La Brea Avenue is a prominent north/south thoroughfare in the City of Los Angeles and in Los Angeles, County, California.
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Map of S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA, USA
It is known for having diverse ethnic communities, and many shops and restaurants along its route.
History
La Brea is the Spanish phrase meaning "the tar." The La Brea Tar Pits, which the 1828 Mexican land grant Rancho La Brea was named for, are to the west of its intersection with Wilshire Boulevard in the Mid-Wilshire area.
In its early history its northern section it originally followed Arroyo La Brea, a former creek fed by springs in the Santa Monica Mountains that flowed south into Ballona Creek. Originally the southern section of La Brea Avenue within Inglewood was named Commercial Street.
Route
La Brea Avenue begins north of Century Boulevard intersection in Inglewood, as a continuation of Hawthorne Boulevard. It passes north through the Windsor Hills, Ladera Heights, and Baldwin Hills neighborhoods. It passes through the eastern low Baldwin Hills mountain range, by Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area and remnant oil fields.
Further north, La Brea passes through Crenshaw and the West Adams neighborhood, and then through the Central Los Angeles area with the Mid-City West, Park La Brea, and Hancock Park neighborhoods. Entering Hollywood, it is the border of eastern West Hollywood and the city of Los Angeles.
La Brea Avenue ends just north of Franklin Avenue, at the foot of the Hollywood Hills in central Hollywood.
Transportation
Metro Local lines: 40, 212, and 312 operate on La Brea Avenue, as well as Metro Rapid line 740. Lines 212 and 312 serve the majority of La Brea Avenue and Lines 40 and 740 start at Florence Avenue.
The Metro Expo Line serves the La Brea/Expo station at La Brea and Exposition Boulevard in the West Adams neighborhood.