| Topanga, California |
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Information AboutTopanga, California |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT TOPANGA, CALIFORNIA | |
| unincorporated communities in california | |
| los angeles county communities | |
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Topanga, California is an unincorporated neighborhood in western Los Angeles County , USA . It is located in the Santa Monica Mountains and occupies Topanga Canyon. Topanga is 12,748 acres (52 km&2) in size, and is bounded on three sides by park or conservancy lands, and on the south by the Pacific Ocean and a small strip of Malibu , which is the main community to the west. On the east is Pacific Palisades . The population of the Topanga in 1995 was estimated to be over 12,000, and it is predicted to grow to 20,000 by 2020 . The ZIP Code is 90290 and the Area Code is 310. It is in the 3rd County Supervisorial district. Topanga Creek drains Topanga Canyon and is the third largest watershed entering the Santa Monica Bay . The creek is one of the few remaining undammed waterways in the area, and is a spawning ground of the Endangered Steelhead trout. The area typically receives about 22" of rain annually. In 1997 - 1998 it received over 58" of rainfall resulting in extensive flood damage. Topanga State Beach lies on the coast at the outlet of Topanga Creek. Topanga Canyon Boulevard, California State Route 27 , is the principle thoroughfare, connecting the Ventura Freeway with Pacific Coast Highway . The road largely follows Topanga Creek. Topanga State Park is the largest park in the Santa Monica Mountains, and is a part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area . HISTORY ''Topanga'' is the name given to the area by the Tongva tribe, and may mean "a place above." It was the western border of their territory, abutting the Chumash tribe that occupied the coast from Malibu northwards. Bedrock Mortars can be found carved into rock outcroppings in many locations. Topanga was settled by Whites beginning in 1839 . The first ranch was homesteaded in 1885 . In the 1950s Blacklist ed actor Will Geer had to sell his large Santa Monica home and move his family to small plot in the canyon where they could grow their own produce. Geer's friend Woody Guthrie had a small shack on the property. They unintentionally founded what became an Artists Colony . The Santa Ynez Fire began on November 6 , 1961 , the same day as the Bel-Air--Brentwood Fire further east. It burned nine structures and 9,720 acres (39 km&2) of watershed. Members of Charles Manson 's "family" began their campaign of murder on July 31 , 1969 with the torture and murder of Topanga resident Gary Hinman , a music teacher who had opened his home to anyone needing shelter. The Old Topanga Fire began on November 2 , 1993 . Within an hour it was already burning 1,000 acres (4 km&2). It resulted in the largest mobilization of emergency resources in a twenty-four hour period in California history. By the time it was extinguished ten days later 16,516 acres (67nbsp;km&2) of watershed and at least 388 structures were burned in Topanga and adjoining areas. CULTURE The most notable cultural attraction is the , Arlo Guthrie , Della Reese , and Burl Ives . The area is known as a , Lisa Bonet , Wendie Malick , Eric Mabius , and Dennis Hopper . Russ Tamblyn raised his daughter, Amber Tamblyn in Topanga, Jennifer Holden from the movie "Jailhouse Rock" with Elvis Presley. The Inn of the Seventh Ray is the best known restaurant in Topanga, featuring healthy food in a funky setting. They are famous for their "live food" menu of uncooked produce. Another famous venue in the canyon was the Elysium Institute , also known as Elysium Fields, a Nudist club for 30 years. After surviving extended battles with County officials the 9-acre property was sold in 2002 by its founder's heirs. {Link without Title} LOWER TOPANGA CANYON The bottom of Topanga Canyon, where it meets Pacific Coast Highway and the ocean, was owned for many years by the Los Angeles Athletic Club , a wealthy private club in downtown Los Angeles. The 1,659 acre (6.7 km&2) parcel was rented out to a variety of businesses and residents for decades at very low rents. In 2001 the property was purchased by the State of California . The state is in the process of evicting tenants, and will subsequently rehabilitate the area and add it to Topanga State Park. EXTERNAL LINKS
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