Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lincoln Heights
|
|
|---|---|
View of Lincoln Heights and Downtown Los Angeles from the Repetto Hills
|
|
Lincoln Heights boundary map
|
|
 Lincoln Heights
Location in Los Angeles
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Los Angeles |
| City | Los Angeles |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
90031
|
| Area code(s) | 323, 213, etc |
Lincoln Heights is a really old neighborhood in Los Angeles, California. It used to be called "East Los Angeles" from 1873 to 1917. This area is quite busy and has a lot of people, mostly from Latino and Asian backgrounds. It's known for its many historic places and was once called "the Bedroom of the Pueblo."
Contents
History of Lincoln Heights
The area where Lincoln Heights is today has a long history. An old village called Yaangna was once located near what is now Downey Park. Lincoln Heights is thought to be one of the oldest neighborhoods outside of La Placita and Sonoratown. It started around the 1870s. The entire area is within the original land grant of Los Angeles from the Spanish era.
Lincoln Heights is located on hills overlooking the Los Angeles River. Because it was so close to the river, it became the city's first industrial area. Rich business owners from downtown Los Angeles built many beautiful Victorian homes here. Some of these old homes are still protected today.
In 1863, a man named John Strother Griffin bought about 2,000 acres of land for $1,000. In 1870, he and his nephew, Hancock Johnson, built their homes there. By late 1874, they started selling smaller pieces of land. Each lot was about 65 by 165 feet and cost $150. The neighborhood was known as "East Los Angeles" until 1917. That year, residents voted to change the name to Lincoln Heights.
Growth of a Suburban Area
Lincoln Heights was the first suburban neighborhood in Los Angeles. It was divided into smaller lots in 1873. It was a great place for people who worked in the factories along the Los Angeles River to live. By the late 1880s, a shopping area grew around North Broadway and Truman Streets. This was the first suburban shopping district in Los Angeles. Sadly, it was torn down in the mid-1900s to build the Golden State Freeway (I-5).
Over time, North Broadway became a very busy street. By the early 1900s, many factories and rock crushing businesses made the area less appealing. Wealthy residents started moving to other places like Arroyo Seco and Hollywood. Later, in the 1920s, they moved to Mid-Wilshire.
As the richer families left, Lincoln Heights became home to many Italian American people. Some Irish American and French American residents also moved in by the 1930s. During the Great Depression, many poor white American families, sometimes called "Okies", also came to the area. By the 1960s, with a growing Mexican American population, Lincoln Heights became known as a barrio. It and its neighbor across the river, "Little Italy" (now Chinatown), were important centers for the Italian-American community in Southern California.
In recent years, Lincoln Heights has been slowly changing. This is due to new city plans for land use.
People and Community
In 2019, about 39,916 people lived in Lincoln Heights.
The neighborhood has a lot of people from Latino and Asian backgrounds. About 66.2% of residents are Latino, and 23.4% are Asian. Most people born outside the U.S. came from Mexico (57.0%) and Vietnam (16.9%). This is a high number compared to other parts of Los Angeles.
The average household in Lincoln Heights has about 3.6 people, which is more than in many other parts of Los Angeles.
Arts and Culture
Public Libraries
The Lincoln Heights Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library is located on Workman Street. It's a great place to find books and learn new things.
Important Landmarks
Lincoln Heights has many interesting and historic places:
- Lincoln Park: A large park for recreation.
- San Antonio Winery: Founded in 1917, it's the oldest business still running in Lincoln Heights.
- Los Angeles Alligator Farm: An old attraction that used to be in the area.
- Selig Polyscope Company: An early film studio.
- The Brewery Art Colony: A place where many artists live and work.
- Church of the Epiphany: The oldest Episcopal church still operating in Los Angeles. Important historical events happened here, like Cesar Chavez giving speeches.
- Lincoln Heights Jail: A historic former jail building.
- Heritage Square Museum: A museum with historic Victorian houses.
- HM157: A specific historical monument.
Education
Not many adults in Lincoln Heights (about 5.5%) have a four-year college degree. This is a lower percentage compared to the rest of the city.
Schools in Lincoln Heights
Public Schools
- Abraham Lincoln High School, 3501 North Broadway
- Academy of Environmental & Social Policy (ESP) at Lincoln High, 3501 North Broadway
- Hillside Elementary School, 120 East Avenue 35
- Alliance College-Ready Middle Academy No. 5, charter, 2635 Pasadena Avenue
- Pueblo de Los Angeles Continuation School, 2506 Alta Street
- Gates Street Elementary School, 3333 Manitou Avenue
- Albion Street Elementary School, 322 South Avenue 18
- Griffin Avenue Elementary School, 2025 Griffin Avenue
- Milagro Charter Elementary School, 1855 North Main Street
- Los Angeles Leadership Academy High School (LALA HS), 234 W Avenue 33
- Alliance College Ready Middle Academy #5 (ACRMA #5)
- Alliance Susan & Eric Smidt Technology High School
- East Los Angeles Skill Center (Adult Education), 3921 Selig Place
PUC Schools runs the Milagro Charter School (for grades K-5) and the Excel Charter Academy (for grades 6-8) in Lincoln Heights.
Private Schools
- Sacred Heart High School, 2111 Griffin Avenue
- Sacred Heart Elementary School, 2109 Sichel Street
Transportation and Services
Getting Around
Major roads in Lincoln Heights include Valley Boulevard, Mission Road, Pasadena Avenue, North Main, Marengo, Daly, and Figueroa Streets, and North Broadway. The Golden State Freeway (I-5) runs through the area. The Metro A Line train also has a station in the far northwestern part of the neighborhood.
Fire Services
Los Angeles Fire Department Fire Station No. 1 is located in Lincoln Heights. This station helps keep the community safe.
Healthcare
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health runs the Central Health Center in Downtown Los Angeles. This center provides health services to people in Lincoln Heights.
Famous People from Lincoln Heights
- Frank Capra: A famous film director.
- John Strother Griffin: The person who founded East Los Angeles.
- Kenny Washington: A well-known football player.
- Cesar Chavez: A leader for farmworkers' rights. He lived in Lincoln Heights for a short time in 1972.
- Daniel Lewis James: An author.
- Gregory Ain: An architect.
Lincoln Heights in Movies
Lincoln Heights has been a setting for several movies:
- Police (1916)
- Take a Chance (1918)
- Detained (1924)
- Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)
- A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
- Blood In Blood Out (1993)
- Changeling (2008)
