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West Hollywood, California

West Hollywood is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Incorporated in 1984, it is home to the Sunset Strip. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, its population was 35,757.

History
Most historical writings about West Hollywood begin in the late-18th century with European colonization when the Portuguese explorer João Rodrigues Cabrilho traveled to and eventually laid claim on the region for Spain. Around 5,000 of the indigenous inhabitants from the Tongva Indian tribe canoed out to greet the ship. The Tongva tribe was a nation of hunter-gatherers known for their reverence for dance and courage. By 1771, these native people had been severely ravaged by the diseases brought in by the Europeans from across wide oceans. The Spanish mission system changed the name of the Tongva tribe to "Gabrielinos", in reference to the Mission de San Gabriel. Early in 1770 Gaspar de Portola's Mexican expeditionary force stopped just south of the Santa Monica Mountains near what would become West Hollywood. Here they collected pitch (brea in Spanish) from tar pits which they used to waterproof their belongings and to say Mass. The Gabrielinos are believed to have burned the pitch for fuel.

By 1780, what became the "Sunset Strip" was the major connecting road for El Pueblo de Los Angeles, and all ranches westward to the Pacific Ocean. This land passed through the hands of various owners during the next one hundred years, and it was called names such as "La Brea" and "Plummer" that are listed in historical records. Most of this area was part of the Rancho La Brea, and eventually it came to be owned by the Henry Hancock family.

During the final decade years of the nineteenth century, the first large land reconstruction of the town of "Sherman" significantly accelerated the development of the region. In what would later become West Hollywood—the town of "Sherman"—was established by Moses Sherman and his partners of the Los Angeles Pacific Railroad, an interurban railroad line which later became part of the Pacific Electric Railway system. Sherman became the location of the railroad's main shops, railroad yards, and "car barns". Many working-class employees of the railroad settled in this town. It was during this time that the city began to earn its reputation as a loosely regulated, liquor-friendly (during Prohibition) place for eccentric people wary of government interference. Despite several annexation attempts, the town elected not to become part of the City of Los Angeles. In a controversial decision, in 1925 Sherman adopted "West Hollywood", "...a moniker pioneered earlier in the decade by the West Hollywood Realty Board" as its informal name, though it remained under the governance of Los Angeles County.

For many decades, the area that is now the city of West Hollywood was an unincorporated area in the midst of Los Angeles. Because gambling was illegal in the city of Los Angeles, but still legal in Los Angeles County, the 1920s saw the proliferation of many casinos, night clubs, etc., along Sunset Boulevard (which starts near downtown Los Angeles and runs westward). These businesses were immune from the sometimes heavy-handed law-enforcement of the L.A. Police Department.

Some people connected with movie-making were attracted to this less-restricted area of the County, and a number of architecturally distinctive apartment buildings and hotels were built. Many interior designers, decorators and "to the trade" furnishing showrooms located in West Hollywood date back to the middle of the century.

Eventually, the area and its extravagant nightclubs fell out of favor. However, the Sunset Strip and its restaurants, saloons, and nightclubs continued to be an attraction for out-of-town tourists. During the late 1960s, the Sunset Strip was transformed again during the hippie movement which brought a thriving music publishing industry coupled with the "hippie" culture. Some young people from all over the country flocked to West Hollywood.

The most recent migration to West Hollywood came about after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, when thousands of Russian Jews immigrated to the city. A majority of the 5,000 to 6,000 Russian Jews settled in two major immigration waves, 1978–79 and 1988–92. Other than New York, West Hollywood's Russian-speaking community is the most concentrated single Russian-speaking region in the United States.

The Gauntlet was a body piercing business founded by Jim Ward in West Hollywood that is considered the first business of its type in the United States and was the beginning of the body piercing industry. The Gauntlet began in November 1975, with its original location in Ward's West Hollywood home, but on the evening of Friday, November 17, 1978, it celebrated the grand opening of its first commercial location at 8720 Santa Monica Boulevard (also in West Hollywood).

Due to the expiration of rent control protections in LA County, a coalition of gay men, Russian Jews, and the elderly successfully held a vote to officially incorporate the City of West Hollywood in 1984; by electing a city council with an openly gay majority and immediately passing a series of rent control measures to protect its longtime citizens. West Hollywood then immediately adopted one of the strongest rent control laws in the nation.

The city of West Hollywood gave the keys to the city to Stormy Daniels on "Stormy Daniels Day", May 23, 2018.

Geography
West Hollywood is bounded by the city of Beverly Hills on the west, and by neighborhoods of the city of Los Angeles: Hollywood Hills on the north, Hollywood on the east, the Fairfax District on the southeast, and Beverly Grove on the southwest. The city's irregular boundary is featured in its logo; it was largely formed from the unincorporated Los Angeles County area which had not become part of the surrounding cities.

West Hollywood benefits from a very dense, compact urban form with small lots, mixed land use, and a walkable street grid. According to Walkscore, a website that ranks cities based on walkability, West Hollywood is the most walkable city in California with a Walkscore of 89. Commercial corridors include the nightlife and dining focused on the Sunset Strip, along Santa Monica Boulevard, and the Avenues of Art and Design along Robertson, Melrose, and Beverly Boulevard.

Residential neighborhoods in West Hollywood include the Norma Triangle, West Hollywood North, West Hollywood West, West Hollywood East, and West Hollywood Heights, all of which are only a few blocks long or wide. Major intersecting streets typically provide amenities within walking distance of adjacent neighborhoods.

Climate
West Hollywood has a subtropical-semi-arid climate with year-round warm weather, although winter nights are cool. The record high temperature of 111 °F was recorded on September 26, 1963, while the record low of 24 °F was recorded on January 4, 1949. Rainfall is sparse (only 13 inches annually), and falls mainly during the winter months. Snow is extraordinarily rare in West Hollywood, with the last accumulation occurring in 1949.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that West Hollywood had a population of 34,399. The population density was 18,225.6 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of West Hollywood was 28,979 (84.2%) White (77.9% Non-Hispanic White), 1,115 (3.2%) African American, 103 (0.3%) Native American, 1,874 (5.4%) Asian, 34 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 1,049 (3.0%) from other races, and 1,245 (3.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3,613 persons (10.5%).

The census reported that 34,290 people (99.7% of the population) lived in households, 109 (0.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 22,511 households, out of which 1,141 (5.1%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,060 (13.6%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 852 (3.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 431 (1.9%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,094 (4.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 1,321 (5.9%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 13,434 households (59.7%) were made up of individuals, and 2,606 (11.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.52. There were 4,343 families (19.3% of all households); the average family size was 2.42.

The population was spread out, with 1,578 people (4.6%) under the age of 18, 2,407 people (7.0%) aged 18 to 24, 16,228 people (47.2%) aged 25 to 44, 9,061 people (26.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 5,125 people (14.9%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 128.4 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 129.9 males.

There were 24,588 housing units at an average density of 13,027.4 /mi2, of which 4,976 (22.1%) were owner-occupied, and 17,535 (77.9%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.9%. 7,874 people (22.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 26,416 people (76.8%) lived in rental housing units.

During 2009–2013, West Hollywood had a median household income of $52,649, with 15.8% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

, gay men were 33% of the city's population; a 2013 survey had estimated the gay male population at 39%.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 35,716 people, 23,120 households, and 5,202 families residing in the city. The population density was 18,992.7 PD/sqmi. There were 24,110 housing units at an average density of 12,821.0 /mi2, making West Hollywood one of the most densely populated cities in the US. The racial makeup of the city was 86.4% White, 6.4% African American, 3.8% Asian, 0.4% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.9% from other races, and 3.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.8% of the population.

There were 23,120 households, out of which 5.8% had children under the age of eighteen, 16.4% were married couples living together, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 77.5% were non-families. 60.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.0% included someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.53, and the average family size was 2.50.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 5.7% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 48.6% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 123.4 males. For every 100 females aged eighteen and older, there were 125.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,914, and the median income for a family was $41,463. Males had a median income of $45,598 versus $35,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $38,302. About 7.3% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.

Top employers
According to the City's 2021 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city were:

Cannabis
Under the legalization of the sale and distribution of cannabis, the city plans to issue 40 licenses to either operate a dispensary, consumption lounge or delivery service. Eight licenses are planned in each of the following categories:

 * Adult-use retail business licenses
 * Consumption lounge (smoking, vaping, edibles) business licenses
 * Consumption lounge (edibles only) business licenses
 * Medical-use dispensary business licenses
 * Business licenses for cannabis delivery services located in West Hollywood

State law does not allow local governments to regulate adults in growing, using, or transporting marijuana for personal use but commercial activities, such as growing, testing, and selling cannabis within their jurisdiction may be regulated by each city by licensing none or only some of these activities. West Hollywood's first four dispensaries, Alternative Herbal Health Services, Los Angeles Patients and Caregivers Group, Zen Healing and MedMen WeHo, were granted temporary extensions in June 2019 to operate as retail businesses through the remainder of the year.

In July 2019, the West Hollywood Business License Commission approved a cannabis consumption license for Lowell Herb Co. In September 2019, Lowell Farms: A Cannabis Cafe opened with a menu of cannabis for consumption, THC-infused drinks and meals for cannabis-enhanced sense of taste and smell. It is the first cannabis cafe in the United States and will include the expertise of cannabis sommeliers, known as "budtenders" on site.

On August 20, 2020, the Original Cannabis Cafe (previously known as The Lowell Cafe in West Hollywood) became America's first restaurant allowed to serve legal marijuana to open in California. It became one of eight establishments granted a cannabis consumption license in West Hollywood. There were reportedly over 300 applicants, and the Original Cannabis Cafe states it was granted the first license.

