Jefferson Park, Los Angeles

Neighborhood of Los Angeles in California, United States

Jefferson Park

Neighborhood of Los Angeles

The historic Mission Revival style
Westminster Presbyterian Church

Jefferson Park

Location within Central Los Angeles

Coordinates: 34°01′38″N 118°19′00″W﻿ / ﻿34.02722°N 118.31667°W﻿ / 34.02722; -118.31667
Country|  United States
State|  California
County|  Los Angeles
City|  Los Angeles
Time zone| UTC-8 (PST)
• Summer (DST)| UTC-7 (PDT)
Zip Code|

90018

Area code| 323

Jefferson Park is a neighborhood in the South Los Angeles region of the City of Los Angeles, California. There are fourteen Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments in the neighborhood, and in 1987, the 1923 Spanish Colonial Revival Jefferson Branch Library was added to the National Register of Historic Places. A portion of the neighborhood is a designated Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ).

## History

[edit]

In the early 1800s, the area that would become Jefferson Park was partly within the Rancho Las Cienegas and partly within the common lands surrounding the pueblo.[1] The area remained farmland into the 1900s. (One of the original farmhouses, the Starr Dairy Farmhouse, still remains in the community.)[1][2]

By 1903, there were trolley cars running down Jefferson and Adams Boulevard. With easy access to downtown, Jefferson Park became a desirable place to build a home.[1][3] Developed from 1905 to 1920, Jefferson Park grew to approximately 2500 homes spread over 50 square blocks.[3] Centered along Jefferson Boulevard, the neighborhood is home to Craftsman bungalows, brick warehouses, colorful wall murals and small storefronts.[4]

Craftsman bungalows on 3rd Avenue at 36th Street in the Jefferson Park HPOZ, 2024

After the 1948 Supreme Court ruling that banned racial covenants on property - Shelley v. Kraemer \- many of Jefferson Park's white residents left the neighborhood, in turn being replaced by upper-middle and upper-class African-Americans. [4]

Jefferson Park also saw an influx of Creoles of color in the post-World War II period.[5][6] The resulting area was dubbed "Little New Orleans" and contained a number of Creole-owned businesses such as the Big Loaf Bakery and Harold and Belle’s, an upscale Creole restaurant.[7][8]

In September 1998, the Jefferson Park Gateway Monument was unveiled at the corner of Crenshaw Boulevard and Jefferson Boulevard. [9] According to then-councilman Nate Holden, the project was a sign of the ongoing revitalization of the area.[9]

In 2005, the Star Dairy Farmhouse was condemned by the city as a nuisance. Built in 1887, it had fallen into disrepair. After years of restoration, in 2014 it received a preservation award from the Los Angeles Conservancy. The Conservancy stated: "The farmhouse is now the oldest remaining house in the West Adams neighborhood of Jefferson Park, and the last link to the area’s agricultural history."[2]

In 2014, the Los Angeles Times reported that "once-struggling neighborhoods"like Jefferson Park were now experiencing soaring home prices as young professionals were purchasing the American Craftsman homes in the community and new shops and restaurants were opening up.[4]

## Geography

[edit]

Neighborhood sign at
4th Avenue and
Jefferson Boulevard

According to the city of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Times, Jefferson Park is bounded by Adams Boulevard on the north, Exposition Boulevard on the south, Crenshaw Boulevard on the west and Western Avenue on the east.[10][11][12][13] Jefferson Park is bounded by West Adams, West Adams Terrace, Adams-Normandie, Crenshaw, University Park, Leimert Park, and Exposition Park neighborhoods, as well as the greater USC campus.[14][15]

It was designated an official city neighborhood in 1988,[10] with then-mayor Tom Bradley attending the event.[12] Neighborhood signs are installed along Jefferson Boulevard and Exposition Boulevard.

## Historic Preservation Overlay Zone

[edit]

Historic Preservation Zone sign on 30th Street

The Jefferson Park Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ) was adopted by the Los Angeles City Council in 2011. [16] The preservation plan offers guidelines for both commercial and residential structures in the community. [17] The HPOZ does not cover the entire Jefferson Park neighborhood.

The HPOZ is bounded by Adams Boulevard on the north, 7th Avenue on the west, Exposition Boulevard on the south (from Crenshaw Boulevard to Arlington Avenue), and Jefferson Boulevard on the south (from Arlington Avenue to Western Avenue).[18] Street signs in the area have an additional sign to indicate that the street is part of the HPOZ area.

