History
San Fernando is a prosperous city situated in northwestern Los Angeles County of California in the United States of America. San Fernando, known as the First City of the Valley, is located about twenty three miles north of Los Angeles, near the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains.

The first inhabitants of San Fernando were the Gabrielino and Tataviam Indians. The Tataviam Indians named the area, “Achois Comihabit.” By 1769, San Fernando was chosen for settlement by Spanish explorers. The city of San Fernando, founded in 1874, became the valley’s first organized community. The city was called “The Mission City” due to its proximity to the San Fernando Mission which was established in the year 1797. San Fernando during those years has pure natural resources, the valleys and hills were luxurious with walnut and oak trees. The community had flourished into a small trading center where olives, wine, farm crops, and thousands of livestock were raised by the Indian residents during the early 1800’s. In the 19 th century farms and ranches were established as an outcome of activities originally undertaken by the mission. Spanish, Indian and Mexican residents arrived and settled in the valley as California is still a Mexican territory. The founding of San Fernando city in 1874 was prompted and hastened primarily because of a land boom in Southern California, and the construction by the Southern Pacific Railroad of a rail line from Bakersfield through Fremont Pass to Los Angeles. San Fernando was soon populated with an arrival of settlers. The city became known as the railroad’s gateway to the north. The city cultivated an abundance of citrus and olives through irrigation which was provided by the deep wells and through the city’s Mediterranean climate. By 1911, San Fernando was incorporated. The water supply made the city of San Fernando independent, while most of the valley’s other communities felt constrained to annex to Los Angeles by 1915 to avail themselves of the waters of the Los Angeles Aqueduct that started flowing by 1913. San Fernando was named in honor of a Spanish saint and king.

The San Fernando city has an approximate of 24,207 people living in the city, with 5,774 households and 4,832 families. The average density of the 5,932 housing units is 962.3/km² and the average value of population density is 3,822.7/km². There are 42.76% White people, 89.28% are Hispanic or Latino, 49.35% from other races, 0.98% are African American, 1.12% Asian, 3.98% are from two races or more, and 1.69% Native American. There is also 0.11% Pacific Islander.

According to Census Designated Place (CDP) the average household size was 4.07 and the average family size was 4.33 and over 59.1% are already married and was living together though 52.8% of them have children under the age of 18 and was still living with their family in San Fernando. About 16.3% of the households do not have families yet and about 16.4% of the female households do not have a companion. Approximately 12.4% of the households are individuals and 5.6% of the households are individuals living alone and 65 years of age or above. The total median income for a household in the city of San Fernando is $39,909 and the total median income for a family is $40,138. For the men the median income is $26,068, while for the women the total median income is $22,599. The median age was 27 years and for every 100 females there were 101.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.9 males. The city of San Fernando’s per capita income was $11,485. Approximately, there were 15.3% of families and 19.1% of San Fernando’s total population who were below the poverty line, including 22.5% of those people under the age of 18 and 15.6% of those age 65 and above.

Schools
San Fernando provides its residents with quality education that aims to give students a brighter future. The education of San Fernando is served by the Los Angeles Unified School District. The elementary schools of San Fernando include Morningside Elementary, O’Melveny Elementary School and the Vaughn Next Century Learning Center. The private schools of San Fernando include First Lutheran Grade School and the Saint Ferdinand School.

The following are the schools that provide high school and middle school education:

Private primary/middle schools in San Fernando:

• St. Ferdinand Elementary School
• Santa Rosa De Lima Elementary
• Calvary Christian School
• First Lutheran Elementary School
• Learning Academy
• Glenoaks Primary Center Elementary
• Carrena Day Carrena Day Care

High Schools:

• North Hollywood High School (NHHS)
• Burbank High School
• Calabasas High School
• Canoga Park High School
• Chatsworth High School
• Granada Hills Charter High School
• North Hollywood High Highly Gifted Magnet (HGM)
• Northridge Academy High School
• Reseda High School
• San Fernando High School
• Sylmar High School
• Sylmar High School Math Science Technology Magnet
• Van Nuys High School (VNHS)
• Van Nuys High School Performing Arts Magnet
• Vaughn International Studies Academy (VISA)
  

Middle Schools:

• Community Charter Middle School
• Northridge Middle School
• Pacoima Middle School
• San Fernando Middle School
• Sun Valley Middle School

Recreation
The city of San Fernando is a great place for recreation. San Fernando provides a number of recreational activities for fun and enjoyment for residents as well as visitors. The area has Las Palmas Park, Pioneer Park, Layne Park, Skate Park and the Recreation Park. Furthermore, San Fernando has local attractions which include Lopez Adobe and the San Farnando Mission.

The following provides information about San Fernando’s local attractions:
Lopez Adobe
1100 Pico Street
San Fernando, CA 91340

San Fernando Mission
15151 San Fernando Mission Blvd.
Mission Hills, CA 91345

San Fernando is an ideal place to live, work and play. It is a rich city which was once a land of ranches and farms transformed into a lively center of commerce and manufacturing. The city has a friendly community with modern metropolitan amenities. The warm climate and the attractions of San Fernando make the city more lavish and brilliant in character. San Fernando as a strong community is rich in flavor and spirit.

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