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In 1853, one adobe hut stood on
the site that became Hollywood. By 1870, an
agricultural community flourished in the area with
thriving crops. A locally popular etymology is that
the name "Hollywood" traces to the ample stands of
native Toyon or "California Holly", that cover the
hillsides with clusters of bright red berries each
winter. But this and accounts of the name coming
from imported holly then growing in the area, are
not confirmed. The name Hollywood was coined by H.
J. Whitley, the Father of Hollywood He and
his wife, Gigi, came up with the name while on their
honeymoon in 1886, according to Margaret Virginia
Whitley's memoir. The name "Hollywood" was used by
H. H. Wilcox when he laid out his 160 acre farm in
1887. On February 1, 1887 Harvey filed a deed and
map of property he sold with the Los Angeles County
Recorder's office. He had learned of the name
Hollywood from his neighbor Ivar Weid and wanted to
be the first to record it on a deed.
Hollywood
Incorporated as a municipality as in 1903. Among
the town ordinances was one prohibiting the sale of
liquor except by pharmacists and one outlawing the
driving of cattle through the streets in herds of
more than two hundred. In 1904, a new trolley car
track running from Los Angeles to Hollywood up
Prospect Avenue was opened. The system was called
"the Hollywood Boulevard." It cut travel time to and
from Los Angeles drastically.
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