Chesterfield Square, Los Angeles
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Chesterfield Square is a 0.63-square-mile
neighborhood A neighbourhood (Commonwealth English) or neighborhood (American English) is a geographically localized community within a larger town, city, suburb or rural area, sometimes consisting of a single street and the buildings lining it. Neigh ...
in
Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
, located within the
South Los Angeles South Los Angeles, also known as South Central Los Angeles or simply South Central, is a region in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, lying mostly within the city limits of Los Angeles, south of Downtown Los Angeles, downtown. It is de ...
region. It contains its namesake park, along with the Van Ness Recreation Center.


History

Homes in Chesterfield Square were advertised for sale in the 1910s and 1920s. According to the ads, prospective buyers could reach the neighborhood via the 54th Street streetcar line. In 1984, Chesterfield Square was the site gang-related mass murder called the "54th St. Massacre" in which 5 people were killed. In March 2002,
Magic Johnson Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. (born August 14, 1959) is an American businessman and former professional basketball player. Often regarded as the greatest point guard of all time, Johnson List of NBA players who have spent their entire career w ...
opened a
Starbucks Starbucks Corporation is an American multinational List of coffeehouse chains, chain of coffeehouses and Starbucks Reserve, roastery reserves headquartered in Seattle, Washington. It was founded in 1971 by Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, and Gor ...
coffee shop in Chesterfield Square. Both Magic Johnson and Keyshawn Johnson were at the grand opening. Today, the neighborhood is a mix of low-density
commercial Commercial may refer to: * (adjective for) commerce, a system of voluntary exchange of products and services ** (adjective for) trade, the trading of something of economic value such as goods, services, information or money * a dose of advertising ...
, industrial, and residential development with characteristic bungalow houses.


Geography

By city council action in October 2001 (C.F. #01-1874), "Chesterfield Square" was officially named and designated. Chesterfield Square is bounded by Martin Luther King Boulevard on the north, Normandie Avenue on the east, South Van Ness Boulevard on the west. The south border is Hyde Park Boulevard to Wilton Place, Wilton Place to Slauson Avenue, and Slauson Avenue to Normandie Avenue. The Department of Transportation was instructed to install neighborhood signs at: Normandie Avenue and 40th Place, Van Ness Avenue and Slauson Avenue, Western Avenue and 58th Street, Van Ness Avenue at 48th Street, and Slauson Avenue at Halldale Avenue and Haas Avenue. In 2008, the city approved the Chesterfield Square/Angeles Mesa Gateway Median Sign Project. The Chesterfield Square median sign is located on Arlington Avenue on the south side of 54th Street.


Demographics

A total of 6,062 people lived in Chesterfield Square's 0.63 square miles, according to the 2000 U.S. census—averaging 9,571 people per square mile, about the average
population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...
for both the city and the county. The median age was 31, about average for the city and the county, but the percentages of residents aged 10 or younger or 11 to 18 were among the county's highest. There were 406 families headed by single parents; the rate of 29.8% was the fourth-highest among city neighborhoods."Single Parents," Mapping L.A., ''Los Angeles Times''
/ref> Within the neighborhood,
African Americans African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from any of the Black racial groups of Africa ...
made up 58.6% of the population—considered a high percentage for the county—while
Latinos Hispanic and Latino Americans are Americans who have a Spanish or Latin American background, culture, or family origin. This demographic group includes all Americans who identify as Hispanic or Latino, regardless of race. According to th ...
were 36.9%. Other ethnicities were
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 1.5%; Asian, 0.8%; and other, 2.2%. Mexico and El Salvador were the most common places of birth for the 23.4% of the residents who were born abroad, considered to be a low percentage of foreign-born when compared with the city as a whole. The median household income in 2008 dollars was $37,737, considered low for both the city and county. The percentage of households earning $20,000 or less was high, compared to the county at large. The average household size of three people was about average. Renters occupied 49.4% of the housing units, and homeowners occupied the rest. The 2000 census counted 298 veterans, of whom 164 served in World War II or the Korean War, a percentage that was among the county's highest. Only 6% of Chesterfield Square residents 25 and older held a four-year degree, a low percentage for both the city and the county. It is notable within the city for the relatively low percentage of its 6,000+ residents born outside the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
, for being in first place for the number of violent crimes committed of areas of Los Angeles
"Violent Crime," L.A., ''Los Angeles Times''
and for the fact that the percentage of
veterans A veteran () is a person who has significant experience (and is usually adept and esteemed) and expertise in an job, occupation or Craft, field. A military veteran is a person who is no longer serving in the military, armed forces. A topic o ...
who served during
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
and the
Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...
is among the county's highest.
"Chesterfield Square," Mapping L.A., ''Los Angeles Times''


Education

One public school is within the boundaries of Chesterfield Square: * Barack Obama Global Preparatory Charter Academy, LAUSD, 1708 West 46th Street
Academy website


Recreation and parks

* Chesterfield Square Park - 1950 West 54th Street. Facility Features: Children's Play Area, Picnic Tables.


Government

* Chesterfield Square/South L.A. Animal Shelter - 1850 W. 60th Street. One of the six animal shelters run by the city.


Notable people

* Earl C. Gay, former
City Council A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, borough counc ...
member - 5832 S. Van Ness Avenue Los Angeles Public Library reference file
/ref>


See also


References


External links



Dash Minibus route of Los Angeles Department of Transportation

Map of Chesterfield Square {{Los Angeles Neighborhoods in Los Angeles South Los Angeles