Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles

Sherman Oaks is a neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States. Located within the San Fernando Valley region, the neighborhood includes a portion of the Santa Monica Mountains.

History

The Magnolia, a historic Mission Revival–style estate built in the 1920s

A partner of the Los Angeles Suburban Homes Company, Gen. Moses Hazeltine Sherman developed Sherman Oaks. The company had subdivided Template:Convert of land that would become Sherman Oaks. In 1927, each acre was sold for $780.<ref name=EngDinah>Template:Cite news</ref> Sherman's other major venture was the Los Angeles Pacific Railroad.

In 1991, a group of homeowners living in the Chandler Estates area successfully petitioned former Los Angeles City Councilmember Zev Yaroslavsky to re-draw the boundaries of Sherman Oaks from Magnolia Boulevard to Burbank Boulevard in the north, and from Coldwater Canyon Avenue to Van Nuys Blvd in the west, with the goal of including their neighborhood. This request was nothing new to the San Fernando Valley; other neighborhoods had either sought to change their names, or sought to attach themselves onto more affluent neighborhoods.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Residents in the area argued, however, that the area was originally part of Sherman Oaks, but was labeled Van Nuys instead through the creation of ZIP codes in 1962; a resident produced a property deed to buttress the case.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Just a few weeks after the Chandler Estates area successfully seceded from Van Nuys, Magnolia Woods, a 45 block area bordered by Van Nuys Boulevard on the east and the San Diego Freeway on the west, and between Burbank and Magnolia Boulevards, also successfully petitioned Los Angeles City council member Marvin Braude to secede from Van Nuys and join Sherman Oaks. Petitioners in the area argued that their neighborhood was also part of Sherman Oaks, though they were only able to produce 22 deeds showing so. As a result of this change, Van Nuys Middle School became separated from its namesake neighborhood.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Finally, in 2009, the Los Angeles City council voted to redraw neighborhood boundaries again to allow an area of about 1,800 homes in Van Nuys to be included.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The 1994 Northridge earthquake caused damage in the surrounding area. The Community Redevelopment Agency sought to manage the rebuilding efforts. The homeowners in the Sherman Oaks area later won a lawsuit to prevent the agency from managing efforts.Template:R

Geography

The neighborhood is roughly bounded by Studio City to the east, Van Nuys to the north, Encino to the west, Bel Air and Beverly Hills Post Office to the south.Template:Citation needed

Demographics

La Reina Theater, 2008<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2022

As of 2022, according to the Los Angeles Almanac there were estimated to be 66,686 residents of Sherman Oaks. The ethnic breakdown was 64.39% White (non-Hispanic), 7.10% Asian, 5.62% Black, 0.31% Native American, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 5.06% from other races, and 11.93% from two or more races, while 16.18% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.<ref name="almanac2022">Template:Cite web</ref>

2010

As of the 2010 census, according to the San Fernando Valley Almanac, Sherman Oaks had a population of 52,677 people and 25,255 households. The racial makeup of the neighborhood was 82% non-Hispanic White, 5% Asian American and 3% African American; 11% were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Other races made up less than 1%.Template:Citation needed

2000

The Los Angeles Times reported that the 2000 U.S. census counted 61,166 residents in the 9.15-square-mile Sherman Oaks neighborhood, including a wide swath of the Santa Monica Mountains—or 6,687 people per square mile, among the lowest population densities for the city. In 2008, the city estimated that the resident population had increased to 65,436.<ref name=MappingLAShermanOaks/>

In 2000, the percentages of residents aged 19 to 49 and 65 and older were among the county's highest. The percentages of divorced residents and of widows were among the county's highest.<ref name=MappingLAShermanOaks/> The average household size of two people was low when compared to the rest of the city and the county. Renters occupied 58.9% of the housing stock and house- or apartment-owners held 41.1%.<ref name="MappingLAShermanOaks">[1] "Sherman Oaks," Mapping L.A., Los Angeles Times</ref>

