What is Canyon Country really like?

[Lovehound]

Originally Posted by Dwimmerlaik

I've never heard anyone that lives in Van Nuys say they live in Van Nuys. Its ALWAYS Sherman Oaks if they can anyway rationalize that Burbank Blvd isnt THAT far south from them.

I grew up in Van Nuys, until I graduated college and even then I've moved back once or twice. At this very moment (and for 30 years) I live so close to Van Nuys that it would take me only 5 minutes to walk there.

I do intend to relocate in a few years, probably out of state, because I want to retire in a less hectic area. Los Angeles is good to work in because all of the jobs, but if you don't need to work anymore (retire) then there are better places to live.

Originally Posted by Charles

Most of the San Fernando Valley is the City of Los Angeles. I don't think the postal people even looks at the city of city, state; They just look at the zip. It's the Canoga Park district of the City of Los Angeles, for example.

All those places like Van Nuys, Canoga Park, Northridge, etc., are not cities. They are just names for communities or subdivisions. They are all part of the City of Los Angeles. Each has a few zipcodes associated with the name. There are signs posted on major streets as you cross into the next one. Without the signs you'd need a map or have to live here to tell the difference.

Burbank, San Fernando, and I think Glendale too are incorporated cities within Los Angeles County. They are "islands" of different cities within Los Angeles. There is also an unincorporated outlying part of Los Angeles County, mostly "the sticks."

[Loopy]

Thanks so much for the info everyone-it can be overwhelming when you're not familiar with an area to actually know what you're getting into! I appreciate it greatly.

[caliguy92832]

I used to have cousins that lived there in the early 1990's. Its sort of out in the country right by Magic Mountain. Gets hot during the summer.

[xyzxyz]

Originally Posted by Loopy

Hello all,
Can anyone tell me what Canyon Country is like? I am looking to relocate from Ohio, and from the Realtor.com sites, the condos in this area look very nice, and extremely affordable. They also say the crime rate is low. So my question is, what's the catch? It doesn't seem to add up to me. Is the area safe for children, and is there shopping nearby? What about illegals and gang activity? Can anyone please give me some advice?
Thanks so much.

Any area of Los Angeles that is affordable is almost always considered undesirable as well. First, the commute is murder. If you will be looking to work in Los Angeles, it will be a two-hour commute one way no question about it. If you don't want to live around gangs or illegals, basically most areas of Los Angeles will be undesirable for you. It is a fact of life here in the city of Angels. I went to Valencia a couple of weekends ago to go shopping with a friend. The big new Wal-Mart out there was just jammed with people you don't want to live around. The minute they build a nice, new area in Los Angeles, it finds itself populated with gangs and illegals. They own the city and they like to let people know that no area is "off limits" to them.

You are moving from Ohio so you must understand there will be a tremendous culture shock for you. The only thing you can do is move here and see if you like it. But, do not believe the myths and legends about Los Angeles. It isn't all Hollywood, glitz and glamor. As a matter of fact, none of it is.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by xyzxyz

Any area of Los Angeles that is affordable is almost always considered undesirable as well. First, the commute is murder. If you will be looking to work in Los Angeles, it will be a two-hour commute one way no question about it. If you don't want to live around gangs or illegals, basically most areas of Los Angeles will be undesirable for you. It is a fact of life here in the city of Angels. I went to Valencia a couple of weekends ago to go shopping with a friend. The big new Wal-Mart out there was just jammed with people you don't want to live around. The minute they build a nice, new area in Los Angeles, it finds itself populated with gangs and illegals. They own the city and they like to let people know that no area is "off limits" to them.

You are moving from Ohio so you must understand there will be a tremendous culture shock for you. The only thing you can do is move here and see if you like it. But, do not believe the myths and legends about Los Angeles. It isn't all Hollywood, glitz and glamor. As a matter of fact, none of it is.

Some of this is true but it really is a lot of exaggeration. No way two hours one way is it Santa Clarita to downtown for example, my friend commutes from Stevenson Ranch to downtown every day - she says it's the same time driving or taking the train.

Wal-Mart has a lot of inexpensive stuff so naturally a person would see a wide range of demographics in that store.

[Lovehound]

Originally Posted by Charles

Wal-Mart has a lot of inexpensive stuff so naturally a person would see a wide range of demographics in that store.

Wallmart, Sam's Club and Costco are all uber international, a veritable United Nations of shoppers.