Venice, Los Angeles facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Venice
Neighborhood
Venice Beach and Boardwalk, 2005
Venice boundaries
Venice Location in Western Los Angeles
Country	United States
State	California
County	Los Angeles
City	Los Angeles
Founded as an independent city	1905
Merged with Los Angeles	1926
Named for	Venice, Italy
Area
• Total	3.1 sq mi (8 km2)
Elevation	10 ft (3 m)
Population  (2008)
• Total	40,885
• Density	12,324/sq mi (4,758/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP Codes	90291, 90292
Area codes	310, 424

Venice is a neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles, California. It is located on the west side of Los Angeles County.

Venice was started by a rich developer named Abbot Kinney in 1905. He wanted to create a fun seaside resort town. It was its own city until 1926. Then, it became part of Los Angeles. Venice is famous for its canals, a beautiful beach, and the Ocean Front Walk. This walk is a 2.5-mile (4 km) path where you can see street performers, fortune-tellers, and people selling things.

History of Venice

Early Days in the 19th Century

In 1839, a large area called La Ballona was given to some families by the Mexican government. This area included parts of what is now southern Venice. It was known as Rancho La Ballona.

How Venice Was Founded

Venice Pavilion and Ship Cafe, around 1905–1913

Windward Avenue in 1913

Venice was first called "Venice of America." It was founded by Abbot Kinney in 1905. He wanted to build a beach resort town. It was about 14 miles (23 km) west of Los Angeles. Kinney and his partner bought 2 miles (3 km) of land by the ocean in 1891. They built a resort town called Ocean Park. This town soon joined with Santa Monica.

After his partner passed away, Kinney continued building. In 1904, Kinney won the marshy land in a coin flip. He then started to build a seaside resort. He wanted it to be like the famous city of Venice, Italy.

When Venice of America opened on July 4, 1905, Kinney had done a lot. He dug miles of canals to drain the wet lands for homes. He built a 1,200-foot-long (370 m) pier with a hall, a ship restaurant, and a dance hall. He also built a hot salt-water pool. There was a street with shops and Venetian-style buildings. Kinney hired an artist named Felix Peano to design the building columns.

Fireworks over the lake at the old Venice Amusement Park, around 1915

Tourists came mostly by train from Los Angeles and Santa Monica. They rode the Venice Miniature Railway and gondolas to see the town. The most popular spot was Venice's 1-mile-long (1.6 km) beach. People could rent small houses or tents.

The town grew fast. In 1910, about 3,119 people lived there. Soon, the population was over 10,000. On weekends, 50,000 to 150,000 tourists visited.

The Fun Amusement Pier

Special newspaper edition from July 19, 1913, showing the Venice Amusement Pier.

People walking by the dance hall on the amusement pier, around 1900–1920

Crowds between 17th and 34th streets, with a roller coaster in the back, around 1900–1920

To entertain people, Kinney hired pilots to do air stunts over the beach. One pilot, B. H. DeLay, created the first airport in the United States with lights. He also started the first air police force in the country. DeLay did many of the world's first air stunts for movies in Venice.

By 1910, the rides on the Kinney Pier became more exciting. They added a Venice Miniature Railway, an Aquarium, and other rides and games. Abbot Kinney was in charge and kept things running smoothly. When he passed away in November 1920, it became harder to manage Venice. The amusement pier burned down six weeks later. Also, Prohibition (which stopped alcohol sales) began. These events greatly reduced the town's money.

The Kinney family quickly rebuilt their amusement pier. It had two roller coasters, a new Racing Derby, and many other rides. By 1925, it was the best amusement pier on the West Coast. Hundreds of thousands of tourists visited on weekends. In 1923, Charles Lick built another pier, the Lick Pier, in Venice.

Venice Joins Los Angeles

By 1925, Venice had problems with its roads, water, and sewage systems. They needed a lot of repair and expansion. It was suggested that Venice join Los Angeles. The town leaders voted to have an election. In November 1925, people voted to join Los Angeles. Venice became part of Los Angeles in 1926.

Many streets were paved in 1929. This happened after a three-year court fight led by people living near the canals.

Oil Discovery

In 1929, oil was found south of Washington Street. This area is now called the Marina Peninsula. Within two years, 450 oil wells were in the area. Drilling waste filled the waterways. This oil boom brought money to the community. It helped during the Great Depression. Most of the wells were closed by the 1970s. The last ones were closed in 1991.

Venice Geography

Where Venice Is Located

The City of Los Angeles says Venice is bordered by Santa Monica to the north. The Pacific Ocean is to the west. Walgrove Avenue is to the east. To the south, the border follows Lincoln Boulevard to Admiralty Way. Then it goes south to Ballona Creek. This includes the Marina Peninsula but not Marina del Rey.

Venice is next to the neighborhoods of Palms, Mar Vista, and Del Rey. It also borders parts of Culver City and Marina del Rey.

