Leimert Park, Los Angeles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leimert Park
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Leimert Park signage on Leimert Boulevard immediately north of Vernon Avenue
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 Leimert Park
Location in Los Angeles
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Los Angeles |
| City | Los Angeles |
| Time zone | Pacific |
| ZIP Code |
90008
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| Area code(s) | 323 |
Leimert Park (pronounced lə-MURT) is a cool neighborhood in South Los Angeles, California. It's known for its beautiful homes and tree-lined streets.
This area was first built in the 1920s, mostly for homes. The heart of Leimert Park is a place called Leimert Park Village. It has a park, shops, and the Vision Theatre. This village has become a very important spot for African-American art, music, and culture in Los Angeles, both historically and today.
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History of Leimert Park
Leimert Park is named after its creator, Walter H. Leimert. He started building this community in 1928. The overall plan for the area was designed by the Olmsted Brothers company. These brothers were the sons of Frederick Law Olmsted, who famously designed Central Park in New York City.
Some older Japanese-American residents still live in the area. You can even find some Japanese gardens there. The Crenshaw Square Shopping Center was built in the style of Japanese architecture. It was a popular shopping spot in the mid-1950s.
Around 2013 and 2014, house prices in South Los Angeles started to go up. This made many young professionals interested in moving to Leimert Park. People had mixed feelings about this. Some worried about gentrification, which means when an area changes and new, often wealthier, people move in, sometimes changing the feel of the neighborhood. Others hoped it would bring more businesses and growth. This trend of rising house prices continued into 2021.
Where is Leimert Park?
Leimert Park is located in Los Angeles. Its exact borders can be described in a few ways:
- According to LAist: It's bordered by Obama Boulevard on the north, 4th Avenue and Roxton Avenue on the east, West Vernon Avenue on the south, and Crenshaw Boulevard on the west.
- According to the Los Angeles Times: It's bordered by Exposition Boulevard on the north, South Van Ness Avenue and Arlington Avenue on the east, West Vernon Avenue on the south, and Victoria Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard on the west.
- According to Google Maps: It's bordered by Exposition Boulevard on the north, Western Avenue on the east, West Vernon Avenue on the south, and Crenshaw Boulevard on the west.
Historic Leimert Park Village
Inside the Leimert Park neighborhood, there's a special area called "Historic Leimert Park Village." The city of Los Angeles officially recognized this area in 2018. It includes the intersections around Vernon Avenue, Crenshaw Boulevard, 43rd Street, and Leimert Boulevard. Signs were put up to show this historic spot.
In 2005, a brick gateway marker was also put in place to welcome people to "Leimert Park Village."
People in Leimert Park
In 2000, about 11,782 people lived in Leimert Park. The average age was 38 years old. Many older people, aged 65 and above, live here, which is higher than in many other parts of the county.
Most people in the neighborhood, about 79.6%, are African American. About 11.4% are Latino, 4.9% are Asian, and 1.5% are White. Not many people in Leimert Park were born outside the United States, compared to the rest of Los Angeles.
The average household income in 2008 was about $45,865. This was considered average for the city but a bit low for the county. Many households earned $20,000 or less. The average household size was 2.2 people. About 54.1% of homes were rented, and the rest were owned by the people living there.
In 2000, about 27.7% of families were headed by a single parent. Also, many veterans live in Leimert Park, about 11.1% of the population. This is a high number compared to the rest of the city.
Arts and Culture in Leimert Park
Leimert Park Village: A Cultural Hub
Leimert Park Village is the heart of the neighborhood. It includes Leimert Plaza Park and several blocks of shops and venues on 43rd Street and Degnan Boulevard. This village has long been a key place for African-American art and culture in Los Angeles. Some people compare it to famous cultural centers like Harlem or Greenwich Village. In 1998, it was even called "the cultural heartbeat of black Los Angeles."
Leimert Plaza Park was designed to be a public gathering spot. Since the 1980s, it has been a popular place for the African American community. It hosts art walks, a regular drum circle, yearly celebrations, protests, and memorials.
The village has clubs where you can hear blues and jazz music. There are also theaters for musicals, plays, comedy shows, and poetry readings. You can even find places for hip hop music. The intersection of 43rd Street and Degnan Boulevard was named Barbara Morrison Square in 2022, honoring the famous singer.
Project Blowed is the longest-running hip hop open mic event in the world. It started in 1994 and happens every Thursday night in the village.
Vision Theatre: A Historic Stage
The Vision Theatre, originally called the Leimert, first opened on April 21, 1932. This beautiful theater was designed in the Mediterranean Revival Style. It is located at the south end of Leimert Park Village.
