Watts
- Profile
- Schools
This neighborhood includes Imperial Courts, Jordan Downs and Nickerson Gardens.
Demographics in Watts
- Population 34,830, according to the 2000 census, about average in comparison to the rest of the city's neighborhoods
- The 2008 population is estimated at 38,948.
- 2.0 square miles, about average in comparison to the rest of the city's neighborhoods
- 17,350 people per square mile, among the highest densities in the city
Source: Census 2000
- The percentages of black and Latino people are among the city's highest.
- Moderately diverse in comparison to the rest of the city
Source: Census 2000
- $24,728 median household income, low in comparison to the rest of the city
- Chinatown, Downtown and Elysian Park have the most similar household incomes.
- The percentage of households earning $20,000 or less is among the city's highest.
Source: Census 2000
- Average household size of 4.0, high in comparison to the rest of the city
- 68.1% of households are renters, an average percentage in comparison to the rest of the city. Valley Village, Florence and Carthay are the most similar.
Source: Census 2000
- The percentages of widowed males, never married females and never married males are among the city's highest.
- 2,390 single mothers, 34.6% of families, among the highest percentages in the city
Source: Census 2000
- The percentage of residents with less than a high school diploma is among the city's highest.
Source: Census 2000
- The median age is 21 years old, young in comparison to the rest of the city.
- Central-Alameda, Broadway-Manchester and Florence have the most similar median age.
- The percentages of residents age 10 or less and 11-18 are among the city's highest.
Source: Census 2000
- Mexican (46.1%) and Other African (1.4%) are the most common ancestries.
- 11,664 (33.5%) of residents are foreign born , about average in comparison to the rest of the city's neighborhoods. Mexico (80.1%) and El Salvador (9.0%) are the most common foreign places of birth.
Source: Census 2000
Save more than
Reader comments on life in Watts
I grew up in WATTS IN THE 80"S AND 90,S i WENT TO 112 ST ELEM. Markham & Jordan It was tuff we where one of the first mexican families that lived in the project's I have memories of my older brother outside fighting because of us being mexican my older brother stood his ground they pretty much left us alone after that he gain there respect . I carry WATTS so deep in my heart I feel like a very strong women because of my upbringin I'm thankful for everything I've been thru the good the bad, the tears the hurt and the pain I have an apreciation for life family .I live a productive life I no longer live in Los Angeles but Im planning to return and hopefully with a job position in the housing Authority I WORK IN pROPERTY MANAGEMENT and would some day like to work in the projects and give back .I WATTS has so much rich history and it up to us to keep it alive .
I lived in the Watts, for 16 years. It changed my life completely, it made a better man inside and out. Big ups to my people in Watts and like T-Pac said," keep ya head up." move forward! yes we can!
i dont know to much about watts.but i work at the youth op. center on 103(YO WATTS).im willing to help the youth wit programs that will help in the long run.from
school tutoring 2 finding jobs.
i had no one to help me so i know how it is!!!!!!!!!!!ask for fatima
Watts has change alot since I moved out, I remember when mexicans weren't allow in da J.D.'s, my uncle got kill in 1983 in the Jordan downs, the thing about watts people is that we may lack the money but we are rich at heart baby.
nobody could ever question the heart of a Watts person.
I had lived in Watts since i was three yrs old and I have good times and bad times just like anyone has in their own neighborhoods. Watts use to be a good neighborhood to live and still is but one thing that Watts has like any other neighborhood that is low income is obviously gangs, drugs, violence, liquor stores, churches and 90% of bad pigs.
I was gang member myself and i used to do all the things that any gang member does to represent their neighborhood. All i want to say is that if you are a person who doesn't look for trouble don't worry about the bad things but if you are a person that is looking for trouble expect the same thing that you do to others. If it wasn't for Watts I believe that i wouldn't have appreciated life
as I do now. To all the critics that are trying to put down Watts because of its history of violence think of the things you have learned after leaving Watts and how much Watts has change your ways in life. I am thankful for being in a town that made me of who i am now.
WATTS FOR LIFE AND THAT WILL NEVER CHANGE.
I grew up in Watts. I learned English at 102nd. I continued to Jordan. My father grew up with the man who built the Watts Towers. My father's family came to Watts from Mexico in the early 1900s. It was an interesting exprience growing up in Watts. I got married and move out of the area just before the riots occurred.
TO ME WATTS IS HOME. NO WAY IT'S A JUNGLE.ALL OVER LOS ANGELES YOU FIND GANGS,DRUGS.SO AM VERY VERY PROUD TO SAY AM FROM WATTS.
HENRY BROOMFIELD
WattsNC
I was raised in Watts and at that time, it was a great place to live. People had respect for each other, children could play outside and at the park without worrying about drive bys. We could hang out and go to house parties without worrying about gang activities. Now it is a jungle; you have gangs, drugs and no respect.
Yea,We may have railroad tracks,empty lots,and the projects and we are also law abiding people and some might say it's a jungle but we call it Home,as in HOLLYWATTS!,We live like the Rich & Famous and hold our HEAD's up high.Were Proud of WATTS...
Watts Up
i love WATTS how can u say that the tower are trashy if u dont know the history of the towers dont say any thing they just hate on us!!!!
MY LOve!!! to WATTS!!<3
After the state tear down all three housing projects and erect condos and affordable housing for tenants that are law abiding, then Watts will begin to be a great place to live and work.
Watts should be a very upscale area, but
has empty lots,the grounds of the Watts
Towers are a disgrace and very trashy
railroad tracks.
Watts is a money maker for our Elected
Officials but the community sees none
of the millions appropriated dollars.
Where has the money gone and who is
pocketing these funds.
Whenever you live near or adjacent to railroad tracks in Los Angeles, that is a good sign that your life is going to be a lot harder. That is what Watts means to me.
Isn't Watts part of Compton or Willowbrook?
Share what you know about Watts