Reference/Help
Tips on Defining Your Community
Most data sources have statistics by city. (In the Census, cities are called "places".) However, if your community is an unincorporated area or a neighborhood within a larger city, then you'll have to define it by adding up smaller geographic areas such as zip codes or census tracts. In Los Angeles, many of the commonly-used neighborhood names have no official boundaries or conflicting definitions. In those cases it's up to you to decide which zip codes or tracts fall within your community, and how to handle zip codes or tracts which are only partially inside your community's boundaries.
- Mapping LA NeighborhoodsThe Los Angeles Times’ neighborhood map of Los Angeles County. This regional view is your portal to individual maps and statistics for 158 cities and 114 neighborhoods within the city of Los Angeles. Includes average income statistics by neighborhood. In addition, there are maps of 42 unincorporated areas collapsed inside of adjacent cities.
- LA Department of Neighborhood EmpowermentFind information about each forming and certified Neighborhood Council: boundaries, leaders, contact information, meeting times, etc.
- City of Los Angeles Department of City PlanningLos Angeles City Planning includes information and statistics on the Los Angeles City General Plan, Zoning, Development, Community Plan Areas (CPAs), Land Use, Transit, and Historic Preservation. Search the UCLA Library Catalog for Los Angeles (Calif.). Department of City Planning as an Author List (lastname firstname) for more reports issued by the department.
- Navigate LA (LA Department of Water and Power)Web-based mapping application that delivers maps and reports based on data supplied by various City departments, Los Angeles County, and Thomas Bros. Maps. My Neighborhood will link you to City and Neighborhood Council website and maps.
Identify an Address and Zip Code Within Your Community
In order to use most of the resources listed in this guide, you must have an address and zip code, as they use mapping software or GIS to display information
- Los Angeles and Orange Counties Street Guide (Thomas Guide)Latest edition at Research Library Reference Desk.
- Mapping LA NeighborhoodsThe Los Angeles Times’ neighborhood map of Los Angeles County. This regional view is your portal to individual maps and statistics for 158 cities and 114 neighborhoods within the city of Los Angeles. Includes average income statistics by neighborhood. In addition, there are maps of 42 unincorporated areas collapsed inside of adjacent cities.
- Google MapsSatellite Image layers available for most of the world, now includes oceans.
- Los Angeles, CA City Guide - Reviews and Recommendations by CitysearchTip: Click on Los Angeles Neighborhoods near the bottom to search individual neighborhoods.
Identify Census Tracts
- City of Los Angeles WebsiteNote: Use the "My Neighborhood" search feature to find Thomas Guide page and grid, census tracts, police bureau, council district, neighborhood council, schools, and sanitation districts.
- Census 2000 Tract Outline MapsMaps are Acrobat pdf files. Select state, then county. The first file in each county is an index map.
- NavigateLA Census Tract MapA pdf map that shows all of the Census Tracts for LA County. The zoom and pan tools will help you locate your area and tract numbers. See Navigate LA Map for other useful maps.
Tips for Social Welfare 240A
The first step is to define your neighborhood geographically. Municipalities may include maps or boundaries of neighboroods.
When you are in the Census Bureau map site identifying census tracts for your neighborhood, click on the Boundaries and Features option on the right and limit the boundary to census tracts first. Change to block groups if you need to get more specific.