History
La Canada, also known as La Canada Flintridge, is a city which offers a remarkable way of living. The nearby hills, colorful flowers, trees, and a field of cultivated and mowed grasses describe La Canada’s environmental assets.

La Canada Flintridge lies in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and San Rafael Hills. It is a city of Los Angeles County in California, United States of America. La Canada has a total land area of 22.4 square kilometers as stated by the United States Census Bureau. La Canada is bounded by Angeles National Forest on the north, and Pasadena and Glendale cities on the east and south. It is also in the eastern end of Crescenta Valley.

La Canada Flintridge has a rich history. Native Americans lived in small villages as they hunt and gather acorns from the oak trees of La Canada by earliest eras. The Pope decided that all of Columbus’ New World west of a line in the middle of North Atlantic could be claimed by Spain, while those in the east of this line belongs to Portugal. By 1769, Father Serra, with Jose Verdugo who was one of his military guards, and other Spanish missionaries arrived in the area for their missions in San Gabriel and San Fernando. Jose Verdugo was given a permission to raise farm animals when he retired from the mission. The property was named Rancho San Rafael. By 1820, Spanish rule in California was removed by the Mexican Revolution. It was in 1843 when Ignacio Coronel, a Mexican teacher, was granted with a vacant valley which he named Rancho La Canada. Coronel deserted and sold the ranch during the Mexican War in 1847. It was the son of Jose Verdugo named Julio, who bought Rancho La Canada.

Civil War Veterans were among the US settlers, who arrived in the area when railroads in Los Angeles were finished. One of the settlers was Colonel Theodore Pickens who lived in the foothills north of Rancho La Canada. Colonel Thomas Hall also settled in the area with his son Tom who had a lung disease. Due to lack of water, Rancho La Canada was sold with a very low price in 1875. The dentist, Dr. Jacob Lanterman, and the Civil War Veteran, Colonel Adolphus Williams purchased the ranch and subdivided it. By 1882, Lanterman and the successors of Williams sold lots to Benjamin Briggs, M.D. The area was called La Crescenta due to its crescent shape. Lanterman and Williams, together with their families, helped develop school and church, which attracted others to purchase areas in the land. By 1885, occupants of La Canada voted to remove themselves from the old Sepulveda School District due to increase of students’ population. La Crescenta and La Canada were divided by a steep hill. Picken's Canyon water was a source of conflict between the two communities. The separation of both communities was eased by an iron bridge across the Arroyo Seco, which was built in 1893. This improved transportation from La Crescenta, through La Canada, to Pasadena.

By 1913, the valley began to change from an agricultural area to a suburban area. Senator Frank Flint divided 1700 acres south of Michigan Avenue into large lots. Many houses were built and Flint called his subdivision, Flintridge, which can be found on the north side of San Rafael Hills. By 1955, Frank Lanterman succeeded in getting the Colorado River water for La Canada. This resulted to the building of more houses, schools, stores and streets. By 1976, the committees of both communities felt that urban areas should belong to adjoining cities. On November 30, 1976, the official incorporation of the two communities; La Canada and Flintridge, was held at the La Canada Golf and Tennis Club. Councilman Edmund Krause filed the incorporation certificate of completion with the County Recorder. The two secluded communities were finally united as La Canada Flintridge.

The population of La Canada according to the United States Census Bureau as of the year 2000 was 20, 318 residents with 6, 989 households.

Schools
The city of La Canyada offers high quality educational services for its residents. The city has public, private, as well as parochial schools. The La Canada Unified School District, which was founded in 1885, operates three elementary schools, a 7-12 high school, and a small school for high school students with special needs. The schools include the following: La Canada High School, La Canada Elementary, Paradise Canyon Elementary, Palm Crest Elementary and Foothills School. The students of La Canada are also served by the Glendale Unified School District. Furthermore, some of the private schools comprise the following: Crestview Preparatory, Flintridge Preparatory, La Canada Preparatory Academy, Hillside School & Learning Center, Flintridge Montessori School and La Canada Community Center Preschool.

La Canada Flintridge also provides recreational facilities for the community. It has sports activity areas as well as parks. The municipal parks of the city are as follows:

• Memorial Park on Foothill Boulevard at La Canada Blvd
• Glenola Park on Angeles Crest Highway at Vista del Valle
• Glenhaven Park on Glenhaven Drive at La Granada Way
• Mayors' Discovery Park on Foothill Boulevard west of the 2 Freeway on-ramps

The residents of La Canada have access to the Angeles National Forest. The forest provides opportunities for sightseeing, boating, swimming, skiing, picnicking, hiking and camping. Moreover, the city has a functional area known as the Lanterman Auditorium, which serves as a well-designed venue for important events.

La Canada Flintridge is an incomparable place to live. The healthful climate of the city is one of La Canada’s finest charms. The city has lots to offer. The residents experience a wondrous place where they can live, work and play. Houses surrounded by trees, flowers and rolling lawns reveal the natural beauty of the community.

DR. JOHN CHAVES
5312 Comercio Lane, Suite A
Woodland Hills, CA 91364
Phone 818-999-2707
Fax 818-703-1998
appointment@cosmeticdentalservices.com