West Hollywood, California
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West Hollywood (abbreviated WeHo) is a city in Los Angeles County, California, bordered on the north by the Santa Monica Mountains, on the north and east by Hollywood, on the west by Beverly Hills and on south by the Fairfax District.
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History
For many years, the area that is now West Hollywood was an unincorporated area in the midst of the City of Los Angeles that was under the jurisdiction of "the county." It was illegal to gamble in the city but legal in the county, and in the 1920s a lot of nightclubs and casinos went in along the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood for this reason.
Movie people were attracted to this less restricted "county" area and a number of architecturally fine apartment houses and apartment hotels were built. Movie fans throughout the world knew that Ciro's, the Mocambo, the Trocadero, the Garden of Allah, the Chateau Marmont, and movie stars could be seen on the Sunset Strip.
Eventually, the area and its extravagant night spots lost favor with movie people. But the Strip and its restaurants, bars and clubs, continued to be an attraction for locals and out-of-town tourists. In the late 1960s, the Strip was transformed again during the hippie movement. Young people from all over the country flocked to West Hollywood clubs such as the Whisky A Go-Go and the Troubadour.
In the early 1970s, there was a large influx of Russian Jews from the Fairfax District and homosexuals. Because of the large gay population and the large numbers of gay-oriented businesses, West Hollywood became prominently known as a gay village.
In November 1984, voters passed a proposal on the ballot to incorporate and the area became the City of West Hollywood.
Geography
West Hollywood is located at 34°5'16" North, 118°22'20" West (34.087909, -118.372160)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.9 km² (1.9 mi²). 4.9 km² (1.9 mi²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 35,716 people, 23,120 households, and 5,202 families residing in the city. The population density is 7,335.1/km² (18,992.7/mi²). There are 24,110 housing units at an average density of 4,951.6/km² (12,821.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 86.43% White, 3.09% African American, 0.36% Native American, 3.78% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 2.87% from other races, and 3.35% from two or more races. 8.80% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 23,120 households out of which 5.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 16.4% are married couples living together, 4.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 77.5% are non-families. 60.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 1.53 and the average family size is 2.50.
In the city the population is spread out with 5.7% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 48.6% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 123.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 125.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $38,914, and the median income for a family is $41,463. Males have a median income of $45,598 versus $35,750 for females. The per capita income for the city is $38,302. 11.5% of the population and 7.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 10.0% of those under the age of 18 and 10.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Landmarks and interesting spots
- Barney's Beanery
- Beverly Center Mall
- Chateau Marmont
- Comedy Store
- Dudley Do-Right's Emporium
- Formosa Cafe
- House of Blues
- Hard Rock Cafe
- Hyatt West Hollywood
- Pacific Design Center
- Plummer Park
- The Roxy Theatre
- Tail O' the Pup
- Tower Records
- Troubadour
- Samuel Goldwyn Studios
- Sunset Strip
- Whisky A Go-Go
- Viper Room
External links
- West Hollywood Official Website (http://www.weho.org/)
- West Hollywood Convention & Visitors Bureau (http://www.visitwesthollywood.com/)
- Avenues of Art & Design Official Website (http://www.avenuesartdesign.com/)
Template:Cities of Los Angeles County, Californiade:West Hollywood