Burbank, California

Burbank is a city in the southeastern part of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is located about 7 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. As of 2025, Burbank had a population of 105,833 people. The city was named after David Burbank, who started a sheep ranch there in 1867.

Burbank is well known for its media and entertainment industry. Many important companies have offices or studios there, earning it the nickname "Media Capital of the World." These include Warner Bros. Entertainment, The Walt Disney Company, Nickelodeon Animation Studio, The Burbank Studios, and Cartoon Network Studios. The broadcast network The CW is also based in Burbank. The city has two main parts: a downtown area near the Verdugo Mountains and a flatter area.

The Hollywood Burbank Airport is an important part of the city's history. It was once home to Lockheed's Skunk Works, where very advanced airplanes were built, such as the U-2 spy planes. Burbank also has the largest IKEA store in the United States.

History

Indigenous peoples and Spanish era

The history of Burbank goes back to the Tongva people, who lived in the area for thousands of years before Europeans arrived. In the late 1700s and early 1800s, Spanish explorers and mission priests came to the Los Angeles area. Burbank is on land that was once part of two Spanish and Mexican land grants: Rancho San Rafael and Rancho Providencia.

Mexican rancho era and early American era

After Mexico won independence from Spain, Rancho San Rafael became part of the new Mexican Republic. In 1867, David Burbank bought land from these grants and started a sheep ranch. By the 1870s, the San Fernando Valley was a major wheat-growing area, but droughts showed the need for better water supplies.

Railroad drives growth (1876–1888)

The Southern Pacific Railroad arrived in 1876, linking San Francisco and Los Angeles. Dr. Burbank sold land to the railroad, helping Burbank become a transportation hub. The first train passed through in 1874. A land boom brought many people to California, and speculators bought much of Burbank's land in 1886.

Rapid growth and modernization (1900–1940)

In 1900, Burbank got its first telephone exchange. By 1904, boxing champion James J. Jeffries became a landowner in Burbank. The town's first bank opened in 1908. In 1911, a farmer named Joseph Fawkes tried to build a monorail but it failed. The same year, Burbank became a city.

City of Burbank

Burbank became a city in 1911, governed by a Board of Trustees. It was the first independent city in the San Fernando Valley. The city grew steadily, adding banks, newspapers, schools, and businesses. By the 1930s, it had over 3,000 residents and 125 miles of paved streets.

Early manufacturing

The first factory in Burbank was the Burbank Furniture Manufacturing Company in 1887. Later, Moreland Motor Truck Company and Andrew Jergens Company opened factories, bringing manufacturing jobs to the city.

Aviation

The aircraft industry began in Burbank in the 1920s with Lockheed and Vega Aircraft. United Airport opened in 1930 and became a major airline hub. During World War II, Lockheed's factories in Burbank produced many important aircraft, employing thousands of people.

Entertainment industry

The movie industry came to Burbank in the 1920s with First National Pictures and Warner Bros. Disney also built a studio there in 1939. During World War II, these studios made films to support the war effort. Later, NBC moved its West Coast headquarters to Burbank, and many TV shows and movies were filmed there.

Cinema history

Many famous films were made in Burbank's studios, including Casablanca and Bonnie and Clyde. The city's locations, like the Burbank Town Center and the Burbank Airport, have also been used in many movies and TV shows.

Burbank today

Burbank faces challenges like high housing costs and has passed laws to restrict smoking in public places. The city continues to honor its aviation history and has seen new developments, like the Second Century office towers opened in 2023. Today, around 164,000 people work in Burbank.

Geography

Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County, California, covering an area of 17.4 square miles. Most of this area is land, with just a small part being water. It is surrounded by Glendale to the east, North Hollywood and Toluca Lake to the west, and Griffith Park to the south, with the Verdugo Mountains to the north.

