Mt. Washington, Los Angeles, California
Encyclopedia
Mount Washington is a neighborhood located in the hills of northeastern Los Angeles, California
.
to the northwest, Eagle Rock
to the north, Highland Park
to the northeast, Montecito Heights
to the southeast, across the Arroyo Seco
, and Cypress Park
to the southwest. Mount Washington contains views of the San Gabriel Valley
and Los Angeles Basin
to the Pacific Ocean
on clear days.
Mount Washington is split between Los Angeles City Council
districts 1 and 14 and is part of California's 31st congressional district
. The neighborhood lies mostly within ZIP code
90065, with an eastern portion in 90042, and the area code is 323
.
, Pasadena
, and other areas of Los Angeles. Several major thoroughfares run through adjacent neighborhoods, including Figueroa Street
, San Fernando Road, York Boulevard, and Eagle Rock Boulevard. The area is also served by several freeways: the Pasadena Freeway
, Glendale Freeway, and Golden State Freeway. The Metro Gold Line serves southeastern parts of the neighborhood with a station
near the Southwest Museum
.
was soon established as a funicular
railway up the hill as an alternative to constructing roads up the area's steep hillsides. The railway operated until January 1919.
As Los Angeles grew outward from its core, Mount Washington was eventually absorbed into the city proper. In the early part of the 1900s, some moved as Mid-Wilshire
and the West Side
sub-divisions flowered in the 1930s, and especially after the construction of the Arroyo Seco Parkway. Others who lived elsewhere in L.A. owned hunting lodges in this neighborhood. After World War II
, it became a hot destination for middle-class Mexican American
s. By the late 2000s, the neighborhood attracted middle- and upper-income residents, mostly whites, Latinos, and Asians.
In the 1950s and 1960s Modernist homes, similar to those found in the Hollywood Hills
or Brentwood
were built in the district. The district is generally considered the most affluent area of the East Side, and also contains the region's largest concentration of non-Latino whites (though not as affluent as the neighboring cities of South Pasadena, San Marino, and Southwest Pasadena; for instance 30% of the census tract 1851 (Mount Washington) has incomes of $100,000 or greater; while 35% of census tract 4806 (South Pasadena) has incomes of $100,000 or greater). During the 70's and 80's, the "Hill" attracted a bohemian element. Today, the population is mainly professional class with some involved in the arts, music, and writing. The "beauty and the quirky nature of Mount Washington" has inspired songs.
In recent years, many homebuyers have become attracted to the area as a relatively affordable alternative to the Westside. It is one of the only neighborhoods in metro Los Angeles that still has significant numbers of trees and wildlife. Also to be noted, home prices in this neighborhood can range greatly from $300,000 - 10 million depending on extent of development, views, location, elementary school district, square footage, and lot size.
, 20.8% White
, 12.7% Asian, 2.6% Black, and 2.8% other. The median household income was $57,725. The average age of residents was 33 years.
Over the last decade, the demographics have been shifting. As of 2009, Mount Washington has no racial or ethnic group in a majority. According to the American Community Survey (2009), Mount Washington is 33% White
, 3% Black, 47% Latino
, 9% Asian, and 7% other (census tract 1851). The only census tract entirely within Mount Washington's boundaries is census tract 1851 (census tracts 1852 and 1862 are also in Mount Washington but also include surrounding neighborhoods). Census tract 1851 is on the east side of Mount Washington, and includes Moon Canyon Park and the Carlin Smith Recreation area; and it is extremely racially and ethnically diverse, even for Los Angeles.
Mount Washington (tract 1851) has a median household income of about $60,000; and 30% of its residents have a household income greater than $100,000 per year; neighboring census tracts shared with Mount Washington and other neighborhoods also have somewhat similar income data.
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...
.
Geography
The boundaries of Mount Washington are roughly defined by Division Street on the west, El Paso Drive and Avenue 50 on the northeast, Marmion Way on the southeast, and Isabel street on the southwest. One of many beautiful neighborhoods in northeast L.A., Mount Washington's hills provide mounds of green. Different parts of the neighborhood provide views of downtown L.A., the San Gabriel mountains, tranquil canyons, hillsides, and valleys. Adjacent neighborhoods include Glassell ParkGlassell Park, Los Angeles, California
Glassell Park is a neighborhood in northeast Los Angeles, California.-Geography:Glassell Park borders Atwater Village and the Los Angeles River on the west, the city of Glendale on the northwest, Eagle Rock on the northeast, Mount Washington on the southeast and Cypress Park on the south...
