Living in Tarzana — Neighborhood Guide

About Tarzana

Tarzana is an LA City neighborhood in the West Valley between Encino and Woodland Hills, named for Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzana Ranch. Residential character with Ventura Boulevard commercial activity.

Who lives in Tarzana

Affluent professional-class West Valley demographic with strong medical professional community (anchored by Tarzana Medical Center and adjacent facilities), entertainment-industry workers, and longstanding Persian-American community.

Who works here

Ventura Boulevard services, Tarzana Medical Center area, and proximity to Encino and Woodland Hills professional corridors.

Getting around

Bus service along Ventura and Reseda Boulevards. Primary freeway access via the 101 and Reseda Boulevard.

Schools and colleges

LAUSD. Notable schools include Tarzana Elementary and Louis D. Armstrong Middle School.

Landmarks and public spaces

Tarzana Community & Cultural Center, Bothwell Ranch (one of LA's last remaining commercial orange groves, on the Tarzana-Reseda border).

Parks and recreation

Tarzana Recreation Center, the adjacent Santa Monica Mountains foothills, Caballero Creek, and proximity to the Sepulveda Basin and Encino open spaces.

Dining, culture, and character

Ventura Boulevard through Tarzana has neighborhood-scale restaurants and retail. The Tarzana Town Center area concentrates additional commercial activity.

Local events and traditions

Tarzana Encino Chamber events, the annual Tarzana Mardi Gras Parade along Ventura Boulevard.

Notable associations

The neighborhood was named for Edgar Rice Burroughs's character Tarzan — Burroughs owned a ranch here starting in the 1910s, and eventually subdivided it into the residential development that became Tarzana.

A bit of history

Named for Edgar Rice Burroughs' ranch, which he named after his Tarzan character and eventually subdivided starting in the late 1920s. Developed extensively post-WWII.

Michael's take on Tarzana

Tarzana is where off-market relationships matter more than public listings. Local operators, family offices, and 1031 exchangers drive transaction flow. A broker's first-call list is worth more here than a marketing package.

Thinking about selling in Tarzana?

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