South Central LA - Los Angeles, CA

Spanish explorers arrived in the area around 1542 -- but they didn't stay. It wasn't until 1769 when Spanish monks Junipero Serra and Juan Crespi chose this spot for a mission. The mission was later moved to San Gabriel. In 1781, about 44 settlers left the San Gabriel Mission. They were headed for the original mission site, where they founded a small town they called El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles sobre El Rio Porciuncula, which translates to the "Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels on the River Porciuncula." On Olvera Street, you'll discover an outline of the pueblo, now a historic monument. California's very first governor, Pio Pico, was a direct descendant of those original settlers.

South Central LA suffered a difficult time during the mid-1960s when the Watts Riots occurred, then again in the 1990s during the LA Riots, but crime has dropped significantly in recent decades. USC hosts a variety of community-building activities through its "Good Neighbors Campaign" such as jazz classes, tutoring swim lessons, summer camps, and farmers' markets.

From your South-Central LA apartment, you'll be able to visit the California Science Center and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. The Science Center offers an IMAX theater and hands-on exhibits, while the includes the Dinosaur Hall, one of the most impressive dinosaur exhibits in the world. Visit to see 20 complete dinosaurs and 300 real fossils. Other exhibits include the Insect Zoo, the Discovery Center, Nature Lab, and Gems and Minerals. The Watts Towers are a National Historic Landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The towers consist of 17 interconnected sculptures contained in Simon Rodia State Historic Park. The towers were built by Sabato ("Simon") Rodia, an Italian immigrant who built the towers during the period between 1921 and 1954. The Watts Towers Arts Center, which features contemporary art, is near the Watts Towers. It hosts a variety of festivals and events, including the Day of the Drum and Jazz Festival.

You'll discover a variety of restaurants in South Central LA, from the fast-food variety to ethnic cuisine to trendy hotspots, there is something for everyone!

South Central LA provides a comprehensive mass transit system with several bus stops located throughout the neighborhood. Buses take commuters to nearby Compton, San Pedro, Glendale, Beverly Hills, Hawthorne, Cal State University Dominguez Hills, West Hollywood, Vernon and Downtown LA.

For those who prefer to drive, I-110 runs north-south through the neighborhood, while I-10 (the Santa Monica Freeway) runs east-west along the northern border. The San Diego Freeway (I-405) is located just outside the neighborhood on the west side.

South Central is home to several small parks, including the Exposition Park Rose Garden, and it is close to Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area. At 338 acres, the Kenneth Hahn is the largest of LA's inner-city parks. This park has a Japanese Garden, ball fields, and a 10-station workout course. The nearby Angeles National Forest features the rugged peaks of the San Gabriel and Sierra Pelona Mountains. This park is ideal for hiking with 697 miles of hiking trails. OHV drivers will appreciate the 261 miles of OHV route. The park also offers 10 lakes, hundreds of miles of rivers and streams, and five wilderness areas.

A day at the beach is just 12 short miles away. Dockweiler Beach stretches along the Pacific Coast, offering a picnic area, bicycle trails, an RV park, and miles of beautiful, sandy beaches. Other nearby beaches include world-famous Venice Beach, Marina Del Rey, and Santa Monica State Beach.

Renters living in South Central LA pay an average of $4,364/month to rent an apartment, compared to the Los Angeles city average of $2,781. City dwellers exploring houses for rent in South Central LA can expect to pay around $3,500/month. For those looking to buy, the average house is valued at $1.4 million compared to the city average of $901,291.

Because it is so close to downtown, South Central residents enjoy easy access to many of LA's shopping districts, including the Flower District, the Garment District, and the Fabric District. LA Live is also nearby, providing even more shops and boutiques.