The city's elevation ranges from about 500 feet in the lower valleys to around 800 feet near the Verdugo Mountains. Burbank has a warm, dry climate with hot summers and mild winters. The highest temperature ever recorded was 114°F, and the lowest was 22°F. Rain is uncommon, but when it does come, it usually falls in February or January.

Geology

The ground in Burbank is made mostly of sedimentary rocks like sandstone and shale, formed by ancient rivers and seas. The area is near several fault lines, including the San Fernando Fault, which caused an earthquake in 1971. Another fault, the Verdugo Fault, runs close to the city.

Climate

Burbank enjoys a hot-summer Mediterranean climate with dry, warm summers and mild, wet winters. The city experiences very hot temperatures in summer and cool temperatures in winter. Rain is rare but falls mostly between December and February. Snow is very unusual but has happened a few times in the past.

Extremes

• Highest recorded temperature: 114 °F (46 °C)
• Lowest recorded temperature: 22 °F (−6 °C)
• Warmest month: August
• Coolest month: December
• Highest precipitation: February
• Lowest precipitation: July/August

Neighborhoods

Magnolia Park area

Magnolia Park is a neighborhood in western Burbank, established in the early 1920s. It has a small-town feel with shady streets and older shops. Many homes here were built in the 1940s for World War II veterans. The area is known for its independent shops and has worked to keep big stores out.

Rancho Equestrian area

The Rancho Equestrian District is famous for its homes where people can keep horses. It has many single-family houses and beautiful parks. The area is close to Griffith Park and studios like Warner Bros. and Disney. It is also known for its horse trails and historic connections to famous people.

Notable locations

• Burbank Central Library
• Burbank City Hall
• Buena Vista Branch Burbank Public Library
• De Bell Municipal Golf Course
• Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center
• Northwest Park Branch Burbank Public Library
• Southern California Genealogical Society Library
• Gordon R. Howard Museum
• George Izay Park
• Martial Arts History Museum
• Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery
• Nickelodeon Animation Studio
• The Burbank Studios
• Walt Disney Studios
• Warner Bros. Ranch
• Warner Bros. Studios
• Hasbro Studios

Warner Bros. Studios

Main article: Warner Bros. Studios Burbank

Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank is a famous filmmaking place in Burbank, California. It was built in 1926 and became the main home of Warner Bros. after they bought it. Today, visitors can take tours to see how movies are made.

Walt Disney Studios

Main article: Walt Disney Studios (Burbank)

The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank is where the Disney Company is headquartered. Disney moved here in 1939, and these buildings are some of the oldest film studios still around.

George Izay Park

The City of Burbank has many parks, including George Izay Park. From 1949 to 1952, a baseball team used the park for training. Over the years, famous people visited to watch the games. The park was renamed in 1984 to honor George Izay.

Demographics

Burbank saw its population grow by 4.8% from 2000 to 2016, reaching 105,110 people. This growth was due to more jobs, good schools, and easy access to transportation. However, after 2020, the population began to fall by 4.3%, reaching about 102,755 by 2023. This decline happened as the film industry moved away and shrank statewide.

2020 census

The 2020 United States census found Burbank had 107,337 people. The city had many different groups: 60.9% were White, 2.9% African American, 0.8% Native American, 11.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 10.1% from other races, and 13.6% from two or more races. About 24.2% of people were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Most people lived in homes, with 99.3% in households, 0.4% in group homes, and 0.3% in other places. There were 43,644 homes, with 26.9% having children under 18. About 43.3% were married couples living together, 6.7% were couples living together without marriage, 29.8% had a woman as the main homeowner with no partner, and 20.2% had a man as the main homeowner with no partner. About 29.3% of homes had just one person, and 10.2% of these were people aged 65 or older. The average home size was 2.44 people. There were 26,600 families, which was 60.9% of all homes.

People of all ages lived in Burbank: 17.7% were under 18, 7.6% were aged 18 to 24, 31.5% were aged 25 to 44, 26.9% were aged 45 to 64, and 16.3% were 65 or older. The middle age was 40.4 years. For every 100 girls, there were 92.8 boys.

