Venice
Last Updated on Sep 25, 2025
West Hollywood has a rich and fascinating history, evolving from a railroad town to one of the most vibrant cultural and LGBTQ+ hubs in the world. Originally part of the Los Angeles Pacific Railroad, the area grew into a hotspot for entertainment, nightlife, and progressive activism. In 1984, West Hollywood officially became a city, pioneering LGBTQ+ rights, rent control, and inclusion. From its Prohibition-era speakeasies to the legendary Sunset Strip, WeHo’s history is as dynamic as its modern-day energy.
In the early 20th century, the town of Sherman became an attractive residential area for film stars working in nearby Hollywood. The emergence of the motion picture industry soon brought the movie business into the city itself. Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks established the Pickford-Fairbanks Studios near Santa Monica Boulevard, which still exists today as The Lot. In 1925, the inhabitants of Sherman voted to change the name to West Hollywood to emphasize its relationship to its glamorous neighbor. However, West Hollywood still technically remained an unincorporated region of Los Angeles County.
Due to its unincorporated status, West Hollywood existed outside the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles Police Department and lacked a police department of its own. The region became a hotbed of liquor and nightlife. The dirt road at the northern border of West Hollywood, which served as the main commuter route between Beverly Hills and Hollywood, became known as Sunset Blvd. Nightclubs, hotels, and restaurants sprung up along The Sunset Strip. Gambling, which was legal in Los Angeles County but not in the City of Los Angeles, brought money and the attention of mobsters like Bugsy Siegel and Micky Cohen, regulars at Strip nightclubs like Ciro's (now The Comedy Store) and the Melody Room (now Viper Room). In the Golden Age of Hollywood, West Hollywood was the swankiest, most glamorous nightlife destination in the Los Angeles Metropolitan area.
West Hollywood added to its growing legend throughout the following decades. In the 1960s and 1970s, it became a major gathering place for the counterculture, with hippies, musicians, and artists flooding the streets. Acts like Led Zeppelin, The Doors, and Elton John won over crowds in emerging music venues such as The Troubadour, The Whisky a Go Go, and The Roxy. The Strip continued to be a cultural center for punk rock and New Wave during the late 1970s and evolved into the epicenter of the colorful glam metal and heavy metal scenes during the 1980s. Groups including Van Halen, Motley Crue, and Guns N Roses redefined the standard for excess, with West Hollywood serving as their playground.
West Hollywood's journey to cityhood was shaped by a unique coalition of marginalized communities, including LGBTQ individuals, Russian Jewish émigrés, and elderly residents, who came together to resist displacement and secure a future in the neighborhood they had helped build. In the face of rising rents and the potential loss of rent control protections in Los Angeles County, these groups successfully pushed for the area's incorporation in 1984. By electing a city council with an openly gay majority, West Hollywood became a pioneering example of self-governance, enacting progressive policies to protect its diverse residents and solidifying its identity as a haven for LGBTQ culture. Over the years, the city has evolved into a vibrant hub of entertainment, nightlife, and social activism, attracting creatives and trendsetters while continuing to champion inclusivity and progressive ideals. Today, with a population of 39,000, West Hollywood is not only a cultural beacon but also a symbol of how grassroots activism and community solidarity can shape the future of a city.
In the 1960s and 70s, West Hollywood became a refuge for marginalized communities, including LGBTQ+ individuals and Russian Jewish immigrants. As rent prices soared in the 80s, a coalition of these groups fought for incorporation, successfully creating the City of West Hollywood with an openly gay majority on the city council. The new city quickly became a beacon of progressive values and LGBTQ+ culture, passing rent control measures and leading the charge for social change.
Today, West Hollywood is a thriving city with a population of 36,000+ and a reputation as a hot spot for the entertainment industry. Its vibrant nightlife, world-renowned events, and innovative community continue to attract trendsetters and creative individuals from all over the country.