Sun Village’s Origins: How Black Families Built an Antelope Valley Community

SUN VILLAGE, Los Angeles County — Sun Village’s origins are closely tied to California’s history of unequal housing access and families’ efforts to build their own community.

According to a Los Angeles County historical survey, attorney Melvin Ray Grubbs purchased about 1,000 acres in the Antelope Valley in 1939. Sun Village, Inc. was incorporated in 1944 and subdivided land in 1946 and 1947, marketing homes and lots to African American families who faced restrictive housing covenants elsewhere.

Why this history matters

County researchers describe residents organizing essential neighborhood services and communal spaces as the settlement grew. Jackie Robinson Park became a central achievement of these efforts. This is an account of documented history, not a report of a new subdivision in 2026.

Residents researching historic properties can consult the original county survey and official parcel records.

Sources: LA County Planning — Sun Village African American Historic Resources Survey; LA County — Jackie Robinson Park Landmark Staff Report.

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