About Mission Hills CDP, California
Mission Hills is a census-designated place (CDP) in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 10,575 at the 2010 census, up from 10,472 at the 2000 census. It is part of the San Fernando Valley and is bordered by the city of San Fernando to the east, and by Pacoima and Sylmar to the north and west.
The mission hills were originally part of a Mexican land grant called Rancho San Fernando Rey de España. In 1874 Charles Maclay, an Irish-born real estate developer, bought a large portion of it and renamed it Maclay Rancho. He built a house there and planted many eucalyptus trees; some of which are still standing.
In 1909 the newly created Suburban Home Company bought a parcel of land from Maclay’s estate and laid out the streets and homes that now make up Mission Hills. The area became known as “Maclay Town”. However, when the first residents moved in they found that there were no stores or other businesses in operation.
It wasn’t until 1914 that the first commercial establishment, a grocery store, opened for business. This was followed by a few other businesses, including a blacksmith shop and a gas station.
During World War II many of the men who lived in Mission Hills went off to fight in the war. When they returned they found that their homes had been taken over by families of Mexican immigrants who had moved in while they were away.
The demographics of Mission Hills have changed dramatically since then. Today it is a predominantly Hispanic community with a large number of residents who are of Mexican descent.