History
Tarzana is a pleasing community that lies within the area of Greater Los Angeles. Tarzana is situated in Los Angeles County toward the western end of the San Fernando Valley at the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains. Tarzana has a land area of 6.45 square miles with an elevation of 787 feet. Tarzana is bounded by Reseda to the north, Woodland Hills to the west, Encino to the east, and the Santa Monica Mountains to the south. The neighboring communities of Tarzana include Canoga Park and Winnetka.

The first inhabitants of the Los Angeles area were the Chumash. The Chumash existed by gathering and hunting. Tongva Indians moved from the Mojave Desert region and developed 25 villages throughout the Los Angeles County area. By 1542, Europeans arrived at the area. Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo as one of the Spanish explorers reached the Santa Monica Bay and met the Tongva Indians in canoes. By 1797, the San Fernando Mission was founded through which Spanish missionaries established permanent residence in the area. The district of Tarzana was initially part of the Mission’s lands. Tarzana became a part of a chain of large cattle ranches owned by powerful and wealthy men active in business and politics when the territory was seized first by Mexico and later by the United States. Tarzana was sold to investors by 1870’s who developed the land into a large-scale wheat farm. By 1909 however, the land surrounding Tarzana was purchased by the Los Angeles Suburban Homes Company. General Harrison Gray Otis as one of the investors purchased 550 acres in what is now the center of Tarzana. Runnymede is a small town founded in the vicinity by another investor. The land was subdivided into small plots for berry farms as well as for poultry ranches. Edgar Rice Burroughs, author of the Tarzan Stories bought Otis’ land by 1915. Edgar Rice Burroughs built a large home and renamed the property Tarzana Ranch. By 1923, Burroughs subdivided and sold the land for homes. As the development progressed, the neighboring small farms were also changed into residential areas. In honor of Burroughs and his well-known literary character, the residents renamed the town Tarzana by 1927. Tarzana Community and Cultural Center was founded by Tarzana residents in February 2000. To promote an awareness of the history of the place, Tarzana Community and Cultural Center stages community events and festivals and also collects memorabilia and photos related to Tarzana’s historical facts.

Tarzana has a population of 27, 407 residents with 52.0 percent females and 48.0 percent males, according to the year 2000 statistics of the United States Census Bureau. The median age was 39.6 years old. The racial composition of the said population was composed of 78.9 % White, 5.6 % Asian, 3.8 % African American, 0.3 % American Indian and Alaskan Native, 0.1 % Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 5.3% some other race and 6.0% two or more races. Moreover, the population has 13.1% Hispanic or Latino race. Tarzana is geographically located at 34°10’24”N and 118°33’11”W. Tarzana is situated 22 miles from the core of Los Angeles. Highway 101 (Ventura Boulevard), which runs through the northern portion of Tarzana, is the main thoroughfare that connects Tarzana to the greater metropolitan area.

As part of the area’s economy, Tarzana has a good number of retail stores and businesses. Tarzana is also home to the Encino-Tarzana Medical Center and a number of smaller medical clinics, professional offices, country clubs, real-estate agencies, law offices and country clubs. The aforementioned establishments provide Tarzana residents with local employment.

Schools
Tarzana features excellent schools that provide quality education for residents. Tarzana is situated in the Los Angeles Unified School District. The public schools that can be found in Tarzana include Nestle Avenue Elementary, Vanalden Elementary School, Wilbur Avenue Elementary School, Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies (SOCES) and the Gaspar de Portola Middle School that offer first-rate and outstanding education and thus promote academic achievement for students of Tarzana. Tarzana also has private schools which consisted of Woodcrest Elementary School and Assyrian American Christian School (AACS) that also mold students for academic excellence and bright future.

The following are the addresses of Wilbur Avenue Elementary School and Gaspar de Portola School:
Wilbur Avenue Elementary School
5213 Cress Avenue
Tarzana, California 91356

Gaspar de Portola Middle School
18720 Linnet Street
Tarzana, CA 91356

Tarzana provides fun and excitement through the area’s recreational settings. Tarzana is home to Marvin Braude Mulholland Gateway Park which has neatly arranged and trimmed lawns for sporting and recreation activities as well as mountain sceneries. Tarzana also has Braemar Country Club which features two beautiful and interesting 18-hole golf courses, twenty tennis courts and various other sports facilities. The area has Corbin Bowl which provides a wide range of bowling services and amusement.

The following presents information about Tarzana’s recreational areas:
Marvin Braude Mulholland Gateway Park
3600 Reseda Blvd.
Tarzana, California

Braemar Country Club
4001 Reseda Blvd. 
Tarzana, California

Corbin Bowl
19616 Ventura Blvd.
Tarzana, California

Furthermore, Tarzana has Offside Sports and Adventure 16, which offer high quality sports apparel and finest sports gear and equipment, respectively. As a haven for music lovers, Tarzana offers California Traditional Music Society (CTMS), Guitar Arts, LA Bass Exchange as well as Norman's Rare Guitars.Tarzana is considered as a Los Angeles bedroom community with many neighborhoods divided into zones of single-family residential or residential/agricultural, the latter being of special appeal to people who wish for a suburban lifestyle and ample home lot.

Tarzana cares about its people as the community’s greatest asset: residents that care for their neighbors and the community they live in; residents who are hospitably reaching out and lending helping hands to strangers in need; residents who actively pursue leadership roles in their community through participation in benevolent civic and church organizations.

Tarzana is a great place to live. Tarzana provides quality and happy life. It is also a magnificently enjoyable place to visit. It is a place for families, friends, visitors and everyone else.

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