West Athens, California

This article is about the census-designated place & community in Los Angeles County, California. For the neighboring community in the county, see Athens, California. For other places with similar names, see Athens (disambiguation).

West Athens, California
Census-designated place
Los Angeles Southwest College
Location of West Athens in Los Angeles County, California
West Athens, California Location in the United States
Coordinates: 33°55′21″N118°18′4″W / 33.92250°N 118.30111°W / 33.92250; -118.30111
Country	United States
State	California
County	Los Angeles
Area [1]
• Total	1.336 sq mi (3.461 km2)
• Land	1.336 sq mi (3.461 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)  0%
Elevation	190 ft (58 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	9,393
• Density	7,000/sq mi (2,700/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code	90044, 90047
Area code	323/310
FIPS code	06-84116
GNIS feature ID	1867067

West Athens is a census-designated place (CDP) in Los Angeles County, California. The population was 9,393 at the 2020 census. ^[2] It is an unincorporated community 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 South Los Angeles 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 the West Athens neighborhood and city limits.

Geography

West Athens is located at 33°55′21″N118°18′4″W / 33.92250°N 118.30111°W / 33.92250; -118.30111 (33.922414, -118.301156). ^[3]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), all land. It borders Gardena to the south, Hawthorne to the west, Inglewood to the northwest, Westmont to the north, and the city of Los Angeles to the east.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1970	13,286		—
1980	8,531		−35.8%
1990	8,859		3.8%
2000	9,101		2.7%
2010	8,729		−4.1%
2020	9,393		7.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [4] 2010 [5] 2020 [6]

2020 census

West Athens CDP, California – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000 [7]	Pop 2010 [5]	Pop 2020 [6]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	142	116	144	1.56%	1.33%	1.53%
Black or African American alone (NH)	5,049	4,492	4,473	55.48%	51.46%	47.62%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	9	8	24	0.10%	0.09%	0.26%
Asian alone (NH)	137	104	187	1.51%	1.19%	1.99%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	29	6	28	0.32%	0.07%	0.30%
Other race alone (NH)	43	53	82	0.47%	0.61%	0.87%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	115	107	234	1.26%	1.23%	2.49%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	3,577	3,843	4,221	39.30%	44.03%	44.94%
Total	9,101	8,729	9,393	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

Per the 2020 Census, the population was 9,393. ^[2]

2010 Census

At the 2010 census West Athens had a population of 8,729. The population density was 6,531.5 inhabitants per square mile (2,521.8/km²). The racial makeup of West Athens was 1,584 (18.1%) White (1.3% Non-Hispanic White), ^[8] 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%). ^[9]

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, 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 one person and 138 (5.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.44. There were 2,029 families (80.4% of households); the average family size was 3.77.

The age distribution was 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 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, of the occupied units 1,328 (52.6%) were owner-occupied and 1,197 (47.4%) were rented. 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.

According to the 2010 United States Census, West Athens had a median household income of $46,391, with 23.6% of the population living below the federal poverty line. ^[8]

2000 Census

At the 2000 census there were 9,101 people, 2,573 households, and 2,102 families in the CDP. The population density was 6,784.4 inhabitants per square mile (2,619.5/km²). There were 2,673 housing units at an average density of 1,992.6 per square mile (769.3/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 people of any race were 25.3%. ^[10]

Of the 2,573 households 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 households were one person and 4.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.54 and the average family size was 3.83.

The age distribution was 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% 65 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 household income was $35,423 and the median family income 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.

