East Los Angeles

East Los Angeles is an urban community in Los Angeles County, California, located east of Boyle Heights and south of El Sereno. The settlement covers approximately 7.46 square miles and houses around 119,000 residents across a densely built residential area.

John Strother Griffin founded this community in 1870, developing streets and parks while offering land parcels for residential building. Over the following decades, Mexican immigrants arrived in large numbers, fundamentally changing the demographic makeup of the area.

The Latino Walk of Fame and Mariachi Plaza celebrate Hispanic American contributions in a neighborhood where 95 percent of residents share Latino heritage. Local festivals and street performances shape daily life in this primarily Spanish-speaking district, where Mexican traditions remain visible in everyday routines.

The East Los Angeles Library and Anthony Quinn Library offer educational resources, while the E Line light rail connects residents to downtown Los Angeles. Several bus routes cross the community and provide access to neighboring districts and shopping areas.

This community shows the highest concentration of Hispanic residents among all cities in the United States outside Puerto Rico. Spanish dominates public spaces so strongly that English signage often remains in the minority.