Arts and culture
The Hollywood Halloween Carnival is an event that takes place annually on October 31. The largest Halloween street party in the United States (spanning over 1 mi of Santa Monica Boulevard from La Cienega Boulevard on the East to Doheny and the Beverly Hills border on the West), it is estimated that as many as 500,000 people attend the Halloween Carnaval each year.

Christopher Street West is an LGBT pride parade and festival that was first held in June 1970 in Hollywood to commemorate the first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in New York. After incorporation, the event moved to West Hollywood for many years and was typically held the second weekend in June until it relocated to the City of Los Angeles in 2022.

The annual One City One Pride event was an LGBTQ Arts Festival held over a 40-day period from Harvey Milk Day, May 22 through the end of Pride Month, June 30. In 2023, the "One City One Pride LGBTQ Arts Festival" became the "WeHo Pride Arts Festival" to align with the new WeHo Pride brand. In 2024, the WeHo Pride Arts Festival is shifting from 40-days of programming to a unified weekend of programming from June 14 through June 16.

Since 1993, the City of West Hollywood and its LGBTQ+ Advisory Board have presented over 173 Rainbow Key Awards to those who have made outstanding contributions to West Hollywood’s LGBTQ+ community. These contributions, by an individual or a group, maybe in many forms, including the arts, community action, humanitarian action, sports, medicine, armed services, leadership potential, benefit to the global LGBTQ+ community, or other ways. Past honorees have included Bruce Vilanch, Abbe Land, Kenneth Hahn, Tom of Finland, Sheila Kuehl, David Cooley, Chaz Bono, West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation, Project Angel Food, Jazzmun,  and Nahshon Dion.

The West Hollywood Book Fair has been held in the fall since 2001. Past participants have included Andrew McCarthy, Deepak Chopra, and Rocco DiSpirito.

The Oscars is a major event in the city, with a majority of the large Academy Award party venues being located in the city. Many streets are closed, and traffic swells on this day each year.

Frontrunners LGBT Pride Run is a 5 km/10 km run/walk held on the Sunday morning of LGBT Pride.

The City of West Hollywood sponsors an animal walk and pet appreciation days throughout the year, which have in the past featured pet psychics and dog activities. During Halloween, the week before October 31, animals can participate in a costume contest in West Hollywood Park. West Hollywood is near Runyon Canyon Park's hiking trail and dog park in Hollywood.

The Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Party has traditionally been held at the Pacific Design Center. It is a multimillion-dollar fundraiser for the foundation.

West Hollywood has many ongoing programs to celebrate the vibrant arts and unique culture of the city. The literary community is acknowledged with the year-round author series WeHo Reads, featuring new and noteworthy authors at the West Hollywood Library with a full-day literary event each fall. An annual PowPow is presented by AIDS Project Los Angeles Red Circle Project and the City of West Hollywood. This event, held at Plummer Park promotes HIV awareness and prevention among the Native communities and features dance, music, food, and educational resources.

West Hollywood inaugurated the first City Poet, Steven Reigns, during the regular City Council meeting on October 6, 2014.

LGBT community
Approximately forty percent of the population identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. West Hollywood has become one of the world's top gay vacation spots for LGBT travelers and is at the center of gay California nightlife, including spas, shopping, and dining.

The city maintains expansive historical records of the LGBT community. The West Hollywood Library has an extensive collection of LGBT records, literature, and history, including the June L. Mazer Lesbian Archives, and the Ron Shipton HIV Information Center. According to an LA Times article, the ONE Archives Gallery and Museum is the first museum in Southern California exclusively dedicated to gay history.

In 2018, America's first city-wide Bi Pride event was held in West Hollywood.

Local
The city government is headed by a five-member city council, including a Mayor and a Vice Mayor who serve one-year terms. The positions of Mayor and Vice Mayor are largely ceremonial positions which rotate between the councilmembers, and both positions are largely not re-elected in concurrent terms. However, councilmembers serve multiple non-concurrent terms in both offices. The five councilmembers are Mayor John M. Erickson, Vice Mayor Chelsea Lee Byers, John Heilman, Sepi Shyne, and Lauren Meister.

West Hollywood was the first city in the country to have a city council with a majority of gay members.

On February 19, 2001, West Hollywood became the second city in the United States (after Boulder, Colorado) to change the term pet "owner" to pet "guardian" in their municipal codes.

With West Hollywood being one of the most prominent gay-friendly cities in the United States, Proposition 8 had a higher rate of rejection than it did in any other city in Los Angeles County: 86% of the city voted against the amendment, which restricted marriage to heterosexual couples.

State and federal representation
In the California State Legislature, West Hollywood is in, and in.

On December 20, 2021, the California Citizens Redistricting Commission voted 14-0 in favor of a new state Assembly and Senate district maps and delivered those maps to the secretary of state on December 27, 2021. These maps take effect for California's 2022 state legislative elections, changing West Hollywood's Assembly District to AD 51 and Senate District to SD 24.

In the United States House of Representatives, West Hollywood is in.

Primary and secondary schools
All of West Hollywood is part of the Los Angeles Unified School District. The area is within Board District 4.

Elementary schools that serve sections of West Hollywood include: (Some areas jointly zoned to Rosewood and West Hollywood)
 * West Hollywood Elementary School K–6
 * Rosewood Avenue Elementary School K-5
 * Laurel Elementary School K-8
 * Melrose Elementary School K-6
 * Gardner Street Elementary School K-5

Most of West Hollywood is zoned to Bancroft Middle School. Some portions in the south are zoned to John Burroughs Middle School. Students living in the Los Angeles area known as Beverly Hills Post Office, usually attend West Hollywood Elementary but then go to Emerson Middle School.

In 2005 the zoned high school was Fairfax High School.

Private Schools in West Hollywood:
 * West Hollywood College Preparatory School (WHCP) K-12
 * The Center for Early Education
 * Pacific Hills School

All of West Hollywood is zoned to Fairfax High School; some areas are jointly zoned to Fairfax High School and Hollywood High School.

The Center for Early Education and Pacific Hills School are private schools in West Hollywood.

Media

 * West Hollywood News
 * WEHOville Blog:
 * The Real Friends of WeHo

Transportation
Traffic congestion, public transport and parking are critical issues in the city due to its location between access to areas such as Greater Hollywood to the east and the San Fernando Valley to the north and the area of the Los Angeles West Side, with the Hollywood Hills creating a natural impediment to the north. Santa Monica Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard are critical east-west arteries in the metropolitan area, and Laurel Canyon Boulevard is a popular shortcut through the hills. Nearly 600 employees and 260 buses in the District 7 fleet of the LACMTA are based in a large facility on prime real estate near San Vicente Boulevard and Santa Monica Boulevard. The K Line extension to the Hollywood/Highland station is likely to pass through, or along, the edge of West Hollywood.

The PickUp
In August 2013, the City of West Hollywood launched a free Friday and Saturday night shuttle, the PickUp, connecting the eastern and western parts of the city. The goal of The PickUp is to provide an alternative to the automobile and bring an energetic and playful transit option to one of West Hollywood's busiest nighttime districts. The Public Relations Society of America Los Angeles Chapter (PRSA-LA) has recognized the City of West Hollywood with a PRism Award of Excellence in the category of New Product/Service Launch for the city's kick-off campaign for the PickUp.

The Sunset Trip shuttle service
In June 2018, the City of West Hollywood launched a new free shuttle service called The Sunset Trip. This service focuses on shuttling riders on Sunset Boulevard, but also crosses the PickUp shuttle route to allow transfers.

Public health and safety
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department operates the West Hollywood Station.

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Hollywood-Wilshire Health Center in Hollywood, serving West Hollywood.

Fire protection in West Hollywood is provided by the Los Angeles County Fire Department. LACoFD operates Station 7, the battalion headquarters, and Station 8, both in West Hollywood, as a part of Battalion 1.

Emergency Medical Services are provided by LACoFD and McCormick Ambulance.

Social services
West Hollywood, with a gay male population of about 39%, has been disproportionately affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic which has ravaged its gay male population since the early 1980s. The city funds or subsidizes an array of services for those living with HIV or AIDS. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation parks a Mobile HIV/STD testing van outside of the city's busiest nightclubs on Friday and Saturday nights, and again on Sunday afternoons. This outreach attempts to intervene with those young people most at-risk for HIV infection. Project Angel Food receives city funding to deliver hundreds of fresh lunches and dinners daily which are prepared under the supervision of a registered dietitian who tailors the meals to meet individual client's nutritional needs. AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) is a national leader for AIDS policy and advocacy issues and provides assistance to clients navigating the maze of available public benefits. APLA also provides free dental, psychotherapy and pharmaceutical services. Aid for AIDS provides direct financial support by assisting clients with rent, utility and pharmacy expenses. The city also subsidizes agencies that help clients train for a return to the workforce. The city permits all residents living with HIV/AIDS to have up to two pets in his or her home regardless of a landlord's specifications in the property's lease.

West Hollywood subsidizes programs for its growing population of children through a partnership with the USDA and local schools. "Healthy Start West Hollywood" is a program of the city's Social Services division that introduces pre-Kindergarten through High School age kids to the benefits of good nutrition through such activities as collective vegetable gardens and yoga.

The special needs of senior citizens are addressed through a variety of programs. West Hollywood either funds or subsidizes agencies that offer adult day care, a roommate matching service, and nutritious meals. The West Hollywood Senior Center provides recreational programs, excursions, and socializing as well as counseling and case management.

West Hollywood also seeks to address the health needs of residents who do not have adequate insurance by subsidizing the LA Free Clinic and The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center. Residents can access free medical, dental, legal and mental health services between these two sites.

The West Hollywood's Public Safety Division publishes guides on sexual assault prevention, nightclub safety, and how to access rape services.