The neighborhood was considered "not especially diverse" ethnically within Los Angeles, with a high percentage of white residents. The breakdown was whites, 73.8%; Latinos, 11.8%; Asians, 5.7%; blacks, 4.4%; and others, 4.4%. Russian (8.4%) and German (7.4%) were the most common ancestries. Iran (14.1%) and Mexico (8.8%) were the most common places of birth for the 26.2% of the residents who were born abroad—an average percentage for Los Angeles.<ref name=MappingLAShermanOaks/>

The neighborhood had a median household income of $69,651 in 2008, which was high for the city of Los Angeles but about average for the county as a whole. The percentage of households that earned $125,000 and up was high for Los Angeles County.<ref name=MappingLAShermanOaks/>

Economy

• My Gym Children's Fitness Center, a worldwide children's fitness center has headquarters at Sherman Oaks.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Arts and culture

Los Angeles Public Library operates the Sherman Oaks Branch,<ref>"Sherman Oaks Branch Library" Los Angeles Public Library. Retrieved on March 19, 2010.</ref> also known as the Sherman Oaks Martin Pollard Branch.

Parks and recreation

The Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Park has a pool, auditorium, baseball diamonds, basketball courts, football field, gymnasium, and soccer field.<ref>"Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Pool." City of Los Angeles. Retrieved on March 19, 2010.</ref>

Sherman Oaks Castle Park features an arcade, batting cages, and miniature golf.<ref>"Sherman Oaks Castle Park." City of Los Angeles. Retrieved on March 19, 2010.</ref>

Government

Local government

The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council is an official government entity of the City of Los Angeles, providing a gateway to the Los Angeles City Council in order to promote public participation in city governance and decision-making processes.<ref name=council>Template:Cite web</ref> Sherman Oaks lies in Los Angeles's 4th City Council district, represented Template:As of by Nithya Raman.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

County, state, and federal representation

Template:As of, Sherman Oaks lies in the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors' Third and Fifth Districts, represented by Lindsey Horvath and Kathryn Barger, respectively.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It lies in California's 44th State Assembly district, represented by Nick Schultz.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sherman Oaks is in California's 27th State Senate District, represented by Henry Stern.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is in California's 32nd congressional district, represented by Brad Sherman.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Education

Van Nuys Middle School

Sherman Oaks Elementary School

Notre Dame High School

Forty-five percent of Sherman Oaks residents aged 25 and older had earned a four-year degree by 2000, a high percentage for both the city and the county. The percentage of those residents with a master's degree or higher was also high for the County.<ref name=MappingLAShermanOaks/>

LAUSD schools within the Sherman Oaks boundary include:

• Van Nuys Middle School. The school was in the Van Nuys community until 1991, when City Council member Marvin Braude directed that a 45-block area that included the school be renamed as part of Sherman Oaks. The school continued to use the name "Van Nuys Middle".<ref name=Stewartrename>Stewart, Jocelyn Y. "Identity Crisis : Community: The decision to change the name of a 45-block area of Van Nuys to Sherman Oaks leaves junior high in an odd position." Los Angeles Times. August 23, 1991. Retrieved on March 23, 2014.</ref>
• Kester Avenue Elementary School
• Chandler Elementary School
• Louis Armstrong Middle School
• Sherman Oaks Elementary
• Dixie Canyon Avenue Elementary
• Riverside Drive Elementary School

Charter schools within the Sherman Oaks boundary include:

• Ivy Bound Academy for Math, Science, and Technology on Morrison Street
• Community Harvest Charter School, closed in 2012

Portions of Sherman Oaks, including Magnolia Woods, are zoned to Van Nuys High School in Van Nuys.<ref name=Sarkisian-MillerMagnoliaWoods>Sarkisian-Miller, Nora. "A hideaway in Sherman Oaks." Los Angeles Times. May 7, 2006. Retrieved on March 23, 2014.</ref> Other portions are zoned to Grant High School in Valley Glen.Template:R

Private schools include:

• Notre Dame High School
• The Buckley School
• Village Glen School

Infrastructure

Public safety is provided by the Los Angeles Fire Department<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Los Angeles Police Department.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Notable people

