2000 census
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 3,694,820 people, 1,275,412 households, and 798,407 families residing in the city. The population density was 7,876.8 people per square mile (3,041.3/km²).
There were 1,337,706 housing units at an average density of 2,851.8 per square mile (1,101.1/km²).
Los Angeles has become a multi-ethnic city, with major new groups of Latino and Asian immigrants in recent decades.
The racial makeup of the city was 46.9% White (29.7% White/non-Hispanic), 11.24% African-American, 10.0% Asian, 0.8% Native American, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 25.9% from other races, and 5.2% from two or more races. 46.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).
42.2% spoke English, 41.7% Spanish, 2.4% Korean, 2.3% Tagalog, 1.7% Armenian, 1.5% Chinese (including Cantonese and Mandarin) and 1.3% Persian as their first language. Since the mid-80's Los Angeles has been a minority-majority city.
According to the census, 33.5% of households had children under 18, 41.9% were married couples, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 28.5% of households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size 3.56.
The age distribution was: 26.6% under 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 34.1% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 or older. The median age was 32. For every 100 females there were 99.4 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 97.5 males.
The median income for a household was $36,687, and for a family was $39,942. Males had a median income of $31,880, females $30,197. The per capita income was $20,671. 22.1% of the population and 18.3% of families were below the poverty line. 30.3% of those under the age of 18 and 12.6% of those aged 65 or older were below the poverty line.
The post-1950 population increase has not taken place exclusively in suburban or peripheral locations.
While many other American cities had experienced central area population declines, the opposite has been true here in recent decades. The increase in the central area population is due, in part, to Los Angeles' large immigrant population.
In the period from 1920 to 1960, African Americans from the Southeast U.S. migrated to Los Angeles for job and life opportunities. The population expanded 15 times past its number in 1920.
Since 1990, the African-American population in the city has dropped as its middle class relocated to the suburbs, notably the Antelope Valley and Inland Empire. African Americans still remain predominant in some portions of the city, including Hyde Park, Crenshaw District, Leimert Park, and Baldwin Hills.
A new wave of Latino immigrants and descendants have moved into the once predominantly African-American district of South Los Angeles.
Of 2,182,114 U.S.-born people, 1,485,576 were born in California, 663,746 were born in a different state of the United States, and 61,792 were born in a United States territory.
Of 1,512,720 foreign-born people, 100,252 were born in Europe, 376,767 were born in Asia, 64,730 were born in Africa, 94,104 were born in Caribbean/Oceania, 996,996 were born in Latin America, and 13,859 were born in Canada. Of such foreign-born people, 569,771 entered between 1990 to March 2000. 509,841 are naturalized citizens and 1,002,879 are not citizens.
By the next national census, Los Angeles is expected to have a Latino majority for the first time since 1850.
Los Angeles has the second largest Nicaraguan community in the US after Miami. The Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the number one point of entry for immigrants in the country.
The Latino, Asian American, and Caribbean populations are growing particularly quickly. Caribbean and Latinos include Mexicans, Salvadorans, Belizeans, and Guatemalans.
The Asian-American population is the largest of any U.S. city, including Cambodians, Filipinos, Indians, Koreans, Pakistanis, and Thais.
Los Angeles also has many Iranians, Armenians, , Bulgarians, Ethiopians, Hungarians, Israelis, and Pacific Islanders such as Samoans.
In relation to earlier groups of immigrants and migrants, Los Angeles is also home to the largest populations of Japanese living in the United States, and it has one of the largest Native American populations.
The Greater Los Angles Area is estimated to the second largest concentration in the Americas of people of Jewish descent (estimated at 621,000) after New York City.
Los Angeles attracted minor waves of European immigration in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
The city has sizeable populations of German, Greek, Irish, Italian, Romanian, Romani, Polish, Portuguese, Serb, Spanish, Lebanese, Croatian and Ukrainian descent.
Los Angeles is home to people from more than 140 countries speaking 224 different languages. Ethnic enclaves like Chinatown, Historic Filipinotown, Koreatown, Little Armenia, Little Ethiopia, Little Persia, Little India, Little Tokyo, and Thai Town provide examples of the polyglot character of Los Angeles. |
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