University Hills, Los Angeles, California
Encyclopedia
University Hills is a district on the East Side
of Los Angeles
, California
. It is the site of California State University
, Los Angeles
.
on the north and west, City Terrace
on the south, Alhambra
on the north-east, and Monterey Park
on the south-east.
Major thoroughfares include Eastern Avenue, Marianna Avenue, and Valley Boulevard
. The San Bernardino
and Pasadena
freeways run along the district's southern and western edges, respectively.
The campus of California State University, Los Angeles
occupies nearly 200 acres (0.8 km²) on a hilltop site that affords views of the San Gabriel Mountains
to the north, the San Gabriel Valley
to the east, metropolitan Los Angeles to the west, and the Palos Verdes Peninsula and Catalina Island
to the south.
, created by the family of Juan Batista Batz, a Basque
rancher from northern Spain who settled the district in its early years. The inspiration for the name of the ranch, according to local historians, was the wild rose that once grew near the ranch home.
For much of its history, University Hills was considered an extension of El Sereno. However, in both built environment and socioeconomic conditions, it is very different from El Sereno. In response, the local homeowners association
"seceded" from El Sereno in the 1990s. The increase in real estate activity in Southern California during the early 2000s, has made University Hills—with its beautiful scenic views and central location—an attractive neighborhood for professionals seeking alternatives to the suburb
s and the Westside.
University Hills is zoned to schools in the Los Angeles USD:
In addition, many neighborhood residents send their kids to nearby Catholic schools.
East Los Angeles (region)
East Los Angeles is the portion of the City of Los Angeles that lies east of Downtown Los Angeles, the Los Angeles River and the unincorporated areas of Lincoln Heights, west of the San Gabriel Valley, East Los Angeles and City Terrace, south of Cypress Park, and north of Vernon, California and...
of Los Angeles
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...
. It is the site of California State University
California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Los Angeles is a public comprehensive university, part of the California State University system...
, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
Geography and transportation
University Hills is bordered by El SerenoEl Sereno, Los Angeles, California
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...
on the north and west, 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, 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 north-east, and Monterey Park
Monterey Park, California
Monterey Park is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, east of downtown Los Angeles. The city's motto is "Pride in the past, Faith in the future"...
on the south-east.
Major thoroughfares include Eastern Avenue, Marianna Avenue, and 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...
. The San Bernardino
San Bernardino Freeway
The San Bernardino Freeway, formerly known as the Ramona Freeway is a freeway in Los Angeles and Orange Counties in the southern part of the U.S. state of California. It refers to the following two segments:...
and Pasadena
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...
freeways run along the district's southern and western edges, respectively.
The campus of California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Los Angeles is a public comprehensive university, part of the California State University system...
occupies nearly 200 acres (0.8 km²) on a hilltop site that affords views of the San Gabriel Mountains
San Gabriel Mountains
The San Gabriel Mountains Range is located in northern Los Angeles County and western San Bernardino County, California, United States. The mountain range lies between the Los Angeles Basin and the Mojave Desert, with Interstate 5 to the west and Interstate 15 to the east...
to the north, 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...
to the east, metropolitan Los Angeles to the west, and the Palos Verdes Peninsula and Catalina Island
Santa Catalina Island, California
Santa Catalina Island, often called Catalina Island, or just Catalina, is a rocky island off the coast of the U.S. state of California. The island is long and across at its greatest width. The island is located about south-southwest of Los Angeles, California. The highest point on the island is...
to the south.
History
University Hills is nestled among shifting and swirling hills on a site that once housed one of California's 36 original adobes. It was built in 1776 by Franciscan missionaries and destroyed by fire in 1908. These lands once were part of a Spanish land grant known as the Rancho Rosa CastillaRancho Rosa Castilla
Rancho Rosa Castilla was a Mexican land grant in present day Los Angeles County, California given to Juan Ballesteros in 1831 by Governor Manuel Victoria. The land grant failed to receive confirmation from the Public Land Commission...
, created by the family of Juan Batista Batz, a Basque
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
rancher from northern Spain who settled the district in its early years. The inspiration for the name of the ranch, according to local historians, was the wild rose that once grew near the ranch home.
For much of its history, University Hills was considered an extension of El Sereno. However, in both built environment and socioeconomic conditions, it is very different from El Sereno. In response, the local homeowners association
Homeowners association
A homeowner association is a corporation formed by a real estate developer for the purpose of marketing, managing, and selling of homes and lots in a residential subdivision...
"seceded" from El Sereno in the 1990s. The increase in real estate activity in Southern California during the early 2000s, has made University Hills—with its beautiful scenic views and central location—an attractive neighborhood for professionals seeking alternatives to the suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
s and the Westside.
Universities
- California State University, Los AngelesCalifornia State University, Los AngelesCalifornia State University, Los Angeles is a public comprehensive university, part of the California State University system...
University Hills is zoned to schools in the Los Angeles USD:
- City Terrace Elementary School
- El Sereno Middle School
- 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...
In addition, many neighborhood residents send their kids to nearby Catholic schools.