• Paula Abdul, entertainer, singer, television personality<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>Template:Failed verification
• Baba Ali, comedian<ref name="Alistandup">Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Failed verification
• Jennifer Aniston, actress, born in Sherman Oaks<ref name="People-Bio">Template:Cite web</ref>
• Pete Crow-Armstrong, baseball player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Drew Barrymore, actress<ref name="wildflower7">Template:Cite book</ref>
• LeVar Burton, actor<ref name="Bio">Template:Cite web</ref>
• June Christy, singer<ref name="solid">Template:Cite web</ref>
• Andrew Dice Clay, comedian and actor<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Michael Costello, fashion designer<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Kaley Cuoco, actress<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• James Dean, actor<ref>James Dean Lived Here Bill Applegate Jr.,Sherman Oaks Patch, April 13, 2011</ref>
• David Dobrik, YouTube personality<ref>Template:Citation</ref>Template:Failed verification
• Clint Eastwood, actor, film director<ref name="autobio">Template:Cite book</ref>
• Samantha Eggar (1939-2025), British actress<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Harlan Ellison (died 2018), writer<ref>Template:Cite letter</ref>
• Michael Erush (born 1984), soccer player and coachTemplate:Citation needed
• Charles Esten, actor<ref name="post-gazette">Template:Cite news</ref>
• Mel Gibson, actor<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Joseph Gordon-Levitt, actor and filmmaker<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Dovey, Rachel. "Joseph Gordon-Levitt: Hollywood's Boy Wonder Grows Up", Paste, October 11, 2010.</ref>
• Ben Gottschalk (born 1992), NFL football offensive linesman<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Brian Grazer, film and television producer<ref name="yahoo1">Template:Cite web</ref>
• Melissa Joan Hart, actress<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Natasha Henstridge, actress<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Ne-Yo, singer<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Marsha Hunt (1917–2022), actress, model, and activist<ref name="Politics">Template:Cite web</ref>
• Jenn Im, YouTube personality<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Juicy J, rapper<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Duncan Jones, director<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Michael B. Jordan, actor<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Shia LaBeouf, actor<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Sondra Locke (1944–2018), actress, film director<ref name="autobio" />
• Demi Lovato, singer, songwriter, and actress<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Jeannie Mai, television personality, stylist, talk show host<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Rami Malek, actor<ref name="Buckley">Template:Cite news</ref>
• Jenna Marbles, YouTube personality<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Natalie Martinez, actress<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Bridget Marquardt, actress<ref>Lauren Beale. "Actress/model Bridget Marquardt buys in Sherman Oaks" Template:Webarchive Los Angeles Times August 22, 2009</ref>
• Christopher Mayer, actor<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Duff McKagan, musician<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Tana Mongeau, YouTube personality<ref>Template:CitationTemplate:Cbignore, in this reference at minute 4 second 50, Tana states she is a resident of Sherman Oaks.</ref>
• Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Elizabeth Olsen, actresses<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Bill Paparian, mayor of Pasadena, California<ref name=Flak>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Luke Perry (1966–2019), actor<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Pink, singer<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Annie Potts, actress<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Yasiel Puig, baseball player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Chuck Riley, voice actor <ref name="New York Times">Template:Cite web</ref>
• Jean Rogers, actor<ref name="variety">Obituary Variety, March 4, 1991.</ref>
• Herbert Ryman, Disney artist and imagineer<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Charlie Sheen, actor<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Brad Sherman, U.S. congressman<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>
• Warren Stevens, actor<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Bella Thorne, actress<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Ryan Turell (born 1999), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League, Yeshiva University<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Marlon Wayans, actor and comedian<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Jaiden Animations (born 1997), YouTuber and animator<ref name="JaidenAlpharad">Template:Cite web</ref>
• Alpharad (born 1995), YouTuber, esports personality, and musician<ref name="JaidenAlpharad" />

In popular culture

The TV series Sherman Oaks appeared on Showtime from 1995 to 1997.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The series Never Have I Ever is set in Sherman Oaks.Template:Citation needed

The series Black-ish is set in Sherman Oaks.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

• Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council
• Sherman Oaks Chamber of Commerce
• Sherman Oaks crime map and statistics, Los Angeles Times
• Colored map, Mapping L.A., Los Angeles Times
• View of Sherman Oaks valley, from a home on Round Valley Drive, Sherman Oaks, 1934. Los Angeles Times Photographic Archive (Collection 1429). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.