West Los Angeles (region)
Encyclopedia
The Los Angeles Westside is an urban region in western Los Angeles County, California, United States. It has no official definition, but, according to the Los Angeles Times
, it comprises 101.28 square miles (262 km²), encompassing 18 districts in the city of Los Angeles
and two unincorporated
neighborhoods, plus the cities of Beverly Hills
, Culver City
, and Santa Monica
.
are located in this area, as is a large portion of the entertainment industry. Century City is a major business hub of the Westside, containing many major production corporations, talent agencies, and entertainment law firms. Culver City
houses several film studios and commercial effects houses. Santa Monica
, Venice, Beverly Hills
, and new developments near LAX are also important entertainment industry centers.
to the north and the South Bay
to the south.
The proposed Pacific Coast, Beverly Hills, and Laurel Canyon freeways went unbuilt in the face of massive community opposition. A great deal of development took place in anticipation of these roadways' construction, resulting in significant congestion on the area's surface streets during peak rush hour. Proposals to widen existing freeways have been explored, and, more recently, a previous proposal to turn Pico and Olympic boulevards into one-way streets has been revived. The area is well covered by several Metro Rapid
bus lines that traverse most major thoroughfares. Construction has commenced on the light rail Expo Line (Los Angeles Metro) that will connect Santa Monica
to Downtown Los Angeles
by 2013.
to upper class
, and a majority of the wealthiest communities in Los Angeles County are located on the Westside.
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, it comprises 101.28 square miles (262 km²), encompassing 18 districts in the city of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and two unincorporated
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...
neighborhoods, plus the cities of Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
, Culver City
Culver City, California
Culver City is a city in western Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 38,883, up from 38,816 at the 2000 census. It is mostly surrounded by the city of Los Angeles, but also shares a border with unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. Culver...
, and Santa Monica
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
.
Business
Many of the major educational, retail, cultural, and recreational attractions of Greater Los AngelesGreater Los Angeles Area
The Greater Los Angeles Area, or the Southland, is a term used for the Combined Statistical Area sprawled over five counties in the southern part of California, namely Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County and Ventura County...
are located in this area, as is a large portion of the entertainment industry. Century City is a major business hub of the Westside, containing many major production corporations, talent agencies, and entertainment law firms. Culver City
Culver City, California
Culver City is a city in western Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 38,883, up from 38,816 at the 2000 census. It is mostly surrounded by the city of Los Angeles, but also shares a border with unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. Culver...
houses several film studios and commercial effects houses. Santa Monica
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
, Venice, Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
, and new developments near LAX are also important entertainment industry centers.
Transportation
The Westside rivals downtown Los Angeles for the number of people commuting to it from other areas, in particular the San Fernando ValleySan Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley is an urbanized valley located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of southern California, United States, defined by the dramatic mountains of the Transverse Ranges circling it...
to the north and the South Bay
South Bay, Los Angeles
The South Bay is a region of the southwest peninsula of Los Angeles County, California, United States. The name stems from its geographic features stretching along the southern shores of Santa Monica Bay which forms its western border.The picture at right uses the broadest definition of the...
to the south.
The proposed Pacific Coast, Beverly Hills, and Laurel Canyon freeways went unbuilt in the face of massive community opposition. A great deal of development took place in anticipation of these roadways' construction, resulting in significant congestion on the area's surface streets during peak rush hour. Proposals to widen existing freeways have been explored, and, more recently, a previous proposal to turn Pico and Olympic boulevards into one-way streets has been revived. The area is well covered by several Metro Rapid
Metro Rapid
Metro Rapid is a bus rapid transit service in Los Angeles County, California that operates in mixed traffic environments and has fewer stops than the Metro Local service. The system is mainly operated by LACMTA. Two routes are operated by Santa Monica Transit and one by Culver City Transit...
bus lines that traverse most major thoroughfares. Construction has commenced on the light rail Expo Line (Los Angeles Metro) that will connect Santa Monica
Santa Mônica
Santa Mônica is a town and municipality in the state of Paraná in the Southern Region of Brazil.-References:...
to Downtown Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
by 2013.
Demographics
In the 2000 census, the Westside (as defined by the Los Angeles Times) had a population of 529,427. The areas within the city of Los Angeles that L.A. Almanac recognize as part of the Westside had a population of 413,351. Originally, the Westside was overwhelmingly white, but it has grown more ethnically diverse. In 2000, non-Hispanic whites made up 63% of the population. Economic levels vary from middle classAmerican middle class
The American middle class is a social class in the United States. While the concept is typically ambiguous in popular opinion and common language use, contemporary social scientists have put forward several, more or less congruent, theories on the American middle class...
to upper class
American upper class
See: millionaire for more details-Millionaires:See also: MillionairesHouseholds with net worths of $1 million or more may be identified as members of the upper-most socio-economic demographic, depending on the class model used...
, and a majority of the wealthiest communities in Los Angeles County are located on the Westside.