West Athens is a census-designated place (CDP) in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 9,393 at the 2020 census. It is an unincorporated community within the 2nd Supervisorial District of Los Angeles County. West Athens is served by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, operating out of the South Los Angeles Station. The approximate boundaries for West Athens are: 87th Street to the north, Vermont Avenue to the east, El Segundo Boulevard to the south, and approximately Western Avenue to Van Ness Avenue to the west. West Athens is predominantly residential, with commercial uses along its main corridors. Los Angeles Southwest Community College lies within the West Athens neighborhood and city limits.
History
Athens was platted and settled in the first decade of the 20th century. The area was initially marketed as Athens-on-the-Hill, apparently referring to two hills ("the eastmost summit is around 122nd and 124th, Broadway and Athens Way, and the westernmost summit is between 117th and 120th, S. Budlong and Vermont").
Geography
West Athens is located at (33.922414, -118.301156).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , all land. It borders Gardena to the south, Hawthorne to the west, Inglewood to the northwest, Westmont to the north, and the city of Los Angeles to the east.