El Sereno, Los Angeles, California
Encyclopedia
El Sereno is a district in Eastern Los Angeles
, California
.
El Sereno sits atop the Monterey Hills that separate the Los Angeles Basin
from the San Gabriel Valley
, and is the easternmost district in the city of Los Angeles. It is bordered by Monterey Hills and South Pasadena
on the north, Alhambra
on the east, University Hills on the southeast, City Terrace
on the south, Boyle Heights on the southwest, Lincoln Heights on the west, and Montecito Heights on the northwest. Principal thoroughfares include Huntington Drive
; Valley Boulevard
; Eastern and Alhambra Avenues; and Soto Street. The district lies within ZIP code
90032.
line that ran in the median of Huntington Drive. El Sereno was called Bairdstown until 1915. Like most of East Los Angeles, it was extremely ethnically diverse until World War II
and shortly thereafter, when most of its non-Mexican
-descended population moved to newer suburbs in other parts of Greater Los Angeles
. Gang
s became a serious problem in the late 1970s. The gentrification
that has occurred in many of the districts east of the Los Angeles River
has yet to occur to any significant degree in El Sereno, despite its proximity to affluent South Pasadena.
The northernmost segment of the Long Beach Freeway (I-710
) was intended by Caltrans to go through El Sereno, as well as South Pasadena. The popular association of the 710 Freeway controversy with South Pasadena is largely a result of that city's demographics (wealthy and white), even though construction of the freeway would result in nearly as many historic homes being demolished in El Sereno. Community activists filed suit against Caltrans requesting the same treatment be given to El Sereno as it would South Pasadena. Thus, any future undergrounding of the roadway would include El Sereno.
operates the Central Health Center in Downtown Los Angeles
, serving El Sereno.
Los Angeles Fire Department
Station 16 (South El Sereno) and Station 47 (El Sereno) are in the area.
.
Non-LAUSD schools:
www.thevoicepub.com
Previously the El Sereno Star had filled the void for local news.
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, 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...
.
El Sereno sits atop the Monterey Hills that separate the Los Angeles Basin
Los Angeles Basin
The Los Angeles Basin is the coastal sediment-filled plain located between the Peninsular and Transverse ranges in southern California in the United States containing the central part of the city of Los Angeles as well as its southern and southeastern suburbs...
from the San Gabriel Valley
San Gabriel Valley
The San Gabriel Valley is one of the principal valleys of Southern California, United States. It lies to the east of Los Angeles, to the north of the Puente Hills, to the south of the San Gabriel Mountains, and west of the Inland Empire. It derives its name from the San Gabriel River that flows...
, and is the easternmost district in the city of Los Angeles. It is bordered by Monterey Hills and South Pasadena
South Pasadena, California
South Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 25,619, up from 24,292 at the 2000 census. It is located in in the West San Gabriel Valley...
on the north, Alhambra
Alhambra, California
Alhambra is a city located in the western San Gabriel Valley region of Los Angeles County, California, United States, which is approximately eight miles from the Downtown Los Angeles civic center. As of the 2010 census, the population was 83,089, down from 85,804 at the 2000 census. The city's...
on the east, University Hills on the southeast, City Terrace
City Terrace, California
City Terrace is an unincorporated community in Los Angeles County, California. It is considered part of the East Los Angeles region. The U.S. census numbers are included with East Los Angeles.-Geography and transportation:...
on the south, Boyle Heights on the southwest, Lincoln Heights on the west, and Montecito Heights on the northwest. Principal thoroughfares include Huntington Drive
Huntington Drive
Huntington Drive is a major east–west street in Southern California. It runs from the merge of Soto Street and Mission Road near the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Los Angeles east through the El Sereno section of Los Angeles, South Pasadena, San Marino, Alhambra, San Gabriel, Arcadia,...
; Valley Boulevard
Valley Boulevard
Valley Boulevard is a street in Southern California, running east from Los Angeles to Pomona, where it becomes Holt Boulevard, and a continuation from Fontana to Colton. It generally parallels Interstate 10 and State Route 60, and is the original alignment of U.S. Route 60...
; Eastern and Alhambra Avenues; and Soto Street. The district lies within ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
90032.