## Population

[edit]

This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (May 2023)

|

### 2000

[edit]

A total of 23,130 people lived in the neighborhood's 1.42 square miles, according to the 2000 U.S. census—averaging 16,300 people per square mile, among the highest population density in the city as a whole. The median age was 31, about the same as the rest of the city.[15]

Within the neighborhood, African Americans made up 46.8% of the population, with Latinos 44.9%, Asian 2.9%, non-Hispanic Whites 2.7% and others 2.7%. Mexico and El Salvador were the most common places of birth for the 32.7% of the residents who were born abroad, considered an average percentage of foreign-born when compared with the city or county as a whole.[15]

In 2000, there were 1,365 families headed by single parents, or 26.6%, a rate that was high for the county and the city.[15]

### 2008

[edit]

The median household income in 2008 dollars was $32,654. The average household size of 2.8 people was about the same as the rest of the city. Renters occupied 69.5% of the housing units, and homeowners occupied the rest.[15]

Jefferson Park residents aged 25 and older holding a four-year degree amounted to 11.8% of the population in 2000, considered low when compared with the city and the county as a whole; the percentage of residents aged 25 and older with a high school diploma was also considered low.[15]

### 2022

[edit]

According to USC's 'Neighborhood Data for Social Change', the median household income in 2022 was $58,440. Residential structures occupy 90.26% of the neighborhood, while commercial structures only occupy 4.04% of the area. 30.39% of the population are home-owners, while 69.61% are renters. 2.02% are veterans.[19]

## Historic-Cultural Monuments

[edit]

Briggs Residence, 2008
Historic-Cultural Monument #477

* Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2230 W. Jefferson Blvd. Designated Historic-Cultural Monument 229 on June 11, 1980
* Walker Mansion, 3300 W Adams Boulevard.[20] Designated Historic-Cultural Monument 419 on March 3, 1989
* Wells-Halliday Mansion, 2146 W. Adams Blvd. Designated Historic-Cultural Monument 458 on November 3, 1989
* Briggs Residence, 3734 W Adams Boulevard.[20] Designated Historic-Cultural Monument 477 on January 30, 1990
* Guasti Villa/Busby Berkeley Estate, 3500 W Adams Boulevard.[20] Designated Historic-Cultural Monument 478 on January 30, 1990
* Dr. Grandville MacGowan Home, 3726 W. Adams Blvd. Designated Historic-Cultural Monument 479 on January 30, 1990
* Lycurgus Lindsay Mansion, 3424 W. Adams Blvd. Designated Historic-Cultural Monument 496 on May 30, 1990
* Korean Independence Memorial Building, 1368 W. Jefferson Blvd. Designated Historic-Cultural Monument 548 on October 2, 1991
* Denker Estate, 3820 W. Adams Blvd. Designated Historic-Cultural Monument 591 on March 8, 1994
* Betty Hill House, 1655 W. 37th Pl. Designated Historic-Cultural Monument 791 on April 13, 2005
* Joseph L. Starr Farmhouse, 2801 S. Arlington Ave. Designated Historic-Cultural Monument 865 on April 11, 2007. Built in 1887, it received a Los Angeles Conservancy Preservation Award in 2014. [2]
* Glen Lukens Home and Studio.[20] Designed by pioneering mid-century Modernist Raphael Soriano for ceramicist Glen Lukens. Designated Historic-Cultural Monument 866 on April 11, 2007
* Hauerwaas Kusayanagi Residence, 3741 W 27th Street [20] Designated Historic-Cultural Monument 990 on October 27, 2010
* Paul Revere Williams home, 1271 W 35th Street. Designated Historic-Cultural Monument 1253 on February 16, 2022.[21]

Betty Hill House, 2024Joseph L. Starr Farmhouse, 2024

## Landmarks and attractions

[edit]

* Trinity Baptist Church, 2040 W. Jefferson Boulevard. Originally located at 36th and Normandie, it moved to its present location in 1948. The master plan for the church was designed by noted African-American architect Paul Williams.[22][23]
* Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2230 West Jefferson Boulevard. Established in 1904, is one of the oldest African-American Presbyterian churches in California.[24]

## Parks and Libraries

[edit]

* Leslie N. Shaw Park, 2250 West Jefferson Boulevard.[11][25]
* Jefferson-Vassie D. Wright Memorial Branch Library, 2211 W. Jefferson Boulevard. [26] In 1987, the Jefferson branch library was added to the National Register of Historic Places.[27]

## Education

[edit]

LAUSD has three schools within the Jefferson Park boundaries:[11]

* Mid City Magnet - 3150 West Adams Boulevard
* Celerity Nascent Charter - 3417 West Jefferson Boulevard
* Sixth Avenue Elementary - 3109 Sixth Avenue

## Transportation

[edit]

Expo/Western station (on left) in Jefferson Park

* The Metro E Line has two stations in Jefferson Park, both along Jefferson Boulevard: Expo/Crenshaw station and Expo/Western station. As of October 7, 2022, the Expo/Crenshaw station serves as a transfer point between the E Line and the Metro K Line.
* Metro Local bus routes 14, 35, 37, 38, 207 and 209 also servers Jefferson Park.

