2013/2014 Chatsworth/Porter Ranch Chamber of Commerce Business Directory & Community Guide 2013/2014 | Page 27
THE DAY A COIN WAS FLIPPED
FOR PORTER RANCH
Ben and George Porter were decisive men –
but once, they made a decision on the flip of a coin.
But eventually suburban development found its way to this remote community. Believe it or not,
Porter Ranch was also the last community in the San Fernando Valley to join the City of Los Angeles.
In 1874 two northern Californias – George K. Porter and Charles Maclay, each
of whom had served as state senators – learned that a vast acreage of the land
was available for purchase in the San Fernando Valley. Both men had long been
enthused with the possibilities of owning land in the Valley, so when they heard
that approximately 60,000 acres of the Eulogio de Celis Rancho was for the sale
(see main story on Porter Ranch in this issue), they did not hesitate in acquiring it.
It’s almost hard to imagine it being so remote as now it’s filled with upscale homes in gated
communities and has gone from horse country to suburbia, full of upscale, single-family
homes. The district, one of the higher median incomes in the San Fernando Valley, has a
population that is almost 60% White and almost 30% Asian. Most of the residents commute
to nearby cities such as Simi Valley and Downtown Los Angeles for work. With the strong
public transportation access, via the Chatsworth and Northridge stations from the Metrolink
commuter rail system, it’s no wonder.
Porter, who bought a three-fourth interest in the property, decided to go into ranching;
Maclay, with his one-fourth interest, proceeded to subdivide and develop his land.
A few years later, Porter’s cousin- Benjamin F. Porter – came south from Santa Cruz
and became a partner in both ventures.
While it is just minutes from hiking trails and spectacular scenic views that may be reminiscent
of it’s more rural days that are long gone, it’s also home to the Porter Valley Country Club,
the Porter Ranch Town Center, the North Valley YMCA, parks, public library and several
high-performing schools.
Because of differences in policy, the three eventually decided to divide the total
holdings equally. Maclay took the easterly portion and continues to pursue the sale
of real estate. But the two Porters were unable to decide who would get the westerly
portion and who would end up with the center section. (It is known that George
Porter preferred the center parcel, so it must be assumed that the westerly portion
was considered the least desirable).
Yet even today, the community of Porter Ranch is still growing. Newly gated communities
are being built and businesses are moving into commercial space. The community remains
vibrant, offering residents, businesses and visitors a ‘small-town’ feel with big city advantages.
It’s an exciting time for this tiny city that’s still growing, and no telling what great things are in
store for it and it’s inhabitants.
The two Porters, however, did reach a “preliminary’ decision: they would flip a coin…
So it was that one day back in 1882 a coin went up in the quiet of a Valley afternoon
and came down with the answer: George Porter got the center section; Ben Porter
got the other.
It turned out that Ben Porter’s land gained considerable value with the discovery of oil
in later years. The “winner,” however, wasn’t so lucky. It is on the Ben Porter land, too,
that the present $350 million Porter Ranch community is now being developed.
Who knows, things might be different today had the coin come “up” with another answer!
Jobs By Education Attainment
(2010)
Jobs By Worker Age
60%
50%
Jobs By Worker Race & Ethnicity
(2010)
35%
30%
4.58%
9.47%
25%
40%
29.00%
20%
30%
15%
20%
Chatsworth Porter Ranch
Age
(Years)
Chatsworth Porter Ranch
70+
60-69
55-59
45-54
25-44
20-24
16-19
Bachelor’s
Degree or
Higher
Some
College or
Associate’s
Degree
0
High
School
Graduate
(Includes
Equivalency)
0
26.42%
55.35%
8.75%
5%
Less Than
High
School
Graduate
10%
56.21%
1.80%
10%
1.10%
5.00%
Chatsworth
0.34%
3.84%
Porter Ranch
White African American American Indian/Alaska Native Asian/Pacific Islander Other Spanish/Hispanic/Latino