History
Topanga – is a neighborhood that can be found at the western part of Los Angeles County. Topanga can be found at the Santa Monica Mountains and the neighborhood also encompasses the Topanga Canyon. Topanga has a total land area of 52 km² and is elevated 892 feet above sea level. The coordinates for Topanga is 34.093 - 118.6W.

Topanga has a total population of 5,441 as of the year 2000. There are 2,754 males living in Topanga as compared to 2,687 for females. Majority of Topanga’s residents are White Americans who make up 90.9% of the neighborhood’s population. Topanga has an average of 2.45 people living per household. The average number of persons per family in Topanga is 2.90.

In the year 1999, the median household income in Topanga was $88,661. Families in Topanga had a median income of $118,489.

As of the year 2000, there were 2,332 housing units in the neighborhood of Topanga. Majority of these housing units are occupied by their respective owners, which total to 1680. There are 535 housing units in Topanga that are rented by tenants. There are 117 unoccupied housing units in Topanga. Residents of Topanga have a median age of 41.2 years.

The name of Topanga was given by the Tongva, a Native American tribe, which means “a place above.” The Topanga area was the western edge of the Tongva’s territory neighboring the territory of another Native American Tribe, the Chumash. Topanga’s Caucasian residents started to settle in the area in 1839. Topanga’s first ranch was built and settled-in in 1885.

Topanga is rich in cultural attractions such as the Theatricum Botanicum. Topanga’s Theatricum Botanicum is an open-air theater which was founded by Will Geer in 1973. Topanga’s Theatricum Botanicum was named after the English botanist John Parkinson’s herbal, Theatrum Botanicum (1640). Will Geer’s former wife, Herta Ware, helped develop Topanga’s Theatricum Botanicum and continued to appear in plays there even after the death of her husband in 1978. Topanga’s Theatricum Botanicum features Shakespearean plays along with modern and contemporary plays. Topanga’s Theatricum Botanicum is also used sometimes for concerts. A notable aspect of the theater is the fact that every plant mentioned in Shakespeare can be found in Topanga’s Theatricum Botanicum.

Topanga is also noted as a bohemian enclave that attracts artists, musicians, and the like. Various music festivals have been arranged in Topanga. These include the Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest which is being held annually since 1961.

Topanga is also known for its annual fair and parade, known as “Topanga Days Country Fair.” The Topanga Days Country Fair was recently dubbed as the “Biggest Bohemian Bash” in Southern California. The Topanga Days Country Fair now features three stages of diverse nonstop music, belly dancing, fun and games for all ages, over 80 unique craft vendors and a variety of mouthwatering food from Cajun to hot tamales to comfort-loving sausages. Since 1973, Topanga Days is a three-day festival Fundraiser for the Topanga Community House in the heart of Topanga State Park.

The land of Topanga also encompasses two parks, Topanga State Park and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.

Topanga State Park is an 11,000 acre park and is the largest state park in the Santa Monica Mountains. Topanga State Park features 36 miles of trails through live oaks and open grasslands. Topanga State Park’s trails also provide a scenic view of the Pacific Ocean. The park is bordered on the south by Pacific Palisades and Brentwood, on the west by Topanga Canyon, and on the east by Rustic Canyon. Many of the park's trails can be accessed from Trippet Ranch. The Musch Trail leads north to Musch Trail Camp by winding in and out of the sun and shade where plant assemblages change with every subtle difference in light and moisture. The park is an excellent spot to go camping in if you are in the mood to rough it up.

The Santa Monica Conservancy is an agency of the state of California. It was founded in 1979 and aims to acquire land in the Santa Susana and Santa Monica Mountains and the Simi Hills, north and west of Los Angeles. Their purpose for acquisition is for the preservation of open space and wildlife habitat while providing public recreation. The Conservancy zone includes the 155,000 acre (627 km²) Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, created by Congress in 1978, as well as 40,000 acres (162 km²) of state parks, including Topanga State Park, which is within the Los Angeles' city limits.

Topanga has two schools inside its neighborhood: The Topanga Learn-Charter Elementary School and Calmont School. Topanga Learn-Charter Elementary is a public elementary school under the Los Angeles Unified School District. As of August 2006, Topanga Learn-Charter Elementary has 277 students and 16 full-time teachers. There is a 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio in Topanga Learn-Charter Elementary. Topanga Learn-Charter can be found at 141 N. TOPANGA BLVD., Topanga, CA.

Calmont School is a private elementary school in Topanga. Calmont School has 130 students and 19 full-time teachers. The student-teacher ratio in Topanga’s Calmont School is 6.8:1. Topanga’s Calmont School can be found at 1717 Old Topanga Canyon Rd., Topanga, CA.

As a neighborhood known for its artistic inclinations, Tapanga also had its fair share of note-worthy residents. These includes Neil Young, Billy Preston, Joni Mitchell, Steven Stills, Bernie Leadon of the Eagles, Jim Morrison and John Densmore of the Doors, Mick Fleetwood, Spanky Macfarlane, Lowell George, Julia Fordham, Richie Hayward and Fred Tackett of Little Feat, Taj Mahal, Pee Wee Crayton, Big Joe Turner, Alice Cooper, and Mark Andes, Jay Ferguson and John Locke of Spirit (band).

Thespians and actors also resided in Topanga. Among them are Will Geer, Dean Stockwell, Lisa Bonet, Wendie Malick, Eric Mabius, and Dennis Hopper. Russ Tamblyn raised his daughter, Amber Tamblyn in Topanga, and Jennifer Holden who starred in the movie "Jailhouse Rock" with Elvis Presley.

Topanga offers a diverse array of reasons to come and visit the neighborhood. Your artistic imagination would thrive in this bohemian enclave. People who enjoy the Outdoors should come and check out Topanga State Park and take advantage of its trails. Lastly, Topanga is just a short drive to Malibu, the neighboring main community. So come and visit Topanga.

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