Burbank is a city built by People, Pride, and Progress. These three ingredients turned a tiny, rural town into the thriving community it is today.
In the beginning, the land occupied by the present City was part of two large Spanish land grants. The first was the vast Rancho San Rafael, granted to Don Jose Maria Verdugo by the Spanish government in 1798. Nearby Rancho La Providencia was created following Mexico's successful bid for independence from Spain in 1821.
The real history of the city, though, began when a New Hampshire dentist headed west with the thousands of Americans seeking new opportunities. This was at a time when men like Isaac Lankershim and Isaac Van Nuys were changing the face of the San Fernando Valley.
In these last years of the 20th century, Burbank continues to see changes. In 1989, the Golden Mall was reopened and traffic again flowed down San Fernando Boulevard after 20 years as an outdoor pedestrian mall. After years of effort, the City finally obtained a major retail shopping center on a 41-acre site bounded by the Golden State Freeway, Burbank Blvd., Third St., and Magnolia Blvd. The downtown area has been revitalized with a wide variety of restaurants and multi-screen movie theatres.
The City Council began cablecasting their meetings on public television in 1987. The use of public access television has expanded citizen participation with government by bringing televised Board meetings and special programming into the home via cable.
When Lockheed announced in 1990 that it would be closing its Burbank operations, the City began efforts to see that the 325 acres were recycled into new development projects.
In October 1992, two forward-thinking new facilities were opened. The Burbank Recycle Center moved to new 2-1/2 acre facility that can handle 5,000 tons of recyclables per month. The Regional Intermodal Transportation Center (RITC) opened at 201 N. Front St. Throughout the 90's it has been expanded and improved. In January 1998, the Police and Fire Departments moved in their new state-of-the-art Burbank Police-Fire Headquarters facility at 200 N. Third Street.
Today Burbank is a prominent media and entertainment-oriented city which prides itself on a high quality of life, combining 21st century technology with small-town feel. It is, indeed, a city of "people, pride, and progress."
Learn more about this city.
City of Burbank, CA official site
City of Burbank, CA Chamber of Commerce
City of Burbank, CA newspaper
County of Burbank, CA official site
State of California official site