Isaac Newton Van Nuys, commonly known as I. N. Van Nuys (born November 20, 1836, in Decatur County, Indiana; died February 12, 1912, in Los Angeles), was a prominent American businessman, banker, farmer, rancher, and real estate developer in early 20th-century Los Angeles. He moved to California in 1871, initially working as a banker, and became an influential wheat rancher, playing a pivotal role in the city's agricultural and economic growth. In 1873, he acquired approximately 60,000 acres in the southern San Fernando Valley (15 miles long by 6 miles wide), transforming it into one of the world's largest wheat-producing regions. As a key figure in the Jewish community, he served as an executive at the Jewish Free Loan Association and supported philanthropic efforts. His influence extended into banking and real estate development, contributing to the region's infrastructure. In 1909, anticipating the Owens River Aqueduct and the shift toward small farming, he sold his vast holdings to a group of Los Angeles speculators, including Harry Chandler of the Los Angeles Times, facilitating the subdivision and urbanization of the San Fernando Valley and marking a turning point from large-scale ranching to suburban expansion. His legacy is that of an influential pioneer in Southern California's agricultural and economic landscape, though his sale of the valley lands enabled rapid speculative development.