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Armenians in LA
The Armenian people today furnish a striking example
of the spectacular increase in international
mobility we have witnessed in recent decades.
Today, there is a population of 7.8 million
Armenians worldwide, only 3.8 million of which live
in their homeland. A large number of those
outside Armenia live in California, concentrated
heavily in Los Angeles, which has attracted both
native-born Armenians from Fresno and East-cost
states, as well as from Mideast countries and the
Soviet Union.
The Armenian community in LA has
been markedly successful in establishing themselves
here and making their mark in the business and
professional world, but they remain proud of their
cultural identity, and have set up schools, churches
and cultural centers of their own.
Iranians in LA
The United States is home to the largest Iranian
population outside Iran and Los Angeles is
unquestionably the major destination of Iranians
entering the United States. The large influx
of Iranians since the second half of the 1970's has
added a sizeable and distinctive minority to the
population of this metropolitan area.
According to the 1980 U.S. Census, about a quarter
of the Iranian-American population lives in Los
Angeles, making it the largest single concentration
of Iranians in the United States.
Estimates of the Iranian
population vary widely, but there is no question
that members of this group have adjusted well to
life in Los Angeles. They are well-educated,
are found in great numbers in business (big and
small), the professions (especially engineering and
medicine) and academia and earn medium family
incomes well above the average.
Russians in LA
The Russian-speaking community in Los Angeles, by
some counts numbering 600,000, is one of the five
largest in the U.S. and the largest on the West
Coast.
Although members of this
community love their language and are proud of their
culture and traditions, they have unquestionably
adjusted well to life in Los Angeles, whether as
professionals, small businesspeople, performers -
the whole gamut. Not surprisingly, actors of
Russian-American origin, like their counterparts in
other ethnic groups, flock to Los Angeles in search
of stardom. And find it they do! At last
count, from the ranks of the thousands of starving
want-to-be's from this group, at least seven have
emerged to star in major Hollywood productions.
Jews in LA
The Jews in Los Angeles comprise over half the Jews
in California and over 8% of Jews nationwide.
Since the late 1980's, Los Angeles has been home to
the world's second largest Jewish population.
Only New York can boast of a larger Jewish
population.
In the popular mind, perceptions
of Jews as ubiquitous figures in Hollywood and the
entertainment industry prevail. While it is
indeed true that the number of Jews in that business
far exceed their proportion of the population at
large, such a view is simplistic and clouds the fact
that Jews make invaluable contributions across the
board - that they play a key role in the political,
cultural, social and economic life of Los Angeles.
The depth and complexity of the Jewish experience in
Los Angeles deserves more attention, but it is
unquestionable that their involvement in
strengthening the economy of the region is
substantial.
Hispanics in LA
The Hispanic population in Los Angeles has become a
force to be reckoned with. With 5.3 million
people in the Los Angeles Demographic Metropolitan
Area (LADMA), they comprise 35% of the population.
A Los Angeles Hispanic household, on the average,
consists of 5.2 people, in contrast to general
market household averaging 3.5 people.
Spanish is the language in which
Hispanics prefer to receive their news and
entertainment. This population is a
substantial minority, which looks like it is on the
way to becoming a majority. The Hispanic
market is becoming more informed, critical and
demanding. With the improvement and expansion
of media resources, this market will play an ever
more vital role in the regional economy in the years
to come.
Filipinos in LA
Los Angeles has the largest Filipino population outside of Manila. Many Filipinos came to the United States after the Philippines was granted independence from the US in 1946. By 1980, the Filipino population in Los Angeles was 100,000; today, it is close to 370,000. First-generation immigrants succeeded as small business owners and as skilled technicians.
Because the Philippines were formerly an American Colony, Filipino immigrants are predominately fluent in English. A high percentage of Filipinos are employed in the service of the United States Navy, as Filipinos are the only foreign nationals eligible to serve in the Armed Forces. According to the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, Filipinos are the wealthiest Asian community in Los Angeles. Many Filipinos educate their children in private Catholic schools. A strong community, a cultural highlight each year is the Philippine Heritage festival, with a parade held the last Sunday in May.
Koreans in LA
In the last 30 years, the Korean community in Los Angeles has exploded. In 1970, US Census figures counted 9,000 Korean immigrants, the 2000 US Census counted 1,100,000. Korean immigrants are known for their entrepreneurship and community revitalization.
One of the key aspects of the Korean expansion in Los Angeles has been the successful purchase and restoration/reorganization of formerly dilapidated real estate. Koreatown, located on Wilshire and Olympic between Normandie and Hoover is larger than Chinatown or Little Tokyo. The economic power of the Korean community was clear in 1988 when the Los Angeles Times released a supplement titled “The Koreatown News” encouraging advertisers to connect with the large (and prosperous) Korean population. The exceptional entrepreneurship of the Korean community has allowed them to create an involved presence throughout Los Angeles.
Japanese in LA
LA County, with close to 300,000 Japanese persons, has the largest community outside Japan. In 1896, most Japanese were farm workers. By the 1930’s, Japanese-owned businesses dominated farming, landscaping, plant sales and fishing. Today, the LA Japanese community has a strong economic presence in all types of LA businesses, particularly in the acquisition of Real Estate.
The Japanese culture in the United States has overcome many obstacles and injustices throughout the 20th Century. Today, the strength of their heritage is evidenced in Los Angeles by the proliferation of Japanese-language media, popular Japanese retail shops and over 600 restaurants. In Little Tokyo, the community focal is the 430-room Kyoto Grand Hotel. The highlight of the year is the cultural celebration for Nisei week in August.
Thai in LA
With 120,000 Thai-Americans in Los Angeles, the Thai community is a very new but nonetheless prominent cultural force in Los Angeles. Most Thai persons arrived to the US in the early 1970’s, seeking not refuge but rather to benefit from the economic and educational opportunities America provides. In Los Angeles, Thai Town has emerged in Hollywood near the Los Feliz district.
English instruction is introduced very early in the Thai educational system. Thus the Thai community as moved easily into the hospitality industry, with Thai restaurants becoming as ubiquitous as coffee shops. A community known for its adaptability, the Thai New Year (Songkran) is celebrated in mid-April with a big parade and street fair in Thai Town.
Chinese in LA
After Hispanic, the Chinese are the ethnic group with the longest history in California. By the 1870’s, Chinese were the largest foreign group in the state. While their population varied from 1880 through the 1950’s, due to political problems and bias against them, after 1965, the population began to mushroom. Today, there are approximately 400,000 of Chinese descent in the Los Angeles Metro area alone.
The Chinese population in Los Angeles is generally well-educated. Businessmen from Taiwan and Hong Kong have made property in downtown LA’s Chinatown among the most valuable in the city. Many Chinese have moved to Monterey Park in the San Gabriel Valley, which is over 50 percent Asian. The economic power of the Chinese community is seen by the success of Chinese-run banks with combined deposits over $400 million. A prominent community with a long history; tens of thousands of LA residents come out each year for the Chinese New Year parade.
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