to the northwest, Eagle Rock
Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, California
In 1909, Hill Avenue, now Hill Drive, was one of Eagle Rock's most beautiful streets. Other streets were Royal Drive , Acacia Street , Kenilworth Avenue , Highland Avenue , and Fairmont Avenue...
to the north, Highland Park
Highland Park, Los Angeles, California
Highland Park is a neighborhood in Northeast Los Angeles.-Geography:Highland Park is located along the Arroyo Seco. It is situated within what was once Rancho San Rafael of the Spanish / Mexican era...
to the northeast, Montecito Heights
Montecito Heights, Los Angeles, California
Montecito Heights is a small district in Northeast Los Angeles formerly known as an original East Los Angeles area of Los Angeles, California. The 2000 population is estimated at 16,768.-Geography and transportation:...
to the southeast, across the Arroyo Seco
Arroyo Seco (Los Angeles County)
The Arroyo Seco, meaning "dry stream" in Spanish, is a seasonal river, canyon, watershed, and cultural area in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The Arroyo Seco has been called the most celebrated canyon in Southern California.-River course:...
, and Cypress Park
Cypress Park, Los Angeles, California
Cypress Park is a neighborhood in Northeast Los Angeles. It is located at the confluence of the Los Angeles River and Arroyo Seco and is less than 2.5 miles north of Downtown Los Angeles...
to the southwest. Mount Washington contains views of 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 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...
to the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
on clear days.
Mount Washington is split between Los Angeles City Council
Los Angeles City Council
The Los Angeles City Council is the governing body of the City of Los Angeles.The Council is composed of fifteen members elected from single-member districts for four-year terms. The president of the council and the president pro tempore are chosen by the Council at the first regular meeting after...
districts 1 and 14 and is part of California's 31st congressional district
California's 31st congressional district
California's 31st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California based in Los Angeles County. It is currently the only congressional district entirely based within the city of Los Angeles and includes the heavily Hispanic/Latino portions of inner-city Los...
. The neighborhood lies mostly 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...
90065, with an eastern portion in 90042, and the area code is 323
Area code 323
North American area code 323 is a California telephone area code which covers, roughly, the area of central Los Angeles . 323 also includes several gateway cities of the region, including Bell and Huntington Park...
.
Transportation
Owing to its hilly geography, Mount Washington lacks major arterial streets. However, nearby transportation options allow easy access to Downtown Los AngelesDowntown 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...
, Pasadena
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, and other areas of Los Angeles. Several major thoroughfares run through adjacent neighborhoods, including Figueroa Street
Figueroa Street
Figueroa Street is a street in Los Angeles County, California named for General José Figueroa , governor of Alta California from 1833 to 1835, who oversaw the secularization of the missions of California...
, San Fernando Road, York Boulevard, and Eagle Rock Boulevard. The area is also served by several freeways: the Pasadena Freeway
Pasadena Freeway
The Arroyo Seco Parkway, formerly known as the Pasadena Freeway, is the first freeway in California and the western United States. It connects Los Angeles with Pasadena alongside the Arroyo Seco. It is notable not only for being the first, mostly opened in 1940, but for representing the...
, Glendale Freeway, and Golden State Freeway. The Metro Gold Line serves southeastern parts of the neighborhood with a station
Southwest Museum (LACMTA station)
Southwest Museum Station is an at-grade light rail station in the Los Angeles County Metro Rail system. It is located near the intersection of Marmion Way at Museum Drive in northeast Los Angeles...
near the Southwest Museum
Southwest Museum
The Southwest Museum of the American Indian is a museum, library, and archive located in the Mt. Washington area of Los Angeles, California. It is part of the Autry National Center. Its collections deal mainly with the American Indian...
.
History
Mount Washington was founded in 1909 as a subdivision laid out by real estate developer Robert Marsh. Marsh built the Mount Washington Hotel at the summit of Mount Washington, and the Los Angeles and Mount Washington Railway CompanyLos Angeles and Mount Washington Railway Company
The Los Angeles and Mount Washington Railway Company was an early 20th Century incline railway which once operated in the Mount Washington district north of Downtown Los Angeles....
was soon established as a funicular
Funicular
A funicular, also known as an inclined plane or cliff railway, is a cable railway in which a cable attached to a pair of tram-like vehicles on rails moves them up and down a steep slope; the ascending and descending vehicles counterbalance each other.-Operation:The basic principle of funicular...
railway up the hill as an alternative to constructing roads up the area's steep hillsides. The railway operated until January 1919.
