Calabasas, California

Calabasas is a city in Los Angeles County, California, in the western United States. As of the 2005 census, the city population was 23,123. The city was formally incorporated in 1991. Many parts of Calabasas are mountains or hills, which have spectacular views of the San Fernando Valley. Many of the neighborhoods in Calabasas are gated communities comprised of large houses pejoritavely known as McMansions.

An extensive 2006 smoking ban placed the city at the center of a nationwide controversy.

1 Name
2 Communities
3 Public Services
4 Technology Center
5 Smoking Ban
6 Geography
7 Demographics
8 Education
9 Notable Residents
10 References
11 See also
12 External links

[edit] Name

It is generally accepted that Calabasas means "pumpkin," "squash," or "gourd," derived from the Spanish calabaza. Some historians hold the theory that it is merely a translation of the Chumash word calahoosa, but as that term also refers to a type of gourd, it is a discussion that largely concerns only linguists.

[edit] Communities

Calabasas contains many different communities, many of which are defined by gates that only residents and guests can enter and others by the geographical differences. For example, Vista Pointe is located along the transverse ranges that run parallel to and in between the 101 Freeway and Parkway Calabasas Road.

From Parkway Calabasas: Vista Pointe, Calabasas Hills, Calabasas Park Estates, The Oaks, Westridge.

From Park Granada or Mulholland Drive: Las Villas, Bellagio, Creekside, Clairidge, Calabasas Highlands, Cold Creek, Braemar

From Las Virgenes: Deer Springs, Stone Creek, El Encanto, Archstone, Mountain View, Mont Calabasas, Malibu Canyon Park.

[edit] Public Services

Calabasas funds its own public transportation in the form of a shuttle and trolley service [1]. It augments the service provided by The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Los Angeles: line 161 [2] and funds its own library [3] (as opposed to using the County library system), runs its own tennis and swimming center [4], has a protected and maintained historical district called "Old Town Calabasas" [5], and funds an independent television channel called "The Calabasas Channel"[6].

[edit] Technology Center

During the dot-com bubble, a number of technology companies appeared on a stretch of Agoura Rd. parallel to the 101 Freeway, leading that area of Calabasas to develop a reputation as the "101 Technology Corridor". These businesses included computer-networking companies Xylan (later Alcatel), Netcom Systems (later Spirent Communications}, Ixia Communications, j2 Global Communications, and Tekelec, as well as video-game publisher THQ, and software companies Digital Insight and NetSol Technologies.[7][8][9][10] Although some of these companies have since relocated, been acquired, or ceased their operations, the area continues to be home to a significant technology presence.

[edit] Smoking Ban

In February 2006, Calabasas placed a ban on smoking in nearly all public places, including sidewalks, parking lots, patios, and even outdoor balconies in apartment complexes if they were near common areas [11], making it the city with the strictest anti-smoking laws in the United States. Under the new laws, smoking outside in the city is restricted to selected "smoker outposts." Smoking in undesignated areas under the new law could earn smokers fines of up to $500. The ban went into effect in March 2006, garnering much local and national media attention. The full text of the ordinance may be found at Calabasas' official website on the issue. [12]

[edit] Geography

Calabasas is located at 34°8′18″N, 118°39′39″W (34.138363, -118.660917).^GR1

The city is located at the southwestern edge of the San Fernando Valley and comprises a portion of the Santa Monica Mountains. It is bordered by the Woodland Hills area of Los Angeles to the northeast, Topanga to the southeast, Malibu to the south, Agoura Hills to the west, and Hidden Hills to the north. The historic El Camino Real runs east-west through Calabasas as U.S. Route 101.

Calabasas is often considered similar to its neighboring two cities to the west, Agoura Hills and Westlake Village, because of similar demographics, size, geography, and low-density general plans. Calabasas is unique from these two for its extensively developed independent infrastructure.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 34.1 km² (13.1 mi²). 33.9 km² (13.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.38%) is water.

The weather is almost always 6-8°F cooler in the city of Calabasas compared to the bordering community of Woodland Hills because the Calabasas Hills form a barrier against the heat of the San Fernando Valley, and nearby canyons funnel cool air to the area from the Pacific Ocean.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2005, there were 23,123 people, 8,350 households, and 5,544 families residing in the city. The population density was 590.4/km² (1,528.8/mi²). There were 8,350 housing units at an average density of 218.9/km² (566.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.92% White, 1.18% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 7.71% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.31% from other races, and 2.71% from two or more races. 4.74% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The city, much like some surrounding areas and into parts of the West San Fernando Valley, has a concentration of Jews and Persians. Many of the people of the two ethnic groups mentioned are second and third-generation Americans.

There were 8,350 households out of which 44.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.3% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.3% were non-families. 17.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.6% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $93,860, and the median income for a family was $107,330. Males had a median income of $87,049 versus $46,403 for females. The per capita income for the city was $48,189. About 2.1% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 1.7% of those age 65 or over.