Paddison Ranch Buildings
Why it's listed
Located at 11951 Imperial Highway in Norwalk, this 3.25-acre ranch is the surviving homesite of one of the city's earliest pioneers. John Paddison, born in Wales in 1845, settled on the site in 1879, bought forty-six acres and began farming alfalfa and pasturing livestock. He started building his ranchhouse and outbuildings that same year. The ranch eventually grew to about 276 acres and added dairy farming by 1900. His son Edward later ran it and sold off most of the land as the area grew. The central building is a two-story wood-frame Victorian house from about 1880 with Eastlake stickwork, pendants and an ornamental porch. A horse barn from about 1900, a blacksmith shop, a cottage, a washhouse and chicken coops complete the group. The buildings hold tools, agricultural implements and furniture gathered over a century. Local schools tour the ranch, and its rustic authenticity has made it a filming location.
Significance in brief: The ranch was founded by John Paddison, one of Norwalk's earliest pioneers, who began building the house and outbuildings in 1879. It survives as a well-preserved reminder of the city's early beginnings and a typical compact Southern California ranch of the 1880s. The buildings hold a large collection of tools, implements and furniture accumulated over a century.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 78000694, listed June 23, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 11951 Imperial Hwy., Norwalk |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | June 23, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000694 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architectural style | Victorian with Eastlake details |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Buildings described as in relatively good condition; the ranch is used as a private residence, toured by local schools and used as a filming location. |
| Acreage | 3.3 |
| Coordinates | 33.91809, -118.07727 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 78000694.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133285893
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.