## Notable people

[edit]

* Hattie McDaniel, actress, the first African-American to win an Academy Award, 2173 W. 31st Street.[28]
* Eric Dolphy, 1593 W 36th Street
* Paul Revere Williams, 1271 W 35th Street [29]
* Betty Hill[30]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "History of Jefferson Park". Historic Jefferson P. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
2. ^ a b c "Joseph L. Starr Dairy Farmhouse". LAConservancy.org. Los Angeles Conservancy. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
3. ^ a b Wedner, Diane (August 10, 2003). "L.A. as it looked a century ago". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 5, 2019.
4. ^ a b c Khouri, Andrew. "Soaring home prices spur a resurgence near USC". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 1, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
5. ^ SNYDER, GARRETT (August 27, 2019). "How chicken sausage links became a centerpiece to South L.A.'s black food culture". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
6. ^ Carpenter, Jane (2002). Conjure women: Betye Saar and rituals of transformation, 1960-1990. University of Michigan. p. 22\. ISBN 9780493733845.
7. ^ Campanella, Richard (2006). Geographies of New Orleans. University of Louisiana at Lafayette. p. 215\. ISBN 1887366687.
8. ^ Thompson, Ginger (February 5, 1989). "Spicy Parties : Set Tone for : Creoles' Life in Southland". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 7, 2013. "The majority of Creoles who migrated to Los Angeles settled along Jefferson Boulevard between Arlington and 10th Avenue an area they called Little New Orleans. Its center was Holy Name Church, and several Creoles, like Aubry, opened businesses in the area. Besides the barber shop, there was the New Orleans Grotto, Merlin's Restaurant, the St. Bernard Market, Marine Cleaners and the Big Loaf Bakery the "only place in town to get New Orleans-style French bread"."
9. ^ a b McCoy, Kirk (September 29, 1998). "Commemorative Marker Hails Revitilization Effort". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
10. ^ a b Galperrin, Ron (November 6, 1994). "Whats in a Name?". Los Angeles Times. p. 277. Retrieved February 15, 2023. "In central Los Angeles, a number of community groups push for neighborhood identity. These areas include University Park, West Adams and most recently, Jefferson Park. This area bounded by Adams Boulevard on the north, Exposition Boulevard on the south, Crenshaw Boulevard on the west and Western Avenue on the east was named as an official community by the City of Los Angeles in 1988."
11. ^ a b c The Thomas Guide, 2006, pages 633 and 673
12. ^ a b Aubry, Erin J. (January 23, 1994). "Jefferson Park: Area Gearing Up for Parade and Festival". Los Angeles Times. p. 404. Retrieved February 15, 2023. "The event, sponsored by the Jefferson Park Steering Committee, commemorates the 1988 christening of Jefferson Park by then-mayor Tom Bradley. The area is bounded by Adams Boulevard on the north, Exposition Boulevard on the south, Crenshaw Boulevard on west, and Western Avenue on the east."
13. ^ Aubry, Erin J. (November 29, 1992). "Jefferson Park: 100 Trees to Give Lift to Jefferson Blvd". Los Angeles Times. p. 276. Retrieved February 15, 2023. "Jefferson Park, a neighborhood in the Crenshaw district, is bounded by Crenshaw Boulevard on the west. Western Avenue on the east, Adams Boulevard on the north and Exposition Boulevard on the south."
14. ^ "South L.A." Mapping L.A.
15. ^ a b c d e f "Jefferson Park". Mapping L.A.
16. ^ "Jefferson Park Historic Preservation Overlay Zone". LACity.org. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
17. ^ "Jefferson Park HPOZ Preservation Plan" (PDF). LACity.org. May 2011. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
18. ^ "Jefferson Park Survey Map" (PDF). LACity.org. Retrieved February 15, 2023. "effective date: 7/08/2011"
19. ^ "Neighborhood Data for Social Change Platform". map.myneighborhooddata.org. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
20. ^ a b c d e Barragan, Bianca (May 1, 2018). "Mapped: The historic, stately homes of West Adams Boulevard". Curbed.com. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
21. ^ Historic Resource - Paul Revere Williams House 1271 W 35TH ST Report Date: February 16, 2024 (Report). Historic Places Los Angeles. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
22. ^ "Newsletter" (PDF). www.westadamsheritage.org. 2015.
23. ^ "History" (PDF). www.trinitybaptistchurchofla.org.
24. ^ "Black History Moments in L.A.'s Faith Community". Los Angeles Sentinel. February 10, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
25. ^ "Parks | City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks". Laparks.org. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
26. ^ [1] Los Angeles Public Library, Jefferson Branch
27. ^ The Los Angeles Branch Library System TR
28. ^ "West Adams Heritage Association | in Jefferson Park, Los Angeles, California".
29. ^ Niland, Josh (February 17, 2022). "Paul R. Williams' first LA home finally gains historic monument status". Retrieved February 17, 2024.
30. ^ Meares, Hadley (August 19, 2019). "How one woman desegregated LA swimming pools". Curbed LA. Retrieved March 10, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* "Jefferson Park Neighborhood Map". zipdatamaps.com. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
* "‘Bungalowland’ Train lines and kit houses made Jefferson Park the textbook streetcar suburb," Curbed 24 Jan 2020 by Hadley Meares
* Historic Jefferson Park community site
* LA City Jefferson Park HPOZ
* Jefferson Park Historic Resources Survey Report