Public library
County of Los Angeles Public Library operates the West Hollywood Library at 625 North San Vicente Boulevard.

Until early September 2011, the library was based at 715 North San Vicente Boulevard in a building designed by architect Edward H. Fickett. On September 6, 2011, the City demolished that building, which aroused controversy among some community members, including the architect's wife.

The current library building officially opened to the public on October 1, 2011. The building, which was designed by architects Steve Johnson and James Favaro, received a favorable review in the Los Angeles Times that ended by calling it "...a tremendously encouraging achievement". Exterior surfaces of the library building and adjacent parking structure are decorated with murals by Shepard Fairey, Kenny Scharf and Marquis Lewis (aka Retna), and the interior incorporates design work by Fairey and David Wiseman.

Notable people
The issue of Paparazzi chasing celebrities is raised regularly and the city participates in meetings with other nearby municipalities such as Beverly Hills and Los Angeles to discuss the problem and possible actions to better control the activity. The epicenter of the Thirty Mile Zone lies just blocks to the south of the city, and is the basis for the name of TMZ on TV, a paparazzi footage-based program. TMZ moved their operations from Sunset and Crescent Heights Boulevards to Los Angeles.

On May 28, 2018, Mayor John Duran announced that Stormy Daniels would receive the "Key to the City" alongside her attorney, Michael Avenatti. “In these politically tumultuous times, Stormy Daniels has proven herself to be a profile in courage by speaking truth to power even under threats to her safety and extreme intimidation from the current Administration”, said the mayor.

Actress Drew Barrymore grew up on Poinsettia Place until the age of 7, when she moved to Sherman Oaks; she moved back to West Hollywood at the age of 14.

Mayors of West Hollywood

 * Valerie Terrigno (1984–1985)
 * John Heilman (1985–1986)
 * Stephen Shulte (1986–1987)
 * Alan Viterbi (1987–1988)
 * Helen Albert (1988–1989)
 * Abbe Land (1989–1990)
 * John Heilman (1990–1991)
 * Paul Koretz (1991–1992)
 * Babette Lang (1992–1993)
 * Sal Guarriello (1993–1994)
 * Abbe Land (1994–1995)
 * John Heilman (1995–1996)
 * Paul Koretz (1996–1997)
 * Sal Guarriello (1997–1998)
 * Steve Martin (1998–1999)
 * John Heilman (1999–2000)
 * Jeff Prang (2000–2001)
 * John Heilman (2001–2002)
 * Sal Guarriello (2002–2003)
 * Jeff Prang (2003–2004)
 * John Duran (2004–2005)
 * Abbe Land (2005–2006)
 * John Heilman (2006–2007)
 * John Duran (2007–2008)
 * Jeff Prang (2008–2009)
 * Abbe Land (2009–2010)
 * John Heilman (2010–2011)
 * John Duran (2011–2012)
 * Jeff Prang (2012–2013)
 * Abbe Land (2013–2014)
 * John D'Amico (2014–2015)
 * Lindsey P. Horvath (2015–2016)
 * Lauren Meister (2016–2017)
 * John Heilman (2017–2018)
 * John Duran (2018–2019)
 * John D'Amico (2019–2020)
 * Lindsey P. Horvath (2020–2021)
 * Lauren Meister (2021–2023)
 * Sepi Shyne (2023–2024)
 * John M. Erickson (2024–Present)

Landmarks and distinctive places
Alta Loma Road is home to the Sunset Marquis Hotel with its 45-person Whisky Bar and NightBird Recording Studios, an underground music production facility. Alta Loma Road was one of the main locations for the film Perfect. Actor Sal Mineo lived on Holloway Drive in the 1970s; he was murdered in his carport just around the corner from Alta Loma.

The western stretch of Melrose Avenue, between Fairfax Avenue and Doheny Drive, is notable for its trendy clothing boutiques, interior design shops, restaurants and antique stores. The west end of Melrose Avenue, near the Pacific Design Center, is especially known for its exclusive furniture.

The area around Fountain Avenue, Harper Avenue and Havenhurst Drive contains a high concentration of landmark 1920s Spanish Revival and Art Deco apartment buildings by such noted architects as Leland Bryant. This historic district has been home to many celebrities and at one time the Sunset Tower at 8358 Sunset Boulevard was home to Frank Sinatra, Errol Flynn, the Gabor sisters, John Wayne and Howard Hughes.

Notable business and attractions in West Hollywood include:
 * The Sunset Strip
 * Hotels such as Andaz West Hollywood, Chamberlain West Hollywood Hotel, The Charlie, Mondrian, Montrose West Hollywood and the Standard
 * The Pacific Design Center
 * Architecture such as The Schindler House by architect Rudolf Schindler
 * Buildings such as 9200 Sunset by architect Charles Luckman and the old Coronet Building (Piazza del Sol)
 * Music venues such as House of Blues (Closed), Whisky a Go Go, The Troubadour, The Roxy Theatre and Viper Room
 * Westlake Recording Studios, where Michael Jackson recorded the albums Thriller and Bad in 1982 and 1987, respectively
 * Celebrity hangouts such as Soho House, Formosa Cafe (reopened 2019), Whisky Bar, Rainbow Bar and Grill, Palm Restaurant (now located in Beverly Hills): West Hollywood (not to be confused with the chain by the same name,) Dan Tana's, The Abbey Food & Bar and Villa Nightclub
 * Film, television and music production including Samuel Goldwyn Studio (now known as The Lot), home to Oprah Winfrey Network, Funny or Die, and Showtime
 * Several parks including historic Plummer Park
 * Comedy Store
 * Sierra Towers, the tallest residential building in the greater Los Angeles area
 * Saint Victor Catholic Church
 * West Hollywood Gateway Project, the city's largest shopping center that is home to Los Angeles' largest public art piece using projection technology.
 * Bodhi Tree Bookstore, an independent bookstore founded in 1970 that was located on Melrose Avenue.

Discrimination issues
Sometime in the 1940s, a sign appeared over the bar at Barney's Beanery that said "FAGOTS [sic] – STAY OUT." The message so offended locals that Life magazine did an article on opposition to the sign in 1964, which included a photograph of the owner steadfastly holding on to it. The owner died in 1968, and efforts continued to have the sign removed. The Gay Liberation Front organized a zap of the restaurant on February 7, 1970, to push for its removal. The sign disappeared that day. The sign was put up and taken down several times over the next 14 years, but the practice ended in December 1984, days after the city voted itself into existence. The then-mayor, Valerie Terrigno, the entire city council and gay-rights activists marched into Barney's and relieved the wall of the offending sign. It was held by Morris Kight for many years and now rests in the ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives.

Jewel-Thais Williams, who owned the bar Jewel's Catch One, originally opened the bar in 1973 because she experienced discrimination in both heterosexual bars and gay bars because she was both black and a woman.

A resident drew national attention during the 2008 presidential campaign by including a Sarah Palin mannequin hung in effigy in a Halloween display. The home's decorations also featured a doll of John McCain surrounded by decorative flames in the chimney. Some residents complained about the display as a hate crime, but the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department concluded the display did not violate any laws.

In March 2006, agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Secret Service seized 250 fake denomination notes, each bearing a denomination of $1 billion, from a West Hollywood apartment.

Celebrity controversies

In 1982, John Belushi died of a drug overdose at the Chateau Marmont hotel in Hollywood, adjacent to WeHo. On the night of his death, he was visited separately by friends Robin Williams (at the height of his own drug exploits) and Robert De Niro, each of whom left the premises, leaving Belushi in the company of assorted others, including Cathy Smith. This is just one of many notable sordid events at the location. A 1930s movie executive reportedly said, "If you must get into trouble, do it at the Chateau Marmont".

On Halloween night in 1993, actor River Phoenix died at age 23 of a drug overdose at the Viper Room, a club that was opened that year and was partly owned by actor Johnny Depp until 2004.

On January 8, 2006, New Zealand film director Lee Tamahori, dressed as a woman, was arrested for allegedly offering an undercover police officer oral sex on the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Lodi Place. He was convicted only of criminal trespass, having pleaded no contest in exchange for other charges being dropped.

On November 17, 2006, during a performance at the Laugh Factory, a cell phone video captured Michael Richards shouting "Shut up" to a heckler in the audience, followed by repeated shouts of "He's a nigger!" to the rest of the audience (using the word six times altogether), and also making a reference to lynching.

Legislation
In 1985, West Hollywood was the first city to create a same-gender domestic partnership registration for its residents, as well as to offer same-gender domestic partner benefits for city employees. West Hollywood's comprehensive Domestic Partnership Ordinance allows those couples that are prohibited from marrying (same-sex) and those who can marry but choose not to (heterosexual), to register their union with the city. These unions are treated on an equal basis with legal marriages with respect to city-level benefits and services. In California as a whole, same-sex couples may enter domestic partnerships which offer them all of the state rights of marriage.

West Hollywood has inclusionary zoning laws governing development. The city established the Affordable Housing Trust Fund in 1986 requiring developers to either provide affordable housing in new projects or pay a fee in-lieu to the city which it directs towards other affordable housing projects.

In 1993 the West Hollywood City Council voted for West Hollywood to become the first official pro-choice city in America.

In 2006, the City Council passed a medicinal marijuana resolution, by a vote of 4–0, making it the first city in Southern California to adopt a lowest law enforcement priority law for cannabis offenses. The resolution stated, "it is not the policy of the City or its law enforcement agency to target possession of small amounts of cannabis and the consumption of non-medical cannabis in private by adults".

West Hollywood adopted one of the nation's first mandatory green building ordinances on October 1, 2007.

