Elysian Valley, Los Angeles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elysian Valley
Frogtown
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Elysian Valley neighborhood sign,
located on Riverside Drive at Egret Park |
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 Elysian Valley
Location in Los Angeles
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| Country |  United States of America |
| State |  California |
| County |  Los Angeles |
| Time zone | Pacific |
| Zip Code |
90031, 90039
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| Area code(s) | 323 |
Elysian Valley, often called Frogtown, is a cool neighborhood in Central Los Angeles, California. It's right next to the Los Angeles River. This area has two parks managed by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA). Every two years, the Elysian Valley Arts Collective hosts the Frogtown Art Walk. This event celebrates local artists. You can also find the Knightsbridge Theatre, a special theater company, in the neighborhood.
Exploring Frogtown's Past
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Elysian Valley was mostly farmland. Farmers grew crops and took them to sell in downtown Los Angeles. They also sold to new towns like Angelino Heights.
In 1910, the city of Los Angeles took over this farmland. A year later, in 1911, the Southern Pacific Railroad built its Taylor Yard right across the river. By 1913, the land was divided into smaller pieces. This was done to build homes for people.
How Frogtown Got Its Name
Sometime between the 1930s and 1960s, the neighborhood got its nickname, Frogtown. This happened because huge numbers of Western toads would appear on the streets. Imagine swarms of toads!
In 1962, a big highway, the Golden State Freeway, was built. It cut through a part of Frogtown. This made the neighborhood feel more separate from other areas nearby.
A Hub for Artists
Michael Todd is one of the first artists to set up a studio in Frogtown. He has been there since the mid-1980s. By 2014, other famous artists joined him. These included Shepard Fairey, Mark Grotjahn, and Thomas Houseago. They all opened their studios in the community.
In 2019, people noticed that Frogtown was changing a lot. This was due to "gentrification," which means new, often more expensive, developments move into an older area. A big project to fix up the Los Angeles River was announced. This made residents worry about new buildings and higher costs. They started to organize. They wanted to keep the neighborhood from becoming too crowded. This idea of keeping the area less dense has been around since at least 1987.
Discovering Frogtown's Location
Elysian Valley has clear borders. The Los Angeles River runs along its north and east sides. Riverside Drive is on the west. Fletcher Drive is on the northwest.
The neighborhood is surrounded by other areas. To the north is Atwater Village. To the northeast and east is Glassell Park. Cypress Park is to the southeast. Elysian Park is to the south and southwest. Finally, Echo Park and Silver Lake are to the west and northwest.
Who Lives in Frogtown?
In 2000, about 7,387 people lived in Elysian Valley. The neighborhood is about 0.79 square miles. This means there were about 9,354 people per square mile. That's similar to the rest of Los Angeles. By 2008, the population grew to about 7,781.
The average age of residents was 31. This is typical for Los Angeles. However, the number of young people, aged 11 to 18, was very high compared to other parts of the county.
A Diverse Community
Elysian Valley is a very diverse place. Many different ethnic groups live there. In 2000, about 61% of residents were Latinos. About 35.9% were Asians. White people made up 9.7%. Black people were 1.1%, and others were 2.6%. Many residents were born outside the United States, about 47.5%. Most of them came from Mexico.
Homes and Income
In 2008, the average household income was about $49,013 per year. This was similar to the rest of Los Angeles. The average household had 3.4 people, which is a bit higher than the city average.
About 52.2% of homes were rented. The other 47.8% were owned by the people living in them.
When it comes to education, about 17% of adults aged 25 and older had a four-year college degree by 2000. This is about average for the city.
Learning in Elysian Valley
The Los Angeles Unified School District runs two schools in Elysian Valley:
- Dorris Place Elementary — located at 2225 Dorris Place
- Allesandro Elementary — located at 2210 Riverside Drive
Fun Places to Visit
- Knightsbridge Theatre — You can find it at 1944 Riverside Drive. This theater used to be called the Colony Theater. It's home to a repertory theater company. This means they perform many different plays throughout the year. They also have another location in Pasadena.
- Suay Sew Shop - Located at 2915 Knox Ave #105. This is a company that makes clothes and accessories in a way that is good for the environment.
Exciting Events
- Frogtown Art Walk — This event happens every two years. It's a chance to celebrate the amazing artists who live in the area. Thousands of people come to visit and enjoy the art.
Parks and Outdoor Fun
Elysian Valley has three parks. All of them are taken care of by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA):
- Egret Park — This park has a great viewpoint. You can see native plants growing there. It also has signs that teach you about the area. You can get to the Los Angeles River bicycle path from here.
- Steelhead Park — This park has a small outdoor amphitheater. It's used for educational programs. Look closely at the park's iron fence. You'll see cool designs of Steelhead trout on top!
- Rattlesnake Park — You can enter this park from Fletcher Drive, just south of the LA River.
Frogtown in Movies and TV
Did you know that Dorris Place Elementary is probably the most filmed elementary school in the United States? It has beautiful brickwork and dark wood. This makes it look like a school from the East Coast.
In the 1985-86 school year alone, the school was used for many commercials. These included ads for Ralston Purina, the California State Lottery, and Burger King. The school earned $4,400 from filmmakers. They used the money to buy computers, software, and basketball uniforms for the students.
The school's outside has also appeared in many TV shows and movies. You might have seen it in Cold Case, Freaky Friday, Unlawful Entry, and Lucifer.
Places of Worship
You can find these religious groups in Elysian Valley:
- St. Ann Catholic Parish — 2302 Riverdale Avenue
- St. Mary Coptic Catholic Church — 2701 Newell Avenue
- Kadampa Meditation Center — 1492 Blake Avenue
