch 21,2021.
  35. ^Brenoff, Ann. "Topanga, mountain mellow but oh so pricey."Los Angeles Times.December 1, 2002. Retrieved October 22, 2011.
  36. ^Hardy, Terry. "Top of the Class" (education section).Los Angeles Magazine.Emmis Communications,October 1998. Vol. 43, No. 10.ISSN1522-9149.Start: p.52.CITED: p.56.
  37. ^"Palisades Charter High School Attendance Zone."Los Angeles Unified School District.
  38. ^"Board District 4 Map"(PDF).Los Angeles Unified School District.RetrievedNovember 24,2008.
  39. ^""LAUSD Board Members".Los Angeles Unified School District – Board of Education.RetrievedJanuary 13,2019.
  40. ^"Malibu Boundaries."Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District.Retrieved October 22, 2011.
  41. ^"Topanga Library."County of Los Angeles Public Library.Retrieved March 24, 2014. "122 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd. Topanga, CA 90290"
  42. ^Mitra, Ritwik; Painter, Ben (May 19, 2024)."GTA 5 Locations That Are Based On Real-Life".Game Rant.
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