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 1,700 streets – and growing. See FAQ for more information.
Featured Major Street
Polk Street
In 1885, when the 20,000 acre Maclay Rancho subdivision was laid out in this part of town, twenty streets were named for U.S. presidents, from George Washington to Grover Cleveland, who was then serving his first term in office. (Adams Street represented both John and John Quincy Adams; the disgraced Andrew Johnson was not included.) As sixteen of those streets have since been renamed, it may not be obvious to the casual observer that Tyler Street is indeed named for 10th president John Tyler (1790-1862), Polk Street honors 11th president James K. Polk (1795-1849), Filmore Street is a misspelled tribute to 13th president Millard Fillmore (1800-1874), and Pierce Street is for 15th president Franklin Pierce (1804-1869).