How Armenian is LA? (Los Angeles, Glendale: elementary school, community college, living in)

[Dub D]

My background is from the Mediterranean and every time I'm in LA and get asked my ethnicity, people always guess Armenian as if they are the only people in that region of the world living in SoCal. I have never ever been asked if I'm Armenian outside of LA. Never in the IE or OC and especially outside of SoCal. Most people think I'm Italian but not in LA.

Gotta be honest and say I don't go to LA much since I'm not a fan of the city. Are Armenians a large minority throughout the city or just Glendale, Burbank, and N. Hollywood? I know these are the main cities they reside.

[CALGUY]

I think there are quite a few living in East Hollywood also.
Bob.

[Count David]

In 2000 (latest stats available), 152,910 Armenians lived in LA County, 1.6% of the population. 138,015 speak Armenian at home. 53,394 were born in Armenia.

Burbank (2000):
8,312 Armenians (8.3%)
7,927 speak Armenian at home
2,803 born in Armenia

Glendale (2000)
53,840 Armenians (27.6%)
54,176 speak Armenian at home
17,361 born in Armenia

Los Angeles (2000):
64,997 Armenians (1.8%)
57,924 speak Armenian at home
29,068 born in Armenia

Pasadena, Montebello, Altadena and La Crescenta also have substantial populations. Don't forget about Little Armenia in East Hollywood.

In 2000, LA county had 39.7% of the nations self-identified Armenians, with Glendale having 14.0% of the nation's total. So if you hang out around there, it might be a fairly common question if you somehow match the looks, or your last name ends in -ian or -san, or -an.

[Lifeshadower]

Well, I grew up with a bunch of Armenians in the area I grew up in (North Hollywood), and my local community college was around 30% Armenian (Los Angeles Valley College).

To tack onto David's numbers, here's what the estimates are for 2009 (http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet...mat=&-_lang=en)

Los Angeles County: 201,944
Los Angeles: 83,249 (of which, I'm willing to bet the vast majority of them are in the Eastern part of the San Fernando Valley and Hollywood)

Glendale and Burbank are full of Armenian businesses, with a growing Armenian presence in La Crescenta and Pasadena.

However, I've been noticing more Armenians moving to the West San Fernando Valley. There's an Armenian Elementary School near me in North Hills. One of my best friends, who used to live in Glendale, moved to Northridge. So take it for what it is.

Here's a good way to know; if you see a Zankou Chicken, there's probably Armenians nearby

[Dub D]

Here's a good way to know; if you see a Zankou Chicken, there's probably Armenians nearby

Zankou isn't even Armenian!!!! Its Lebanese!

I'm actually surprised how little they are in the LA population. I don't venture into the known cities much but I go to Eagle Rock sometimes and Pasadena.

[Lifeshadower]

Originally Posted by Dub D

Zankou isn't even Armenian!!!! Its Lebanese!

I'm actually surprised how little they are in the LA population. I don't venture into the known cities much but I go to Eagle Rock sometimes and Pasadena.

I thought the founder was Lebanese Armenian? Either way...really AWESOME food. Every single Armenian I know raves about it, and the ones in the San Fernando Valley always have plenty of Armenians in them.

Remember, LA is a really large city (with borders that make no coherent sense) that cover everything from Chatsworth to San Pedro. Armenians seem to be clustered in an area in the East SFV + Glendale and Hollywood. In those areas, they seem to make a majority of the population. Everywhere else, not so much.

[King0fthehill]

Anecdotally, Glendale, Burbank, Tujunga, Montebello, East Hollywood, and parts of Los Feliz all seem to have plenty of Armenians. They are beginning to move into La Canada and La Crescenta, much to the chagrin of the current residents. BTW, Zankou's (which is delicious) was founded by Armenian immigrants from Beirut; many Armenians moved to Lebanon (among other places) following the Armenian Genocide around WW1.

[Jay100]

Originally Posted by Dub D

My background is from the Mediterranean and every time I'm in LA and get asked my ethnicity, people always guess Armenian as if they are the only people in that region of the world living in SoCal. I have never ever been asked if I'm Armenian outside of LA. Never in the IE or OC and especially outside of SoCal. Most people think I'm Italian but not in LA.

Gotta be honest and say I don't go to LA much since I'm not a fan of the city. Are Armenians a large minority throughout the city or just Glendale, Burbank, and N. Hollywood? I know these are the main cities they reside.

Armenians might be the largest group of mediterraneans in LA. So if you look mediterranean then that might explain. Why, do you have a problem with Armenians?

[majoun]

Originally Posted by King0fthehill

Anecdotally, Glendale, Burbank, Tujunga, Montebello, East Hollywood, and parts of Los Feliz all seem to have plenty of Armenians. They are beginning to move into La Canada and La Crescenta, much to the chagrin of the current residents. BTW, Zankou's (which is delicious) was founded by Armenian immigrants from Beirut; many Armenians moved to Lebanon (among other places) following the Armenian Genocide around WW1.

And the Valley as a whole.

BTW there have been Armenians in Beirut since the time of the Crusades ; however, as most of us know, after the Armenian Genocide, Armenians scattered throughout the world, and California has the largest Armenian population in the US.

[Count David]

Originally Posted by Jay100

Armenians might be the largest group of mediterraneans in LA.

Bust out a map and look to see just exactly where Armenia is.