The city designed a law that pets are to be called "companions" and their owners "guardians" and was the first city in the country to outlaw the de-clawing of cats. In 2011, West Hollywood became the first city in the United States to ban the sale of clothing with real animal fur; the ban took effect on September 21, 2013. In May 2014, the ordinance was upheld by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, after a local business had challenged the prohibition as unconstitutional.

Legislation prohibiting discrimination in the workplace on the basis of sexual orientation is widely recognized as the toughest in the nation. The city is one of 225 jurisdictions in the country where it is illegal to discriminate on the basis of gender identity or expression.

City legislation bans the sale of handguns, prohibits smoking in public places, and restricts the city from doing business directly or indirectly (via vendors) with any country known to violate human rights. The city has banned the use of gas-powered leaf blowers.

As of July 2023, West Hollywood has the country's highest minimum wage.

title: West Hollywood, California


text:
West Puente Valley, California

West Puente Valley is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, USA, northwest of La Puente. The population was 22,636 at the 2010 census, up from 22,589 at the 2000 census. The community is probably named for its location related to the city of La Puente.

Description
West Puente Valley is an unincorporated community located in the heart of the San Gabriel Valley, between Downtown Los Angeles and Pomona. The community is easily accessible to the San Gabriel River Freeway to the west, the San Bernardino Freeway to the north, and the Pomona Freeway to the south.

West Puente Valley is bounded by La Puente to the south and east, Baldwin Park to the northwest, West Covina to the northeast, and the San Gabriel River Freeway and the western boundary of City of Industry to the west. The community is mainly residential. The ZIP code that serves the community is 91744 and 91746.

Geography
West Puente Valley is located at 34.05083°N, -117.96972°W (34.050838, -117.969783).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the community has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.5 km2), over 99% of it land.

2010
At the 2010 census West Puente Valley had a population of 22,636. The population density was 12,846.0 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of West Puente Valley was 11,383 (50.3%) White (4.8% Non-Hispanic White), 471 (2.1%) African American, 256 (1.1%) Native American, 1,650 (7.3%) Asian, 28 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 7,945 (35.1%) from other races, and 903 (4.0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19,365 persons (85.5%).

The census reported that 22,549 people (99.6% of the population) lived in households, 82 (0.4%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 5 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 4,788 households, 2,650 (55.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 2,930 (61.2%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 910 (19.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 403 (8.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 238 (5.0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 33 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 426 households (8.9%) were one person and 277 (5.8%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 4.71. There were 4,243 families (88.6% of households); the average family size was 4.73.

The age distribution was 6,325 people (27.9%) under the age of 18, 2,647 people (11.7%) aged 18 to 24, 6,154 people (27.2%) aged 25 to 44, 5,028 people (22.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,482 people (11.0%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 32.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.

There were 4,898 housing units at an average density of 2,779.6 per square mile, of the occupied units 3,887 (81.2%) were owner-occupied and 901 (18.8%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 2.1%. 18,419 people (81.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 4,130 people (18.2%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, West Puente Valley had a median household income of $63,750, with 11.1% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2000
At the 2000 census there were 22,589 people, 4,834 households, and 4,345 families in the CDP. The population density was 12,908.0 PD/sqmi. There were 4,914 housing units at an average density of 2,808.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 43.85% White, 2.46% African American, 1.14% Native American, 7.95% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 40.00% from other races, and 4.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 81.53%.

Of the 4,834 households 46.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.2% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 10.1% were non-families. 8.0% of households were one person and 5.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 4.67 and the average family size was 4.75.

The age distribution was 31.9% under the age of 18, 11.6% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% 65 or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.

The median household income was $49,923 and the median family income was $50,378. Males had a median income of $30,375 versus $21,601 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $12,806. About 9.8% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.9% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.

Politics
In the state legislature West Puente Valley is located in the 24th Senate District, represented by Democrat Gloria Romero, and in the 57th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Edward P. Hernandez. Federally, West Puente Valley is located in California's 32nd congressional district, which is represented by Democrat Grace Napolitano.

Education
West Puente Valley is being served by two school districts: The Bassett Unified School District on the western side and the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District on the eastern side.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: West Puente Valley, California


text:
West Whittier-Los Nietos, California

West Whittier-Los Nietos is a census-designated place (CDP) in Los Angeles County, California, near the San Gabriel River and the San Gabriel River (I-605) Freeway. The population was 25,540 at the 2010 census, up from 25,129 at the 2000 census. The census area consists of separate unincorporated communities of Los Nietos (Spanish for "the grandchildren") and West Whittier.

Geography
West Whittier-Los Nietos is located at 33.97611°N, -118.06889°W (33.976113, -118.069000), or about three miles (5 km) northwest of Whittier.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.5 sqmi, all land.

2010
At the 2010 census West Whittier-Los Nietos had a population of 25,540. The population density was 10,138.5 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of West Whittier-Los Nietos was 15,170 (59.4%) White (9.3% Non-Hispanic White), 254 (1.0%) African American, 372 (1.5%) Native American, 393 (1.5%) Asian, 43 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 8,404 (32.9%) from other races, and 904 (3.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22,369 persons (87.6%).

The census reported that 25,446 people (99.6% of the population) lived in households, 44 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 50 (0.2%) were institutionalized.

There were 6,698 households, 3,282 (49.0%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,684 (55.0%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,319 (19.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 598 (8.9%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 427 (6.4%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 49 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 843 households (12.6%) were one person and 466 (7.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.80. There were 5,601 families (83.6% of households); the average family size was 4.07.

The age distribution was 6,901 people (27.0%) under the age of 18, 2,742 people (10.7%) aged 18 to 24, 7,220 people (28.3%) aged 25 to 44, 5,825 people (22.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,852 people (11.2%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 33.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.5 males.

There were 6,923 housing units at an average density of 2,748.2 per square mile, of the occupied units 4,897 (73.1%) were owner-occupied and 1,801 (26.9%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.5%. 18,510 people (72.5% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 6,936 people (27.2%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, West Whittier-Los Nietos had a median household income of $60,525, with 9.4% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2000
At the 2000 census there were 25,129 people, 6,720 households, and 5,597 families in the CDP. The population density was 9,997.3 PD/sqmi. There were 6,857 housing units at an average density of 2,728.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 53.06% White, 0.57% African American, 1.25% Native American, 1.63% Asian, 0.20% Pacific Islander, 38.49% from other races, and 4.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 83.07%.

Of the 6,720 households 43.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.7% were married couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.7% were non-families. 13.5% of households were one person and 6.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.73 and the average family size was 4.04.

The age distribution was 30.9% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 18.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% 65 or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.

The median household income was $45,921 and the median family income was $47,699. Males had a median income of $33,012 versus $26,057 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $14,417. About 6.3% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.

History
Los Nietos is among the oldest communities in Southern California. The Los Nietos School District was established in 1861 and a Methodist circuit centered on the city was founded in 1867.

The community grew up around the Rancho Los Nietos and its constituent rancho Rancho Santa Gertrudes. Los Nietos was listed as a township in the 1860 and 1870 census, with its area comprising most of the old Rancho Los Nietos, thereby stretching from the Puente Hills south to Long Beach. Census records report a population of 605 in 1860 and 1,544 in 1870.

From the 1950s to the 1980s the community was served by the Whittier Downs Shopping Center.

Notable people
Herschel K. Mitchell (1913–2000), biochemist and geneticist, was born in Los Nietos

Education
The area is served by the Whittier Union High School District, primarily Pioneer High. For elementary school, the area is served by the Los Nietos School District and the Whittier City School District. Two middle schools are in the area (Katherine Edwards and Los Nietos) as are several elementary schools (Aeolian, Nelson, Phelan, Sorensen and West Whittier)

Politics
In the state legislature West Whittier-Los Nietos is located in the 30th Senate District, represented by Democrat Bob Archuleta, and in the 57th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Lisa Calderon. Federally, West Whittier-Los Nietos is located in California's 38th congressional district, which is represented by Democrat Linda Sánchez.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department operates the Pico Rivera Station in Pico Rivera, serving West Whittier.

title: West Whittier-Los Nietos, California


text:
Westmont, California

Westmont is an unincorporated community in Los Angeles County, California, a part of the South Los Angeles area, just east of Inglewood. The population was 33,913 at the 2020 census, up from 31,853 at the 2010 census. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Westmont as a census-designated place (CDP).

Geography
Westmont has a total area of 1.8 sqmi, all land. It adjoins the Vermont Vista neighborhood of the city of Los Angeles.

History
In 2009, Westmont was the subject of a feature story by Hector Tobar in the Los Angeles Times who wrote that the community was "officially (but rarely) called Westmont" but that it had "no "'mont,' not even a hill. It got its name, it seems, from being west of Vermont Avenue." Tobar noted that Westmont's unemployment rate was at the time "a staggering 23.6%, the highest in Los Angeles County."

Five years later, the strip of Vermont Avenue which is shared between Westmont and Vermont Vista was called "death alley" by the newspaper because during the past seven years sixty people had been killed by violence on that two-mile stretch. It remained at the highest rate of killings of any neighborhood in Los Angeles County.

The 2014 article stated that "The area was long been controlled by a gang named the Underground Crips, whose members would, in more violent days, walk across Normandie Avenue to shoot at rivals."

Demographics
According to the Los Angeles Times, fewer than six percent of residents held bachelor's degrees in 2000. The neighborhood is fraught with gang and police-related violence, as well as structural racism and entrenched poverty.

For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has designated the unincorporated area as a census designated place (CDP).

2010
In the 2010 census Westmont had a population of 31,853. The population density was 17,239.9 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Westmont was 16,262 (51.1%) African American, 5,037 (15.8%) white (including 1.0% non-Hispanic white), 188 (0.6%) Native American, 126 (0.4%) Asian, 31 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 9,180 (28.8%) from other races, and 1,029 (3.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14,871 persons (46.7%).

