Hollywood Los Angeles Homes for Sale

Located in central LA, Hollywood is known as the home of the US film industry and for its diverse population and cultures.  Many of the historic film studio buildings still exist, and the name “Hollywood” has become synonymous for the US movie industry and the people in it.  Hollywood was recognized as a growing community in 1870, incorporated in 1903, and became a part of Los Angeles in 1910 as the film industry began to grow and become the most well-known place in the world for film and media. Today the area is home to over 4 million people (US Census estimate, July 2016).  Other areas within Hollywood are Franklin Village, Little Armenia, Spaulding Square, and Thai Town.

Hollywood is defined by Hollywood Hills to the north, Los Feliz to the northeast, East Hollywood to the east, Larchmont and Hancock Park to the south, Fairfax to the southwest, West Hollywood to the west and Hollywood Hills West on the northwest side (“Mapping L.A. project” of the LA Times).  The street boundaries of Hollywood are Hollywood Blvd. on the north, Western Ave. to the east, Melrose Ave. to the south, and La Brea Avenue on the west.

EARLY HISTORY

In 1850’s there were few people living in the area of “Nopalera” (named for the Mexican Nopal cactus common in the area), but an agricultural community soon developed and by the 1870’s it came to be known as the Cahuenga Valley.  There is a story that an early property owner and developer in the area, H.J. Whitley, was standing on top of a hill looking out over the valley when a Chinese man in a wagon stopped to greet him.  When Whitley asked him what he was doing, the man replied “I holly-wood” although he meant to say “I hauling wood”, and Whitley later decided to name the town he later founded “Hollywood”.  Whitley started the “Los Angeles Pacific Boulevard and Development Company” and bought 480 acres of land surrounding Highland Avenue and began building, although it was another land owner, Harvey Wilcox, who officially registered the name “Hollywood” with the LA County Recorder’s Office in 1887.  After an initial interest in the area, growth and investment slowed until the early 1900’s.

The first hotel in Hollywood was opened in 1902 by Whitley as the population of Los Angeles reached about 100,000 people, and gradually became known around the world as the home of the stars.  There was a single-track streetcar line running from LA to Hollywood, but the trip took two hours if it was running at all.  The area’s economy was mostly agricultural, known for its barley fields, citrus groves, and vineyards.  Whitley’s company continued to invest thousands of dollars in the area to promote it and attract people and businesses, with improvements such as electricity, street lighting, and a bank.

In 1904, residents of Hollywood voted to prohibit sales and possession of liquor except for “medicinal use”, and in 1910 merged with the City of Los Angeles to gain access to water and the sewage system.  Many major motion picture companies began to set up production in the area, partly due to the ideal weather and access to many different settings, in spite of the fact that movie theaters had been banned in Hollywood!  This changed after the merger with Los Angeles as they had no such restrictions on theaters (or alcohol).  The first film to be made in Hollywood was in 1910 and the first official movie studio, the Nestor Company, opened in late 1911.  By the 1920’s, Paramount, Warner Bros., RKO, and Columbia had studios in Hollywood (sometimes also called “Tinseltown”) and movies became the 5^th largest industry in the country.

RECENT HISTORY

The famous “HOLLYWOOD” sign built on the hills overlooking the neighborhood actually started out as “HOLLYWOODLAND”, and was an advertisement for a housing development of the same name.  The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce repaired and rebuilt the sign in 1949, and removed the “LAND”.  The Hollywood “Walk of Fame” was officially opened in February of 1960, and now contains over 2,600 “stars” embedded in the sidewalk as a tribute to the many stars and contributors of the entertainment industry.

During the 1980’s, Hollywood began to decline and many famous landmarks became threatened by developers seeking to rebuild and update the area.  Some of the buildings have been embraced by modern media companies, such as the former home of CBS’s headquarters at Columbia Square (built in 1938) which became offices for MTV, Comedy Central, BET and Spike TV.  Nonetheless, many areas face continuing gentrification due the efforts of both private developers and public planning commissions who seek to revitalize the area.

HOLLYWOOD TODAY

The 10 public K-12 schools in Hollywood are operated by Los Angeles Unified School District and there are 2 public libraries.

Notable places include CBS Columbia Square, Charlie Chaplin Studios, Cinerama Dome, Crossroads of the World, Dolby Theatre (originally the Kodak Theater and home of the Oscars), Earl Carroll Theatre (currently Nickelodeon on Sunset), El Capitan Theatre, Frederick’s of Hollywood, and Gower Gulch.  Notable events include The Academy Awards, the annual Hollywood Christmas Parade, The Hollywood Half Marathon (to raise money and awareness for local youth homeless shelters).

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Copyright © This free information provided courtesy SoCal Home Blog with information provided by Corey Chambers, Realty Source Inc, BRE#01889449 We are not associated with the homeowner’s association or developer. For more information, contact 888-240-3500 or visit NewHomesInLA.com Licensed in California. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Properties subject to prior sale or rental. This is not a solicitation if buyer or seller is already under contract with another broker.