West Athens, California
Encyclopedia
West Athens is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Los Angeles County
, California
, United States
. The population was 8,729 at the 2010 census, down from 9,101 at the 2000 census. It is an unincorporated area
within the 2nd Supervisorial District of Los Angeles County. West Athens is served by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, operating out of the Lennox Station. The approximate boundaries for West Athens are: 87th Street to the North, Vermont Avenue to the East, El Segundo Boulevard to the South, and approximately Western Avenue to Van Ness Avenue to the West. West Athens is predominantly residential, with commercial uses along its main corridors. Los Angeles Southwest Community College
lies within West Athens.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), all land.
was 6,531.5 people per square mile (2,521.8/km²). The racial makeup of West Athens was 1,584 (18.1%) White, 4,578 (52.4%) African American, 31 (0.4%) Native American, 111 (1.3%) Asian, 10 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 2,127 (24.4%) from other races
, and 288 (3.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3,843 persons (44.0%).
The Census reported that 8,674 people (99.4% of the population) lived in households, 50 (0.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 5 (0.1%) were institutionalized.
There were 2,525 households, out of which 1,261 (49.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,028 (40.7%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 774 (30.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 227 (9.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 175 (6.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 10 (0.4%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 378 households (15.0%) were made up of individuals and 138 (5.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.44. There were 2,029 families
(80.4% of all households); the average family size was 3.77.
The population was spread out with 2,539 people (29.1%) under the age of 18, 1,025 people (11.7%) aged 18 to 24, 2,275 people (26.1%) aged 25 to 44, 1,994 people (22.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 896 people (10.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.1 years. For every 100 females there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.
There were 2,691 housing units at an average density of 2,013.5 per square mile (777.4/km²), of which 1,328 (52.6%) were owner-occupied, and 1,197 (47.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 8.4%. 4,427 people (50.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 4,247 people (48.7%) lived in rental housing units.
of 2000, there were 9,101 people, 2,573 households, and 2,102 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 6,784.4 inhabitants per square mile (2,622.3/km²). There were 2,673 housing units at an average density of 1,992.6 per square mile (770.2/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 12.9% White, 65.1% African American, 0.6% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 25.1% from other races
, and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 25.3% of the population.
There were 2,573 households out of which 45.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples
living together, 28.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.3% were non-families. 14.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.54 and the average family size was 3.83.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 35.1% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 7.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 89.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $35,423, and the median income for a family was $39,028. Males had a median income of $27,484 versus $31,750 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $12,903. About 24.0% of families and 25.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.9% of those under age 18 and 18.6% of those age 65 or over.
.
(LASD) operates the South Los Angeles Station serving West Athens. In addition the agency operates the Audrey & Sydney Irmas Youth Activity Center in West Athens.
In the state legislature
West Athens is located in the 25th Senate
District, represented by Democrat Rod Wright
, and in the 51st Assembly
District, represented by Democrat Curren D. Price Jr.. Federally, West Athens is located in California's 35th congressional district
, which has a Cook PVI
of D +33 and is represented by Democrat Maxine Waters
.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 8,729 at the 2010 census, down from 9,101 at the 2000 census. It is an unincorporated area
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
within the 2nd Supervisorial District of Los Angeles County. West Athens is served by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, operating out of the Lennox Station. The approximate boundaries for West Athens are: 87th Street to the North, Vermont Avenue to the East, El Segundo Boulevard to the South, and approximately Western Avenue to Van Ness Avenue to the West. West Athens is predominantly residential, with commercial uses along its main corridors. Los Angeles Southwest Community College
Los Angeles Southwest College
Los Angeles Southwest College is a community college located in an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County, California, United States, near the city of Los Angeles...
lies within West Athens.
Geography
West Athens is located at 33°55′21"N 118°18′4"W (33.922414, -118.301156).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), all land.
Demographics
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that West Athens had a population of 8,729. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 6,531.5 people per square mile (2,521.8/km²). The racial makeup of West Athens was 1,584 (18.1%) White, 4,578 (52.4%) African American, 31 (0.4%) Native American, 111 (1.3%) Asian, 10 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 2,127 (24.4%) from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 288 (3.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3,843 persons (44.0%).
