Windsor Square, Los Angeles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Windsor Square
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Windsor Square Neighborhood Sign located at the intersection of Third Street and Van Ness.
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 Windsor Square
Location in Western Los Angeles
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Los Angeles |
| City | Los Angeles |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| Zip Code |
90004, 90020, 90010
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| Area code(s) | 323 |
Windsor Square is a small, historic neighborhood in the Wilshire area of Los Angeles, California. It is a very diverse place with people from many different backgrounds. The people living here are a bit older than the average age for Los Angeles. Windsor Square is also home to the official house where the mayor of Los Angeles lives. It has a small public park for everyone to enjoy.
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History of Windsor Square
Between 1900 and 1910, a businessman named George A.J. Howard had an idea. He wanted to create a beautiful, calm neighborhood with family homes. This area was then mostly open land, about halfway between downtown Los Angeles and the coast.
Howard worked hard to get his plan approved by the city leaders. In 1911, a person named Robert A. Rowan started building the homes. This new neighborhood was called Windsor Square.
Building a Special Neighborhood
Windsor Square was designed as a special private area. At first, there was a lot of thick bamboo growing there. This bamboo had to be cleared away before trees and gardens could be planted. People were encouraged not to build tall fences between their yards. This made it look like one big, beautiful park.
Windsor Square was also the first place in Los Angeles to have its power lines buried underground. This was a very new and amazing idea back in 1911!
To make sure the homes were very fancy, there were special rules. Buyers had to spend at least $12,000 to build their house. This was a lot of money back then! It made sure that only the best and most beautiful homes were built. Many different styles of houses were constructed. These included Tudor revival, Italian Renaissance revival, and Dutch Colonial revival styles.
Many famous architects designed homes in Windsor Square. These included Paul Williams and A. C. Martin. Because of this, many important and wealthy people moved to Windsor Square. This included the developer George Howard himself. Also, Norman Chandler, who was a newspaper publisher, lived there with his wife Buffy for their whole lives.
Protecting the Neighborhood
Over time, some of the original homes along Wilshire Boulevard were taken down. This made space for new office buildings. However, the people living in Windsor Square formed a group called a neighborhood association. This group has worked hard to keep the special look and feel of Windsor Square.
In 1958, the J. Paul Getty Company bought a house on Irving Boulevard. This company wanted to build its main office nearby. But the people living in Windsor Square stopped them. The plans were dropped. Now, this house is known as the Getty House. It is the official home for the mayor of Los Angeles.
Geography of Windsor Square
Windsor Square covers an area of about 0.68 square miles. It has many tree-lined streets. Sometimes, this neighborhood is used as a background in movies. This is because of its expensive homes and its classic, old-fashioned look.
Where is Windsor Square?
Windsor Square has clear borders:
- To the west, it is bordered by Arden Avenue.
- To the north, it is bordered by Beverly Boulevard.
- To the east, it is bordered by South Wilton Place.
- To the south, it is bordered by Wilshire Boulevard.
Nearby Places
Windsor Square is close to several other interesting neighborhoods:
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Hancock Park | Larchmont & Hollywood | East Hollywood | |
| Hancock Park |  |
East Hollywood | ||
 Windsor Square  |
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| Mid-Wilshire | Koreatown & Mid-Wilshire | Koreatown |
People in Windsor Square
In 2008, about 6,197 people lived in Windsor Square. The neighborhood is known for being very diverse. This means many different cultures and backgrounds are represented.
Many people in Windsor Square were born outside the United States. This is a higher number than in many other parts of Los Angeles. A large number of these residents came from South Korea.
The average income for families in Windsor Square is similar to the rest of Los Angeles. However, many families in the area earn a high income. The average age of people living here is 38. This is a bit older than the average age for Los Angeles.
Education in Windsor Square
People living in Windsor Square are generally very educated. Many residents have a four-year college degree. This is a higher percentage than in Los Angeles overall. There are no schools located directly inside the Windsor Square neighborhood.
Recreation and Parks
Robert L. Burns Park is a small public park in Windsor Square. It is located at the corner of North Van Ness Avenue and Beverly Boulevard. This park does not have staff working there all the time.
In the past, there were some safety concerns in the park. The city built a 12-foot wall and a fence to separate the park from nearby homes. By 1989, the neighborhood association asked for the park to be closed at sunset. They also wanted it to be fenced, gated, and locked for safety. On December 3, 1990, a new steel fence was put up around the park.
Famous People from Windsor Square
Many notable people have lived in Windsor Square over the years.
Mayors of Los Angeles
Several mayors of Los Angeles have called Windsor Square home:
Other Notable Residents
- Christian Audigier, a fashion designer
- John Barrymore, a famous actor
- Chris Brown, a singer
- Norman and Dorothy Chandler, who published the Los Angeles Times newspaper
- Dolores Costello, an actor
- George Getty II, an executive from the Getty Oil company. His home, Getty House, was given to the city. It is now the official residence of the Mayor of Los Angeles.
- Harold A. Henry, who was president of the Los Angeles City Council
- Neal McDonough, an actor
- Oliver Morosco, a person who produced and directed plays
- Bill Simmons, a podcaster and sportswriter
- Kat Von D, a tattoo artist, singer, and musician
- Maxine Waters, a U.S. Representative (a member of Congress)
- Peter, Edwin and Harold Janss, who were land developers