The census reported that 31,693 people (99.5% of the population) lived in households, 119 (0.4%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 41 (0.1%) were institutionalized.

There were 9,695 households, 4,750 (49.0%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 2,995 (30.9%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 3,194 (32.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 904 (9.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 776 (8.0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 52 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 2,141 households (22.1%) were one person and 669 (6.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.27. There were 7,093 families (73.2% of households); the average family size was 3.78.

The age distribution was 9,860 people (31.0%) under the age of 18, 3,759 people (11.8%) aged 18 to 24, 8,577 people (26.9%) aged 25 to 44, 6,979 people (21.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,678 people (8.4%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 29.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.3 males.

There were 10,588 housing units at an average density of 5,730.6 per square mile, of the occupied units 3,012 (31.1%) were owner-occupied and 6,683 (68.9%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.5%; the rental vacancy rate was 8.8%. 10,864 people (34.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 20,829 people (65.4%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
In the 2000 census there were 31,623 people, 9,255 households, and 7,089 families living in the CDP. The population density was 17,103.0 PD/sqmi. There were 10,186 housing units at an average density of 5,509.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 11.8% White, 58.0% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 25.8% from other races, and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 39.5%.

Of the 9,255 households 47.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.9% were married couples living together, 34.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.4% were non-families. 19.2% of households were one person and 5.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.41 and the average family size was 3.85.

The age distribution was 37.8% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 16.3% from 45 to 64, and 6.0% 65 or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.5 males.

The median household income was $23,323 and the median family income was $23,712. Males had a median income of $24,682 versus $25,775 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $9,765. About 35.3% of families and 36.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.7% of those under age 18 and 22.1% of those age 65 or over.

Mexican and Unspecified African were the most common ancestries according to Mapping L.A. Mexico and El Salvador were the most common foreign places of birth.

Government
In the California State Legislature, Westmont is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, Westmont is in.

Law enforcement is provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Education
The area is within the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Areas considered to be in Westmont are generally zoned to:
 * Century Park Elementary School
 * Woodcrest Elementary School
 * Washington Preparatory High School
 * Middle College High School
 * Animo South Los Angeles Charter High School

LAUSD schools in Westmont include:
 * Boys Academic Leadership Academy
 * George Washington Preparatory High School
 * Duke Ellington Continuation High School
 * Woodcrest Elementary School
 * 95th Street Elementary School

Charter schools in Westmont include:
 * Animo South Los Angeles Charter High School of Green Dot Public Schools

Library Service

 * Woodcrest Community Library, County of Los Angeles Public Library

Notable people

 * Ice Cube (O'Shea Jackson), rapper, actor, writer, producer, and director grew up on Van Wick Street in Westmont.

title: Westmont, California


text:
Whittier, California

Whittier is a city in Southern California in Los Angeles County, part of the Gateway Cities. The 38.0 km2 city had 87,306 residents as of the 2020 United States census, an increase of 1,975 from the 2010 census figure. Whittier was incorporated in February 1898 and became a charter city in 1955. The city is named for the Quaker poet John Greenleaf Whittier and is home to Whittier College. The city is surrounded by three unincorporated areas sharing the Whittier name, West Whittier-Los Nietos, South Whittier, and East Whittier, which combined are home to a larger population than Whittier proper.

Etymology
In the founding days of Whittier, when it was a small, isolated town, Jonathan Bailey and his wife, Rebecca, were among the first residents. They followed the Quaker religious faith and practice and held religious meetings on their porch. Other early settlers, such as Aquila Pickering, espoused the Quaker faith. As the city grew, the citizens named it after John Greenleaf Whittier, a respected Quaker poet, and deeded a lot to him. Whittier wrote a dedication poem and is honored today with statues and a small exhibit at the Whittier Museum; a statue of him sits in Whittier's Central Park, and another representing his poem "The Barefoot Boy" used to reside by the City Hall and is now in front of the main library. Whittier never set foot there, but the city still bears his name and is rooted in the Quaker tradition.

History
The Gabrielino first inhabited the area.

Whittier's roots can be traced to Spanish soldier Manuel Nieto. In 1784, Nieto received a Spanish land grant of 300,000 acre, Rancho Los Nietos, as a reward for his military service and to encourage settlement in California. The area of Nieto's land grant was reduced in 1790 as the result of a dispute with Mission San Gabriel. Nonetheless, Nieto still had a claim to 167000 acre stretching from the hills north of Whittier, Fullerton, and Brea, south to the Pacific Ocean, and from what is known today as the Los Angeles River east to the Santa Ana River. Nieto built a rancho for his family near Whittier, purchased cattle and horses for his ranch, and planted cornfields. When Nieto died in 1804, his children inherited their father's property.

At the time of the 1840s Mexican–American War, much of the land that would become Whittier was owned by Pio Pico, a rancher and the last Mexican governor of Alta California. Pio Pico built a hacienda here on the San Gabriel River, known today as Pio Pico State Historic Park. Following the Mexican–American War, German immigrant Jacob F. Gerkens paid $234 to the U.S. government to acquire 160 acre of land under the Homestead Act and built the cabin known today as the Jonathan Bailey House. Gerkens would later become the first chief of police of the Los Angeles Police Department. Gerkens' land was owned by several others before a group of Quakers purchased it and expanded it to 1259 acre, intending to found a Quaker community. The area soon became known as a thriving citrus ranching region, with "Quaker Brand" fruit shipped all over the United States. Beginning in 1887, walnut trees were planted, and Whittier became the largest walnut grower in the United States. In addition to walnuts and citrus, Whittier was also a significant producer of pampas grass.

For many years, the sole means of transport from this area to Los Angeles was on foot or via horse and wagon over rough dirt roads, impeding settlement, development, and the export of agriculture. Thus in 1887 "enterprising and aggressive businessmen" contracted with the Southern Pacific Railroad to build the first railroad spur to Whittier, including a depot. The businessmen covered the $43,000 construction cost for the six-mile spur, which branched off from the Southern Pacific mainline at a junction near what is now Studebaker Road between Firestone Boulevard and Imperial Highway. By 1906, 650 carloads of oranges and 250 carloads of lemons were shipped annually by rail. In 1904, the Pacific Electric opened the trolley line known as "Big Red Cars" from Los Angeles to Whittier. In the first two decades, over a million passengers a year rode to and from Los Angeles on the Whittier Line. After World War II, Whittier grew rapidly. The sub-dividing of orange groves began, driven by housing shortages in southern California. In 1955, the new Civic Center complex was completed, and the City Council met in new chambers for the first time on March 8, 1955. The city continued to grow as the City annexed portions of Whittier Boulevard and East Whittier. The 1961 annexation added over 28,000 people to the population, bringing the total to about 67,000.

Quakers
The first Quaker meetings were held on the front porch of the Jonathan Bailey House. Eventually, as more Quakers arrived, the need for an actual Meeting House arose, and the first Quaker meeting house was built on the corner of Comstock Avenue and Wardman Street in 1887. The meeting soon outgrew this 100-seat meeting house, and a new larger building was erected on the corner of Philadelphia Street and Washington Avenue in 1902. By 1912, membership had grown to 1,200, and a third building was dedicated on the same site in 1917. With a capacity of 1,700, the 1917 meeting house featured a balcony and was constructed of brick with mahogany paneling and pews. The present meeting house, dedicated in 1975, features many architectural elements and materials from the 1917 building, including the stained glass windows and mahogany interior. The Quakers also founded Whittier Academy (later Whittier College), and additional meetings met in East Whittier and at Whittier College's Mendenhall. The Mendenhall and East Whittier meetings kept the silent meeting longer than the main church.

Colleges
In 1887, the Pickering Land and Water Company set aside a 20 acre parcel of land to develop a college, but a collapse in the land boom stalled construction. Progress on developing a college was sporadic, but on July 30, 1896, the Whittier Academy, operating since 1891, officially changed its name to Whittier College with 100 students enrolled. The school mascot is "The Poet." By 1906, Whittier College was an educational institution with laboratories, boarding halls, a large gymnasium, and athletic fields. Due to an economic depression in the 1890s, the first bachelor's degrees were not awarded at the college for 17 years.

Leona May Mendenhall donated the Mendenhall Building at Whittier College in honor of her husband, Oscar. The Mendenhalls were among the founding families of Whittier. Oscar's brother, Samuel Mendenhall, helped bring in the water system and post office. The Mendenhalls were large growers for Sunkist oranges and Blue Diamond walnuts.

Whittier was the first home to Azusa Pacific University, established on March 3, 1899, by the Quaker community and a Methodist evangelist under the name Training School for Christian Workers.

Whittier Narrows earthquake
On October 1, 1987, at 7:42 a.m., the Whittier Narrows earthquake struck, the epicenter being six miles (10 km) north by northwest of Whittier. The seismic event, which registered 5.9 on the moment magnitude scale, killed eight people and damaged many of uptown Whittier's historic buildings. Three days later, on October 4, 1987, at 3:59 a.m., a major aftershock measuring 5.2 caused further damage. Buildings and residential structures that were already borderline unsafe were now deemed unsafe or uninhabitable. In the years following the earthquake, the city's deteriorating uptown business district became the focus of renewed development, meeting opposition from many Whittier citizens. The Whittier Conservancy was formed in 1987 to stop the demolition of many historic buildings and residences after the disaster. The city also created a Historic Resources Commission to oversee the approval of landmark designations, historic districts, and Mills Act proposals. The Whittier Narrows earthquake also destroyed The Quad at Whittier, a shopping mall that had to be rebuilt.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.7 sqmi, virtually all land.

