CHATSWORTH PORTRAIT

The curator of the Chatsworth Museum, Virginia Watson, has lived here for more than 40 years. She has one overriding wish for her community.

“I want people to know that we’re here,” Watson says.

She also wants people to know that Chatsworth has been “here” for a long time, “that we’re historic.”

Since the 1960s, Watson has collected photographs and crafts of the pioneers who settled Chatsworth in the 1880’s. The museum she curates is situated on the Homestead Acre in Chatsworth Park South, where once a month visitors can view the pioneer collection and see the house of Minnie Hill Palmer, who lived in it until she was 90 years old.

Chatsworth has made its mark on the silver screen: its rocky terrain has been featured in such classics as “High Noon” and “The African Queen,” as well as a slew of television shows such as, “The Roy Rogers Show.”

And these days? Outdoors-y types flock to Stony Point Park in Chatsworth, where they risk life and limb for the rush they get from scaling rocks.

A BRIEF HISTORY

The Gabrielino: First to call the Chatsworth area home were the Gabrielino ,who spoke a different language than the neighboring Chumash and Alliklik. The Gabrielinos probably first came in contact with Spanish missionaries in the late 18th century.

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The Homesteaders: In 1870, the first English-speaking settlers homesteaded Chatsworth; among them were Neils and Ann Johnson, the latter of whom, says Watson, was the first female U.S. citizen to live in the San Fernando Valley. She started the first school in Chatsworth.

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The Name: Chatsworth, named for a town in England, was first known as Chatsworth Park until “Park” was left off its station listing for the railroad, which was built in 1893 to haul rocks to San Pedro.

CURRENT ISSUES

Oak trees: Chatsworth’s oak trees, many of which are hundreds of years old, are in danger of dying due to beetles, squirrels, smog and drought. Two varieties--the California valley oak and California live oak--can be found throughout Chatsworth.

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Ostrich farm: On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Board of Zoning Appeals ordered the owner of Danielle Michelle Farms in Chatsworth to remove all 800 ostriches and emus because of complaints of foul odors and allergy-causing feathers. *

Rock climbing: While the sport remains popular, accidents have occurred at Stony Point. Last year, firefighters had to rescue a 39-year woman who broke her ankle in three places while climbing.

Sources: Virginia Watson, curator of the Chatsworth museum, “Chatsworth History,” by Virginia Watson, “Quiet on the Set!” by Robert G. Sherman, “The San Fernando Valley: Past and Present,” by Lawrence Jorgenson.

Compiled by Maki Becker

Community Profile Based on 1990 U.S. Census figures. Data includes Porter Ranch. *

Statistics Population: 79,666 Median age: 31.4 Number of households: 28, 588 Persons per household: 2.8 Owner-occupied housing units: 66% Population below poverty level: 5.9% *

Income Average household income is more than $20,000 higher than the Los Angeles city average. Chatsworth: $67,496 Citywide average: $45,701 Northeast Valley: $44,444 Southeast Valley: $48,182 Northwest Valley: $56,427 Southwest Valley: $61,722 *

Ethnicity African-American: 2% White: 725 Asian: 13% Latino: 13%