University Park is a neighborhood in the South Los Angeles region of Los Angeles, California. The area includes the University of Southern California (USC), and the residential neighborhoods located immediately north of the campus: North University Park, Chester Place and St. James Park.
The area contains two historic districts that are both on the National Register of Historic Places: The North University Park Historic District and the Menlo AvenueâÂÂWest Twenty-ninth Street Historic District.
Charles Epting, author of the book "University Park", states:
After the founding of the USC, the North University Park neighborhood was developed thanks to an influx of wealthy citizens.
Within North University Park, there are two historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places: The North University Park Historic District and the Menlo AvenueâÂÂWest Twenty-ninth Street Historic District.
Located in the West Adams district, University Park contains the University of Southern California (USC) on the south and the residential neighborhoods of North University Park, Chester Place and St. James Park on the north.
The neighborhood's street boundaries are the Santa Monica Freeway on the north, Washington Boulevard on the northeast, Vermont Avenue on the west, the Harbor Freeway on the east, and Exposition Boulevard on the south.
A total of 23,596 people lived in University Park's 1.17 square miles, according to the 2000 U.S. censusâÂÂaveraging 20,217 people per square mile, among the highest population densities in the city as a whole. The median age was 23, considered young when compared to the city as a whole. The percentage of residents aged 19 to 34 was among the county's highest.
The $16,533 median household income in 2008 dollars was considered low for the city and county. The percentage of households earning $20,000 or less (56.6%) was the second-largest in Los Angeles County, outplaced only by Downtown Los Angeles. The average household size of 2.7 people was average for the city. Renters occupied 92.2% of the housing units, and homeowners occupied the rest.
In 2000 there were 590 families headed by single parents, or 20.3%, a rate that was high for the county and the city. The percentages of never-married women (61.5) and never-married men (67.2) were among the county's highest.
In the same year there were 198 military veterans, or 1% of the population, considered low when compared to the city and county as a whole.
Population was estimated at 25,181 in 2008.
The following public schools are operated by the Los Angeles Unified School District:
The Metro E Line serves the neighborhood, with stations at 23rd Street, Jefferson Blvd./USC, Exposition Park/USC and Exposition Blvd./Vermont Avenue.