Could you imagine a community carved out of Los Angeles County? That’s Athens, California. Athens is an unincorporated community. It sits in the South Los Angeles region.
In 2000, Athens had 9,101 residents. Let’s dive into what makes Athens unique.
Athens lies south of Westmont. It is east of Hawthorne. Gardena is to its north. The Broadway-Manchester neighborhood is to its west. Imperial Highway bounds it to the north. Vermont Avenue marks its eastern edge. El Segundo Boulevard and Gardena’s city limits define its southern boundary. South Van Ness Avenue, South Wilton Place, and Hawthorne’s city boundary form its western border. The Interstate 105 Century Freeway cuts through Athens.
Athens uses the ZIP Code 90044. You’ll find it in telephone area codes 323 and 310. Its elevation is 171 feet.
In 2000, Athens had a population density of 6,829 per square mile. The Los Angeles Times noted this was low for South L.A. Ethnically, Athens was 54.3% Black. Latinos made up 39.78%. Asians comprised 2.9%. Whites accounted for 1.2%. Other ethnicities represented 2%. Foreign-born residents made up 28%. This was average for both South Los Angeles and the county. Mexican and Belizean ancestries were common. Mexico and El Salvador were frequent foreign birthplaces.
The median income in Athens was $48,824 in 2008. The Times considered this high for South Los Angeles. One-eighth of residents aged 25 or older had a college degree. The Times noted this was high for South L.A. but low for the county. The median age was 27. This was average for South L.A. but young for the county. A high percentage of residents were ages 10 or younger. Single-parent families headed 520 families. This was low for South L.A. but high for the county.
A high percentage of Athens’ veterans served in the Vietnam War.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department patrols Athens. The South Los Angeles station is at 1310 West Imperial Highway.
Athens is home to Los Angeles Southwest College. This college is a key part of the community.
Athens offers a glimpse into a diverse and evolving Los Angeles neighborhood. Its history and demographics paint a picture of a vibrant community. Its location and boundaries define its place in the urban landscape. Athens is a unique corner of Los Angeles County.