Glendale was incorporated in 1906. Of 40,000 total structures in Glendale, over 20,000 are over 50 years old. Many of these structures have historical and/or architectural significance. This is a first attempt to define and characterize the historic neighborhoods of Glendale. It is being modified on an ongoing basis as more info becomes available.

GLENOAKS CANYON Area built primarily between the 1920s and 1950s with a diverse representation of Glendale's variety in architectural styles. The area is very uniform in setback, size and scale of structures with very little inappropriate alteration of period homes. Richard Neutra and Harwell Hamilton Harris built houses here.

CHEVY CHASE CANYON Hillsides and shaded canyon areas with beautiful homes including Lloyd Wright's Derby House and Calori House. This area was once a Donheny Family hunting preserve.

EAST HARVARD Glendale's oldest neighborhood. Was identified on a formal survey as a "historic district" in 1984. However, the area lost much of its integrity due to inappropriate development in the 1980s and 1990s. The area still contains excellent examples of turn of the century and early/late Craftsman architecture.

ADAMS HILLS/ADAMS SQUARE Example of combined residential and commercial use replicating a small hillside town with a "town center". Varied periods of significance from 1915 to 1960 unified by the area's unique topography. Eclectic mix of Spanish, Tudor, modernistic architectural styles. Distictive Adams Square commercial zone has a number of landmarks. Portions of this area were originally the Tropico District, Acacia Hills, Heidi Boynton Tract and other early subdivisions of Richardson's Santa Eulalia Ranch.

INDUSTRIAL A remnant of one of Glendale's earliest industrial areas with brick buildings built in the 1930s centered around Milford and Commercial streets.

PIONEER HOMES/RANDOLF AREA/CASA VERDUGO Once of Glendale's oldest area, particularly in the northern section. Great examples of architecture styles and good example of early residential neighborhood development.

HILLSIDE MID-CENTURY A high concentration of intact mid-20th century modern hillside residences of modernist, ranch style, single story.

BRAND BOULEVARD COMMERIAL DISTRICT Glendale's first commercial district; The place to shop for many decades. Street cars led to various destinations in Southern California. Home of the historic Alex Theatre and Security Pacific Band, Glendale's oldest bank. Landmark Egyptian Village Café and Jensen Arcade demolished during 1980s.

EAST GARFIELD A few small historic districts were identified in a 1993 survey. The area contains fine examples of 1920s apartments. There was substantial loss of integrity in the 1980s and 1990s due to inappropriate alteration of historic buildings, but scattered examples of Art Deco and Craftsman still stand.

EL MIRADERO/CASTLE HEIGHTS Leslie Brand's residential subdivisions sitting below his Brand Castle estate (now The Brand Library & Art Center) are characterized by houses with red tile roofs and Spanish Colonial Revival architecture.

NORTHWEST GLENDALE Very high concentration of residences greater than 50 years old. Many uniform setbacks, size and scale compatible. Some of the intact historical sections are deteriorating because homes of small size are being inappropriately remodeled, expanded or demolished. Includes El Miradero and Ard Eevin Highlands.

RANCHOS A high concentration of homes built in the 1940s in the early ranch style with part of area zoned for horses.

WEST GLENDALE Glendale's first annexation area in 1911. Scattered examples of early residential architecture vintage 1910 to 1925. Building in the 1960s was often disorganized, but some of the 1960s apartments are good representations of the distinct mid-century modernist style.

TROPICO Once an independent city adjacent to Glendale with its own City Hall, Post Office and Library. Home of the Southern Pacific Railroad Depot. Annexed to Glendale in 1918.

HILLCREST Another example of early residential development containing distinct architectural styles characteristic of Glendale's history.

ROSSMOYNE A good example of early planned community development that included parks, homes, schools, shopping and even a college. Grand Spanish Colonial and Colonial Revival houses abound. Judge Erskine Ross was one of Glendale's earliest founding fathers and he was a distinguished officer serving during The Civil War.

ROYAL CANYON A similar but distinct part of the Mountain/Rossmoyne neighborhood, with excellent examples of 1920s and 1930s Spanish and Mediterranean architecture and impressive tall Fan Palms lining Royal Boulevard.

VERDUGO WOODLANDS A neighborhood very much developed respecting the natural environment of the woodlands. Architectural styles are varied, smaller homes fit in well with the wooded environment. Schindler's Rodriguez House here.

MONTECITO PARK/SPARR HEIGHTS Typical early 1920's residential subdivisions. Impressive Tudor and Spanish Revival. Neighborhoods were annexed to Glendale in the early 1920s to take advantage of the municipal services of Glendale. Walters House and Sparr Heights Senior Center are key landmarks.

STONE HOUSES THEMATIC DISTRICT This thematic district was identified in a formal 1991 historic survey. Native materials such as stones and boulders from the local mountains were employed to build homes and churches, creating a distinctive architectural style. The properties are mostly scattered throughout La Crescenta, Tujunga (centered around Boston and Thirds Streets) and the City of Glendale.

LA CRESCENTA The town of La Crescenta has a distinct history but has been incorporated into Glendale. Development began in the Crescenta Valley beginning around the turn of the 19th century and continues today.

MONTROSE Like La Crescenta, Montrose has a distinct history and includes areas that have been incorporated into Glendale, while some remain unincorporated.