Little is known about the Chumash Indians, who were this community's earliest settlers. When the first white men rode in with the Portola Expedition in 1769 to explore the beautiful hills and valleys, they encountered the Indians and called the area the Valley of the Oaks. It was in this area, now named Woodland Hills, that the treaty was signed to end the Mexican War. This cleared the way for California to be admitted to the union in 1850 as the 31st state.
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.

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. Large family landholders moved in, including Harry Warner of Warner Brothers Pictures.

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, excellent educational institutions, and recreational opportunities without equal - all in beautiful Southern California.

The Area

The 101 Freeway runs through Woodland Hills with easy access to other major freeways in the area, such as the 405 Freeway to Long Beach, interchanging to the 10 Freeway to downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Malibu, and scenic views along the Pacific Coast Highway.

Woodland Hills has an excellent school system. There are ten elementary schools, three junior high schools, and four senior high schools, ten religious and private preschools, serving the educational needs of the Woodland Hills area.

Shopping centers, country clubs, museums, recreational activities are all located right in the community. Santa Monica recreation area is located on 150,000 acres servicing its population well with great outdoor activities such as hiking, climbing, fishing and equestrian trails.

Transportation

Public Transportation is provided by the MTA. The area is serviced by many lines which connect the community to anywhere in the Los Angeles and Greater Los Angeles Areas.

Opened at the end of 2005 is the highly advanced Orange Line Expressway. This state of the art dedicated bus line provides quick transportation to the subway station in North Hollywood. Buses travel in dedicated lanes and bridges and don't need to wait for traffic signals. Stops along the way include important destinations such as Valley Torah High School.