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

Pearblossom Highway

Littlerock, Palmdale

“Pear Blossom Highway”, as it was first called, was christened by the County Board of Supervisors on April 1st, 1926. The name was inspired by a six-foot-long basket of Bartlett pear blossoms and California poppies gifted to the Board by the South Antelope Valley Chamber of Commerce as thanks for opening the road. At the time, Bartlett pears were a major commercial crop in the AV, with more than 6,000 acres dedicated to growing the fruit and more than 4,000 tons shipped out of Palmdale every year. Only a fraction of that acreage is left, thanks to urbanization, flatland farmers offering Bartletts at a lower price, a general decline in pear consumption, and high desert peaches becoming a more lucrative crop. Much of Pearblossom Highway initially followed a different route, starting along present-day Palmdale Boulevard and terminating at Big Pines, home of today’s Mountain High ski resort.

Featured Offbeat Street

Hancock Avenue

West Hollywood
Ida and G. Allan Hancock

Seemingly named for the famous “Hancock Park” Hancocks who once owned this land – but there’s a snag. First, some background: Henry Hancock (1822-1883) was a Harvard-educated lawyer and surveyor who came to L.A. in 1850 and amassed great power. He married Ida Haraszthy (1843-1913), the daughter of Hungarian aristocrats, in 1863. By that point, Henry had finagled a deal that gave him and his siblings ownership of Rancho La Brea, but he left his heirs in debt when he died. Ida then proved herself a clever steward of the Hancocks’ vast holdings. Assisted by her son George Allan Hancock (1875-1965), she turned the family fortunes around, especially once oil was discovered on their property. She married Judge Erskine Ross in 1909; G. Allan subdivided the family’s remaining land as posh Hancock Park in 1919. Back here in WeHo, in 1906, Ida donated a church organ to the St. Victor Catholic Church around the corner on Holloway Drive – and of course this was old Rancho La Brea land – so it’s easy to argue that Hancock Ave. honors her. But here’s that snag: the street was named on a 1907 tract owned by realtor (and resident) A.A. Barnett. His tract map cited two other owners: Lucie R. Ludlow… and Mary E. Hancock (1848-1926). Born Mary Hardman in Illinois, neither she nor her husband Frederick had any ties to L.A.’s Hancock clan. Did Barnett kill two Hancocks with one stone when he named this street? Beats me, but it’s quite a coincidence.