As Los Angeles grew outward from its core, Mount Washington was eventually absorbed into the city proper. In the early part of the 1900s, some moved as Mid-Wilshire
Mid-Wilshire
Mid-Wilshire is a district in the City of Los Angeles, California. It is part of the Wilshire region.It mostly encompasses the area bounded by La Cienega Boulevard to the west, Melrose Avenue to the north, Hoover Street to the east and the Santa Monica Freeway to the south, although some...
and the West Side
West Los Angeles (region)
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 , encompassing 18 districts in the city of Los Angeles and two unincorporated neighborhoods, plus the cities of...
sub-divisions flowered in the 1930s, and especially after the construction of the Arroyo Seco Parkway. Others who lived elsewhere in L.A. owned hunting lodges in this neighborhood. After 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...
, it became a hot destination for middle-class Mexican American
Mexican American
Mexican Americans are Americans of Mexican descent. As of July 2009, Mexican Americans make up 10.3% of the United States' population with over 31,689,000 Americans listed as of Mexican ancestry. Mexican Americans comprise 66% of all Hispanics and Latinos in the United States...
s. By the late 2000s, the neighborhood attracted middle- and upper-income residents, mostly whites, Latinos, and Asians.
In the 1950s and 1960s Modernist homes, similar to those found in the Hollywood Hills
Hollywood Hills
The Hollywood Hills is an affluent and exclusive neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, in the southeastern Santa Monica Mountains. It is bound by Laurel Canyon Boulevard to the west, Vermont Avenue to the east, Mulholland Drive to the north, and Sunset Boulevard to the south.-Hollywood Hills...
or Brentwood
Brentwood, Los Angeles, California
Brentwood is a district in western Los Angeles, California, United States. The district is located at the base of the Santa Monica Mountains, bounded by the San Diego Freeway on the east, Wilshire Boulevard on the south, the Santa Monica city limits on the southwest, the border of Topanga State...
were built in the district. The district is generally considered the most affluent area of the East Side, and also contains the region's largest concentration of non-Latino whites (though not as affluent as the neighboring cities of South Pasadena, San Marino, and Southwest Pasadena; for instance 30% of the census tract 1851 (Mount Washington) has incomes of $100,000 or greater; while 35% of census tract 4806 (South Pasadena) has incomes of $100,000 or greater). During the 70's and 80's, the "Hill" attracted a bohemian element. Today, the population is mainly professional class with some involved in the arts, music, and writing. The "beauty and the quirky nature of Mount Washington" has inspired songs.
In recent years, many homebuyers have become attracted to the area as a relatively affordable alternative to the Westside. It is one of the only neighborhoods in metro Los Angeles that still has significant numbers of trees and wildlife. Also to be noted, home prices in this neighborhood can range greatly from $300,000 - 10 million depending on extent of development, views, location, elementary school district, square footage, and lot size.
Demographics
Mount Washington is split among several U.S. Census tracts that include portions of other districts, making an exact population difficult to determine. As of 2000, the ethnic/racial breakdown was 61.2% LatinoLatino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
, 20.8% White
White people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
, 12.7% Asian, 2.6% Black, and 2.8% other. The median household income was $57,725. The average age of residents was 33 years.
Over the last decade, the demographics have been shifting. As of 2009, Mount Washington has no racial or ethnic group in a majority. According to the American Community Survey (2009), Mount Washington is 33% White
White people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
, 3% Black, 47% Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
, 9% Asian, and 7% other (census tract 1851). The only census tract entirely within Mount Washington's boundaries is census tract 1851 (census tracts 1852 and 1862 are also in Mount Washington but also include surrounding neighborhoods). Census tract 1851 is on the east side of Mount Washington, and includes Moon Canyon Park and the Carlin Smith Recreation area; and it is extremely racially and ethnically diverse, even for Los Angeles.
Mount Washington (tract 1851) has a median household income of about $60,000; and 30% of its residents have a household income greater than $100,000 per year; neighboring census tracts shared with Mount Washington and other neighborhoods also have somewhat similar income data.
Landmarks
- Southwest MuseumSouthwest MuseumThe Southwest Museum of the American Indian is a museum, library, and archive located in the Mt. Washington area of Los Angeles, California. It is part of the Autry National Center. Its collections deal mainly with the American Indian...
- World Headquarters of the Self-Realization FellowshipSelf-Realization FellowshipSelf-Realization Fellowship / Yogoda Satsanga Society of India is a worldwide spiritual organization founded by Paramahansa Yogananda in 1920 and based in Mount Washington in Los Angeles, California....
