L.A. Street Names – Los Angeles Street Names – their origins, their histories, their meanings

Welcome to L.A. Street Names, the origin stories of street names across Los Angeles County, from the shortest cul-de-sacs to the longest boulevards. Mysteries solved, myths debunked, scandals exposed, history revealed. This is an ongoing project with more than 1,900 streets – and growing. See FAQ for more information.

Featured Major Street

Rosecrans Avenue

Bellflower, Compton, El Segundo, Gardena, Hawthorne, La Mirada, Manhattan Beach, Norwalk, Paramount

William Starke Rosecrans (1819-1898) was a soldier, statesman, landowner, and more. Once a poor Ohio farm boy, “Old Rosy’s” life changed when he was accepted into West Point. This led to a career as an Army engineer until 1854. To say that Rosecrans un-retired in 1861 to fight in the Civil War would be an understatement: he was a brigadier general in the Union Army and commanded troops in several key battles. He even came close to becoming Abraham Lincoln’s VP – so they say. But a notorious rivalry with Ulysses S. Grant drove Rosecrans back to civilian life, and in 1869 he bought 13,000 acres of Rancho Sausal Redondo and public lands, built a home near the present-day intersection of Rosecrans Avenue and Vermont, and pursued railroad and mining interests. Rosecrans returned to Washington in 1880 for two terms in the House (D-CA), then as Register of the Treasury until 1893. When he died, he was eulogized mostly as the veteran who championed San Pedro over Santa Monica as the port for Los Angeles – a contentious battle in its own right.

Featured Offbeat Street

Edward Everett Horton Lane

Encino

Bullwinkle fans will remember Edward Everett Horton (1886-1970) as the narrator of Fractured Fairy Tales, but the Brooklyn-born actor was a famous face during Hollywood’s Golden Age, playing supporting roles in classics like The Front Page, Top Hat, and Arsenic and Old Lace. Horton’s 18 acre ranch, whimsically dubbed “Belleigh Acres”, was located here on a former portion of Amestoy Avenue. Horton, who never married – more on that in a second – lived with his mother here on the ranch. Some famous friends would stay a while too: F. Scott Fitzgerald worked on The Last Tycoon in Horton’s guest house. It has also been claimed that Horton had a life partner, actor Gavin Gordon (1901-1983), who lived here as well. Of course neither thespian ever publicly addressed his sexuality, so we can only presume. At any rate, Horton was forced to relocate once the 101 freeway cut through his property. This cul-de-sac was named in his honor in 1968.