The area was originally settled by Gabrielino Native Americans in the first century. The Spanish settled in nearby Los Angeles in 1781. California became part of the United States in 1848 through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which marked the end of the Mexican-American War. The Republic of California was admitted as a U.S. state on September 9, 1850
However it is possible to wander through parts of East Los Angeles and think that the area is still part of Mexico. The population is 97% Latino, 2% White, 1% Asian and less than 1% Black. 85% of the people are of Mexican ancestry. 49% are foreign born. In East LA 87% speak Spanish as their first language. The median age is 25. 69% of the population is Catholic.
East LA is a center of Mexican American culture in Los Angeles. The first wave of Mexicans arrived in 1910s. In the 1920s, many Jewish European immigrants moved to East LA, but left as migrant workers from Mexico moved in. By 1950, the community’s population became mostly Mexican-American. During the 1960s the area became known for its activism in the Chicano rights movement. By the 1970s and 1980 the area was renowned for its poverty, high crime, gangs and drug dealing. It has retained its strong community sense based on common Latino culture and tight knit families.
East Los Angeles is bounded by the city of Los Angeles to the west, the unincorporated area of City Terrace to the northwest, the city of Monterey Park to the northeast, the city of Montebello to the east, and the city of Commerce to the south.
East Los Angeles has a population of 126,00 in 7 ½ square miles. It’s one of the few places where males ( 50.4% of the population ) outnumber the females which are 49.6%
Cheech Marin’s song and the movie “Born in East LA” introduced the area to the mass culture.
East LA has no local government. It is governed by the County of Los Angeles represented by Gloria Molina on the Board of Supervisors. The local cops are Los Angeles County Sheriffs. The library system and fire departments are run through the county and the schools are half Los Angeles Unified School District and half Monterey Park. Several attempts at incorporating East Los Angeles as its own city have failed to win enough local support from voters.
The median household income is $34,000. Less than 4% of the population 25 and older has a four year degree. Most of the people in East LA did not graduate from high school. The most common occupation among males is construction worker, for females health worker followed closely by clothing.
Light rail service runs from East Los Angeles via Metro Gold Line. There are also buses that criss-cross the community.
Whittier Blvd is the main thoroughfare in East LA and is site to the Latino Walk of Fame that now has 20 honorees.
City Terrace County Park, was built in 1933 by Works Progress Administration on 3.5 acres. he park has a basketball court, a children’s playground, a community room, a computer center, a gym, a multi-purpose field, a swimming pool, and tennis courts.
The housing stock in East LA tends to be older. Most residents are renters. The median rent is $911. East LA has no rent control.
