Ladera Heights, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ladera Heights, California
Unincorporated community Census designated place
Ladera Heights community sign
Nickname(s):  “The Black Beverly Hills”
Location of Ladera Heights in Los Angeles County, California.
Ladera Heights, California Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	California
County	Los Angeles
Area
• Total	2.966 sq mi (7.681 km2)
• Land	2.966 sq mi (7.681 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)  0%
Elevation	305 ft (93 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	6,498
• Density	2,190.8/sq mi (845.98/km2)
Time zone	UTC−8 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP Code	90056
Area code(s)	310/424/323
FIPS code	06-39108
GNIS feature IDs	1867032, 2408521

Ladera Heights is a community in Los Angeles County, California. It is an area that is not part of a city. In 2020, about 6,634 people lived there.

Ladera Heights is surrounded by other communities. To its west is Culver City. To the north is the Baldwin Hills neighborhood. The View Park-Windsor Hills community is to its east. To the south and southwest is the Westchester neighborhood. The city of Inglewood is to its southeast.

Ladera Heights is known for being a wealthy community. It ranks among the top places in the United States where many affluent African Americans live.

History of Ladera Heights

Ladera Heights began to be developed in the late 1940s. This first part was called "Old Ladera." Later, in the 1960s, new homes were built in "New Ladera." These were often custom-designed houses.

Famous builders like Valentine and Gallant worked here. Robert Earl, a designer for Valentine homes, later built very large, expensive houses in California and other countries. He designed homes on Wooster Avenue that looked over the Fox Hills golf course.

Famous Residents of Ladera Heights

Many well-known people have lived in Ladera Heights. In the early 1970s, baseball player Frank Robinson moved there. Other sports stars followed.

Over the years, celebrities like Peter Vidmar, Vanessa Williams, and Lisa Leslie have called Ladera Heights home. Other notable residents include Chris Darden, Chris Strait, Olympia Scott, Ken Norton, Arron Afflalo, Tyler, The Creator, Michael Cooper, and Byron Scott.

Geography and Sections of Ladera Heights

Ladera Heights covers about 3 square miles (7.8 square kilometers) of land. Most of this area is in Los Angeles County. A small part is within the City of Los Angeles, in a neighborhood called Ladera, Los Angeles.

The community is divided into three main parts: "Upper Ladera," "Lower Ladera," and "Old Ladera."

• Upper Ladera is north of Slauson Avenue, between La Cienega Boulevard and Shenandoah Avenue.
• Lower Ladera is the largest section. It is south of Slauson Avenue, between Wooster and La Cienega.
• Old Ladera is a small area just east of La Cienega and south of Slauson.

The Ladera Center is a shopping area in Lower Ladera. It has many local stores and restaurants.

Population and Demographics

Panoramic view of Slauson Avenue in Ladera Heights from Shenandoah

The population of Ladera Heights has grown over the years. In 1970, about 6,079 people lived there. By 2020, the population had increased to 6,654.

Ladera Heights Community Makeup

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Ladera Heights had 6,498 residents.

• About 73.7% of the people were African American.
• Around 15.1% were White.
• About 3.6% were Asian.
• A smaller number were Native American or Pacific Islander.
• About 5.5% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

Most people in Ladera Heights live in family homes. In 2010, about 73.7% of homes were owned by the people living in them. The rest were rented.

The average age in Ladera Heights in 2010 was 49 years old. About 17.3% of the population was under 18 years old.

Education in Ladera Heights

Most students in Ladera Heights attend schools in the Inglewood Unified School District. These schools are located in the city of Inglewood.

Local Schools

• La Tijera School (Kindergarten to 8th grade)
• Parent School (Kindergarten to 8th grade)

After 8th grade, students from these schools usually go to Inglewood High School.

Some residents have tried to join the Culver City Unified School District instead. However, both school districts have opposed this idea. The Wiseburn School District also allows students from Ladera Heights to attend its schools through special transfers.

Colleges Near Ladera Heights

West Los Angeles College is a community college located right in Ladera Heights. It offers many courses for students after high school.

Community Services

Ladera Heights has important services to keep its residents safe and healthy.

• Fire Protection: The Los Angeles County Fire Department protects the community from fires.
• Law Enforcement: The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) serves Ladera Heights from its Marina del Rey Station.
• Health Services: The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services provides health support to the area.

Parks and Recreation

Ladera Park is a popular spot for outdoor activities. It is next to the View Park-Windsor Hills community and the city of Inglewood.

The park has many features for families and friends to enjoy:

• An outdoor amphitheatre for performances.
• A baseball–softball field.
• A basketball court.
• Fun play areas for children.
• A community recreation center.
• Picnic areas with barbecue grills.
• Tennis courts.

Shopping and Retail

The Ladera Heights Shopping Center is a main place for shopping. It is located where La Tijera, La Cienega, and Centinela boulevards meet. Over the years, it has hosted different stores and businesses. For example, it once had a Henshey's Department Store and a Starbucks coffee shop that was owned by basketball legend Magic Johnson.

Notable People

See also

In Spanish: Ladera Heights para niños