Val Verde, California

Val Verde
census-designated place

Location of Val Verde in Los Angeles County, California.
Val Verde

Location in the United States

Coordinates: 34°26′43″N 118°39′26″W / 34.44528°N 118.65722°W / 34.44528; -118.65722Coordinates: 34°26′43″N 118°39′26″W / 34.44528°N 118.65722°W / 34.44528; -118.65722
Country  United States
State  California
County Los Angeles
Area[1]
 • Total 2.565 sq mi (6.644 km2)
 • Land 2.565 sq mi (6.644 km2)
 • Water 0 sq mi (0 km2)  0%
Elevation 1,188 ft (362 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 2,468
 • Density 960/sq mi (370/km2)
Time zone PST (UTC-8)
 • Summer (DST) PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP code 91384
Area code(s) 661
FIPS code 06-81967
GNIS feature ID 1661607

Val Verde is a census-designated place (CDP) in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 2,468 at the 2010 census, up from 1,472 at the 2000 census.

History

Originally the settlement of Val Verde was a short-lived boom town built by Spanish settlers near a gold strike in the 19th century. In 1924, the modern settlement was founded by Sidney P. Dones, as the name Eureka Villa.[2] That later incarnation was designed as a resort community for African Americans as in that period African Americans were frequently barred from public beaches and swimming pools.[3] The town became known as the "Black Palm Springs." By the 1930s the area was wildly popular, mainly because it was one of only a few places blacks could go for recreation. Other sites included Lake Elsinore in Riverside County, a section of Venice Beach and a park in Pasadena that was open to blacks one day a year.[4][5]

In 1939, the cornerstone for the Olympic swimming pool was laid.[2] In the 1994 Northridge earthquake, the original pool was damaged and has since been repaired and shortened. The pool is part of the Los Angeles County Park system. It opens late spring until early fall. Day and evening swimming sessions occur daily.

With the advent of civil rights reforms in the 1960s, many African Americans moved out of the area for larger areas they were previously segregated from. The town now boasts a large percentage of Latinos and Whites.[6] The 1994 Northridge earthquake wreaked tremendous havoc on the town, damaging most of the original structures.[7]

In 2011, Verizon Wireless attempted to build a 30,000 watt, twelve panel antenna array cell site in Val Verde, less than 50 feet from an adjacent residence. Verizon Wireless and it's contractor claimed that the main reason for the cell site was for community of Val Verde, however inquiries were made and the cell site is designed to fill coverage holes in the adjacent Valencia Commerce Center industrial park, Hasley Hills housing tract, and for future developments outside of Val Verde. Local residents banded together and protested the cell site claiming that big business was trying to run rampant over the little community of Val Verde. As of early 2013, Verizon Wireless has not built the cell tower, and has decided build the tower on a hillside away from homes.[8]

Geography

Val Verde is located at 34°26′43″N 118°39′26″W / 34.44528°N 118.65722°W / 34.44528; -118.65722 (34.445211, -118.657240).[9]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.5 km2), all land.

Demographics

2010

The 2010 United States Census[10] reported that Val Verde had a population of 2,468. The population density was 962.1 people per square mile (371.5/km²). The racial makeup of Val Verde was 1,404 (56.9%) White (29.9% Non-Hispanic White),[11] 105 (4.3%) African American, 26 (1.1%) Native American, 48 (1.9%) Asian, 1 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 732 (29.7%) from other races, and 152 (6.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,507 persons (61.1%).

The Census reported that 2,466 people (99.9% of the population) lived in households, 2 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 671 households, out of which 331 (49.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 404 (60.2%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 87 (13.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 43 (6.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 37 (5.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 1 (0.1%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 90 households (13.4%) were made up of individuals and 22 (3.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.68. There were 534 families (79.6% of all households); the average family size was 4.00.

The population was spread out with 706 people (28.6%) under the age of 18, 288 people (11.7%) aged 18 to 24, 726 people (29.4%) aged 25 to 44, 624 people (25.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 124 people (5.0%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.7 years. For every 100 females there were 102.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.1 males.

There were 715 housing units at an average density of 278.7 per square mile (107.6/km²), of which 521 (77.6%) were owner-occupied, and 150 (22.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 2.6%. 1,873 people (75.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 593 people (24.0%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Val Verde had a median household income of $58,971, with 18.6% of the population living below the federal poverty line.[12]

2000

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 1,472 people, 424 households, and 318 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 4,428.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,722.2/km²). There were 444 housing units at an average density of 1,335.9 per square mile (519.5/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 55.98% White, 4.28% African American, 0.68% Native American, 1.63% Asian, 0.20% Pacific Islander, 33.22% from other races, and 4.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 51.63% of the population.

