Ballona Explained
Ballona is a geographic place name in the Westside region of Los Angeles County, California.
Geographic place names:
Historic places:
School:
Place name origin
The origin of the unique toponym Ballona is much disputed and possibly unknowable.[1] Various theories have been exchanged for more than 150 years.
- 1875: Misspelling of Ballena, Spanish word for whale (various dead whales did wash up near Ballona during the 19th century), or misspelling of Spanish “valle” meaning valley [2]
- 1893: An introduction to Southern California in the Los Angeles Herald noted “Ballona, meaning and derivation unknown; not Spanish.”[3]
- 1939: “The origin of the word Ballona is in doubt.” Discounts whale theory; Cristobal Machado, an heir of the rancho family, suggests it’s somehow derivative of “bay” [4]
Notes and References
- Web site: F.A.Q. . 2022-07-30 . Ballona Creek Renaissance . en.
- Web site: Los Angeles Herald 30 January 1875 — California Digital Newspaper Collection . 2022-07-30 . cdnc.ucr.edu.
- Web site: Los Angeles Herald 1 January 1893 — California Digital Newspaper Collection . 2022-07-30 . cdnc.ucr.edu.
- Book: Robinson, W. W. . Culver City: a calendar of events in which is included, also, the story of Palms and Playa Del Rey together with Rancho La Ballona and Rancho Rincon de los Bueyes . 1939 . Title Guarantee and Trust Co. . Los Angeles. 11.