- Eldred Street, between Avenue 50 and Cross Avenue on the northeast side of Mount Washington, with a slope of 33% grade, is one of the three steepest streets in Los Angeles and one of the steepest streets in the world (Baldwin Street, DunedinBaldwin Street, DunedinBaldwin Street in a suburban part of New Zealand's southern city of Dunedin, is considered the world's steepest residential street. It is located in the suburb of North East Valley, northeast of Dunedin's city centre....
, New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
is 35%). Bottom of the steep climb is 34.10853°N 118.2081°W - Mount Washington Elementary School, a hilltop campus with beautiful views where students "consistently score among the top schools in Los Angeles on the Academic Performance Index."
Notable residents
- Patrick BristowPatrick BristowPatrick Bristow is an American actor and comedian.-Biography:Perhaps best known for his television role as Peter, the gay best friend of Ellen Morgan on the series Ellen, Patrick Bristow is currently a cast member of the Independent Film Channel's critically acclaimed series The Minor...
, character actor and theater director - Robert Steven Connett, noted Los Angeles artist
- Guy Hendrix DyasGuy Hendrix DyasGuy Hendrix Dyas, Production Designer, most recently collaborated with Christopher Nolan on his ambitious science fiction thriller “Inception” which earned him an Academy Award Nomination®™ as well as a BAFTA award for best Production Design...
, Designer and feature film production designerProduction designerIn film and television, a production designer is the person responsible for the overall look of a filmed event such as films, TV programs, music videos or adverts. Production designers have one of the key creative roles in the creation of motion pictures and television. Working directly with the... - Daddy KevDaddy KevDaddy Kev is a prolific underground hip-hop and electronic music producer, recording engineer and record label owner. Pitchfork describes him as "one of the Los Angeles underground's most visionary producers.....
, acclaimed music producer and engineer - Tomas Osinski, highly admired architect, works closely with Frank GehryFrank GehryFrank Owen Gehry, is a Canadian American Pritzker Prize-winning architect based in Los Angeles, California.His buildings, including his private residence, have become tourist attractions...
- Gloria MolinaGloria MolinaJesus Gloria Molina is an American politician, a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and the current chairwoman of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.-Background and career:...
, Los Angeles County Supervisor - Patt MorrisonPatt MorrisonPatt Morrison is a journalist, author, and radio—television personality based in Los Angeles and Southern California.-Media:Morrison is a writer for the Los Angeles Times, with the weekly 'Patt Morrison Asks' column, and received the Joseph M. Quinn award in 2000 from the Los Angeles Press Club...
, Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles TimesThe 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....
columnist - Richard G. Polanco, former California State SenateCalifornia State SenateThe California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
Majority leader and member of the California State AssemblyCalifornia State AssemblyThe California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000... - Ed ReyesEd ReyesEduardo Perez Reyes is an American politician. He is a member of the Los Angeles City Council, representing the 1st district. Reyes was re-elected in 2005 to serve a second Council term, capturing 78 percent of the votes. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
, Los Angeles City CouncilmanLos Angeles City CouncilThe Los Angeles City Council is the governing body of the City of Los Angeles.The Council is composed of fifteen members elected from single-member districts for four-year terms. The president of the council and the president pro tempore are chosen by the Council at the first regular meeting after...
for the 1st district. - Jack SmithJack Smith (columnist)Jack Clifford Smith was a journalist, author, and newspaper columnist who wrote about Los Angeles during its period of greatest growth and increasing influence...
, author and Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles TimesThe 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....
columnist - Antonio VillaraigosaAntonio VillaraigosaAntonio Ramón Villaraigosa , born Antonio Ramón Villar, Jr., is the 41st and current Mayor of Los Angeles, California, the third Mexican American to have ever held office in the city of Los Angeles and the first in over 130 years. He is also the current president of the United States Conference of...
, Mayor of Los Angeles (2005-) and former speaker of the California State AssemblyCalifornia State AssemblyThe California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000... - Gerard WayGerard WayGerard Arthur Way is an American musician and comic book writer who has served as lead vocalist and co-founder of the band My Chemical Romance since its formation in 2001...
, singer and artist. - Emerson WoelfferEmerson WoelfferEmerson Woelffer was a prominent abstract expressionism artist and painter born in Chicago. He studied Education at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago between 1935 and 1937. In 1938 he joined the WPA Arts Program. In 1949 he taught at Black Mountain College at the request of Buckminster...
(1914-2003) artist, former teacher & Chair, Painting Dept., Otis Art Institute