Why is Hollywood called Hollywood?
Hollywood got its name in the 1880s from Harvey and Daeida Wilcox, who founded the community. The most common story says Daeida borrowed the name from a friend's estate in Ohio.
In 1886, Harvey Wilcox, a real estate developer from Kansas, bought land west of Los Angeles. His wife, Daeida, reportedly heard the name Hollywood from a woman she met on a train, who described her summer home in Ohio. Daeida liked it and gave the name to their ranch, which later became a town.
Another story says the name came from the native toyon shrub, sometimes called California holly, which grows in the hills. However, historians generally favor the Wilcox account. Despite the name, there were few holly trees in the area.
From town to film capital
Hollywood was incorporated as a town in 1903 and merged with Los Angeles in 1910, mainly to gain access to its water supply. Around the same time, filmmakers arrived and turned the quiet farming community into the center of the movie industry.
Did You Know?
Each letter of the Hollywood Sign is about 13.7 meters (45 feet) tall, and the sign is protected as a city landmark.