Porter Ranch, Los Angeles, California

Porter Ranch is a district in the northwest portion of the San Fernando Valley region of the City of Los Angeles, California. It is bounded by Chatsworth on the south and west, Northridge on the south, and Granada Hills on the south and east. The Santa Susana Mountains, which separate the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys, lie to the north. The principal thoroughfares are Corbin Ave., Tampa Ave. and Reseda Blvd., running north-south, and Sesnon Blvd., Rinaldi St. and the Ronald Reagan Freeway (State Route 118), running east and west. The Porter Ranch ZIP code is 91326.

In the late 19th century, Benjamin Porter purchased a large tract in the foothills of the Santa Susanas above Northridge. Primarily wheat fields for its first several decades, the relatively isolated area later became the site of numerous movie stars' horse ranches. As with the rest of the San Fernando Valley, suburban development eventually came to Porter Ranch. However, the area was the last portion of the San Fernando Valley within the Los Angeles city limits to be developed, with major construction not occurring until the 1970s. Today, the district is largely composed of gated communities of upscale single-family homes. Most residents commute by automobile to the high-tech industries of Chatsworth, Simi Valley, Downtown Los Angeles and the commercial hub of Woodland Hills, at the San Fernando Valley's southwest corner. The community is also close to the Chatsworth and Northridge stations served by the Metrolink commuter rail system that links the San Fernando Valley with Downtown Los Angeles and Ventura County.

Winds

Porter Ranch is known for its intense winds. Whenever the city of Los Angeles undergoes a windy pattern, the local news stations always conduct reports across the Porter Valley Town Center (pictured below).Fact|date=September 2008

Demographics

As of the 2000 census, and according to the Los Angeles Almanac there were 15,840 people and 5,271 households residing in Porter Ranch. The racial makeup of the neighborhood was 61.66% White, 31.25% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.86% African American, 0.18% Native American, 1.51% from other races, and 3.48% from two or more races. 6.19% of the population were Hispanic of any race. 38.83% of the population was foreign born; of this, 79.3% came from Asia, 7.5% from Europe, 7.0% from Latin America and 6.2% from other parts of the world.

Median household income in 2000 was $94,584, with 47.7% of households having incomes over $100,000 (4 times the US average).

Fire service

Los Angeles Fire Department [http://www.lafd.org/fs8.htm Station 8] and [http://www.lafd.org/fs28.htm Station 28] are in the area.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools

The area is served by the Los Angeles Unified School District.

The area is zoned to [http://www.castlebaylane.com/ Castlebay Lane Elementary School] in Porter Ranch and [http://www.frostmiddleschool.org/ Frost Middle School] in Granada Hills. As of September 2008 LAUSD plans to build a K-8 school at Mason Street at Sesnon Boulevard. [http://www.prnc.org/calendar.htm?trumbaEmbed=eventid%3D79785514%26view%3Devent]

Chatsworth High School in Chatsworth serves western portions of Porter Ranch. Eastern portions of Porter Ranch are zoned to Granada Hills Charter High School in Granada Hills; residents of the Granada Hills zone are eligible to attend Northridge Academy High School.

Private schools

The area is also served by several private schools, including:
* Chatsworth Hills Academy
* [http://www.chaminade.org Chaminade College Preperatory Middle School]

Public libraries

Los Angeles Public Library operates the Porter Ranch Branch.

References

External links

* [http://www.prnc.org/ Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council]