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
Beverly Drive
Any Southland street called “Beverly” owes a debt to Beverly Hills, the name Burton Green (1868-1965) gave to his new development in 1906. But what was Green’s inspiration? In his own words: “I happened to read a newspaper article which mentioned that President Taft was vacationing in Beverly Farms, Massachusetts. It struck me that Beverly was a pretty name.” Nice story, but Green’s memory failed him: Taft wasn’t elected President until 1908 – two years after realtor Percy Clark began promoting Beverly Hills. Moreover, there’s no evidence that Taft ever vacationed in Beverly, MA before 1911. So who was Green reading about? Well, on July 29th, 1906, the Los Angeles Times reported that the ultra-wealthy John D. Rockefeller Jr. was summering in Beverly Farms. Five weeks later, on September 2nd, the Times quietly announced the establishment of Beverly Hills. This means Burton Green was inspired not by a president but by a millionaire, which is entirely fitting.