Vermont Knolls, Los Angeles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vermont Knolls
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Vermont Knolls city signage at Vermont Avenue and 77th Street
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 Vermont Knolls
Location in Los Angeles
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County |  Los Angeles |
| Time zone | Pacific |
| Zip Code |
90044
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| Area code(s) | 323 |
Vermont Knolls is a cool neighborhood located in Los Angeles, California. It's part of the wider South Los Angeles area. This community is known for its history and the famous university that once called it home.
Contents
Exploring Vermont Knolls Geography
Vermont Knolls is a neighborhood that covers about 1.14-square-mile (3.0 km2). It has clear boundaries that help define where it is.
Where is Vermont Knolls?
The neighborhood is bordered by Florence Avenue to the north. To the east, you'll find the 110 Freeway. Manchester Boulevard or the Los Angeles city limits are to the south. Finally, Normandie Avenue marks the western edge.
Neighboring Communities
Vermont Knolls is surrounded by several other neighborhoods. To the north is Vermont-Slauson. On the east, it borders South Park and Florence. To the south, you'll find Vermont Vista and Westmont. Lastly, Manchester Square is to the west.
A Look at Vermont Knolls History
Vermont Knolls started as a planned community. It was designed by the Walter H. Leimert Company.
How Vermont Knolls Began
In 1928, the company divided the land into lots for homes. They first called it the Vermont Avenue Knoll. It was promoted along with a bigger area called Leimert Park. The idea was to create an affordable neighborhood for middle-class families.
Pepperdine University's Early Days
A famous university, Pepperdine University, began right here in Vermont Knolls.
Founding of Pepperdine University
In February 1937, George Pepperdine started the university. It was a Christian college focused on arts and sciences. On September 21, 1937, the first 167 students arrived. They came from 22 different states and two other countries. The campus was new and covered 34 acres. It was located at West 79th Street and South Vermont Avenue.
Pepperdine Moves On
Pepperdine University stayed in Vermont Knolls for many years. But in September 1972, it moved to a new, larger campus in Malibu, California. The old campus was then sold to the Crenshaw Christian Center. Their minister, Frederick K.C. Price, built a huge church there.
The FaithDome Church
This church, called the "FaithDome," cost $9 million to build. It's a special dome-shaped building. When it opened in 1989, it could seat 10,145 people. This made it the largest church in the entire nation at that time.
Community Development Projects
After some challenges in 1992, the community worked to rebuild.
Vermont/Manchester Recovery Project
On May 14, 1996, a big plan was approved. It was called the Vermont/Manchester Recovery Redevelopment Project. This project aimed to improve a 165-acre area. It focused on Vermont Avenue between 79th and 89th streets.
Vermont Shopping Center Plans
In 1999, plans were made for a new shopping center. It was designed to be 100,000 square feet. This center would have shops and other businesses. It was named the "Vermont Entertainment Village". Groundbreaking for the project happened in April 2015. However, a year later, the development had not moved forward much.
Understanding Vermont Knolls Demographics
Demographics help us understand the people who live in a neighborhood.
Population and Age
In 2000, about 20,616 people lived in Vermont Knolls. This means there were about 18,057 people per square mile. This is a very high number compared to other parts of Los Angeles. By 2008, the population was estimated to be 21,568. The average age of residents was 24 years old. This is considered quite young for the city as a whole. Many residents were aged 18 or younger.
Ethnic Backgrounds
The neighborhood is very diverse. In 2000, Latinos made up 54.5% of the population. Black people were 42.6%. There were also smaller groups of Asian (1.2%) and white (1%) residents. About 33.2% of residents were born outside the United States. Most of these came from Mexico and El Salvador.
Income and Housing
In 2008, the average household income was $27,730. This was considered low for Los Angeles. Many households earned $20,000 or less. The average household had 3.3 people, which is a high number for the city. Most people (72.1%) rented their homes. The rest owned their homes.
Single-Parent Households
In 2000, 1,533 families were headed by a single parent. This was 33.7% of all families. This was one of the highest rates in any Los Angeles neighborhood. Only Watts had a higher rate.
Education Levels
The education levels in Vermont Knolls are also interesting. In 2000, only 5.4% of adults aged 25 and older had a four-year college degree. This is a low number compared to the rest of the city and county. Also, many residents had not finished high school.
Schools in Vermont Knolls
There are three schools located within the Vermont Knolls area.
- Raymond Avenue Elementary School, part of the LAUSD, is at 7511 Raymond Avenue.
- Loren Miller Elementary, also an LAUSD school, is at 830 West 77th Street.
- Youth Opportunities Unlimited is an alternative LAUSD school. It is located at 915 West Manchester Avenue.
Famous People From Vermont Knolls
Some notable people have lived in or are connected to Vermont Knolls.
- Joel Wachs (born 1939) was a City Council member from 1970 to 2001. He later became president of the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts in New York City.
- Maxine Waters is another City Council member who has connections to the area.
Images for kids
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A map showing the Vermont Knolls neighborhood.
