Val Verde, California

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Val Verde, California
Location of Val Verde in Los Angeles County, California.
Location of Val Verde in Los Angeles County, California.
Coordinates: 34°26′43″N 118°39′26″W / 34.44528°N 118.65722°W / 34.44528; -118.65722
Country United States
State California
County Los Angeles
Area
 - Total 0.3 sq mi (0.9 km2)
 - Land 0.3 sq mi (0.9 km2)
 - Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation 1,188 ft (362 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 1,472
 - Density 4,428.8/sq mi (1,710.0/km2)
Time zone PST (UTC-8)
 - Summer (DST) PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP code 91384
Area code(s) 661
FIPS code 06-81967
GNIS feature ID 1661607

Val Verde is a census-designated place (CDP) in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 1,472 at the 2000 census. The predominant feature is the small rural valley in which this town sits, north of the San Fernando valley, isolated from development and unlikely to be visited by anyone who does not already know of it. There is a park in the town with the typical rolling hills of California which is especially pleasant in the springtime, when the grass is green and not golden, as it is in the rest of the year. Thus it is possible to watch birds fly from above them, while sitting on the hills.

Contents

[edit] History

Originally the settlement of Val Verde was a short-lived boom town built by Spanish settlers near a gold strike in the 1800s. Later, the modern settlement was founded in the mid-1920s as the name Eureka. That later incarnation was designed as a resort community for African Americans as in that period African Americans were frequently barred from public beaches and swimming pools. The town became known as the "Black Palm Springs." Later the name reverted to the original name of Val Verde.

With the advent of civil rights reforms in the 1960s, many African Americans moved out of the area for larger areas they were previously segregated from. The town now boasts a large percentage of Latinos and Whites.[1]

[edit] Geography

Val Verde is located at 34°26′43″N 118°39′26″W / 34.44528°N 118.65722°W / 34.44528; -118.65722 (34.445211, -118.657240)[2].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 0.9 km² (0.3 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 1,472 people, 424 households, and 318 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,722.2/km² (4,428.8/mi²). There were 444 housing units at an average density of 519.5/km² (1,335.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 55.98% White, 4.28% African American, 0.68% Native American, 1.63% Asian, 0.20% Pacific Islander, 33.22% from other races, and 4.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 51.63% of the population.

There were 424 households out of which 50.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.3% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 16.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.47 and the average family size was 3.89.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 33.4% under the age of 18, 12.4% from 18 to 24, 36.0% from 25 to 44, 15.0% from 45 to 64, and 3.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 105.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $52,593, and the median income for a family was $53,843. Males had a median income of $30,583 versus $24,861 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $15,626. About 3.6% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 37.1% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Politics

In the state legislature Val Verde is located in the 17th Senate District, represented by Republican George Runner, and in the 37th Assembly District, represented by Republican Audra Strickland. Federally, Val Verde is located in California's 25th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R +7[4] and is represented by Republican Buck McKeon.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Worden, Leon (1996-07-24). "Renaissance for 'Black Palm Springs'". Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society. http://www.scvhistory.com/scvhistory/signal/worden/lw072496.htm. 
  2. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved on 2008-01-31. 
  3. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved on 2008-01-31. 
  4. ^ "Will Gerrymandered Districts Stem the Wave of Voter Unrest?". Campaign Legal Center Blog. http://www.clcblog.org/blog_item-85.html. Retrieved on 2008-02-10. 

[edit] External links

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