Century City

The land of Century City belonged to cowboy actor Tom Mix (1880-1940), who used it as a ranch.[3] It later became a backlot of 20th Century Fox, which still has its headquarters just to the southwest.[3] The area is named for the 20th Century Fox's Century Property.

In 1956, Spyros Skouras (1893-1971), who served as the President of 20th Century Fox from 1942 until 1962, and his nephew-in-law Edmond Herrscher (died 1983), an attorney sometimes known as "the father of Century City", decided to repurpose the land for real estate development.[3][4] The following year, in 1957, they commissioned a master-plan development from Welton Becket Associates, which was unveiled at a major press event on the "western" backlot later that year.[3]

In 1961, after Fox suffered a string of expensive flops, culminating with the financial strain put on the studio by the very expensive production of Cleopatra, the film studio sold about 180 acres (0.73 km²) to developer William Zeckendorf and Aluminum Co. of America, also known as Alcoa, for US$300 million (US$2.4 billion in 2014's money).[3] Herrscher had encouraged his uncle-in-law to borrow money instead, but once Skouras refused, he was out of the picture.[3]

The new owners conceived Century City as "a city within a city".[5] In 1963, the first building, Gateway West Building, was completed.[3] The next year, in 1964, Minoru Yamasaki designed the Century Plaza Hotel.[3] Five years later, in 1969, architects Anthony J. Lumsden and César Pelli designed the Century City Medical Plaza.[6]

According to the City of Los Angeles Department of City Planning, Century City constitutes census tract 2679.01.[7]

Century City is generally bounded by Santa Monica Boulevard to the north, the city of Beverly Hills to the east, Pico Boulevard to the south, and Century Park West to the west (including the west side of Century Park West between Santa Monica Boulevard and Constellation Boulevard).[8] These boundaries correspond with those recognized by the Century City Business Improvement District Association.[9][10]

Neighboring Century City are Beverly Hills to the east, Cheviot Hills to the south, West Los Angeles to the west, and Westwood to the north.

A 2009 aerial view of Century City with 20th Century Studios visible in the lower left

Century City makes up census tract 2679.01, which is 0.4 square miles. The 2000 U.S. Census counted 2,428 residents and 1,812 housing units, for an average of 1.34 persons per household.[7]

The 2017 American Community Survey estimated a population of 2,235 in Century City, or 5,170.1 people per square mile, and 1,929 housing units. Per capita income was $148,638 and median household income was $123,889.[15]

Constellation Place, formerly MGM Tower, in Century City

Westfield Century City and Fox Studios occupy important acreage in the neighborhood. Westfield Century City underwent an $800 million renovation and expansion aiming to maintain the center's status as one of the Westside's premier shopping and entertainment destinations.

One tower, Constellation Place (formerly the MGM Tower),[18] has the headquarters of Houlihan Lokey,[19] ICM Partners,[20] and International Lease Finance Corporation.[21] Crystal Cruises is also headquartered in Century City along with haircare manufacturer, John Paul Mitchell Systems.[22][23]

Santa Monica Airport facing east toward Century City

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services SPA 5 West Area Health Office serves Century City.[24]

Los Angeles Fire Department Station 92 is the assigned fire station for the district.[25] The Los Angeles Police Department operates the West Los Angeles Community Police Station at 1663 Butler Avenue, 90025, serving the neighborhood.

Santa Monica Airport is nearby. Major roads including Santa Monica Boulevard, Pico Boulevard, the Santa Monica Freeway (I-10), and the San Diego Freeway (I-405) are all located next to Century City. Olympic Boulevard goes through Century City.

Phase II of the D Line Extension, set to open in 2025, will add a subway stop (Century City/Constellation) on the D Line at the intersection of Avenue of the Stars and Constellation Boulevard, in the heart of Century City.

The Century City campus of Lycée Français de Los Angeles in March 2008

Fifty-five percent of Century City residents aged 25 or over had earned a four-year degree by 2000, a high figure for Los Angeles.[16]

Los Angeles Unified School District is the school district of Century City.

Three private schools are located in or near Century City  — VINCI Academy Daycare & Preschool, at 1940 Century Park East; Lycée Français de Los Angeles, at 10361 Pico Boulevard; and Temple Isaiah Preschool and Kindergarten, at 10345 West PIco Boulevard.[26]

• 
  Century City skyline as seen from Runyon Canyon Park in February 2006
• 
  Century Plaza Towers
• 
  Fox Plaza

• 1967 Century City demonstration