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South Los Angeles facts for kids

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South Los Angeles
Region of Los Angeles County
The junction of the 110 and the 105 freeways
The junction of the 110 and the 105 freeways
Country United States
State California
County Los Angeles
Cities Los Angeles
Compton
Inglewood
Hawthorne
Unincorporated areas View Park–Windsor Hills
West Athens
Westmont
Florence-Graham
Willowbrook

South Los Angeles, also known as South Central Los Angeles, is a region in southern Los Angeles County (California), lying mostly within the city limits of Los Angeles, south of downtown. It is "defined on Los Angeles city maps as a 16-square-mile rectangle with two prongs at the south end.” In 2003, the Los Angeles City Council renamed this area "South Los Angeles".

The name South Los Angeles can also refer to a larger 51-square mile region that includes areas within the city limits of Los Angeles as well as five unincorporated areas in the southern portion of the County of Los Angeles.

Districts and neighborhoods

City of Los Angeles

In the 2000 census, the area of South Los Angeles had a population of 520,461. Roughly 55% of the residents were Hispanic or Latino, while more than 40% were African American.The South Los Angeles region consists of:

Unincorporated county

Population

By the end of the 1980s, South Los Angeles had an increasing number of Hispanics and Latinos, mostly in the northeastern section of the region.

Between 1970 and 1990 the South LA area went from 80% black and 9% Latino to 50.3% black and 44% Latino.

In the 2000 census, the area of South Los Angeles had a population of 520,461. Roughly 55% of the residents were Hispanic or Latino, while more than 40% were African American.

In the 2010 census, the area of South Los Angeles had a population of 169,453. Roughly 74% of the residents were Hispanic or Latino, nearly 25% were African American.

Landmarks

California Science Center
An image of the California Science Center
Los angeles memorial sports arena3
An image of the former Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena

Demographics

By the end of the 1980s, South Los Angeles had an increasing number of Hispanics and Latinos, mostly in the northeastern section of the region.

According to scholars, "Between 1970 and 1990 the South LA area went from 80% African American and 9% Latino to 50.3% African American and 44% Latino." This massive and rapid residential demographic change occurred as resources in the area were shrinking due to global economic restructuring described above and due to the federal government's decrease in funding of urban anti-poverty and jobs programs, and other vital social services like healthcare. The socio-economic context described here increased the perception and the reality of competition amongst Asians, African Americans, and Latinos in South LA. The results from the 2000 census which show continuing demographic change coupled with recent economic trends indicating a deterioration of conditions in South LA suggest that such competition will not soon ease."

In the 2014 census, the area of South Los Angeles had a population of 271,040. 50.0% of the residents were Hispanic or Latino, 39.7% were African American.

Many African Americans from South Los Angeles have moved to Palmdale and Lancaster in the Antelope Valley.

South Los Angeles has received immigrants from Mexico and Central America.

Education

South Los Angeles is home to the University of Southern California, a private research university in the University Park neighborhood. It is California's oldest private research university.

Public schools

Almost all of the South Los Angeles Area is served by the Los Angeles Unified School District. There are some schools not within the LAUSD that also serve the South Los Angeles Area, such as independent private schools or charter schools.

Los Angeles Unified School District

The following are some of the schools under the LAUSD which fall within the boundaries of the South Los Angeles region.

LAUSD Elementary Schools

  • Coliseum Street Elementary
  • Graham Elementary
  • Grape Street Elementary
  • Manchester Avenue Elementary
  • Russell Elementary
  • Foshay Learning Center
  • 20th Street Elementary
  • 28th Street Elementary
  • 68th Street Elementary
  • 75th Street Elementary
  • 107th Street Elementary
  • 109th Street Elementary
  • 112th Street Elementary
  • 116th Street Elementary
  • 118th Street Elementary

LAUSD Middle Schools

  • Audubon Middle School
  • Carver Middle School
  • Charles Drew Middle School
  • Clinton Middle School
  • Edwin Markham Middle School
  • John Adams Middle School
  • Mary McLeod Bethune Middle School
  • Samuel Gompers Middle School
  • Thomas Edison Middle School
  • Los Angeles Academy Middle School
  • Foshay Learning Center

LAUSD High Schools

  • Crenshaw High School
  • Susan Miller Dorsey High School
  • Locke High School
  • John C Fremont High School
  • Thomas Jefferson High School
  • David Starr Jordan High School
  • Diego Rivera Learning Complex
  • King-Drew Senior High Medicine and Science Magnet
  • Mervyn M Dymally Senior High
  • Nathaniel Narbonne Senior High
  • Santee Education Complex High School
  • Foshay Learning Center
  • Orthopaedic Hospital Medical Magnet High School

Community Colleges

  • Los Angeles Southwest College, opened in 1967
  • Los Angeles Trade Tech College

Universities

Notable people

Music and entertainment

A-K

L-Z

Sports and athletes

  • Vontaze Burfict

Politicians

A-K

  • Karen Bass, State Assembly 2004–2010, U.S. House of Representatives, 2011–present
  • Tom Bradley (South Central, Los Angeles City Council, 1963–73; Mayor of the City of Los Angeles, 1973–93
  • Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, State Assembly, 1967–73; U.S. House of Representatives, 1973–79; Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, 1979–80 and 1992–2008
  • Julian C. Dixon, State Assembly, 1973–78; U.S. House of Representatives, 1979–2000
  • Mervyn M. Dymally, State Assembly, 1962–68 and 2002–08; California State Senate, 1969–74; Lieutenant Governor of California, 1975–79; U.S. House of Representatives, 1981–93
  • Robert C. Farrell (born 1936), journalist and member of the Los Angeles City Council, 1974–1991, prepared report on unemployment in Watts
  • Augustus Hawkins, State Assembly, 1932–62; U.S. House of Representatives, 1962–1991
  • Marqueece Harris-Dawson City Council, 2015–present)
  • Horace Hiller (1844–1898), member of the Los Angeles Common Council
  • Nate Holden, State Senator, 1974–78; Los Angeles City Council, 1987–2002

L-Z

  • Gilbert Lindsey, Los Angeles City Council, 1962–91
  • James G. McAllister, president of the South Los Angeles Property Owners' Protective League and City Council member
  • Billy G. Mills, Los Angeles City Council, 1963–1974; Los Angeles Superior Court, 1974–??
  • Holly Mitchell, State Assembly, 2010–present
  • Kevin Murray, State Assembly, 1994–98; State Senate, 1998–2006
  • Jan Perry, Los Angeles City Council, 2002–present
  • Curren Price, City Council, 1993–97 and 2001–2006; State Assembly, 2006–2009; State Senate, 2009–present
  • Mark Ridley-Thomas, Los Angeles City Council, 1991–2002; State Assembly; 2002–06; State Senate 2006–2008; Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, 2008–present
  • Frederick Madison Roberts, State Assembly, 1918–32
  • Rita Walters, Los Angeles Unified School District Board, 1979–91; Los Angeles City Council, 1991–2001
  • Maxine Waters, State Assembly, 1976–1991; U.S. House of Representatives, 1991–present
  • Diane Watson, Los Angeles Unified School District Board, 1975–73; State Senate, 1978–98; United States Ambassador to Micronesia, 1999–2000; U.S. House of Representatives, 2001–2011
  • Herb Wesson, State Assembly, 1998–2004; Los Angeles City Council, 2005–present)
  • Roderick Wright, State Assembly, 1996–2002; State Senate, 2008–present)

Artists, filmmakers and writers

Education

  • Rosemarie Allen (born 1950), American academic specialized in diversity, equity, and inclusion

Clergy

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Sur de Los Ángeles para niños

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