Sawtelle, Los Angeles

Sawtelle, Los Angeles is a neighborhood in the Westside of Los Angeles, bordered by Santa Monica to the west, West Los Angeles to the east, Brentwood to the north, and Marina del Rey to the south, with Culver City and Venice nearby. The neighborhood is home to the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the Los Angeles National Cemetery, which is the final resting place of George S. Patton and other notable US military personnel, including Medal of Honor recipients like Theodore Roosevelt Jr. and Audie Murphy. Sawtelle is also close to the UCLA campus, which is home to the UCLA Bruins and the Hammer Museum, as well as the Getty Center in Brentwood, designed by Richard Meier. The neighborhood is served by the LA Metro and is near the I-405 freeway, which connects to San Diego and San Francisco via I-5.

Geography

The neighborhood of Sawtelle is situated in the Westside of Los Angeles, near the Santa Monica Mountains and the Ballona Wetlands, with Topanga State Park and Runyon Canyon Park nearby. The area is also close to the Pacific Ocean and the beaches of Santa Monica, Venice, and Marina del Rey, which are popular with CSULB and USC students. Sawtelle is bordered by National Boulevard to the east, Santa Monica Boulevard to the north, and Sepulveda Boulevard to the west, with Olympic Boulevard and Pico Boulevard nearby. The neighborhood is also near the Los Angeles River and the Arroyo Seco, which are popular with hikers and bikers from Pasadena and Glendale.

History

The area now known as Sawtelle was originally part of the Rancho San Vicente y Santa Monica, a Spanish land grant that was awarded to Francisco Sepúlveda in 1839. The land was later sold to Robert Baker, a Los Angeles businessman, who developed the area into a residential neighborhood in the early 20th century. Sawtelle was named after William Wadsworth Sawtelle, a California state legislator who represented the area in the late 19th century. The neighborhood has a rich history, with many notable residents, including Hollywood stars like Charlie Chaplin and Mary Pickford, who lived in nearby Beverly Hills and Bel Air. Sawtelle is also close to the Hollywood Bowl, the Grauman's Chinese Theatre, and the Walk of Fame, which are popular tourist attractions in Los Angeles.

Demographics

As of the 2010 census, the population of Sawtelle was approximately 22,000 people, with a diverse range of ethnic groups, including Asian Americans, Hispanics, and African Americans. The neighborhood is also home to a large population of young professionals and students from nearby UCLA and Santa Monica College, as well as families with children who attend LAUSD schools like University High School and Hamilton High School. Sawtelle is also close to the LACMA and the California Science Center, which are popular with families from Inglewood and Culver City.

Economy

The economy of Sawtelle is driven by a mix of small businesses, restaurants, and retail shops, as well as the nearby UCLA campus and the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The neighborhood is also home to a number of tech companies and startups, including those in the Silicon Beach area, which includes Santa Monica, Venice, and Playa Vista. Sawtelle is also close to the LAX and the Port of Los Angeles, which are major economic engines for the Los Angeles region. The neighborhood is served by the Sawtelle Japantown business district, which features a variety of Japanese restaurants and shops, including Mitsuwa Marketplace and Marukai Corporation.

Education

Sawtelle is served by the LAUSD, which operates several public schools in the area, including University High School and Hamilton High School. The neighborhood is also home to several private schools, including St. Sebastian School and Le Lycee Francais de Los Angeles. Sawtelle is close to the UCLA campus, which is one of the top public universities in the United States, as well as the Santa Monica College campus, which is a community college that serves the Westside of Los Angeles. The neighborhood is also near the Caltech and the Art Center College of Design, which are located in Pasadena.

Transportation

Sawtelle is served by the LA Metro, which operates several bus routes in the area, including the Metro Local and Metro Rapid lines. The neighborhood is also close to the Expo Line, which connects Downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica and Culver City. Sawtelle is near the I-405 freeway, which connects to San Diego and San Francisco via I-5. The neighborhood is also served by the LAX, which is a major airport that serves the Los Angeles region. Sawtelle is close to the Van Nuys Airport and the Santa Monica Airport, which are general aviation airports that serve the Westside of Los Angeles.