Leimert Park Village

Midway between Los Angeles International Airport and downtown Los Angeles, Leimert Park Village was one of the first planned communities in Southern California, which was developed for middle to upper class residents by Walter Leimert.

Initially populated predominantly by Caucasians, Leimert Park Village is famed for the 1947 discovery of Elizabeth Stout's body in a vacant lot. This homicide later became known as the Black Dahlia murder. Today Leimert Park Village is considered the hub of African American arts in the Los Angeles area and is the largest black middle-class neighborhood in the United States. Many blues and jazz clubs dot the area, making it an excellent draw for entertainment.

The approximate boundaries of Leimert Park Village are Rodeo Road on the north, Roxton and 4th Avenue on the east, Vernon Avenue on the south, and Crenshaw Boulevard on the west. Notable residents include Ella Fitzgerald; Ray Charles; former Los Angeles Mayor, Tom Bradley; and rapper Dom Kennedy.

Within walking distance, tourists will also find the Museum in Black and the Museum of African American Art. A short drive will take tourists to Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area, University of Southern California, the Museum of Jurassic Technology, and the California Museum of Science and Industry.