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jefferson Park, Los Angeles.

* Los Angeles portal

* Jefferson Park Historic Neighborhood Profile at The Los Angeles Conservancy
* Huell Howser video from 2003 about Jefferson Park in his "Our Neighborhoods" series, hosted by Chapman University, home of the Huell Howser archive.

34°01′38″N 118°19′00″W﻿ / ﻿34.02722°N 118.31667°W﻿ / 34.02722; -118.31667

* v
* t
* e

City of Los Angeles

By topic|

* History
* Timeline
* Outline
* Transportation
* Culture
* Landmarks
* Historic sites
* Skyscrapers
* Demographics
* Crime
* Sports
* Media
* Music
* Notable people
* Lists
* Murals

Government|

* Flag
* Mayor
* City Council
* President
* Common Council
* Other elected officials
* Airport
* DWP
* Fire Department
* Police
* Public schools
* Libraries
* Port
* Transportation

Regions
Crescenta Valley
Downtown
Eastside
Harbor Area
Greater Hollywood
Northeast LA
Northwest LA
San Fernando Valley
South LA
Westside
Central Los Angeles & Wilshire area

* v
* t
* e

South Los Angeles region, Los Angeles

Neighborhoods|

* Baldwin Hills
* Baldwin Village
* Broadway-Manchester
* Canterbury Knolls
* Central-Alameda
* Chester Place
* Chesterfield Square
* Crenshaw
* Crenshaw Manor
* Exposition Park
* Green Meadows
* Harvard Park
* Historic South Central
* Hyde Park
* Jefferson Park
* King Estates
* Leimert Park
* Manchester Square
* Magnolia Square
* Marlton Square
* Nevin
* North University Park
* Park Mesa Heights
* South Park
* University Expo Park West
* Vermont Knolls
* Vermont Square
* Vermont Vista
* Vermont-Slauson
* Vermont Harbor
* View Heights
* Watts
* West Adams
* West Adams Terrace
* West Park Terrace

Points of interest|

| Libraries|

* Angeles Mesa
* Helen Hunt Jackson
* Jefferson
* John Muir
* Moneta
* Vermont Square
* William Andrews Clark

|

Museums|

* African American Firefighter
* California African American
* California Science Center
* Destination Crenshaw (under construction)
* Lucas Museum of Narrative Art (under construction)
* Natural History

Parks|

* Exposition Park
* Rose Garden
* Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area
* Rancho Cienega Recreation Center

Religious|

* Bethlehem Baptist Church
* Crenshaw Christian Center
* First African Methodist Episcopal Church
* McCarty Memorial Christian Church
* Second Baptist Church
* Second Church of Christ, Scientist
* Senshin Buddhist Temple
* St. Cecilia Catholic Church
* St. John's Cathedral
* St. Vincent de Paul Church
* West Angeles Church of God in Christ
* Westminster Presbyterian Church

