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
Glendora Avenue
There’s no argument as to how the city of Glendora got its name – on March 23rd, 1887, the Los Angeles Times announced: “The name of the new town on the San Gabriel Valley railroad near the present site known as Alosta is to be called Glendora, in honor, we understand, of Mrs. George D. Whitcomb.” George D. Whitcomb (1834-1914), head of the Glendora Land Company, founded the city that month… and his wife’s first name was Leadora (née Bennett, 1839-1929). He took “glen”, as in “small valley”, added the second half of her name to it, and there you have it. Ironically, while Glendora Ave. was named in 1887 south of what were then town limits, it was called Michigan Ave. within Glendora itself until 1964.