From its humble beginnings to its present star status, the city of West Hollywood boasts some of the most popular nightlife and weekend destinations in all of Los Angeles. Founded in 1984, its population of approximately 35,000 residents swells to more than 80,000 on a typical Friday or Saturday night and to over half a million during major events such as Christopher Street West/Gay & Lesbian Pride Parade or Halloween Carnival.

Also known as WeHo, the City is nationally recognized as a champion of social justice legislation. With one of the first Domestic Partnership Programs in the United States, the City is an internationally known mecca for the Gay & Lesbian Community; approximately 41% of its residents are gay men.

Home to some of the most exclusive condominium developments on the entire West Coast such as Shoreham Towers and Sierra Towers, West Hollywood also has well-known buildings such as The Empire West and The Park Wellington within its confines.

The stretch of the iconic Melrose Avenue between Fairfax Avenue and Doheny Drive contains ultra-trendy clothing boutiques, interior design shops, antique stores, and dining establishments. It is also home to the famous Pacific Design Center known for its exclusive interior design establishments.

Fast Facts

• The City originally attracted the creative and the persecuted because of its unincorporated status in the City of Los Angeles, putting it under the jurisdiction of Los Angeles County.
• Gambling, which was illegal in the City of Los Angeles but legal in the County, attracted nightclubs and casinos along Sunset Strip where these businesses dealt with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department instead of the (then-)heavy-handed Los Angeles Police Department.
• During the 1960s hippie movement, youth from all over the country came in droves to West Hollywood clubs such as Whiskey A Go Go’s, Barney’s Beanery, and The Troubadour.
• Creative and design professionals began coming to West Hollywood in the 1950, eventually establishing the Pacific Design Center in 1975.
• The most recent influx of residents came as a result of the dissolution of the Soviet Union as thousands of Russian Jews immigrated to West Hollywood beginning in the 1980s.
• The City became incorporated to stave off skyrocketing rental prices due to the County’s dismantling of rent control. A coalition of seniors, gays and Jews spearheaded the effort.

Politics and Government

• One of the first cities in the United States to enact a comprehensive Domestic Partnership Ordinance
• Residents regularly pass ordinances geared toward reducing discrimination and protecting the public health and dignity of all living things
• First city in the country to have a city council having gay members as majority

Demographics - 2000 Census

• 35,716 Population
• 23,120 Households
• 5,202 Families
• 18,992.7/mi² Population Density
• 86.43% White
• 3.78% Asian
• 6.40% Black or African American
• 0.36% Native American
• 0.11% Pacific Islander
• 2.87% Other Races
• 3.35% Two or More Races
• 8.80% Hispanic or Latino
• 39-years Median Age
• 1.23 to 1 Male to Female Ratio

Income - 2000 Census

• $38,914 Median Household Income
• $41,463 Median Family Income
• $45,598 Median Male Income
• $35,750 Median Female Income
• $38,302 Per Capita Income

Schools

• Belongs to Los Angeles Unified School District
• Elementary Schools
  • Gardner Elementary School
  • Laurel Elementary School
  • Melrose Elementary School
  • Rosewood Elementary School
  • West Hollywood Elementary School
• Middle Schools
  • Bancroft Middle School
  • John Burroughs Middle School
• High Schools
  • Fairfax High School
  • Hollywood High School
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