When Victor Girard Kleinberger first laid eyes on the rolling grasslands with pools of water, he called it the "dream city." A visionary and entrepreneur, he foresaw a large population and a thriving economy in the town he named Girard, as he later came to call himself.

Girard was an ambitious man who had a penchant for deceit. In 1922, Girard and Boulevard Land Company purchased 2,886 acres, which was subdivided into 6,000 lots. Girard sold thousands of small lots to families in a farming area where 80 acre parcels had more typically been sold.

To expedite land sales in his new town in 1923, Girard erected gates, a mosque tower, and a business district with rows of stones with false fronts to convey the impression of a flourishing economy.

Later, in an attempt to hold off bankruptcy and his creditors, Girard attached liens to all the property he sold without informing the buyers!

In spite of his unscrupulous methods, Girard believed in the town and the land, and his plan worked. His advertisements in the newspaper did, in fact, attract new residents and businesses, and a great deal of new construction was initiated.

He beautified the area by importing and planting more than 120,000 eucalyptus, sycamore, fir, pine and pepper trees. Years later, as the trees grew, it was appropriate to change the town's name to Woodland Hills.

With the country in the throes of the Depression, Girard's "super community" crumbled. Despite the forlorn economic state of Woodland Hills, in which only 75 families remained, the town survived. Large family landholders moved in, including Harry Warner of Warner Brothers Pictures.

In 1941, residents of the community banded together to improve the community's image and rename it Woodland Hills. This was the origin of the Woodland Hills Chamber of Commerce.

Originally acquiring land to breed thoroughbred horses, Warner eventually owned 1,100 acres. When Warner liquidated much of his real estate holdings in the 1980s, a number of large corporations bought and developed portions of the master planned business development that was to become known as Warner Center.

With Warner Center still at the core of the business district, Woodland Hills enjoys a strong financial establishment, an upscale residential base, the finest health care, outstanding retail and restaurant facilities, and excellent educational institutions.


Woodland Hills is centrally located in Southern California at the west end of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County. Residents can easily enjoy the Southern California beaches, which are only a short drive away, as well as the sights and attractions found in nearby Los Angeles, Hollywood, and Santa Monica. Woodland Hills has one of the largest concentrations of corporations and financial institutions in the world.  Major employers in the area include Rocket dyne, Boeing, Litton, Blue Cross of California, Rockwell, Transamerica Insurance, Sebastian International, and Applause, Inc. Top industries, making up one quarter of the workforce, include finance, insurance, and real estate.

Warner Park, part of the Center, is also the home of the Valley Cultural Center's "Concerts in the Park" series that showcases music of all genres including folk, rock, big band, and classical. There are also many other community events throughout the year, from free concerts put on by the Pierce College Music Department, to plays put on by the Woodland Hills Community Theatre. For outdoor recreation, in addition to all of the activities found at the beach, residents often hike on beautiful trails at nearby Santa Monica Mountains. Golfers are thrilled with the many fine golf courses in the area. All of this plus the world-class attractions of greater Los Angeles are just right around the corner including Universal Studios Hollywood, Disneyland, and Knott's Berry Farm.

With its reputation for being just far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the big city, Woodland Hills is often cited as one of the "most desirable locations" to live. Housing in the area consists of everything from mountain cottages to large estates and single-family homes in quiet neighborhoods. Home prices range from 500,000 to over 2,000,000. Beautiful views of the ocean, mountains, or canyons can easily be found. The residential communities of Woodland Hills include the pleasant rolling hills of the Girard Tract, the large lots and ranch homes of Walnut Acres and the newer developments of Valley Circle Estates. With a population of about 100,000 residents, Woodland Hills has proved to be an ideal place to live with excellent real estate values, that remain strong

Woodland Hills enjoys a strong financial establishment, an upscale residential base, the finest health care, outstanding retail and restaurant facilities, excellent educational institutions, and recreational opportunities without equal.

If you are considering moving to Woodland Hills or would like more information,
please contact Ben Salem