Education

West Athens is served by the Los Angeles Unified School District. ^[11]

Schools

Public schools in West Athens:

• West Athens Elementary School ^[12]
• Ánimo Legacy Charter Middle School of Green Dot Public Schools ^[13]
  • Formerly: Clay Middle School ^[14] - Later converted into Green Dot charter middle schools which take students from the ex-Clay attendance boundary. ^[15]

West Athens is zoned to:^{[ citation needed ]}

• Washington Preparatory High School in Westmont

Alternative schools:

• Middle College High School, on the property of Los Angeles Southwest College ^[16]

Colleges

• Los Angeles Southwest College ^[17]

Infrastructure

Emergency services

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) operates the South Los Angeles Station serving West Athens. ^{[18] [19]} It also operates the Audrey & Sydney Irmas Youth Activity Center in West Athens. ^{[20] [21]}

Government

In the California State Legislature, West Athens is in the 35th Senate District , represented by Democrat Steven Bradford, and in the 62nd Assembly District , represented by Democrat Anthony Rendon. ^[22]

In the United States House of Representatives, West Athens is in California's 43rd congressional district , represented by Democrat Maxine Waters. ^[23]

Newspapers

• Morningside Park Chronicle ^[24] is an unincorporated community newspaper based in Morningside Park that also covers the West Athens area.

See also

• Greater Los Angeles portal

• Athens, California

References

1. "2010 Census U.S. Gazetteer Files – Places – California". United States Census Bureau.
2. "Benton Heights CDP, Michigan". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved March 13, 2022.
3. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
4. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
5. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – West Athens CDP, California". United States Census Bureau .
6. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – West Athens CDP, California". United States Census Bureau .
7. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – West Athens CDP, California". United States Census Bureau .
8. "West Athens CDP, California". quickfacts.census.gov. US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 18, 2012. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
9. "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - West Athens CDP". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
11. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Los Angeles County, CA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. p. 10 (PDF p. 11/19). Retrieved November 19, 2023.
12. > "2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: West Athens CDP, CA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved November 19, 2023.
    Compare to: "Home". West Athens Elementary School. Retrieved November 19, 2023. 1110 W 119th St Los Angeles, CA 90044
    Despite the "Los Angeles, CA" postal address, it is not in the city of Los Angeles.
    Note: Note that the City of Houston had stated: "The U.S. Postal Service establishes ZIP codes and mailing addresses in order to maximize the efficiency of their system, not to recognize jurisdictional boundaries."
13. "Contact". Ánimo Legacy Charter Middle School. Retrieved November 19, 2023. 12226 S Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90047 - Compare to the Census map of West Athens.
14. "Welcome to Henry Clay Middle School". www.lausd.k12.ca.us. Archived from the original on February 5, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2023. 2226 S. Western Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90047
15. "Public School Choice Motion Clay Middle School Executive Summaries" (PDF). Los Angeles Unified School District. p. 3/31. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
16. "2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: West Athens CDP, CA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved November 19, 2023.
    Compare to: "Maps". Middle College High School. Retrieved November 19, 2023. 1600 W. Imperial Highway, Los Angeles, CA 90047
    Despite the "Los Angeles, CA" postal address, it is not in the city of Los Angeles.
    Note: Note that the City of Houston had stated: "The U.S. Postal Service establishes ZIP codes and mailing addresses in order to maximize the efficiency of their system, not to recognize jurisdictional boundaries."
17. "2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: West Athens CDP, CA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved November 19, 2023.
    Compare to: "Home". Los Angeles Southwest College. Retrieved November 19, 2023. LA Southwest College 1600 West Imperial Highway Los Angeles, CA 90047
    Despite the "Los Angeles, CA" postal address, it is not in the city of Los Angeles.
    Note: Note that the City of Houston had stated: "The U.S. Postal Service establishes ZIP codes and mailing addresses in order to maximize the efficiency of their system, not to recognize jurisdictional boundaries."
18. "Lenox Station Archived 2010-04-14 at the Wayback Machine ." Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Retrieved on January 21, 2010.
19. "Lenox CDP Archived 2011-06-06 at the Wayback Machine ." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on January 21, 2010.
20. "Youth Activity Center." Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Retrieved on January 21, 2010.
21. "West Athens CDP, California Archived 2011-06-06 at the Wayback Machine ." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on January 21, 2010.
22. "Statewide Database". UC Regents. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
23. "California's 43rd Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC.
24. "Home - Side Park Chronicle - Astro Turf Installers". Side Park Chronicle - Astro Turf Installers. Archived from the original on December 12, 2012. Retrieved December 26, 2012.