There were 45,616 places to live, with 43,644 of them used. About 41.9% of these were owned by the people living there, and 58.1% were rented. In 2023, the average home earned $95,816 a year, and each person earned about $55,630. About 7.1% of families and 10.7% of all people had less money than needed to live comfortably.

Earlier

While White people have always been the largest group in Burbank, their share has gone down from about 80% in 1980 to around 72% in 2000. During the same time, the number of Hispanic or Latino people grew from 16% in 1980 to 25% in 2000. The number of Asian people also went up, from 3% in 1980 to 9% in 2000. The number of African American people stayed small, going from less than 1% in 1980 to almost 2% in 2000.

In 2000, the most common family backgrounds were Mexican and Armenian. The most common places people were born outside the U.S. were Mexico and Iran.

Economy

Burbank has a lot of office space, especially for the entertainment industry. Many big companies have offices or headquarters here, like Warner Bros. Entertainment, the Walt Disney Company, and ABC. About 150,000 people work in Burbank every day, even though fewer people actually live there.

The city has had some money problems over the years, but it continues to grow. New businesses keep moving in, which helps bring more jobs. For example, Kaiser Permanente moved some offices to Burbank, and IKEA opened one of its largest stores there.

The downtown area has shops, restaurants, and entertainment spots. There are modern malls like the Burbank Town Center and the Empire Center, which were built on old factory sites. These places help the local economy by bringing in visitors and creating jobs.

Government

Burbank is a charter city that uses a council–manager style of government. In 1927, people voted to use this style of government. The City Council has five members who serve four-year terms, and one of them is chosen as Mayor each year. The City Clerk and City Treasurer are also elected.

Burbank runs many services itself, with offices for the City Manager and City Attorney. It also has departments for things like community development, fire, police, libraries, and parks. The city’s first library opened in 1913, and today there are three libraries, with the newest one opening in 2022. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the library offered services like picking up books and online programs to help people learn and stay connected.

Burbank gets its power from several sources. It has its own utility, Burbank Water and Power (BWP), which serves homes and businesses. Most of the city’s power comes from a plant that uses natural gas. The city also uses renewable energy from a small power plant at a landfill.

Burbank has worked hard to save water, especially during dry years. The city changed its water rules to use less water, and people have helped by using about 22% less water than they did before.

City Hall

The current Burbank City Hall was built between 1941 and 1942. It was designed in a style popular during that time and cost $409,000. The building has a tall tower and beautiful walls made of different kinds of stone. In 1996, it was added to a special list of important historic buildings in the United States.

County representation

Burbank is part of the Fifth District in the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, represented by Kathryn Barger.

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services runs a health center in Glendale that serves Burbank.

State and federal representation

In the state, Burbank is in the 20th senatorial district, represented by Democrat Caroline Menjivar, and in the 44th Assembly district, represented by Democrat Nick Schultz. In the United States Senate, Burbank is represented by California’s senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, both Democrats.

United States Congress

Burbank is in the US 30th congressional district since 2023. This district has been represented by Adam Schiff until December 2024, and Laura Friedman beginning January 2025. Before 2023, parts of Burbank were in different districts over the years, each with different representatives.

State Senate Districts

Burbank’s representation in the State Senate has changed many times over the years as districts were redrawn. It has been part of various districts and represented by many different senators since 1911. After the 2021 redistricting, Burbank is in the 20th state senate district.

Education

Burbank is part of the Burbank Unified School District, which began in 1879. It started with one small school and grew over time. In 1908, the first high school opened with just 42 students.

Today, Burbank has many good schools, including some that are honored as California Distinguished Schools. Both public and private schools here often score higher than average on tests. The city is also home to Woodbury University, which offers many different subjects to study, and several smaller colleges.

