Ladera Heights, California

History

Ladera Heights originated in the late 1940s with the development of "Old Ladera". In the 1960s, custom homes were built in "New Ladera". Prominent builders included Valentine and Gallant. Robert Earl, who designed many of the Valentine homes, went on to build large multimillion-dollar estates throughout Southern California and in other countries. Neighboring Fox Hills contained a beautiful golf course with rolling hills that backed up to Wooster Avenue. Valentine built Robert Earl designed homes on Wooster overlooking the Fox Hills golf course. Years later, Donald Trump asked Earl to design estate homes with panoramic views of his Palos Verdes golf course.

Baseball player Frank Robinson and other sports players began moving to Ladera Heights in the early 1970s. Many celebrities have lived in Ladera Heights over the years, including Peter Vidmar (Olympic Gold 84), Vanessa Williams (Actress), Chris Darden (Attorney), Chris Strait (Comedian), Lisa Leslie and Olympia Scott (Basketball), Ken Norton (Boxing), Arron Afflalo, Tyler, The Creator (Rapper) and Byron Scott (Basketball)

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.0 square miles (7.8 km²), all of it land.

Ladera Heights is portioned into three sections, known as "Upper Ladera," "Lower Ladera" and "Old Ladera". Upper Ladera includes all houses north of Slauson in between La Cienega Boulevard and Shenandoah Avenue, while Lower Ladera (the larger of the two) consists of all houses south of Slauson in between Wooster and La Cienega. Old Ladera is the small area just east of La Cienega and south of Slauson. The Ladera Center, located in Lower Ladera just west of La Cienega Boulevard, hosts a number of local franchise stores and eateries.

2010

The 2010 US Census reported that Ladera Heights had a population of 6,498. The population density was 2,191.1 people per square mile (846.0/km²). The racial makeup of Ladera Heights was 4,786 (73.7%) African American, 979 (15.1%) White (13.3% Non-Hispanic White), 20 (0.3%) Native American, 231 (3.6%) Asian, 2 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 134 (2.1%) from other races, and 346 (5.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 355 persons (5.5%).

The Census reported that 6,486 people (99.8% of the population) lived in households, 8 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 4 (0.1%) were institutionalized.

There were 2,751 households, out of which 702 (25.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,240 (45.1%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 462 (16.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 113 (4.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 93 (3.4%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 20 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 778 households (28.3%) were made up of individuals and 351 (12.8%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36. There were 1,815 families (66.0% of all households); the average family size was 2.88.

The population was spread out with 1,122 people (17.3%) under the age of 18, 401 people (6.2%) aged 18 to 24, 1,264 people (19.5%) aged 25 to 44, 2,183 people (33.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,528 people (23.5%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49.0 years. For every 100 females there were 79.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.1 males.

There were 2,867 housing units at an average density of 966.7 per square mile (373.3/km²), of which 2,027 (73.7%) were owner-occupied, and 724 (26.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.7%. 4,891 people (75.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,595 people (24.5%) lived in rental housing units.

During 2009–2013, Ladera Heights had a median household income of $99,563, with 4.7% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2000

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,568 people, 2,691 households, and 1,883 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,230.6 people per square mile (862.6/km²). There were 2,755 housing units at an average density of 935.7 per square mile (361.8/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 70.8% African American, 7.0% White, 2.9% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.4% from other races, and 4.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.4% of the population.

There were 2,691 households out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the CDP, the population was spread out with 20.7% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 81.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.7 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $90,233, and the median income for a family was $103,174. Males had a median income of $64,643 versus $52,750 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $47,798. About 1.1% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

1. View Park-Windsor Hills, California, 86.5%
2. Gramercy Park, Los Angeles, 86.4%
3. Leimert Park, Los Angeles, 79.6%
4. Manchester Square, Los Angeles, 78.6%
5. Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw, Los Angeles, 71.3%
6. Ladera Heights, California, 71%
7. Hyde Park, Los Angeles, 66%
8. Chesterfield Square, Los Angeles, 58.6%
9. West Compton, California, 57.6%
10. Westmont, California, 57.5%

Primary and secondary schools

Ladera Heights is served by the Inglewood Unified School District. The schools serving Ladera Heights are in the Inglewood city limits. As of 2006 fewer than 400 Ladera Heights residents attended Inglewood USD schools. La Tijera School (K-8) and Parent School (K-8) serve Ladera Heights. La Tijera and Parent feed into Inglewood High School.

In 2006, a group of residents petitioned to move the area into the Culver City Unified School District of Culver City. Both the Culver City USD and the Inglewood USD opposed the move.

As of 2014 the Wiseburn School District allows parents in Ladera Heights to send their children to Wiseburn schools on inter-district transfers.

Colleges and universities

Ladera Heights is within the service area of West Los Angeles College, a community college located in Culver City.

Services

Ladera Heights receives fire protection from the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) operates the Marina del Rey Station in Marina del Rey, serving Ladera Heights.

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services SPA 5 West Area Health Office serves Ladera Heights.

Government

In the California State Legislature, Ladera Heights is in the 30th Senate District, represented by Democrat Holly Mitchell, and in the 54th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Sebastian Ridley-Thomas.

In the United States House of Representatives, Ladera Heights is in California's 37th congressional district, represented by Democrat Karen Bass.

Parks and recreation

Ladera Park is in adjacent View Park-Windsor Hills. The park has an outdoor amphitheatre, a baseball–softball field, a basketball court, children's play areas, a community recreation center, drinking fountains, picnic areas with barbecue grills and tennis courts.