In Our Own Backyard
Welcome to the neighborhood! We are Jonna and Jen, Admission Counselors at USC and lifelong LA residents. We are excited to tell you more about the local community! While there are many neighborhoods that surround the University of Southern California’s University Park Campus, we wanted to highlight a few that are closest to campus and near and dear to our hearts. So, let’s explore South Los Angeles, Exposition Park, Downtown Los Angeles, and West Adams!
South Los Angeles
While USC is located just a few miles south of Downtown Los Angeles, it also borders South Los Angeles. The first half of the 20th century saw an increase in the number of African American/Black people in Los Angeles, in part due to labor demands. However, racially restrictive housing covenants segregated the city and historic South Central LA was one of the few places where African American/Black people were allowed to buy homes. This area soon became a cultural hub and center for activism and continues to be community driven. The community continues to thrive thanks to the support of many local businesses including South LA Cafe which combines coffee, community, and connection. We also recommend checking out Leimert Park, which offers a lot of events and spaces for the community including the Leimert Park Art Walk and Art + Practice. You can learn more here.
Exposition Park
Exposition Park is located just a few steps South of USC’s campus and the University Park neighborhood. You can access all that Exposition Park has to offer by exiting campus on Watt or Pardee Way and crossing the street on Exposition Boulevard. Originally created in 1872 as an Agricultural Park, this 160-acre corridor is now considered “The Crossroads of the Los Angeles Community'' and features museums, sports facilities, entertainment and cultural activities. Exposition Park is home to the BMO Stadium, California Science Center, California African American Museum, Exposition Park Rose Garden, Natural History Museum, and the future site of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art (set to open in 2025). Lastly, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is also located in Exposition Park and is the home stadium of the USC Football team. This historic site has also hosted two Olympics (and soon a third) and where John F. Kennedy accepted the Democratic Party Nomination for President.
Downtown LA
USC is in the heart of Los Angeles and less than five miles from Downtown LA. The city's beginnings are in the early 19th century, and Los Angeles officially became a city in 1850 with Pershing Square as its town plaza. The Civil War, World War II, and an economic rise led to a population increase that brought new development and the construction of the historic hotels found throughout downtown. However, with this development and population influx, the city began to grow outward and led to a change in demographics of the city, with white elites leaving the center of LA and leaving communities of color at its core. Development continued during the 1970s and ‘80s, with the Los Angeles Convention Center opening in 1971 and the U.S. Bank Tower in 1987. One of DTLA’s most iconic landmarks, the Crypto.com Arena (formerly known as Staples Center), opened its doors to Angelinos in 1999 and has been the home to the Los Angeles Lakers and Sparks, and the Los Angeles Kings. Neighboring the arena is L.A. Live – an entertainment hub which includes a theater, hotels, restaurants, and more. Concerts, parades, anime and K-Pop conventions, and so much more have made their way through the historic streets of downtown Los Angeles.
Students can enjoy all that DTLA has to offer, such as Olvera Street, which is known as “the birthplace of the city of Los Angeles,” and offers a lot of history about the city. Nearby, students can grab a bite to eat at Grand Central Market, which is renowned for its various food vendors, including Villa’s Tacos and For the Win Burgers! Students interested in music and the arts can visit the Walt Disney Concert Hall, which is home to the LA Philharmonic and has been the home to the well-known Gustavo Dudamel. The Broad Museum and the Academy Award Museum of Motion Pictures are also nearby with the former being free for general admission.
Part of the beauty of downtown LA is that it is the heart that connects all the beautiful communities that surrounds it. Students can find treasures in Chinatown, including good eats like Mama Lu’s Dumpling House, Yang Chow and Phillipe’s. Signature events include the Lunar New Year Parade and Summer Nights concerts. Not too far, students will find Little Tokyo which also holds a lot of cultural and historical significance to the city. Little Tokyo is the home to the Japanese American National Museum, which works to highlight the Japanese American experience in the U.S. Students will also find the Little Tokyo Market and several restaurants including the original Cafe Dulce, Daikokuya, Rakkan Ramen and more.
West Adams
Historic West Adams is located just northwest of USC’s campus and runs through Adams Street and Normandie Boulevard. It became a part of the city in 1896 and was a very popular suburb for white communities. Large homes and mansions were constructed but were later demolished and replaced with apartment complexes once movement to the Westside began in the mid-1900s. Around the same time, the city of LA ended its previously held racial housing agreements. This now meant that Black Angelinos and other communities of color could move into the area and attain the same housing rights. Now, West Adams is home to Latine communities predominantly from Mexico and El Salvador. Students can find locally owned businesses including Reparations Club, delicious food at Harold & Belle’s, and Seeds of Carver.
Thank you for joining us on our tour today! We hope that current and future students will support and engage with USC’s local community. There are many diverse communities and opportunities for students to learn and have fun right here in their own backyard. The Trojans Shop Local Directory is a great place to start. Check it out!
Written by:
Jonna German, Senior Assistant Director – USC Office of Admission
Jennifer Donis Gonzalez, Senior Assistant Director – USC Office of Undergraduate Admission