Before 1800
Sesevenga
The area is part of the ancestral and unceded territory of Sesevenga, home of the Sesevitam—ancestors of today's Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians.
Our story
Northridge, from orchards to a north Valley landmark
The neighborhood has carried three names, welcomed a major public university and rebuilt after one of California's defining earthquakes.
1910
Zelzah
Former ranch and orchard land is subdivided and named Zelzah, a biblical reference to an oasis.
1929–1938
A neighborhood finds its name
Zelzah becomes North Los Angeles in 1929. The community is officially renamed Northridge in 1938.
1956–1972
A college becomes CSUN
Classes begin at a new Valley campus in 1956. It becomes San Fernando Valley State College in 1958 and California State University, Northridge in 1972.
1994
The earthquake
At 4:31 a.m. on January 17, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake changes Northridge and the greater Los Angeles region. Recovery reshapes the community for years.
Today
A north Valley center
Northridge is a diverse center for education, food, commerce and neighborhood life, anchored by CSUN and generations of Valley families.
Sources: CSUN University Library, CSUN history and U.S. Geological Survey.
Places that carry the story
Local landmarks
CSUN & the University Library
The neighborhood's educational and cultural anchor, with public art, performances and extensive Valley archives.
The Soraya
A major performing-arts venue on the CSUN campus, presenting music, dance and theater.
Devonshire Downs
A former racetrack and fairground remembered for rodeos, festivals and landmark concerts before becoming part of CSUN.
Reseda Boulevard
A long-running commercial spine where generations of restaurants, shops and gathering places meet.
From the archives
The 1994 earthquake, on film
Three contemporary news reports preserve what residents saw and endured during the first hours of the disaster.
The 1994 Northridge earthquake — Part I
Archival reporting from the morning the earthquake struck.
Archive: KTLA 5
The first night after the Northridge earthquake
Archive footage documenting the community's first night after the quake.
Archive: NBC Los Angeles
The morning after the Northridge earthquake
Local news coverage showing the damage and early response.
Archive: NBC Los Angeles