Watts is a residential district in southern Los Angeles, California (more specifically, part of South Los Angeles).
The area now known as Watts is located on the Rancho La Tajauta Mexican land grant. As on all ranchos, the principal vocation was grazing and beef production.
With the influx of white Americans settlers into Southern California in the 1870s, La Tajuata land was sold off and subdivided for smaller farms and homes. In those days each ...
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Watts is a residential district in southern Los Angeles, California (more specifically, part of South Los Angeles).
The area now known as Watts is located on the Rancho La Tajauta Mexican land grant. As on all ranchos, the principal vocation was grazing and beef production.
With the influx of white Americans settlers into Southern California in the 1870s, La Tajuata land was sold off and subdivided for smaller farms and homes. In those days each Tajuata farm had an artesian well. The arrival of the railroad spurred the development of the area, and in 1907 Watts was incorporated as a separate city, named after the first railroad station, Watts Station, that was built in the town. The city voted to annex itself to Los Angeles in 1926.
Along with more Caucasian Americans, Mexican and Mexican American railroad workers ("traqueros") settled in the community. African-Americans came in later and many of the men were Pullman car porters and other railroad workers. Schoolroom photos from 1909...
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