In 1977, the theater was owned by the Jehovah's Witnesses. Later, in 1990, actress Marla Gibbs bought it and renamed it the Vision Theatre. She wanted it to be a place for African-American movies, live plays, and dance shows. After some tough times in the early 1990s, the City of Los Angeles bought the theater in 1999.
Now, the Department of Cultural Affairs manages the Vision Theatre. Their goal is to make it a top place for performing arts, a training center for local talent, and a venue for amazing theater, music, and dance shows. The theater has been undergoing renovations to restore it. The first phase finished in 2011, and the second phase, which includes big upgrades to the stage and seating, began in 2018.
Leimert Park Book Fair
The Leimert Park Book Fair started in 2007. It brings together many authors, poets, storytellers, and other creative people. It's a great event for anyone who loves books and reading.
Destination Crenshaw
Sankofa Park will be at the northern end of Destination Crenshaw. This is an outdoor museum that will stretch for about 1.3 miles (2.1 km) along Crenshaw Boulevard. It will celebrate African American history and culture.
Juneteenth Celebrations
Juneteenth is a special day celebrated with a street festival in Leimert Park. It brings artists and residents together for fun and remembrance. The event celebrates June 19, 1865, when the last enslaved African Americans in the United States were freed.
The celebration in Leimert Park began in 1949. A new resident from Texas was surprised that Juneteenth wasn't a popular tradition in Los Angeles, so he started hosting a barbecue. The celebration grew and has been organized by Black Arts Los Angeles since 2009. In 2020, the celebration also included symbols of the Black Lives Matter movement and images of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.
Parks and Recreation
Leimert Park has several places to relax and play:
- Leimert Plaza Park: Located at 4395 Leimert Boulevard. It has picnic tables, bathrooms, benches, and a pretty water fountain.
- People St Plaza: This plaza is between Leimert Plaza Park and the Vision Theater on 43rd Place.
- Pocket Park: A small, unnamed park at Degnan Boulevard, Norton Avenue, and Edgehill Drive.
Important Landmarks
Leimert Park is home to several important landmarks:
- Emmanuel Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church: Located at 4254–4260 3rd Avenue. This church is recognized as Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 578.
- Leimert Plaza: The park at 4395 Leimert Boulevard. It was designed by the Olmsted Brothers and is Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 620.
- Life Magazine/Leimert Park House: A historic home at 3892 Olmstead Avenue. It is Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 864.
Economy
Tavis Smiley, a well-known host and producer for National Public Radio (NPR) and PBS, has his production studios, The Smiley Group, Inc., in the Leimert Park neighborhood.
Transportation
On October 7, 2022, the K (Crenshaw) Line of the Metro opened. This train line has two stations that serve Leimert Park: the Martin Luther King Jr. station and the Leimert Park station. This makes it easier for people to travel to and from the neighborhood.
Education
Many adults in Leimert Park have a college degree. In 2000, about 55.9% of residents aged 25 and older had a four-year degree. This is about average for the city and county.
The Los Angeles Unified School District serves Leimert Park. Here are some of the schools in the area:
- C.A.T.C.H High School: A charter high school at 4120 11th Avenue.
- Audubon Middle School: An LAUSD school at 4120 11th Avenue.
- Tom Bradley Global Awareness Magnet: An LAUSD alternative school at 3875 Dublin Avenue.
- New Heights Charter Elementary: A charter elementary school at 2202 West Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
- Forty-Second Street Elementary: An LAUSD school at 4231 4th Avenue.
Other Schools
- Libertas College Preparatory: A charter school located on the Tom Bradley campus at 2875 Dublin Avenue.
Notable People from Leimert Park
Many interesting and famous people have lived in or are connected to Leimert Park:
- Mark Bradford: An artist known for his unique abstract paintings.
- Tom Bradley: He was the mayor of Los Angeles from 1973 to 1993.
- Busdriver: A talented hip-hop artist.
- Ray Charles: A legendary singer and musician.
- Alonzo Davis: An artist and academic who helped start the Brockman Gallery.
- Ella Fitzgerald: A world-famous jazz singer.
- Ras G: A record producer and DJ.
- Dom Kennedy: A popular rapper.
- Holly Mitchell: A county supervisor and former State Assembly member.
- Carl C. Rasmussen: A former Los Angeles City Council member.
Images for kids
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1927 map of Leimert Park and the surrounding area.
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Map showing the boundaries of Leimert Park.
See also
In Spanish: Leimert Park (Los Ángeles) para niños