Venice Neighborhoods

The Venice Neighborhood Council divides Venice into several areas:

• Silver Strand
• Oxford Triangle
• Marina Peninsula
• Silver Triangle
• North Venice
• South Venice
• Presidents Row
• Venice Canals
• Oakwood
• North OFW (Ocean Front Walk)
• NoRo (North of Rose Avenue)
• Penmar
• East of Venice

What Venice Looks Like

Venice Canal Historic District

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  Carroll Canal, around 2010

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  Grand Canal where it meets Linnie Canal, 2005

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  A gondolier on Aldebaran Canal, 1909

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  Promotional flyer, around 1920

Abbot Kinney Boulevard

Abbot Kinney Boulevard is a very popular street. It has many stores, restaurants, bars, and art galleries. This street used to be run-down. In the late 1980s, local groups worked to rename it after Abbot Kinney. This was done to make the area more popular and bring in new, fancy businesses.

Venice Farmers Market

The farmers market started in 1987. It is open every Friday from 7 AM to 11 AM. You can find it on Venice Boulevard at Venice Way.

Historic Post Office

Post office mural

The Venice Post Office was built in 1939. It had a red tile roof. Inside, there was a famous mural painted in 1941 by Edward Biberman. The mural shows Abbot Kinney, beachgoers, workers, and the Venice Pier. It also shows oil derricks, which were common then. This mural is important for art and history.

The post office closed in 2012. A movie producer, Joel Silver, bought the building. He agreed to keep the mural safe and allow people to see it. The mural was cleaned and fixed. In 2019, the building was sold again. The mural's location is currently unknown.

Venice Homes and Streets

Many houses in Venice have their main doors on streets only for walking. Cars can only get to these houses from alleys behind them. These "walk streets" have about 620 single-family homes. Venice is known for heavy traffic. It is 2 miles (3.2 km) from the nearest freeway. The narrow streets were not made for so many cars.

Venice Beach Fun

Streetball players at the Venice Beach basketball courts

Venice Beach gets millions of visitors each year. It is known for its unique culture and is a popular place for tourists. It includes a path along the beach called the Venice Beach Boardwalk. There's also Muscle Beach and the Venice Beach Recreation Center. This center has courts for handball, paddle tennis, and volleyball. It also has a skate dancing area. There is a bike trail and many shops along Ocean Front Walk.

The basketball courts at Venice Beach are famous for high-level streetball. Many professional basketball players have played or been discovered there.

Venice Beach will host skateboarding and 3x3 basketball for the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Waves at the Pier, December 21, 2005

At the south end of the beach is the Venice Fishing Pier. This concrete pier is 1,310-foot (400 m) long. It opened in 1964. It was damaged by storms in 1983 and reopened in the mid-1990s. In 2005, big waves damaged it again. It reopened in 2006 after being checked for safety.

The Venice Breakwater is a popular surf spot. It is north of the Venice Pier. It has an artificial barrier of sand, pipes, and rocks that protects it.

In 2010, the county spent $1.6 million to replace sand at Venice Beach. Rainstorms had washed away a lot of sand. Even though Venice Beach is in Los Angeles, the county helps maintain it.

Oakwood Neighborhood

Oakwood is a neighborhood away from the main tourist areas. It is one of the few areas in West Los Angeles that has historically been home to African-American families.

East of Lincoln Area

East of Lincoln is separated from Oakwood by Lincoln Boulevard. It goes east to the border with Mar Vista. This area has small homes and apartments. It also has Penmar Park and the Penmar Golf Course.

A large housing project called Lincoln Place Apartment Homes is being updated. It will add new apartments and improve existing ones. It will also get a new pool, fitness center, and park.

Venice Walk Streets

The Venice Walk Streets are three streets where only people can walk. They are Marco Place, Amoroso Place, and Nowita Place. They are located west of Lincoln Boulevard.

These streets are too narrow for regular street cleaners. So, they have a special smaller street cleaner.

People of Venice

In 2000, about 37,705 people lived in Venice. This is about 11,891 people per square mile. By 2008, the population grew to 40,885. The average age of residents was 35.

Most residents (64.2%) were White. About 21.7% were Latino. About 22.3% of residents were born outside the U.S. Many came from Mexico or the United Kingdom.

Many people in Venice have a college degree. The average household income in 2008 was $67,647. Most homes (68.8%) were rented. Property values have been going up. This is because tech companies like Google Inc. and Snap Inc. have offices in Venice.

Arts and Culture

Palm trees along the Venice Boardwalk

Venice has always been a place for creative artists. In the 1950s and 1960s, it became a center for the Beat generation. There was a lot of new poetry and art. This artistic spirit continues today. Many famous writers and artists have lived and worked here.

Venice Architecture

Venice was planned to look like Venice, Italy. Many buildings from the early 1900s have Italian Renaissance style. On Windward Avenue, arched walkways cover the sidewalks. These buildings used to form a continuous archway. Local people worked hard to save the few buildings that remain.

The Giant Binoculars sculpture by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen in front of the Binoculars Building.

