The area now known as Reseda was originally inhabited by Native Americans of the Tongvatribe that lived close to the Los Angeles River.

Reseda originated as a farm town named "Marian" (or "Rancho Marian") that appeared in 1912. Its namesake, Marian Otis Chandler, was the daughter of Los Angeles Times publisherHarrison Gray Otis, a director of the Los Angeles Suburban Homes Company.