09/13/2025
AskKirkLockhartAbout: Crenshaw Boulevard is named after real estate developer George L. Crenshaw, who originally established upscale, segregated residential tracts in the early 1900s. Following World War II and the end of restrictive housing covenants, the area became a vibrant, multiethnic community before transitioning to become a central hub of Black Los Angeles.
The origin of the name
Named for a real estate developer: The boulevard is named after George L. Crenshaw, a Missouri-born banker and real estate developer who moved to Los Angeles around 1904.
Developed segregated housing: Crenshaw purchased land for development and founded exclusive communities, such as Lafayette Square and Crenshaw Heights. In the early 20th century, these areas used racially restrictive housing covenants to prevent non-white ownership.
Failed renaming attempt: In 2003, a motion to rename the street after Tom Bradley, Los Angeles' first Black mayor, was proposed to recognize the area's later significance to the Black community. However, the proposal was deadlocked and the street kept its original name.
Key moments in history
Early years (1900s–1940s): The boulevard began as a center for oil exploration and suburban expansion, attracting middle- and upper-class white residents to its residential tracts. Much of the route was originally called Angeles Mesa Drive until it was extended and renamed.
Mid-20th-century transition (1950s–1970s):
The 1948 Supreme Court ruling ending racially restrictive covenants opened the area to a more diverse population.
In the post-WWII years, Crenshaw became home to one of the largest Japanese American communities in the United States, along with growing numbers of Black and Mexican American families.
The 1950s also saw the dismantling of the streetcar system, and the boulevard was reconfigured for automobile traffic.
By the 1960s, African Americans began to form the majority in the area, a demographic shift captured in a 1979 Los Angeles Times survey.
Center of Black culture:
By the 1960s and 70s, Crenshaw had become a flourishing hub for Black culture and entrepreneurship.
Black-owned businesses and clubs lined the boulevard, attracting legendary musical acts like Marvin Gaye, Nat King Cole, and The Temptations.
The historic Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, one of the oldest regional shopping centers in the U.S., became an economic anchor for the community.
Ongoing evolution:
Over time, some residents moved to other suburbs, though strong community ties remain.
While many historic businesses have closed, residents and local organizations work to preserve the area's cultural legacy.
New development, including the Crenshaw/LAX Metro line, continues to change the landscape and shape the area's future.
2822 likes, 121 comments. “Crenshaw Blvd is one of the longest streets in L.A., running from Hancock Park to Palos Verdes. But it's not the 23 miles of Crenshaw that is so important-it's the district in the middle, known as the Crenshaw District, which has had some of the most profound impact on t...