Whittier is bordered by the community of Hacienda Heights to the northeast, City of Industry to the north, and several other unincorporated communities in the San Gabriel Valley mostly along its northern sections. Pico Rivera lies at the west, La Habra Heights to the east, La Habra to the southeast and Santa Fe Springs to the south.

Neighborhoods
There are several neighborhoods in Whittier. The area centered around Philadelphia Street and Greenleaf Avenue is known as Uptown Whittier and contains the traditional central business core. Just north of Uptown Whittier are the neighborhoods known as Central Park and Hadley-Greenleaf. They have been designated historic districts by the city Historic Resources Commission and comprise most of the Whittier Historic Neighborhood Association area. These districts contain many Craftsman and Spanish Colonial Revival homes. In and abutting the hills north of the historic districts is Starlite Estates. The area surrounding Whittier College is known as College Hills and was also recently designated a historic district, as it has a small cluster of homes along Earlham Drive. The area east of College Avenue is called East Whittier. East Whittier was an unincorporated agricultural community until the postwar era. The eastern parts of East Whittier, developed in the 1950s and 1960s, are known as Friendly Hills, which was developed at the same time as Murphy Ranch and Leffingwell Ranch. Friendly Hills and Murphy Ranch are generally considered north of Whittier Boulevard, while Leffingwell Ranch is south of the boulevard. The area at the extreme east of Whittier is occasionally called Sunglow.

Climate
Whittier is about 15 mi inland of the Pacific Ocean, resulting in higher daytime temperatures, and since it lies at a higher elevation than the cities further west, cold air drains into the lower elevation of the Los Angeles Basin which results in warmer night-time lows, producing an example of thermal inversion. Winter daytime highs typically range from 59 °F to 72 °F (20 °C to 27 °C) with overnight lows dropping to about 41 °F to 50 °F (6° to 12 °C). In the summer highs range from 81 °F to 97 °F (26 °C to 35 °C) and corresponding overnight lows in the 62 °F to 69 °F (14 °C to 22 °C). Rainfall follows a Mediterranean pattern, with most rain falling during winter, while summers tend to be rather dry. The mean annual rainfall is about 14 in.

2020
The 2020 United States census reported that Whittier had a total population of 87,306 people with a density of 5,824.9 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 48.7% White (24.5% Non-Hispanic white, 24.2% White Hispanic), 1.5% African American, 1.1% Native American, 5.3% Asian, 0.0% Asian Pacific American, and 8.4% from two or more races. Hispanic and Latino Americans were 65.8% of the population. 16.6% of the population were foreign born, and 3.1% of people were veterans.

There were 27,093 households, of which the average size was 3.07 persons. The median household income during 2016–2020 was $76,026, and 9.5% of the population was living in poverty.

The population was spread out, with 23.0% of the population under the age of 18 and 15.1% above the age of 65. Of all people aged above 25 years, 88.5% were high school graduates, and 26.7% had a bachelor's degree or higher. 61.5% of people aged above 16 years were in the civilian labor force.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Whittier had a population of 85,331. The population density was 5,818.6 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Whittier was 55,117 (64.6%) White (28.3% Non-Hispanic White, 36.3% White Hispanic), 1,092 (1.3%) African American, 1,093 (1.3%) Native American, 3,262 (3.8%) Asian, 123 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 20,848 (24.4%) from other races, and 3,796 (4.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 56,081 persons (65.7%).

The Census reported that 83,696 people (98.1% of the population) lived in households, 1,083 (1.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 552 (0.6%) were institutionalized.

There were 28,273 households, out of which 11,289 (39.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 14,152 (50.1%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 4,566 (16.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,896 (6.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,770 (6.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 247 (0.9%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 6,096 households (21.6%) were made up of individuals, and 2,495 (8.8%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96. There were 20,614 families (72.9% of all households); the average family size was 3.46.

The population was spread out, with 21,686 people (25.4%) under the age of 18, 9,198 people (10.8%) aged 18 to 24, 23,627 people (27.7%) aged 25 to 44, 20,819 people (24.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 10,001 people (11.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.

There were 29,591 housing units at an average density of 2,017.8 /sqmi, of which 16,207 (57.3%) were owner-occupied, and 12,066 (42.7%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.1%. 49,393 people (57.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 34,303 people (40.2%) lived in rental housing units.

During 2009–2013, Whittier had a median household income of $68,522, with 12.4% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 83,680 people, 28,271 households, and 20,468 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,719.4 PD/sqmi. There were 28,977 housing units at an average density of 1,980.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 43.2% White, 1.2% African American, 1.3% Native American, 3.3% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 25.8% from other races, and 5.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 65.9% of the population.

There were 28,271 households, out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.38.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.3% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $49,256, and the median income for a family was $55,726. Males had a median income of $40,394 versus $34,223 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,409. About 7.8% of families and 10.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

Mexican and German were the most common ancestries. Mexico and El Salvador were the most common foreign places of birth.

Homelessness
In 2022, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority's Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count counted 127 homeless individuals in Whittier.

Economy
Whittier's Redevelopment Agency has numerous projects underway to revitalize the community. This includes a $7 million project near the historic Hoover Hotel. In addition, the agency is working on developing a 480 acre project area near Whittier Blvd. The master plan was adopted in June 2005 by the City Council. In 2019, Whittier's first food hall, Poet Gardens, opened in Uptown Whittier.

The Whittwood Town Center is a shopping destination in Whittier.

Top employers
According to the city's 2013 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

Arts and culture
On April 17, 1900, the Whittier Public Library Board of Trustees held its first meeting in Landrum Smith's drugstore. With an initial collection of 60 books and 200 magazines, the library facilities began in the Woody Building as a reading room maintained by Hester in exchange for space for his telegraph office. In 1907, a Carnegie grant funded building construction at Bailey and Greenleaf that many Whittierites fondly remember. As the city expanded, a more extensive library was needed, and the Friends of the Library was organized in 1956 to raise money for a new building. Through their efforts and those of the board members, librarians, and citizen fundraising groups, the new library was completed at the Washington Avenue site in May 1959. In 1968, service was further expanded with the construction of the Whittwood Branch Library on Santa Gertrudes Avenue.

Historical landmarks and entertainment locations

 * Rose Hills Memorial Park, the largest single-location cemetery in the world, is located just outside the city western edge in unincorporated Whittier.
 * Whittier is home to the following California Historical Landmarks
 * Pio Pico State Historic Park, California Historical Landmark No. 127: The Casa de Governor Pío Pico/Home of Governor Pío Pico, home of the last Mexican Governor of California.
 * California Historical Landmark No. 646: Grave of George Caralambo, (Greek George). Grave marker is located at the Whittier Museum :
 * California Historical Landmark No. 681: Paradox Hybrid Walnut Tree:
 * California Historical Landmark No. 947: Reform School for Juvenile Offenders (Fred C. Nelles School — Closed May 27, 2004, and currently being redeveloped for business and residential use)
 * Whittier Museum - 6755 Newlin Ave, Whittier 90601. Open for public tour Fridays and Saturdays from 1 to 4 p.m. and is free of charge
 * Whittier is the home to the following places listed in the National Register of Historic Places:
 * Pio Pico House, 6003 Pioneer Blvd.
 * Hoover Hotel, 7035 Greenleaf Ave.
 * Southern Pacific Railroad Depot, 7333 Greenleaf Ave.
 * Standard Oil Building, 7257 Bright Ave.
 * Jonathan Bailey House, 13421 E. Camilla St.
 * National Bank of Whittier Building, 13002 E. Philadelphia
 * Orin Jordan House, 8310 S. Comstock Ave.

City government
Whittier uses a council–manager form of government. Until 2014, all five city council members were elected at-large, with the mayor being elected by the council. Following the 2016 elections, four city council members were elected to four-year terms in districts, whereas the mayor was directly elected to two-year terms. The council also appoints a city manager.

The current mayor of Whittier is Joe Vinatieri. The city council is currently made up of Fernando Dutra, Octavio Martinez, Cathy Warner, and mayor pro tempore Jessica Martinez. Brian Saeki is currently serving as the city manager, with Shannon DeLong as the assistant city manager.

Federal and state representation
In the California State Legislature, Whittier is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, Whittier is in.

Education
The following school districts serve the city of Whittier:
 * Fullerton Joint Union High School District
 * Whittier Union High School District
 * East Whittier City School District
 * Los Nietos School District
 * Lowell Joint School District
 * South Whittier School District
 * Whittier City School District

Five high schools, California High School, La Serna High School, Pioneer High School, Santa Fe High School, and Whittier High School comprise the Whittier Union High School District. There is one alternative continuation high school Frontier High School and a homeschooling hq, Sierra Vista High School. Although they still have Whittier postal addresses, both California High School and Pioneer High School lie outside the city limits in unincorporated Los Angeles County. Santa Fe High School is located within the City of Santa Fe Springs. Adults may attend the Whittier Adult School, which belongs to the Whittier Union High School District. The city also has three private Catholic elementary schools, K-8
 * St. Bruno's Parish School
 * St Gregory The Great Parish School
 * St. Mary of the Assumption School

The schools are operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, with one (St. Mary of the Assumption School) being one of the largest Catholic elementary schools in Los Angeles County. St Gregory The Great School has been Number One in their deanery for the Academic Decathlon two years in a row.

Whittier Friends School is a member of the Friends Council on Education and associated with First Friends Church of Whittier, the founding Quaker meeting of Whittier. Whittier Friends School includes a licensed preschool and an elementary school (TK-6th grade).

Trinity Lutheran School, a ministry of Trinity Lutheran Church, serves kindergarten through eighth grade.

