LOS ANGELES COUNTY: THE CENSUS STORY

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The Times today presents a comprehensive look at the evolving demographies of Los Angeles County, examining the ethnic composition of more than 160 communities and how it has changed during the past 10 years.

A computer comparison of new 1990 census data and 1980 figures indicates that the county is less segregated than it was 10 years ago. At the same time, the numbers suggest that new pockets of ethnic imbalance may be in the making.

Included in this special census report:

* A comprehensive listing of Los Angeles County’s 163 cities and communities detailing 1990 population figures, ethnic composition of each community and the percentage of growth or decline in each population group since 1980.

* Two pages of color maps that paint a picture of the county’s population shifts and movements between 1980 and 1990.

RELATED STORY, A1

During the past 10 years, Los Angeles County’s population has rearranged itself in ways that have substantially altered the ethnic character of numerous communities. These maps show where each of the four major ethnic groups were concentrated in 1980 and where they are today. The maps are color-coded to indicated population intensity.

The county’s multiethnic population was on the move throughout the past decade. Communities such as Glendale experienced successive waves of immigrants from different parts of the world. Elsewhere, the complexion of South-Central Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley changed dramatically as Latino and Asian newcomers settled in neighborhoods long dominated by African-Americans and Anglos.

Anglos

Shrinking by just over 8%, the Anglo population staged a broad retreat across Los Angeles County, declining in all but 19 of 163 communities measured by the census. Population losses were in the western San Gabriel Valley. There were also steep declines in wealthy enclaves such as San Marino and in parts of the San Fernando Valley, such as Northridge, Panorama City and Sun Valley. The Anglo population also receded on the city’s Westside, in Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Santa Monica and Westwood. Communities with Anglo majorities dropped from 94 to 78 in 1990.

Notable Population Changes:

Anglo population growth surged in:

* Northern Los Angeles County; in Palmdale the growth was 344%.

* Lancaster by 72%.

* Santa Clarita by 48%.

* Elsewhere, noteworthy Anglo growth occurred in Diamond Bar (37%), Walnut (23%) and La Verne in the eastern San Gabriel Valley and in Westlake Village (20%) in the western San Fernando Valley.

Asians

From the Palos Verdes Peninsula to the Wilshire district to broad stretches of the San Gabriel Valley, the poplulation of Asians and Pacific Islanders, once thinly distributed across the county, is increasing its visible presence. In 1980, Monterey Park was the only place in the county where Asians made up more than 30% of the population. Today, Monterey Park has an Asian majority of 56% and there are nine other communities where the Asian population is 30% or greater. The Asian population grew in more than 140 communities. As with blacks, the greatest percent growth rate was nearly 2,000%; but Asians still number only 2,890 out of a total population of nearly 69,000.

Notable Population Changes:

Along with Monterey Park, with an Asian population of more then 34,000, the most populus Asian communities include:

* The Wilshire district, with 57,200 and 21% of the population.

* Long Beach, with 55,200 and 13% of the population.

* Northeast Los Angeles, with 38,700 and 37%.

* Alhambra, with 28,200 and 28%.

* Glendale, with 24,600 and 14%.

Blacks

While the county’s African-American population grew by only 1% during the 1980s, much of the black population redistributed itself, abandoning the central area and fanning out into suburban communities where blacks traditionally have not lived in great numbers. The black population grew by more than 50% in more than 60 of the county’s 163 communities. In many of these places, however, the African-American populations remain tiny minorities--from a few hundred to a few thousand people--despite rapid growth. For example, in Palmdale the black population grew by nearly 1,000% but still, makes up only 6% of the total population.

Notable Population Changes:

There were a handful of places where large black communities got bigger. They include:

* Long Beach, by 42% to 56,800.

* Inglewood, by 3% to 54,900.

* Hawthorne, by 165% to 19,380.

* Places with large African-American populations that experienced losses include South-Central Los Angeles, down 17% to 122,500; Southeast Los Angeles, down 28% to 93,100, Compton, down 21% to 47,600; Willowbrook, down 20% to 17,400; Wilshire district, down 6% to 30,000; and Pasadena, down 2% to 23,400.

Latinos

The Latino population grew throughout the county, gaining population in 148 of 163 communities. The Latino population growth rate was well over 100% in Palmdale and Lancaster in the northern part of the county, in Southeast and South-Central Los Angeles and in several communities in both the San Gabriel and San Fernando valleys. But there were a handful of places in the county where the Latino population declined. They include Monterey Park, Cerritos, Rolling Hills, and Sunland-Tujunga. Latinos have gained a majority in 45 communities, compared to 31 in 1980.

Notable Population Changes:

Several Communities now have Latino populations of more than 100,000. They include:

* Northeast Los Angles, 151,400, having grown by 26%.

* Southeast Los Angeles, 141, 500, 138% growth.

* East Los Angeles, 119,600, 16% growth.

* South-Central Los Angeles, 115, 200, 119% growth.

* Wilshire district, 103,700, 86% growth.

* Long Beach, 101,400, 100% growth.