Watts, CA
| Watts | |
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| Neighborhood of Los Angeles | |
Watts' most famous landmark, the Watts Towers created by Simon Rodia
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 Watts as mapped by the Los Angeles Times |
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 Watts
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| Coordinates: 33°56′30″N 118°14′30″W / 33.94167°N 118.24167°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | County of Los Angeles |
| City | City of Los Angeles |
| Government | |
| • City Council | Joe Buscaino |
| • State Assembly | Isadore Hall, III (D) |
| • State Senate | Roderick Wright (D) |
| • U.S. House | Janice Hahn (D) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.0 sq mi (5 km2) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 34,830 |
| • Density | 17,350/sq mi (6,700/km2) |
| ZIP Code | 90002 |
| Area code(s) | 323 |
Watts is a 2.12-square-mile neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, within the South Los Angeles region. It is a high-density, youthful neighborhood with a large household size and with the highest percentage of families headed by single parents in the city.
The district was once a separate city but was consolidated with Los Angeles in 1926. As a major junction of railroad lines, Watts attracted many railroad workers as residents. The Watts railroad station is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Watts is noted for the Watts Towers and for the 1965 Watts riots. Residents engage in civic activities such as cycling, a toy drive, the Watts Christmas parade and an athletic tournament. There is a local theatre and a dance company. The neighborhood was also known for its number of youth gangs, which has decreased over the years. There is one library branch, and there are four high schools. Watts has also been known as a site for motion picture filming.
The area now known as Watts is located on the 1843 Rancho La Tajauta Mexican land grant. As on all ranchos, the principal vocation was at that time grazing and beef production.
With the influx of European American settlers into Southern California in the 1870s, La Tajuata land was sold off and subdivided for smaller farms and homes, including a 220-acre parcel purchased by Charles H. Watts in 1886 for alfalfa and livestock farming. In those days each Tajuata farm had an artesian well.
The arrival of the railroad spurred the settlement and development of the area. Most of the first residents were the traqueros, Mexican and Mexican American rail workers who constructed and maintained the new rail lines.
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