Whittier Christian School, a ministry of Calvary Baptist Church, Association of Christian Schools International serves the Whittier community. They have an elementary campus, two preschool campuses, one junior high school, and one high school.

Plymouth Christian School, a ministry of Plymouth Church, serves preschool through sixth grade.

Higher education institutions in the area include Rio Hondo College, which lies just outside the city, Southern California University of Health Sciences, and historic Whittier College.

Media
The local newspaper is the Whittier Daily News. Other area papers include the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, the parent paper of the Whittier Daily News, the Los Angeles Times, and the Orange County Register. Music fanzine Los Angeles Flipside published locally from 1977 to 1990. Former newspapers include: Coast Reporter, Whittier Californian, Whittier Graphic, Whittier Star Reporter, and more.

Infrastructure
The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Whittier Health Center in Whittier.

At one time, the California Youth Authority operated the Fred C. Nelles Youth Correctional Facility. The center, which started operations in 1890, closed on May 27, 2004.

Transportation
There are a variety of bus routes operating within the city with Metro, Foothill Transit, Montebello Bus Lines and the Norwalk Transit being the leading bus lines used within the city. Foothill Transit line 274 originates at Beverly & Norwalk and then proceeds north to Baldwin Park via Workman Mill Road and Puente Avenue. Foothill Transit line 285 travels through Whittier on Whittier Boulevard and Colima Road between La Habra and Hacienda Heights. Montebello Transit Line 10 originates at Whittwood Mall, then proceeds west to Montebello and the Atlantic L Line station via Whittier Boulevard. Montebello 40 originates at Beverly and Norwalk and then proceeds west to Montebello and Downtown Los Angeles via Beverly Boulevard and 4th Street. Montebello 50 travels through Whittier between La Mirada and Downtown Los Angeles. Metro Bus line 121 originates at Whittwood Mall and travels west to the Norwalk C Line station, then to the Aviation C line station via Imperial Hwy. Metro Bus line 270 runs through North, Uptown, and West Whittier on its way between Monrovia and the Norwalk Green Line station. The Sunshine Shuttle is a circular serving Whittier and the unincorporated communities of South and West Whittier

The city also has a variety of roads. One freeway, the San Gabriel River Freeway (I-605), runs right along the northern end of the city. State Route 72 runs via Whittier Boulevard and forms part of El Camino Real. Other major streets in Whittier include Beverly Boulevard, Colima Road, Greenleaf Avenue, Lambert Road, Mar Vista Street, Mills Avenue, Norwalk Boulevard, Painter Avenue, Philadelphia Street, and Washington Boulevard.

Police
The Whittier Police Department provides law enforcement services.

Fire
There are three fire stations within Whittier city limits: Los Angeles County Fire Department Station 28 (Engine, Quint, Paramedic Squad, Mobile Aid, and the Battalion Chief), Station 17 (Engine), Station 59 (Engine and IRT).

Fred C. Nelles Youth Correctional Facility
The Fred C. Nelles Youth Correctional Facility served as a state reform school for boys and girls until 1916 when the girls were moved elsewhere. Opened in 1891 before Whittier was incorporated, Nelles was the longest-running state school for juvenile offenders in California and has been declared a California State Historical Landmark. It closed on May 27, 2004, and the facility was used as a television filming site. In 2014, Brookfield Residential Properties announced plans for a large retail, commercial and residential project on the site. Much of Whittier is built out, so the 74 acre site brings a unique chance for growth in the city. Although over 50 buildings were demolished, discussions have focused on how many of the eight historic buildings should be preserved. The administration building that was constructed in 1928–29, has a historical designation. Housing and commercial space are under construction on the site.

Notable people

 * George Allen, former Virginia governor and U.S. Senator
 * Glenn Allison, professional ten-pin bowler and member of the PBA and USBC Halls of Fame
 * Deborah Babashoff, swimmer
 * Shirley Babashoff, swimmer, winner of eight Olympic medals
 * Andrea Barber, actress, Full House/Fuller House
 * Mitch Callahan, former prospect for the Detroit Red Wings
 * Raymond F. Chandler III, SMA, US Army, former Sergeant Major of the US Army
 * Carl Cheffers, NFL referee
 * Tricia Nixon Cox, daughter of President Richard Nixon
 * Jeff B. Davis, comedian and actor
 * Justin De Fratus, pitcher for Philadelphia Phillies
 * M.F.K. Fisher, food writer
 * Nomar Garciaparra, professional baseball player
 * Jeff Loveness, American screenwriter and producer
 * John Gay, screenwriter
 * Matt Gourley, American comedic actor, writer, and teacher
 * Greg Hancock, American Speedway rider
 * Wally Hood, baseball player, member of Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame
 * Lou Henry Hoover, wife of U.S. President Herbert Hoover
 * Gabriel Iglesias, comedian
 * Tinker Juarez, professional cyclist, two-time Olympian, MTB Hall of Fame, BMX Hall of Fame, national champion, World Master MTB Champion
 * Melissa King, chef specializing in modern Californian cuisine, finalist on Top Chef: Season 12
 * Mark Kostabi, artist and composer
 * Paul Kostabi, artist and musician
 * John Lasseter, co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios and film director
 * Carey Lovelace, art writer and curator
 * Gary Miller, Republican U.S. Representative for CA's 31st congressional district. Miller grew up in Whittier.
 * Pat Nixon, First Lady of the United States, wife of Richard Nixon, whom she met while teaching English at Whittier High School
 * Richard Nixon, 37th President of the United States, attended and played football at Whittier High School and Whittier College; Whittier was his childhood home, and he is buried in Yorba Linda in nearby Orange County, where he was born
 * Dax Reynosa, a hip-hop and smooth jazz musician and producer
 * Zane Reynosa, hip hop musician and fashion accessory designer
 * Douglas Robinson, professor of English, dean
 * Michael Vernon Robinson, automobile designer
 * John Saul, suspense and horror novelist
 * Ron Shelton, film director and screenwriter
 * Lauren Tewes, actress, grew up in Whittier
 * Stu Thomsen, professional BMX racer
 * Aaron Valdes (born 1993), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
 * Melissa Villaseñor, comedian, actress and singer
 * Tom Waits, musician, composer, songwriter and actor
 * Jessamyn West, author of The Friendly Persuasion
 * Del Worsham, NHRA funny car and top fuel driver, 2011 Top Fuel World Champion
 * Tina Yothers, actress and singer

Film and television locations
Various notable movies and television shows have been filmed in the city, including:
 * Gardens of the Night (2008) – Film starring Gillian Jacobs, John Malkovich, Ryan Simpkins and Tom Arnold. Scenes were filmed in Michael's Super Burgers.
 * Masters of the Universe (1987) - Film starring Frank Langella. Key battle scenes in a music store and on rooftops during Skeletor's invasion of Earth were shot here, among others.
 * Amish Grace (2010) – Television film. The carriage procession was filmed on Greenleaf St. in Uptown Whittier, and the funeral home scene was filmed at The Good Shepherd Family Bible Church, across the street from the post office on Bailey St.
 * Back to the Future (1985) and Back to the Future Part II (1989) – Films starring Michael J. Fox. Whittier High School was used as the setting for Hill Valley High School.
 * Hocus Pocus (1993) – Film starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Thora Birch and Vinessa Shaw. Parts were filmed in Uptown Whittier and East Whittier Middle School.
 * Father of the Bride Part II (1995) – Film starring Steve Martin. Parts were filmed in uptown Whittier.
 * The Wonder Years (1988–1993) – Television series starring Fred Savage. The parade scene in the last episode was filmed in uptown Whittier.
 * The Next Best Thing (2000) – Film starring Madonna and Rupert Everett was filmed in the Whittier Hills.
 * Bringing Down the House (2003) – Film starring Queen Latifah and Steve Martin was filmed at the Friendly Hills Country Club, in East Whittier.
 * Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) – Film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Various parts were shot in Whittier, including in Rose Hills Memorial Park.
 * Blow (2001) – Film starring Johnny Depp and Penélope Cruz. Scenes were filmed at the Fred C. Nelles Youth Correctional Facility, which closed in January 2004, and in a residential neighborhood.
 * Ali (2001) – Directed by Michael Mann, portions of which were filmed at a residence in the historic neighborhood near the uptown village.
 * Disturbia (2007) – Film starring Shia LaBeouf, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Amanda Walsh. Was shot on Painter Ave, the deli scenes were filmed at "Our Cleaners" on Comstock Ave. in uptown Whittier.
 * Moonlight (2007–2008) – Television series starring Alex O'Loughlin and Sophia Myles. Exteriors of a state execution facility were filmed at the Fred C. Nelles Youth Correctional Facility; the facility name is clearly shown in multiple shots.
 * What Just Happened? (2008) – Film starring Robert De Niro, Bruce Willis, Sean Penn and Robin Wright Penn. Scenes were filmed in Rose Hills Memorial Park.
 * Red State (2011) – Film directed by Kevin Smith and starring Michael Parks. Scenes were filmed at the Fred C. Nelles Youth Correctional Facility and Trinity Lutheran Church.
 * True Blood (2008–2014) – Several scenes involving The Fellowship of the Sun church were filmed at the chapel at Rose Hills Memorial Park. On the DVD commentary of Season 3, Stephen Moyer says several local girls came to the filming with shirts saying, "The girls are prettier in Whittier".
 * Roadracers (1994) – Film starring David Arquette, John Hawkes, and Salma Hayek; directed by Robert Rodriguez. Much of the filming occurred in Uptown, the nearby residential neighborhoods, and Turnbull Canyon Road. John Hawkes describes in an interview, "We shot anywhere we could find something that looked like the 1950s. It was difficult near L.A. It was hard to find things that looked authentic to the period and a small Texas town. I think they did a good job finding [the locations]."
 * The Muppets (2011) – Film starring Amy Adams and Jason Segel. Scenes at the beginning of Walter and Gary's hometown were shot in a historic Uptown Whittier residential area.
 * Old Boyfriends (1979) - Film starring Talia Shire, Richard Jordan, Keith Carradine, John Belushi, John Houseman and Buck Henry. Scenes with Talia Shire and Keith Carradine were shot near Central Park in historic Uptown Whittier.
 * The Little Things (2021) – Film starring Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, and Jared Leto. Scenes were shot in uptown on Bright Ave.