There were 424 households out of which 50.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.3% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 16.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.47 and the average family size was 3.89.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 33.4% under the age of 18, 12.4% from 18 to 24, 36.0% from 25 to 44, 15.0% from 45 to 64, and 3.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 105.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $52,593, and the median income for a family was $53,843. Males had a median income of $30,583 versus $24,861 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $15,626. About 3.6% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 37.1% of those age 65 or over.

Government

In the California State Legislature, Val Verde is in the 21st Senate District, represented by Republican Scott Wilk, and in the 38th Assembly District, represented by Republican Dante Acosta.[14]

In the United States House of Representatives, Val Verde is in California's 25th congressional district, represented by Republican Steve Knight.[15]

Val Verde has a civic association, the Val Verde Civic Association (VVCA),[16] which is the liaison between the LA County 5th District Supervisor, community leaders and the residents. The VVCA is a 501C(4) non-profit corporation and has an elected six member Board of Directors with up to three appointed Associate Board Members. The current President, Mr. Gregory Kimura, has held the position from 2012 to present. Monthly Meeting are held on the second Thursday of every month at 7 pm in the community clubhouse. Guest speakers give presentations to the community regarding issues from Fire Safety, CERT, Chiquita Canyon Landfill Operation and Expansion, SCVi Charter School, Department of Public Works, Deputies from the Supervisor's office and the Sheriff's office, CHP updates and the Waterworks District. Residents have the opportunity to not only acquire information about the community, but also to voice their opinions.[17]

Val Verde also has a Community Advisory Committee, the Verde Community Advisory Committee (VVCAC) exists to serve as a liaison between the Chiquita Canyon Landfill and the local community as a means for the community to communicate with the Regional Planning Commission and other regulatory agencies on an ongoing basis regarding issues involved in the development and operation of the Chiquita Canyon Landfill.

Chiquita Canyon provided its 2015 annual grant of over $350,000 to the Val Verde Community Benefits Funding Committee (CBFC) as part of its 1997 Agreement with Val Verde.[18] The Val Verde community has been receiving annual funds from Chiquita for over 15 years.[19] The CBFC provides funding from the landfill to support after-school programs, tutoring, scholarships, bus passes, groceries for needy families, youth sports programs, etc. all for Val Verde residents.[20]

Val Verde has two seats on the Castaic Area Town Council (CATC). The CATC is the liaison between the LA County 5th District Supervisor, community leaders and the residents of the 5 areas of Castaic. The CATC holds a meeting every third Wednesday of the month at 6:30 pm at the Castaic School District Office. Residents are invited to attend the meeting, as local officials make presentations to the Board and the audience.[21]

See also


References

  1. ↑ "2010 Census U.S. Gazetteer Files – Places – California". United States Census Bureau.
  2. 1 2 Val Verde Park California 1960
  3. ↑ (Jul 26, 1966) "Resort Color Bar" Wall Street Journal
  4. ↑ Nielsen, John (October 8, 1984) "Anglo Influx Renews Town Settled by Blacks." Los Angeles Times
  5. ↑ Stewart, Jocelyn Y. (March 02, 1994) "Forgotten Oasis of Freedom : Val Verde, the 'black Palm Springs,' provided an escape from racism--if only for a weekend. For years, families swam, socialized and celebrated their culture in a town they built themselves" Los Angeles Times
  6. ↑ Worden, Leon (1996-07-24). "Renaissance for 'Black Palm Springs'". Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society.
  7. ↑ William-Ross, Lindsay (May 3, 2008) LAistory: Val Verde, The 'Black Palm Springs' LAist
  8. ↑ Jonas, Karen (2012-07-04). "Call on cellphone-tower site put on hold - again".
  9. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  10. ↑ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Val Verde CDP". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  11. ↑ http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_DP_DPDP1. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. ↑ http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/community_facts.xhtml#none. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  14. ↑ "Statewide Database". UC Regents. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  15. ↑ "California's 25th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC.
  16. ↑ http://www.acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/VVCA
  17. ↑ http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=4709552&trk=hb_side_g
  18. ↑ Smith, Perry (November 17, 2014). "Chiquita Canyon Landfill Expansion Still Seeking Val Verde Support". KHTS AM 1220.
  19. ↑ Abram, Susan (June 11, 2015). "Landfill expansion plans near Val Verde draw civil rights complaints from locals". Los Angeles Daily News.
  20. ↑ Williams, Timothy (May 15, 1997). "Decisions on Use of Val Verde Funds Limited to Citizens - Sanitation: Latino groups assail landfill-panel deal for excluding many residents from decision on spending money.". Los Angeles Times.
  21. ↑ http://www.castaicareatowncouncil.org/
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