From Horse Capital of the West to higher ed hub
A quaint community in the San Fernando Valley in the shadow of Santa Susana Mountain Range, Northridge has gone through several transformations. It's gone from a Hollywood horse haven to an up-and-coming suburb, earthquake epicenter to now a central hub for higher education opportunities.
The area was previously known as "The Horse Capital of the West" in the 1940s due to its popularity as a place where Hollywood film stars like Clark Gable and Barbara Stanwyck built their ranches. A center for thoroughbred breeding, Northridge equestrian economy, filled with Sunday horse shows, the annual Stampede parade stampedes and country fairs, lasted until the 1980s. Following the Second World War, the area saw one of the longest continuous real-estate booms in L.A.'s history, resulting in the construction of more residential and commercial buildings in what is now known as Northridge. Now, the Los Angeles County community is home to 71,000 residents with big-city amenities, historic pride and abundant outdoor recreation.
California State University. Northridge (CSUN)’s sprawling campus is at the heart of the community and is vital to its economy. It’s the largest employer in the region, with 5,800 people directly employed and another 5,700 to 6,000 jobs in the services and retail sectors because of its economic activity. According to a 2022 impact study done by CSUN, Beacon Economics, the university generates approximately $1.9 billion in economic output annually. It’s also a major cultural and recreational hub for the Northridge community. Besides education, service, manufacturing and health are the largest employment sectors that make up Northridge’s 3,000 businesses.
Horsin’ around
Outdoor enthusiasts will love Moonshine Canyon Park in the northwest part of Northridge. Hike its rugged canyons and thick, forested trails or camp at Castaic Lake. The park’s towering sandstone cliffs and rock formations, known as hoodoos, are unique geological wonders and offer scenic views of the valley. Northridge’s Wilbur Tampa Park and Limekiln Canyon Park also boast some of the best views of the mountains and the entire region with their rugged trails. The Porter Ranch Palisades Trail is a favorite at Wilbur, and the Bridle Trail is the main one running through Limekiln.
In addition to boosting Northridge’s economy, CSUN provides several outdoor recreation opportunities that are open to the public. The university has an urban forest home to 400 Valencia orange trees on five acres, and besides being a tranquil spot for residents, Orange Grove is used for research and solar observatories. The community can also visit CSUN’s student recreation center, duck pond, and botanic garden. Home to over 1,200 plant species, four greenhouses, a living library and an outdoor classroom, it treats residents to a natural oasis to escape to right in the heart of the community.
Keeping its horse heritage alive, Northridge also has the historic Oakridge Estate. Originally known as the Devonshire House, the estate was owned by Hollywood stars Clark Gable and Carole Lombard and now offers tours, a park with a playground, an outdoor amphitheater with log benches, a walking trail and a mare sculpture.
Cuisine to match its rich culture
The Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts, formerly known as Valley Performing Arts Center, on CSUN’s campus, is considered a cultural institution for the entire San Fernando Valley region. The theater includes a 1,700-seat performance hall, 175-seat black box theater and classrooms and hosts student performances, visiting musicians and dance troupes.
When it comes to cuisine, Northridge has its share of chains and fast-food joints, but locals who know where to look are hip to some hidden culinary gems in this community. Brent’s Deli is a beloved Jewish deli that’s been a staple since 1967, offering a whopping 650-dish menu with everything from Reubens to stuffed cabbage rolls. While King’s Burgers/Got Sushi? may sound like an odd pairing, this sushi bar inside a fast-food burger joint serves up some of the best sashimi plates and pastrami burgers in the region. Birrieria San Marcos is the go-to taco truck for giant queso-tacos and taco dippin’ and for late night cravings, head to the sidewalk food stand Hawaiian Hot Chicken for a spicy chicken sandwich with volcano sauce. And to satisfy that sweet tooth, hit up Waffle Love for gigantic, loaded waffles or Furn Saj Bakery, a family-run Lebanese bakery that sits in a strip mall. Northridge Fashion Center is the area’s biggest shopping mall with retailers, chains and a movie theater, but the community provides a variety of strip malls and other specialty markets.
The higher-ed heart of the community
Northridge is served by the Los Angeles Unified School District, which earned a B-plus on Niche and has 11 public schools. Most students attend Andasol Avenue Elementary, Northridge Middle School and Northridge Academy High School. College-bound students who wish to stay close to home can attend California State University, Northridge, right in the heart of the community. Earning a B-plus on Niche, the public university is one of the largest universities in the country in terms of enrollment, catering to over 40,000 students annually. It’s also known for its top-notch research facilities, teaching and science programs and is classified as a Master’s College and a University I by the Carnegie Institute of Higher Education.
Top place to live in Los Angeles
Ranked by Niche as the 48th best place to live in LA, the Northridge area offers a wide range of housing options, from custom-built estates with ornate historical styles, large Mediterranean and Spanish-influences homes to more traditional suburban single-family houses set along winding avenues and street blocks, fringed by towering palms. The median sale price for a home in Northridge was $1.2 million in February 2024, up 23% from the year prior, and homes stay on the market for 21 days on average. Sherwood Forest is a popular community in the south part of Northridge with a median sale price of $1.2 million. Surrounded by evergreens providing ultimate privacy and serenity, these contemporary homes offer large lots and are close to shopping, restaurants and the CSUN.
The guard-gated community of Monteria Estates is the most lavish enclave in Northridge, where homes can go for up to $7 million. Residents are treated to custom-built French chateaus, English Tudors and other custom-built properties with multi-acre lots and other lavish amenities on a long private road with mountain views in this luxury enclave. Mason Park, shopping and highways are nearby. Mosaic is a newer community in the southern part of Northridge featuring contemporary, single-family homes with energy-efficient designs starting at $700,000. Mosaic has a mixed-use commercial building and is close to freeways and restaurants.
Navigating Northridge
Interstate 405 and State Routes Los 101, 27 and 118 border Northridge and conveniently get residents around the region, including Downtown LA, a 28-mile drive, and Santa Clarita, 14 miles away. Van Nuys Airport is the closest regional airport, 5 miles from the city center, and the closest international airport is in LA, 27 miles away. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority operates Metro Bus on several local lines as well as free bus rides via DASH Northridge.
Community approach to crime
According to recent crime data from the CAP Index, Northridge has an overall score of four, on par with the national average. Earning a B-plus from Crimegrade, Northridge has a crime rate that’s 47% lower than the national average. Northridge’s three neighborhood councils work in collaboration with the Los Angeles Police Department to keep the community safe and keep residents engaged via digital communications, neighborhood watch organizations and regular meetings hosted by their public safety committees.
A bright future
CSUN currently has $200 million in active construction projects, most of which are to accommodate its ever-growing student body. The largest is the construction of Maple Hall, a 165,000-square-foot building to be completed sometime in 2024. The $50 million building will house 37 new classrooms. Construction was also started in the fall of 2023 on a $56 million student housing complex. The two four-story buildings will have 30,000 square feet of housing space, along with community rooms, study spaces and other multi-purpose rooms.
