Burbank Portrait : A Small Town Moves Into Prime Time

Burbank in the 1920s was a small city surrounded by vast farmland, and it seemed to have only one asset: plenty of space. The undeveloped land attracted companies that could put it to use, like Lockheed and First National Pictures, later known as Warner Bros.

Today, Burbank is a prime media location and hosts three major studios: Warner Bros., the Walt Disney Co. and NBC.

For years, the city bore the brunt of Johnny Carson’s late-night jokes. Yet entertainment has always been a financial friend to Burbank. In 1992, the industry spent more than $1.5 billion on goods and services in Burbank, according to the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers.

Residents take pride in a city that is close to Los Angeles yet insulated from big-city worries. In recent years, however, Burbank has begun to grapple with such issues as violent crime and growing ethnic diversity.

Still, Burbank enjoys the coziness of a small Midwestern town, where top officials are listed in the phone book and one can drive through the city’s 17.1 square miles in under 30 minutes.

A BRIEF HISTORY

* In the beginning: Originally Spanish territory, much of Burbank was part of a huge cattle-raising domain known as Rancho San Rafael. The rancho was awarded to Commandante Josee Mariia Verdugo by the government of Spain in 1798, in thanks for his military service.

* Ranches and farms: Dentist and farmer David Burbank bought the western portion of the rancho in 1867, as well as what is now the southern portion of Burbank, and turned it into a successful sheep ranch. Later, the surrounding countryside was divided into farms producing peaches, grapes, alfalfa, melons and vegetables.

* Aircraft and film: Incorporated in 1911, Burbank thrived during World War II. Warner Bros. and the Walt Disney Co. produced a steady stream of war films, and Lockheed churned out one of every 11 American planes flown in the war.

COMMUNITY ISSUES

Burbank’s schools are deteriorating physically. Burbank High School, for example, is about 70 years old and needs to be completely rebuilt, officials say.

A $100-million bond issue proposed to fund renovation and repair of school facilities failed on the April ballot. It garnered 53% of the vote, well short of the two-thirds majority needed to pass.

Some residents blamed the school board for leaving unclear how the money would be spent and how much homeowners would have to shell out.

Board members have turned to the community in search of answers, and this summer the panel will select a new school superintendent to replace the resigning Arthur Pierce.

THE ECONOMY

The California recession struck Burbank hard. Lockheed’s facilities closed four years ago and 10,000 to 15,000 aerospace jobs were lost.

But the city rebounded with the help of a growing entertainment industry and, more recently, the temporary relocation of businesses damaged in the Northridge earthquake. The vacancy rates in Burbank office buildings is currently 16.2%, according to Matt Hargrove, a broker for Cushman & Wakefield.

“We’re lucky in that we’re not a one-industry town,� said James O’Neil, special assistant to Burbank’s community development director. Officials are counting on a revitalized downtown to draw consumers.

Community Profile

Based on 1990 U.S. Census figures

Statistics

Population: 93,643

Median age: 34.8

Number of households: 39,315

People per households: 2.4

Owner-occupied housing units: 46%

Population below poverty level: 8.3%

Income

Average household income is slightly lower than the Los Angeles average.

Burbank: $44,583

L.A. citywide average: $45,701 Northeast Valley: $44,444 Southeast Valley: $48,182 Northwest Valley: $56,427 Southwest Valley: $61,722 Ethnicity

White: 69%

Latino: 22%

Asian: 7%

African American: 2%

Sources: Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers; “Burbank, An Illustrated History�; Burbank city clerk’s office; Burbank Community Development Department; Cushman & Wakefield. Research by VIVIEN CHEN/For The Times