Sister cities

 * 🇨🇳 Changshu, Jiangsu, China

title: Whittier, California


text:
Willowbrook, California

Willowbrook, alternatively named Willow Brook, is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Los Angeles County, California. The population was 24,295 at the 2020 census, down from 35,983 at the 2010 census.

Willowbrook is the home to the newly renovated Martin Luther King Jr. Outpatient Center. Also located in Willowbrook is the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, which oversees residency training programs, allied health programs, a medical education program (jointly with the University of California, Los Angeles), a medical magnet high school, the area Head Start program, and various centers for health disparities research. Due to severe deficiencies, the former King/Drew Medical Center lost accreditation of several key residency training programs.

History
Long before the name "Willowbrook" was given, willow trees and a slow, shallow brook separated this portion of the Los Angeles plain from the rest of it. The original rancho boundary of the 1840s was a lone, streamside willow tree along the present intersection of 125th Street and Mona Boulevard.

In the early days, springs were abundant in Willowbrook. Winter rains brought up fine ryegrass stands between gravelly ridges left by the long-ago floods of the Los Angeles River. Anastacio Avila was grazing cattle on the land as early as 1820. The Mexican governor had granted him 3599 acre acres by 1843. The grant was called Rancho La Tajauta, and it extended from the marshes along present Alameda Street westward to approximately the present line of the Harbor Freeway. Within the area covered by Rancho La Tajauta is all of present-day Willowbrook.

In 1894 and 1895, the first subdivisions in the Willowbrook area were registered along what is now Rosecrans Avenue. The name of Willowbrook was first formally used when Willowbrook Tract was recorded by the County Recorder in 1903. Next to the tract was the recently opened Pacific Electric Railway to Long Beach. There is no indication that a townsite had been envisioned and that street patterns were not synchronized. The Willowbrook name came into use for the entire area, because Pacific Electric Railroad Company's Red Cars stopped at Willowbrook's 126th Street. The first branch of the Los Angeles County Public Library was established in Willowbrook: "It was opened in April, 1913, in a private house, but has been located for several years since in the post office building."

In Willowbrook, lot purchasers expected to live a suburban lifestyle. The deep lots, sometimes 300 feet or 91 meters in depth, attracted working-class families, especially newcomers to Southern California. The Pacific Electric Red Car offered fast and convenient transport to shops in downtown Los Angeles and jobs in port areas of Long Beach and San Pedro. During the Depression years, residents used the land behind their homes to cultivate fruits and vegetables, run hogs, and raise chickens. This use of land, along with the vacant lots filled with mustard plants, enhanced the rural appearance of the area. Increased suburban growth occurred in Willowbrook after the end of the Depression and World War II, but not so much that the agricultural character of the area was drastically modified. Even the Watts Riots of 1965 did not change that, although Willowbrook had a variety of buildings, including the community library of Willowbrook, damaged.

The blend of agricultural and residential land use persisted at Willowbrook into the early 1980s, when a redevelopment plan drawn up by the Watts Labor Community Action Committee from 1965 to 1993 and funded by Los Angeles County caused the area to lose its rural character. 365 acre acres of Willowbrook land were redeveloped under this plan to include new commercial and residential facilities. The construction of the Century Freeway and Metro C line dramatically altered the neighborhood's appearance and encouraged increased density of development.

Geography
Willowbrook is located at 33.9175°N, -118.25278°W (33.917515, -118.252705).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.8 sqmi, over 99% of it land.

Demographics
Like neighboring Compton,

2010
At the 2010 census Willowbrook had a population of 35,983. The population density was 9,544.1 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Willowbrook was 8,245 (22.9%) White (0.9% Non-Hispanic White), 12,387 (34.4%) African American, 273 (0.8%) Native American, 119 (0.3%) Asian, 49 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 13,858 (38.5%) from other races, and 1,052 (2.9%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22,979 persons (63.9%).

The census reported that 35,577 people (98.9% of the population) lived in households, 116 (0.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 290 (0.8%) were institutionalized.

There were 8,721 households, 4,920 (56.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,626 (41.6%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 2,635 (30.2%) had a female householder with no husband present, 859 (9.8%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 640 (7.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 38 (0.4%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,336 households (15.3%) were one person and 585 (6.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 4.08. There were 7,120 families (81.6% of households); the average family size was 4.38.

The age distribution was 11,790 people (32.8%) under the age of 18, 4,500 people (12.5%) aged 18 to 24, 9,595 people (26.7%) aged 25 to 44, 7,200 people (20.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,898 people (8.1%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 28.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.

There were 9,600 housing units at an average density of 2,546.3 per square mile, of the occupied units 4,525 (51.9%) were owner-occupied and 4,196 (48.1%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.5%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.9%. 19,021 people (52.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 16,556 people (46.0%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Willowbrook had a median household income of $34,005, with 31.5% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2000
At the 2000 census there were 34,138 people, 8,476 households, and 6,823 families in the CDP. The population density was 9,121.6 PD/sqmi. There were 9,042 housing units at an average density of 2,416.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 16.06% White, 44.91% African American, 0.72% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 34.98% from other races, and 2.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 53.60%.

Of the 8,476 households 47.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 29.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.5% were non-families. 16.1% of households were one person and 7.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.97 and the average family size was 4.35.

The age distribution was 37.3% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 14.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% 65 or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.

The median household income was $27,811 and the median family income was $30,107. Males had a median income of $22,250 versus $23,615 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $9,865. About 26.8% of families and 30.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.5% of those under age 18 and 16.8% of those age 65 or over.

According to Mapping L.A., Mexican (43.8%) and Unspecified African (1.6%) were the most common ancestries in 2000. Mexico (85.1%) and El Salvador (6.9%) were the most common foreign places of birth.

Government
In the California State Legislature, Willowbrook is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, Willowbrook is in.

Infrastructure
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) operates the Century Station in Lynwood, serving Willowbrook.

The United States Postal Service Willowbrook Post Office is located at 2241 East El Segundo Boulevard in the CDP.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital, replacing the King Drew Hospital − Martin Luther King, Jr. Multi-Service Ambulatory Care Center in 2015, is located in Willowbrook. The Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science and King Drew Magnet High School of Medicine and Science are adjacent.

Metro Rail station and lines
Willowbrook/Rosa Parks station is a station on the A and C lines of the Los Angeles Metro Rail. The station is located in the Century Freeway (Interstate 105) median, above the intersection of Imperial Highway and Wilmington Avenue in Willowbrook. It is a major transfer point for commuters.

As a major transfer station, Willowbrook/Rosa Parks station is also a major bus hub, serving many bus routes operated by LA Metro and other regional/municipal transit agencies. The station also has park and ride facilities, including 975 parking spaces and 4 bike lockers. To the east of the station is the Metro Rail Operations Center, which is the dispatch hub for all Metro Rail trains.

Metro Bus routes
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) provides Metro Local bus services to and from the Willowbrook area.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works also operates two shuttle services that serve the Willowbrook area:
 * Hahn's Trolley and Shuttle Service
 * Rosewood Smart Shuttle.
 * Willowbrook Link

Colleges and universities
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science is located in Willowbrook.

Primary and secondary schools
Most residents are zoned to schools in the Compton Unified School District. Zoned elementary schools within the CDP include Anderson, Carver, Jefferson, King, and Lincoln. Bunche Middle School, Willowbrook Middle School and Centennial High School are located outside of the CDP in Compton. Cesar Chavez Continuation High School is in Willowbrook.

A portion is in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Public libraries
LA County Library operates the Willowbrook Library at 11737 Wilmington Ave. inside the CDP.

Parks and recreation
Los Angeles County operates area parks.

The 7.22 acre George Washington Carver Park (previously Willowbrook Neighborhood Park) has a lighted baseball field, an arts and crafts room, a "Nike GO" outdoor basketball court, a community room, a lighted softball field, a multipurpose field, a multipurpose room, picnic areas with barbecue pits, and a swimming pool.

Earvin "Magic" Johnson County Recreation Area, a 94 acre park, mostly in Willowbrook and partially in Los Angeles, has play areas for children, picnic areas with barbecue pits, two fishing lakes, soccer fields, toilet facilities, and walking paths.

The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has issued a safe eating advisory for any fish caught in Magic Mike Lakes due to elevated levels of mercury and PCBs.

Enterprise County Park, a 10 acre park located in the Rosewood neighborhood in Willowbrook, has an athletic field, a lighted baseball/softball diamond, a community recreation room, a gymnasium, a multi-purpose field, picnic areas with barbecue pits, and a swimming pool.

Athens Park, a 20 acre park, within the Athens Village area and in Willowbrook, has two lighted baseball/softball diamonds, a basketball court, children's play areas, a community recreation multipurpose room, a computer lab, a gymnasium, a multi-purpose field, picnic areas with barbecue pits, a swimming pool, tennis courts, and toilet facilities. Mona County Park, an 8.4 acre park, has a lighted baseball/softball diamond, an outdoor basketball court, a children's play area, a community room, a gymnasium, a shaded picnic shelter, a swimming pool, and the Tiny Tot Learning Center.

title: Willowbrook, California