Stevenson Ranch, CA

Stevenson Ranch is a suburban community located in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles County, California. The population was 33,911 at the 2010 census. The area was originally part of the Rancho San Fernando land grant given to José Sepulveda by King Carlos III of Spain in 1784. In 1853, John Stevenson purchased 640 acres of the ranch and began developing it into a prosperous agricultural enterprise. By 1880, he had sold off most of his land and moved to Pasadena.

In 1886, George Washington Pierce acquired 640 acres of the ranch and began developing it into a fashionable residential area. He named his development "Stevenson" in honor of John Stevenson. Pierce commissioned architect William Mulholland to design many of the homes in the subdivision, which became known as "Mulholland Villa." In 1906, Pierce sold his property to Jules Stein and Harry Helmsley for $2 million.

The original town site for Stevenson Ranch was located near present-day Nordhoff Street and Van Nuys Boulevard but was relocated due to concerns about flooding from nearby canals. The new town site was further west along Stevensons Creek (now called Mulholland Drive). The first buildings were erected in 1888 but did not reach full occupancy until 1892 due to a financial crisis caused by the Panic of 1893.

The town quickly grew as an affluent suburb thanks to its proximity to downtown Los Angeles and its excellent transportation links (the Santa Monica Mountains provided natural boundaries for development). By 1920, there were 1,000 homes in Stevenson Ranch; by 1930 there were 3,000; and by 1940 there were 10,000 homes.

During World War II, many families moved out of Los Angeles because of air raids; they returned after the war when prices increased dramatically due to pent-up demand caused by wartime shortages. As a result, Stevenson Ranch became one of L A's most exclusive neighborhoods; today it is home to some of Hollywood's wealthiest residents (including Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg).

Today, Stevenson Ranch is still an affluent suburb with a diverse mix of housing styles (including single-family homes as well as high-rise apartments and condominiums). It is also home to several prestigious schools (including Harvard-Westlake School), numerous commercial businesses (including luxury boutiques), and several parks/green spaces (including Warner Park and Mulholland Park).