Westwood, Los Angeles

Westwood is a busy neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles, California. It is best known for being home to the University of California, Los Angeles, often called UCLA. Right next to the university is a place called Westwood Village. This area is popular for shopping, eating out, watching movies, and having fun.

The main street through Westwood is Wilshire Boulevard. On one side, there are tall buildings where people live, and on the other side, there are important office buildings. Westwood also has many homes, some of which are in an expensive area called Holmby Hills.

People started building Westwood in 1919, and the university opened its doors in 1929. Westwood Village grew up between 1929 and the 1930s, becoming a lively spot for the community.

Geography

Westwood is a neighborhood in the northern part of Los Angeles, California. It is home to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Just south of the campus is Westwood Village, a popular area with shops, restaurants, and movie theaters. This area was carefully planned in the 1920s and became a busy spot for people to visit.

The neighborhood also includes parts of Holmby Hills and a section called North Westwood Village, where many students live. There is a part of Westwood known for its Persian culture, with many restaurants and stores serving the Persian community. Westwood has a mild climate with dry summers and wet winters, and it gets more rain than many other places in Los Angeles because it is close to the ocean and on a hillside.

History

The area that is now Westwood was first created to care for soldiers who fought in the Civil War and the Indian Wars.

Westwood grew on land from the Wolfskill Ranch. A man named Arthur Letts, who owned big stores called the Broadway and Bullock's, bought this land in 1919. After he passed away, his son-in-law Harold Janss started building homes there in 1922.

In 1925, the University of California chose Westwood for its new campus because the old location was too small. Construction began in 1927, and the school opened its doors in 1929.

Westwood Village, a shopping area near the campus, opened in 1929 as one of the first planned shopping districts in the world. It was designed with a Mediterranean style, featuring clay tile roofs and beautiful courtyards. Many shops, including department stores, opened there even during tough economic times.

In the 1970s and 1980s, new taller buildings were constructed, and many people from Iran moved to the area. Westwood Village stayed popular for shopping and entertainment, though it faced challenges with crime and competition from other shopping areas in later years.

Table of architecturally significant buildings in Westwood Village

Demographics

In 2018, about 50,288 people lived in the area known as Westwood, according to the Census Bureau. The neighborhood has many young people, with a median age of 27. It is quite crowded, with around 13,036 people living in each square mile.

Westwood is home to people from many different backgrounds. Most residents are Non-Hispanic White or Asian. Many people were born in Iran or Taiwan. The area also has a good amount of Hispanic or Latino and Black residents.

The neighborhood has a higher-than-average income, with many families earning well above $68,716 each year. Most people rent their homes rather than owning them.

Entertainment and cultural facilities

Besides the many facilities of UCLA, Westwood has many places for fun and culture. There are two historic movie theaters in the Village: the Fox Village Theater, which opened in 1931, and the Bruin Theater, built in 1937. Both have hosted many special movie showings over the years.

The Hammer Museum, connected to UCLA, is an art museum and cultural center. It was started in 1990 and shows many different kinds of art. The museum offers many free events, such as talks, concerts, and movie screenings. The Geffen Playhouse Theater was built in 1929 and was one of the first buildings in Westwood Village.

The Los Angeles California Temple is a large temple on Santa Monica Boulevard. It also has a Visitors' Center and a Family History Center that anyone can visit. The temple was built on land bought from a famous silent film star in 1937 and opened in 1956.

Parks and recreation

The Westwood Recreation Center is located in Westwood and offers many fun activities for everyone. You can find barbecue pits, a baseball diamond, basketball courts, racquetball courts, a play area for children, a community room, an indoor gym with weights, and picnic tables. The center also includes Aidan's Place, which opened on December 5, 2001. This special playground is designed for both children who use wheelchairs and those who do not.

Holmby Park is also located in Westwood.

Government and infrastructure

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services helps keep people healthy in Westwood.

In 2018, people living in Westwood decided to split the area into two groups for local government. The North Westwood Neighborhood Council looks after UCLA, Westwood Village, North Westwood Village, and Persian Square. The Westwood Neighborhood Council takes care of the homes around these places.

The Los Angeles Police Department has a station at 1663 Butler Avenue to keep the area safe. The UCLA Police Department, part of the University of California Police Department, watches over the UCLA campus.

The Los Angeles Fire Department provides fire and emergency help. UCLA Emergency Medical Services also helps with medical needs on the campus and works with the fire department when needed.

A new train station called the Westwood/UCLA station is being built at the corner of Wilshire and Westwood Boulevards. It is planned to open in 2027 and will be part of the Metro D Line Extension.

Education

Westwood is home to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Many people in Westwood have gone to college, with a large number having earned advanced degrees.

The Los Angeles Unified School District runs public schools in the area. Some schools in Westwood include:

• Fairburn Avenue Elementary School
• Warner Avenue Elementary School
• Sinai Akiba Academy (a private school)
• Saint Paul the Apostle (a private school)
• Ralph Waldo Emerson Middle School

Students who live in Westwood usually go to University High School in West Los Angeles for their senior year. The UCLA Lab School is a special school run by UCLA. The Los Angeles Public Library also has a branch in Westwood that opened in 2005.

Notable people

Westwood is the home of many interesting people. Some well-known names include Andy Hill, a basketball player and business leader, and Emma Stone, an actress. Others include Bob Larson, a radio and television host, Roozbeh Farahanipour, a business leader and activist, and Maya Rudolph, an actor, singer, and comedian known for her work on shows like Saturday Night Live.