Residences|

| Historic
districts|

* 20th Street
* 27th Street
* 52nd Place
* Menlo Avenue–West 29th Street
* North University Park
* Adlai Stevenson II Birthplace
* Miller and Herriott House
* St. James Park
* Van Buren Place

|

Public
housing|

* Avalon Gardens
* Gonzaque Village
* Imperial Courts
* Jordan Downs
* Nickerson Gardens
* Pueblo Del Rio

Other|

* Eugene W. Britt
* Forthmann
* Frederick Hastings Rindge
* Holmes-Shannon
* John B. Kane
* Machell-Seaman
* Ralph J. Bunche
* Ramsay-Durfee
* Stimson

Restaurants|

* Holbox

Schools|

| High
schools|

* Animo Jackie Robinson and Animo Ralph Bunche
* Augustus F. Hawkins
* Crenshaw
* James A. Foshay Learning Center
* Jefferson
* John C. Fremont
* Jordan
* J. P. Widney
* Locke
* Manual Arts
* Orthopaedic Hospital Medical Magnet
* Susan Miller Dorsey
* Verbum Dei Jesuit
* View Park Preparatory
* Washington Preparatory

|

Colleges and
universities|

* East LA College South Gate Campus
* Hebrew Union
* Los Angeles Southwest
* Los Angeles Trade–Tech
* Mount Saint Mary's
* USC
* Doheny Library
* Leavey Library
* Tommy Trojan
* Widney Alumni House

Other|

* Marlton

Sports
arenas|

* BMO Stadium
* Galen Center
* John C. Argue Swim Stadium
* Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Theaters|

* Lincoln
* Shrine Auditorium
* Vision

Other
buildings|

* 28th Street YMCA
* Angelus Funeral Home
* Annenberg (Armory)
* Bob Hope Patriotic Hall
* Casa de Rosas
* Dunbar Hotel
* Fire Stations No. 14 and 18
* Golden State Mutual Life Insurance (1928) and (1949)
* Holiday Bowl
* Prince Hall Masonic Temple

Other sites|

* Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza
* Public Art
* Watts Station
* Watts Towers

Transportation|

| Bikeways|

* Expo Bike Path
* Park to Playa Trail
* Rail to Rail

|

Freeways|

* I-10
* I-105
* I-110
* Harbor Transitway
* Imperial Highway
* Dosan Ahn Chang Ho Memorial Interchange
* Judge Harry Pregerson Interchange
* Metro ExpressLanes

Metro|

* A Line
* C Line
* E Line
* J Line
* K Line
* Harbor Subdivision

Streets|

| East-west|

* 11 - 40th
* 41st - 250th
* Century
* Florence
* Jefferson
* Manchester
* Martin Luther King Jr.
* Obama
* Slauson

|

North-south|

* Alameda
* Avalon
* Central
* Crenshaw
* Malcolm X Route
* La Brea
* La Cienega
* Main
* San Pedro
* South Broadway
* Vermont
* Western

Intersections|

* Florence and Normandie
* Malcolm X Way
* Squares
* Barbara Morrison
* Dolphins of Hollywood
* Dosan Ahn Chang Ho
* Nipsey Hussle
* Roger Terry

Other|

* Alameda Corridor

Regions
Crescenta Valley
Downtown
Eastside
Harbor Area
Greater Hollywood
Northeast LA
Northwest LA
San Fernando Valley
South LA
Westside
Central Los Angeles & Wilshire area

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Jefferson Park, Los Angeles

| Lafayette Square | West Adams Terrace | West Adams Heights

|
|

|  |
Wellington Square |

Jefferson Park

| West Adams
|  |
Crenshaw Manor | Leimert Park |

* v
* t
* e

Los Angeles Historic Preservation Overlay Zones

* Adams-Normandie
* Angelino Heights
* Balboa Highlands
* Banning Park
* Carthay Circle
* Carthay Square
* Country Club Park
* El Sereno - Berkshire
* Gregory Ain Mar Vista Tract
* Hancock Park
* Harvard Heights
* Highland Park - Garvanza
* Hollywood Grove
* Jefferson Park
* Lafayette Square
* Lincoln Heights
* Melrose Hill
* Miracle Mile
* Miracle Mile North
* Oxford Square
* Pico-Union
* South Carthay
* Spaulding Square
* Stonehurst
* Sunset Square
* University Park
* Van Nuys
* Vinegar Hill
* West Adams Terrace
* Western Heights
* Whitley Heights
* Wilshire Park
* Windsor Square
* Windsor Village

Regions
Crescenta Valley
Downtown
Eastside
Harbor Area
Greater Hollywood
Northeast LA
Northwest LA
San Fernando Valley
South LA
Westside
Central Los Angeles & Wilshire area
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template