History
El Sereno was founded in 1905 as a working-class suburb of Los Angeles along the former Pacific Electric RailwayPacific Electric Railway
The Pacific Electric Railway , also known as the Red Car system, was a mass transit system in Southern California using streetcars, light rail, and buses...
line that ran in the median of Huntington Drive. El Sereno was called Bairdstown until 1915. Like most of East Los Angeles, it was extremely ethnically diverse until World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and shortly thereafter, when most of its non-Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
-descended population moved to newer suburbs in other parts of Greater Los Angeles
Greater 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...
. Gang
Gang
A gang is a group of people who, through the organization, formation, and establishment of an assemblage, share a common identity. In current usage it typically denotes a criminal organization or else a criminal affiliation. In early usage, the word gang referred to a group of workmen...
s became a serious problem in the late 1970s. The gentrification
Gentrification
Gentrification and urban gentrification refer to the changes that result when wealthier people acquire or rent property in low income and working class communities. Urban gentrification is associated with movement. Consequent to gentrification, the average income increases and average family size...
that has occurred in many of the districts east of the Los Angeles River
Los Angeles River
The Los Angeles River is a river that starts in the San Fernando Valley, in the Simi Hills and Santa Susana Mountains, and flows through Los Angeles County, California, from Canoga Park in the western end of the San Fernando Valley, nearly southeast to its mouth in Long Beach...
has yet to occur to any significant degree in El Sereno, despite its proximity to affluent South Pasadena.
The northernmost segment of the Long Beach Freeway (I-710
Interstate 710
Interstate 710 is a major north–south interstate freeway running for 23 miles through Los Angeles County, California...
) was intended by Caltrans to go through El Sereno, as well as South Pasadena. The popular association of the 710 Freeway controversy with South Pasadena is largely a result of that city's demographics (wealthy and white), even though construction of the freeway would result in nearly as many historic homes being demolished in El Sereno. Community activists filed suit against Caltrans requesting the same treatment be given to El Sereno as it would South Pasadena. Thus, any future undergrounding of the roadway would include El Sereno.
Government and infrastructure
The Los Angeles County Department of Health ServicesLos Angeles County Department of Health Services
Health services to over 10 million residents in the Los Angeles County are provided by the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Mental health services are provided by the County Department of Mental Health...
operates the Central Health Center in Downtown Los Angeles
Downtown Los Angeles
Downtown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, United States, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area...
, serving El Sereno.
Los Angeles Fire Department
Los Angeles Fire Department
The Los Angeles Fire Department is the agency that provides fire protection and emergency medical services for the city of Los Angeles....
Station 16 (South El Sereno) and Station 47 (El Sereno) are in the area.
Education
Residents are zoned to schools in 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...
.
- Cesar Chavez Elementary School, opened in 2006
- Farmdale Elementary School
- Huntington Drive Elementary School
- Multnomah Elementary School
- Sierra Park Elementary School
- Sierra Vista Elementary School
- El Sereno Elementary School
- El Sereno Middle School
- Woodrow Wilson High SchoolWilson High School (Los Angeles)Woodrow Wilson High School is a Los Angeles Unified School District high school in the El Sereno neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Since the year 1970, its location has been 4500 Multnomah Street in the Los Angeles community of Hillside Village, atop Ascot Hills...
Non-LAUSD schools:
- All Saints Catholic School
Popular culture
- El Sereno was a filming location for the 2008 film Street Kings, starring Keanu ReevesKeanu ReevesKeanu Charles Reeves is a Canadian actor. Reeves is perhaps best known for his roles in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Speed, Point Break and the science fiction-action trilogy The Matrix...
, Hugh LaurieHugh LaurieJames Hugh Calum Laurie, OBE , better known as Hugh Laurie , is an English actor, voice artist, comedian, writer, musician, recording artist, and director...
, and Forest Whittaker.
- El Sereno was a filming location for The Mars Volta's Music Video 'Goliath'.
- The Mars Volta recorded their 2008 Grammy Award Winning album 'Bedlam in Goliath' in El Sereno.
Local newspaper
The Voice Newspaper reports on local news that affects this community. Forty to 60% of all articles are submitted by the community.www.thevoicepub.com
Previously the El Sereno Star had filled the void for local news.
Local community magazine
Launched in 2010 the Our Town El Sereno community magazine focuses on residents, businesses, and schools of El Sereno.See also
- Parley Parker Christensen, Los Angeles City Council member who objected to including El Sereno in his district.