Burbank, CA – The Real Story Behind the Name
Burbank is a city of about 105,000 people in the eastern San Fernando Valley, covering roughly 17 square miles. It sits at a geographic crossroads – bordered by Glendale to the east, Los Angeles (specifically North Hollywood and Toluca Lake) to the south and west, and La Crescenta-Montrose to the north. The 5, 134, and 170 freeways all pass through or border the city, giving Burbank unusually good freeway access in multiple directions.
The city is split informally into distinct zones:
- The Hillside District in the north, rising into the Verdugo Mountains with winding streets and elevated properties
- Magnolia Park in the southwest, a walkable neighborhood of bungalows and independent shops along Magnolia Boulevard
- Downtown Burbank around the Town Center and San Fernando Boulevard with restaurants, apartments, and retail
- The Media District in the southeast, where the major studios and broadcast networks are based
Burbank has a population of just over 100,000 and a median age in the mid-thirties. It consistently ranks among the safest mid-sized cities in Los Angeles County and has one of the stronger public school systems in the region. Homeownership rates are above average for the San Fernando Valley. The city attracts a mix of entertainment industry workers, families who value the schools and safety record, and longtime residents who have been here for decades.
How Burbank Became the Media Capital
Burbank was founded in 1887 by dentist David Burbank, who sold his large landholding to a development company after making his fortune in Los Angeles real estate. The city developed as a small agricultural town connected to Los Angeles by the Southern Pacific Railroad line.
The transformation came in the 1920s and 1930s when major entertainment studios chose Burbank as their home base. Warner Bros. moved to Burbank in 1926. Disney built its main studio campus here in 1940. NBC relocated its West Coast production facilities to Burbank in the 1950s. By the postwar era, Burbank’s identity as a media and entertainment hub was firmly established.
Aviation and aerospace added another industrial layer. Lockheed Martin operated a major aircraft manufacturing plant in Burbank for decades, producing military aircraft through World War II and beyond. The plant closed in 1990, and the land was eventually redeveloped, but Burbank Glendale Pasadena Airport – now Bob Hope Airport – remains a key piece of that legacy.
Today Burbank holds onto both identities: a working entertainment industry city with active studio operations, and a family-oriented community with good schools, walkable neighborhoods, and a strong local character that sets it apart from the broader Los Angeles metro.
Practical Moving Notes for Burbank
A few things worth knowing before your moving day in Burbank:
- Hillside District street access should be confirmed before you book any moving company. Some blocks cannot accommodate a standard 26-foot moving truck.
- The studio area around Alameda Avenue has periodic street restrictions during production. Moving days near studio filming days require route flexibility.
- Downtown Burbank parking enforcement is active. Moving trucks parked in violation of posted rules will be ticketed. We handle permit research for your address as part of booking.
- Burbank Airport flight paths create noise overhead in certain parts of the city, which is relevant if you are moving into a new home and want to understand the neighborhood before arrival.
