Montrose History

Founded on Washington's Birthday in 1913, Montrose truly is a town in two worlds. Montrose has retained its charming "Main Street, USA" character while at the same time serving as the center of local commerce for more than 75,000 residents who call the Crescenta-Canada Valley their home.

The subdivision of present day Montrose took place when developers Holmes and Walton auctioned off 300 acres of land at a catered barbecue at the approximate corner of what is today Verdugo Blvd. and Clifton Place near the site of the local Mobil Station.

The name "Montrose," suggested by a local resident in honor of a town in his home state of Pennsylvania, was chosen because it appealed to the many rose fanciers in the area and because of the popular novel, "Legend of Montrose," by Sir Walter Scott.

The original land office (the first building on this new tract) was located near the northeast corner of Verdugo Blvd. and Montrose Ave., on the approximate site where Verdugo Liquor exists today. The intention was that Montrose Ave. would be the main business district. In fact, Montrose Ave. was constructed as the widest road in Los Angeles County and retained that distinction for many decades.

This plan did not materialize however, and by the 1920's, a two-block business district had grown up along Honolulu Ave., boasting a bank, hardware store, café, men's clothier, drug store and a local newspaper, foreshadowing the opening of the Montrose Shopping Park in 1967.

Today, along shady, tree-lined streets, more than 200 independently owned businesses satisfy busy shoppers with high quality gifts, retail merchandise, men's, women's and children's apparel, art galleries, antique shops, dance studios, service businesses of every imaginable type and restaurants, cafes and bakeries with outside dining, serving up everything from baguettes to burritos and sushi to schnitzel.