Famous designers Charles and Ray Eames had their offices in Venice. Architect Frank Gehry designed several well-known houses in Venice. These include the Jane Spiller House and the Norton House on Venice Beach. In 1994, sculptor Robert Graham designed an art studio and home for himself and his wife, actress Anjelica Huston.

Art in Venice

In the 1970s, artist Chris Burden created some of his early, important work in Venice. Other famous artists who had studios here include Charles Arnoldi, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Dennis Hopper. In 2012, the Hammer Museum held an outdoor art show called the Venice Beach Biennial. It featured 87 artists. In the 1980s and 1990s, the Venice Beach boardwalk became a hub for street performers. Jugglers, break dancers, acrobats, and comedians performed daily.

Venice Boardwalk Murals

The Venice Beach boardwalk has many colorful murals:

• Venice Kinesis (2010) by Rip Cronk
• Homage to a Starry Knight (1990) by Rip Cronk
• Endangered Species (1990) by Emily Winters
• Venice Beach (1990) by Rip Cronk
• Morning Shot (1991) by Rip Cronk (a portrait of musician Jim Morrison)
• Touch of Venice (2012) by Jonas aka "Never"
• Arnold Schwarzenegger (2013) by Jonas aka "Never" (a portrait of Arnold Schwarzenegger in a bodybuilding pose)
• Luminaries of Pantheism (2015) by Levi Ponce (shows people who supported pantheism, like Albert Einstein and Nikola Tesla)

Venice public graffiti walls allow artists to paint legally

Venice Public Art Walls

The Venice Art Walls were built in 1961. They were part of the Venice Pavilion, a place for recreation and performances. The central area, called "the pit," had concrete walls perfect for painting. In the 1970s and 1980s, it became a popular spot for graffiti artists in Los Angeles. Many artists painted detailed works there. The area's art scene and less strict rules made it ideal for artists.

In 1999, the Venice Pavilion was torn down. But some of the walls and two large concrete structures were saved. They were fixed up in 2000. Since then, artists have been allowed to paint there freely and legally.

Music in Venice

The rock band The Doors was formed in Venice in 1965. Its members, Ray Manzarek and Jim Morrison, met there. The Doors became very famous. Venice is also where the band Jane's Addiction started in the 1980s. Perry Farrell, the founder of Lollapalooza, lived in Venice for a long time.

In the 1980s, Venice also had bands playing crossover thrash music. This was a mix of hardcore punk and thrash metal. Bands like Beowülf, No Mercy, and Excel were part of this scene.

Public Libraries

The Los Angeles Public Library has a branch in Venice called the Venice–Abbot Kinney Memorial Branch.

Street Performers

Venice is well-known for its street performers, also called buskers. The most famous is Harry Perry, a roller-skating guitar player wearing a turban. Other well-known performers include the Venice Beach Glass Man, Echoman, and the Chain Saw Juggler.

Parks and Recreation

Venice Beach Recreation Center

The Venice Beach Recreation Center has many facilities. It has outdoor basketball courts, play areas for children, chess tables, handball courts, paddle tennis courts, and volleyball courts. At the south end is the Muscle Beach outdoor gym. In 2009, a $2 million Venice Beach Skate Park opened on the sand. The Graffiti Walls are also nearby.

The Oakwood Recreation Center has an auditorium, a baseball field, indoor and outdoor basketball courts, a children's play area, a community room, a football field, and picnic tables.

The Westminster Off-Leash Dog Park is also in Venice.

Education

Venice High School

Schools in Venice include:

• Broadway Elementary School
• Animo Venice Charter High School
• Venice Skills Center
• Westminster Avenue Elementary School
• Coeur d'Alene Avenue Elementary School
• St. Mark’s Catholic School
• Westside Leadership Magnet School
• Venice High School

City Services

Fire Department

The Los Angeles Fire Department has Station 63 in Venice. It has fire engines, a truck, and an ambulance.

Police

The Los Angeles Police Department serves Venice from its Pacific Community Police Station. There is also a smaller station at the beach.

Lifeguards

Los Angeles County Lifeguards protect the beach. They are part of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Famous People From Venice

Venice in Movies and TV

Venice has been a popular place for filming movies, TV shows, and video games. The piers, skate park, canals, and boardwalk are often seen.

Some productions filmed here include:

• 1914: Kid Auto Races at Venice (first time Charlie Chaplin played "the Little Tramp")
• 1928: The Circus (Charlie Chaplin)
• 1958: Touch of Evil (Orson Welles)
• 1979: Roller Boogie (Linda Blair)
• 1991: The Doors (Val Kilmer)
• 1992: White Men Can't Jump
• 1994: Speed (Keanu Reeves)
• 1998: The Big Lebowski
• 2005: Lords of Dogtown
• 2007: Californication
• 2013: Grand Theft Auto V (as Vespucci Beach)
• 2013–2014: Sam & Cat
• 2020: Scoob!
• 2023: Dead Island 2

Images for kids

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  Aerial view of Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista, Venice Beach and Los Angeles International Airport

See also

In Spanish: Venice (Los Ángeles) para niños