West Los Angeles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
West Los Angeles
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 West Los Angeles
Location in Western Los Angeles
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Los Angeles |
| City | Los Angeles |
West Los Angeles is a neighborhood in the big city of Los Angeles, California. It's a busy area with homes and businesses. A major road, the Interstate 405 freeway, cuts through it. People sometimes think of the two sides of the freeway as separate neighborhoods. West Los Angeles is part of the larger Westside region of Los Angeles County.
Contents
Where is West Los Angeles?
The exact borders of West Los Angeles can be a bit confusing. Different maps show different areas.
The Automobile Club of Southern California shows West Los Angeles south of Santa Monica Boulevard. It is west of the Interstate 405 and north of Olympic Boulevard. It is also east of Barrington Avenue. The official West Los Angeles Neighborhood Council uses similar borders. Their area goes from the 405 freeway in the east to Centinela Avenue in the west. It stretches from Wilshire Boulevard in the north to the 10 freeway in the south. This area is also called "Sawtelle" on the Mapping L.A. website.
However, the Mapping L.A. website of the Los Angeles Times has a different idea. They say West Los Angeles is south of Santa Monica Boulevard. It is west of Beverly Glen Boulevard and north of Pico Boulevard. It is also east of Sepulveda Boulevard.
In 2003, a reporter from the Los Angeles Times wrote about this. She said that "West Los Angeles" can mean many things. Some people use it for the whole Westside area. This includes places like Santa Monica and Venice. But more exactly, it is the part of Los Angeles between Santa Monica city limits and Wilshire Boulevard. It also goes from Century City east to just past National Boulevard. This area includes stylish places like Cheviot Hills. It also has regular homes east of Bundy Drive. Her report also mentioned Rancho Park and the Westdale Trousdale area.
Who Lives in West Los Angeles?
The Mapping L.A. website gives us some details about the people living here.
For the area west of the 405 freeway (called "Sawtelle"):
- About 35,844 people lived there in 2000. This number grew to 38,698 by 2008.
- It's a crowded area, with many people living close together.
- Many people of Asian descent live here.
- The area is very diverse, meaning people from many different backgrounds live together.
- Most people born outside the U.S. come from Mexico or Iran.
- Nearly half of adults (49.8%) have a four-year college degree. This is a high number for the city.
- Many adults in this area have never been married.
For the area east of the 405 freeway:
- About 12,659 people lived there in 2000. This number grew to 13,582 by 2008.
- Most residents (76.7%) are non-Hispanic white.
- About 11.4% are Asian-American.
- A smaller number are Hispanic or Latino (5.3%) or African-American (2.3%).
- The average household income was high in 2008, about $86,403.
- Many households earn $125,000 or more.
- The average age of residents is 38, which is older than in some other parts of the city.
- Households are small, with an average of 1.9 people.
- About 51% of people rent their homes, and 49% own them.
- Many people here are widowed.
- Common family backgrounds include Iranian and Russian.
- This area has many highly educated people. About 60.4% of adults have a four-year college degree.
Fun and Games in West Los Angeles
The Stoner Recreation Center is a great place for activities. It has a waterpark and places to barbecue. You can play baseball, basketball, football, soccer, tennis, and volleyball. There's also a playground for kids. The center has an indoor gym too. The Annual Cherry Blossom Festival is held here. It's a fun event co-sponsored by the West Los Angeles Japanese American Community Center.
Other parks in the area include Cheviot Hills Park and Reynier Park. There is also the Rancho Park Golf Course. Sawtelle Boulevard has become a very popular street for food. Many old homes in the 90025 zip code are being replaced with new ones.
Learning in West Los Angeles
Schools for Kids and Teens
West Los Angeles is part of the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Public Schools
Here are some of the public elementary schools:
- Brockton Avenue
- Canfield Elementary School
- Castle Heights Elementary School
- Charnock Road Elementary School
- Cheviot Hills Continuation School
- Clover Avenue Elementary School
- Crescent Heights Boulevard Elementary School
- Nora Sterry Elementary School
- Overland Elementary School
- Shenandoah Street Elementary School
- Warner Avenue
Middle schools include:
- Emerson
- Palms
- Webster
High schools are:
- Hamilton High School
- Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies
- University High School
- Indian Springs Continuation (on the same site as University High School)
Private Schools
Many private schools are also nearby:
- YULA Boys High School
- Yeshivat Ohr Chanoch Boys High School
- Yeshiva of Los Angeles Girls High School
- Vista School
- Temple Issiah Preschool and Kindergarten
- Saint Sebastian School
- St. Mary Magdalen Elementary School
- Rabbi Jacob Pressman Academy
- Lycee Francais de Los Angeles
- Bais Chaya Mushka Chabad
- West Los Angeles Baptist School
- First Lutheran School of Venice
Pacific States University is a college for both undergraduate and graduate students. It is located in the Harvard Heights area.
Public Libraries
The Los Angeles Public Library has a branch here. It is called the West Los Angeles Regional Library.
Famous People from West Los Angeles
- David Avadon, an illusionist (someone who performs magic tricks)
- Pat Doyle, a baseball coach
- Juliet Landau, an actress
- Geoff Schwartz, an NFL football player
- Mitchell Schwartz, an NFL football player
- Pat Smear, a guitarist for famous bands like the Foo Fighters, Germs, and Nirvana
See also
In Spanish: West Los Angeles para niños