Media

Burbank has a weekly newspaper called Burbank Leader. There is also a news website named Myburbank that shares stories just for people who live in Burbank.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Air

The Hollywood Burbank Airport, known as Bob Hope Airport until late 2017, serves over 4 million travelers each year. It has six major airlines and more than 70 flights daily. The airport is in the northwest part of the city and causes a lot of traffic. People have been worried about noise from the airport for many years. In 2018, there was a report that a new air traffic control system might have made the noise worse for some neighborhoods. In 2013, two California congressmen suggested a law to stop flights from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., but the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration did not agree. The airport still asks airlines to follow a voluntary curfew during those hours.

In 2008, fewer people were flying, so the airport authority stopped some big building plans. In 2010, the number of passengers dropped by 6% because of the weak economy. Because of this, they also stopped plans to build barriers at the end of a runway.

Roads and highways

Major freeways were built through and around Burbank starting in the 1950s. These freeways connect Burbank to the growing Los Angeles area. The city is linked to the region by the Golden State Freeway (I-5), which runs through the middle of the city, and the Ventura Freeway, which connects to U.S. Route 101 and the Foothill Freeway. The Ventura Freeway was finished in 1960.

In 2012, the state approved $224.1 million to improve the Golden State Freeway (I-5) in Burbank and make railroad crossings safer. This included building a new interchange at Empire Avenue to help connect to a shopping center. Work was set to start in early 2013 and finish in early 2016.

Burbank has about 227.5 miles of streets, nearly 50 miles of paved alleys, and over 365 miles of sidewalks. There are also many traffic signals and some with flashing lights. The Burbank Chandler Bike Path is popular for both cyclists and walkers.

Transit

Metro runs public transport all over Los Angeles County, including Burbank. People can take Metrolink and Amtrak trains to go south to Downtown, west to Ventura, and north to Palmdale and beyond. Burbank has three train stations: Burbank Airport–North station, Burbank Airport–South station, and Downtown Burbank station. Burbank also has its own bus system called the Burbank Bus. In 2006, Burbank opened its first hydrogen fueling station for cars.

The planned California High-Speed Rail will go through the city and stop near Burbank. This train will go from the San Francisco area to Los Angeles, traveling up to 220 mph at some points.

Public safety

Fire department

When Burbank became a city, it had a volunteer fire department. They used buckets and had to find hydrants to fight fires. In 1913, the city started its own fire department. By 1916, they added 40 new fire hydrants but still used volunteers. In 1927, the city switched to a professional fire department.

The fire department now has six fire stations, six fire engines, two ladder trucks, and three ambulances.

In the late 1970s, Burbank joined with Glendale and Pasadena to create the Verdugo Fire Communications Center. All three cities were having trouble dispatching fire calls, so they made a joint center to help. Today, Verdugo dispatches fire departments in California's OES "Area C" and the Burbank Airport Fire Department.

Hospitals

In 1907, Burbank's first big hospital opened as "Burbank Community Hospital." It had 16 beds and helped during a smallpox outbreak in 1913 and during World War II. It was located at Olive Avenue and Fifth Street. By the mid-1980s, it had 103 beds and over 175 doctors. In 1990, a group of doctors bought the hospital and renamed it Thompson Memorial Medical Center. In 2001, the hospital was torn down to build a senior living community.

In 1943, the Sisters of Providence Health System founded Providence St. Joseph Medical Center. Building the hospital was hard because of World War II material shortages, but they finished it. During the baby boom in the 1950s, the hospital grew from 100 beds to 212. By 2012, it had 431 beds and was the second-largest hospital in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys. It has many special centers, including cancer, cardiology, and children's services. In 2010, they opened the Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center, thanks to a gift from the family of Roy E. Disney.

Notable people

Burbank, California, has been home to many famous people throughout history. A list of notable individuals from the city can be found here.

Sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in the United States

Burbank is currently twinned with:

• Arezzo, Italy
• Gaborone, Botswana
• Incheon, South Korea
• Ōta, Japan
• Solna, Sweden