Where does the Westside start?
Is it a fixed place, with its own borders, customs and society, or only a state of mind? The Westside is a familar concept to any Angeleno. We all know the basics. The Beach. The Pier. The 310 area code. The 405 Freeway. But when it comes down to details, could we actually draw it on a map? How far east does it run? Does it include Malibu? How about West Hollywood?
With no official definition, there's no official answer. That's why we're opening up this debate to ask readers how they define the Westside. We'll share our best guess, and then ask you to share your thoughts, and your maps, with everyone below.
Where The Times draws the line
The map above shows how The Times’ Mapping L.A. project frames the region's 23 neighborhoods. Mullholland Drive's sinuous path along the crest of the Santa Monica Mountains marks the northern edge. The city's official boundary rounds off the northwestern corner and curves down the coast, stopping short of Westchester and LAX. Culver City, Pico-Robertson and Beverly Hills carve out the difficult eastern boundary, with West Hollywood, La Cienega Boulevard and Mid-City separating the central city.
“You gotta stop it somewhere,” said Doug Smith, the Times staffer responsible for drawing the boundaries. “Not everybody can live on the Westside.”
Where readers draw the line
No lines can capture the geographic diversity and demographic energy of Los Angeles. The Times staffer responsible for shaping the boundaries acknowledges the map isn't perfect. That's why readers are invited to submit their own definition. Using the tool at the bottom of this page you can submit your own map, or just post your thoughts on what defines the region.
The 10 latest posts are below. Click one to read the complete comment, or browse the whole list.
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LA_Native
2 hours, 35 minutes ago
Dalton is correct,I've lived on the "West Side" for 33 years and would agree that West Side proper would be ...
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Ric Zamarripa
4 hours, 20 minutes ago
It starts on westwood blvd then to the beach and it ends on sunset blvd and pacific coast hwy and ...
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Sal "Westside" Bando
4 hours, 30 minutes ago
West side is West of the 110 freeway. That's why all of the tags on the walls you see have ...
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The Sage One
9 hours, 10 minutes ago
The Westside's borders are: North is Brentwood, South is 90 freeway, East is 405, & West is Santa Monica. Westside ...
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johnny Clash
10 hours, 11 minutes ago
Not beverly hills, definitely westwood, what the hell is Ladera heights? not Pacific Palisades, but they can sure have Brentwood. ...
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BLM
18 hours, 37 minutes ago
the Westside begins where gridlocked traffic, strip malls with over-rated eateries, no real culture or architecture and unfriendly non-natives who ...
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Pedro
19 hours, 12 minutes ago
Your map sucks, the 405 is a good boundary.
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jorge
20 hours ago
beverly hills, bel aire,brentwood,westwood, pacific palisades,santa monica , malibu, west of the 405,north of the 10 , but to include ...
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Scott
20 hours, 16 minutes ago
I believe that a couple are correct- except for those who limit the Westside at the 405. I extend that ...
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jason
20 hours, 34 minutes ago
who cares about the westside!
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How do you define the Westside?
What are the borders? How far east does it extend?
Think you can draw a better map? Edit the map below.
How would you describe the Westside to an out-of-towner?
How do you know when you're there?
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