Reseda - City of Los Angeles

Demographics Land Area (Sq. Mi.): 6.8 Population: 64,020 African American: 4.8% Asian American: 13.0% Hispanic: 49.8% White: 31.9% Other: 0.4% Median Housing Value: $572,000 (average of central south valley as per Southland Regional Association of Realtors) Number of Households: 21,905 Related Websites City of Los Angeles

Reseda was originally part of lands owned by the historic San Fernando Mission.  Its main east-west artery, Sherman Way, was modeled after Mexico City's Paseo de la Reforma. Built at a cost of $1,000, L.A.'s nostalgic Red Cars ran down the center of the highway, enabling Valleyites to travel through the Cahuenga Pass to downtown L.A., and more importantly, to transport prospective developers to the West Valley.  The Pacific Electric tracks were laid in 1911 and removed in 1952, defining an era.

Those longtime residents who miss the Red Cars might still remember old Reseda, before it became one of the Valley's busiest business districts. Those who weren't around in the '40's might not realize that until that time Reseda was an agricultural community.  In fact, it was one of the nation's largest lettuce producers.

Children can catch a glimpse of those halcyon days at The Farm, on Tampa Avenue.  This is a combination animal farm and petting zoo featuring llamas and burros, sheep and goats.  "Norman," the heifer from the movie "City Slickers," is among the livestock residents.  There is a nominal admission charge, with an additional fee for the popular pony rides.