The Census reported that 8,674 people (99.4% of the population) lived in households, 50 (0.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 5 (0.1%) were institutionalized.
There were 2,525 households, out of which 1,261 (49.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,028 (40.7%) were opposite-sex married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 774 (30.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 227 (9.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 175 (6.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
POSSLQ
POSSLQ is an abbreviation for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters," a term coined in the late 1970s by the United States Census Bureau as part of an effort to more accurately gauge the prevalence of cohabitation in American households....
, and 10 (0.4%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 378 households (15.0%) were made up of individuals and 138 (5.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.44. There were 2,029 families
Family (U.S. Census)
A family or family household is defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes as "a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state...
(80.4% of all households); the average family size was 3.77.
The population was spread out with 2,539 people (29.1%) under the age of 18, 1,025 people (11.7%) aged 18 to 24, 2,275 people (26.1%) aged 25 to 44, 1,994 people (22.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 896 people (10.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.1 years. For every 100 females there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.
There were 2,691 housing units at an average density of 2,013.5 per square mile (777.4/km²), of which 1,328 (52.6%) were owner-occupied, and 1,197 (47.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 8.4%. 4,427 people (50.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 4,247 people (48.7%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 9,101 people, 2,573 households, and 2,102 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 6,784.4 inhabitants per square mile (2,622.3/km²). There were 2,673 housing units at an average density of 1,992.6 per square mile (770.2/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 12.9% White, 65.1% African American, 0.6% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 25.1% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 25.3% of the population.
There were 2,573 households out of which 45.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 28.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.3% were non-families. 14.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.54 and the average family size was 3.83.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 35.1% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 7.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 89.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $35,423, and the median income for a family was $39,028. Males had a median income of $27,484 versus $31,750 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $12,903. About 24.0% of families and 25.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.9% of those under age 18 and 18.6% of those age 65 or over.
Education
West Athens is served by the Los Angeles Unified School DistrictLos Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District is the largest public school system in California. It is the 2nd largest public school district in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population...
.
- West Athens Elementary School
- Clay Middle School
- Washington Preparatory High SchoolWashington Preparatory High SchoolGeorge Washington Preparatory High School is a secondary school in the Westmont section of unincorporated Los Angeles County, California, United States that is part of the Los Angeles Unified School District, .It was founded in 1926...
- Los Angeles Southwest CollegeLos Angeles Southwest CollegeLos Angeles Southwest College is a community college located in an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County, California, United States, near the city of Los Angeles...
Politics
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's DepartmentLos Angeles County Sheriff's Department
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is a local county law enforcement agency that serves Los Angeles County, California. It is the fourth largest local policing agency in the United States, with the New York City Police Department being the first. The second largest is the Chicago Police...
(LASD) operates the South Los Angeles Station serving West Athens. In addition the agency operates the Audrey & Sydney Irmas Youth Activity Center in West Athens.
In the state legislature
California State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
West Athens is located in the 25th Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
District, represented by Democrat Rod Wright
Roderick Wright (politician)
Roderick D. Wright is a Democratic politician who was elected to represent California's 25th State Senate district in 2008. Senator Wright previously represented California's 48th State Assembly district from 1996 until he was term limited in 2002.-Education and Pre Legislative Career:Senator...
, and in the 51st Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
District, represented by Democrat Curren D. Price Jr.. Federally, West Athens is located in California's 35th congressional district
California's 35th congressional district
California's 35th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California based in Los Angeles County. The district is composed of parts of the Westchester District of the City of Los Angeles and the neighborhoods of Inglewood, Hawthorne, Gardena and Florence-Graham, as...
, which has a Cook PVI
Cook Partisan Voting Index
The Cook Partisan Voting Index , sometimes referred to as simply the Partisan Voting Index , is a measurement of how strongly an American congressional district or state leans toward one political party compared to the nation as a whole...
of D +33 and is represented by Democrat Maxine Waters
Maxine Waters
Maxine Waters is the U.S. Representative for , and previously the 29th district, serving since 1991. She is a member of the Democratic Party....
.