More about Burbank California

Burbank is home to an estimated 107,921 residents as of the last census in 2007. The city is split into two distinct areas; downtown an key neighborhoods are located on the foothills below the Vergudo Mountains and the other areas of the city are located in the flatlands of the San Fernando Valley, 12 miles north of Downtown Los Angeles. Burbank has been coined the “Media Capital of the World,” due to the large amount of media and entertainment companies that make the city their home. Warner Bros. Cartoon Network and The Walt Disney Company, are just a few of the names that have settled into Burbank. The entertainment industry first arrived to the city in the 1920‘s, starting with First National Pictures in 1926. After the first studio moved in, it would only be a matter of time before others followed; companies such as Columbia followed, making Burbank their permanent home for business. The city gets its name from David Burbank, a dentist and entrepreneur from New Hampshire. Burbank, besides being home to entertainment companies, also has a history of war. The land the city occupies, was originally part of two Spanish and Mexican colonial land grants in 1784 and 1821. The area hosted a military skirmish, resulting in the unseating of the Spanish Governor of California. Residents eventually dug up cannon balls from the fight in the vicinity of Warner Brothers Studio many, many years later. David Burbank settled in the area in 1867, purchasing 4.600 acres of land. The doctor built a ranch house and began raising sheep and growing wheat. By 1876, the San Fernando Valley became the largest wheat producing area in Los Angeles County, but droughts would soon bring to light the need for steady water supply. Due to the limited transportation and long distance between Los Angeles and San Francisco, stage-coaching through the Valley began in 1858, and finally in 1874, after the arrival of the railroads, the first train passed through the city. In the 1970’s, the city became part of the Verdugo Fire District with other cities such as Glendale. The city provides a Hazardous Materials team, while other cities provide services such as dispatch centers. Walking around Burbank, one can find handfuls of notable locations to visit, any of the many movie studios peppered throughout the city, the Burbank Public Library, City Hall, and Columbia Ranch are all interesting sites to take it.