Los Angeles's 1st City Council district is one of the fifteen districts in the Los Angeles City Council. It is currently represented by Democrat Eunisses Hernandez since 2022, after she beat previous councilmember Gil Cedillo that year.
The district was created in 1925 after a new city charter was passed, which replaced the former at-large voting system for a nine-member council with a district system with a 15-member council. Between 1923 and 1987, District 1 represented all, then parts, of the San Fernando Valley. It was redistricted in 1987 after the death of councilmember Howard Finn to cover an area northwest and north of Downtown Los Angeles in order to provide another majority-Hispanic council district in the city.
Geography The 1st district encompasses neighborhoods in Northeast Los Angeles and Downtown Los Angeles, including, Glassell Park, Highland Park, Chinatown, Mount Washington, Echo Park, Elysian Park, Westlake, Pico-Union, Koreatown, Angelino Heights, Lincoln Heights, and MacArthur Park. The district is separated from Downtown by the 110 freeway, and the boundary continues northeast until it reaches York Boulevard in Highland Park. The district is approximately 13.5 square miles in area, making it the city's third-smallest council district.Los Angeles City Council website
The district is overlapped with California's 34th Congressional district, as well as overlapping with California's 52nd and 54th State Assembly districts and California's 26th and 28th State Senate districts.
Historical boundaries The district was preceded by the first ward, established in 1870 when the city was first incorporated. During the ward system in place from 1870 to 1889, it elected three (four from 1874 to 1878) to the Los Angeles Common Council. The first ward included the northern part of Downtown Los Angeles and was within the northwestern portion of the city's original boundaries. The district was obsolete when the at-large district was first established in 1889.
From 1889 to 1909, the ward was re-established, with the boundaries at the Los Angeles River, Mission Street, and Macy Street. It included the neighborhoods of East Lost Angeles, Cypress Park, Mount Washington, and other Eastside Los Angeles communities. It elected one member through a plurality vote before the ward became obsolete when the at-large district was re-established again in 1909.
In 1925, the 1st district was created and was mainly situated within the San Fernando Valley. At its creation, it encompassed all of San Fernando Valley, some of the Santa Monica Mountains reaching south to the Sherman district, the Cahuenga Pass, the Hollywood Hills, Griffith Park, Atwater and the eastern part of the Los Feliz District south to approximately Santa Monica Boulevard."First Map Showing City Council's Districts," Los Angeles Times, January 16, 1925, page 1 The map shows all 15 council districts. The official boundaries of all 15 as limned by the city clerk are at "Councilmanic Districts Are Traced by Clerk Dominguez," Los Angeles Times, February 12, 1925, page A-2"Here Are the Hundred and Twelve Aspirants for the City's Fifteen Councilmanic Seats," Los Angeles Times, May 3, 1925, page 7 The district office was located in the Roscoe neighborhood."To the Citizens of Los Angeles," Los Angeles Times, February 14, 1926, page B-5 In 1928, the eastern section of the southern boundary was changed from Sunset Boulevard to Fountain Avenue, with the west boundary being along the crest of the Santa Monica Mountains."Council Areas' Lines Changed," Los Angeles Times, December 29, 1928, page A-1 In 1933, Atwater Village was absorbed into the district, with Los Feliz later being absorbed in 1937."District Lines Get Approval," Los Angeles Times, December 24, 1932, page 2"City Reapportionment Measure Gets Approval," Los Angeles Times, January 19, 1933 With map of all districts."New Council Zones Defined," Los Angeles Times, January 7, 1937, page A-18
In 1940, with the rise of the Valley population, the 1st District gave up the Los Feliz and Atwater Village, with its southeast boundary retreating to a point near Cahuenga Boulevard and Mulholland Highway. It was then still the only Valley district."Proposed New Alignment for City Voting Precincts" (with map), Los Angeles Times, November 30, 1940, page A-3 By 1971, the 1st District was the largest geographic area in the city, about 76 square miles, which was a sixth the total area of Los Angeles. It included Arleta, Lake View Terrace, Mission Hills, Pacoima, Shadow Hills, Sunland-Tujunga, Sun Valley and Sylmar.
On August 12, 1986, councilman Howard Finn of died in office, leaving the district without an incumbent. Because of a court order to have the Council redistrict itself to provide more representation for Latinos, the 1st district was redrawn to be in the 69% Latino area north and west of downtown Los Angeles.
List of members representing the district 1889–1909 CouncilmemberPartyYearsElectoral history Single-member ward established February 25, 1889 H. V. Van Dusen Republican February 25, 1889 – December 5, 1890Elected in 1889. Retired. Francis M. Nickell Democratic December 5, 1890 – December 12, 1894Elected in 1890. Re-elected in 1892. Lost re-election. George W. StockwellRepublican December 12, 1894 – December 16, 1896Elected in 1984. Lost re-election. Francis M. Nickell Democratic December 16, 1896 – December 15, 1898Elected in 1896. Lost re-election. William H. Pierce Republican December 15, 1898 – December 5, 1902Elected in 1897. Re-elected in 1900. Retired. Owen McAleerRepublican December 5, 1902 – December 8, 1904Elected in 1902. Retired to run for Mayor of Los Angeles. Fred L. FordRepublican December 8, 1904 – December 13, 1906Elected in 1904. Retired. R. W. Dromgold Democrat December 8, 1906 – December 10, 1909Elected in 1906. Retired. Single-member ward eliminated December 10, 1909
1925–present CouncilmemberPartyDatesElectoral history District established July 1, 1925 Charles H. RandallProhibition July 1, 1925 – June 30, 1933Elected in 1925. Re-elected in 1927. Re-elected in 1929. Re-elected in 1931. Lost re-election. Jim WilsonRepublican July 1, 1933 – June 30, 1941Elected in 1933. Re-elected in 1935. Re-elected in 1937. Re-elected in 1939. Lost re-election. Delamere F. McCloskeyDemocratic July 1, 1941 – June 30, 1945Elected in 1941. Re-elected in 1943. Lost re-election. Leland S. WarburtonRepublican July 1, 1945 – June 30, 1953Elected in 1945. Re-elected in 1947. Re-elected in 1949. Re-elected in 1951. Retired. Everett G. BurkhalterDemocratic July 1, 1953 – December 26, 1962Elected in 1953. Re-elected in 1957. Re-elected in 1961. Resigned after election to the U. S. House of Representatives. Vacant December 26, 1962 –January 28, 1963 Louis R. NowellDemocratic January 28, 1963 – June 30, 1977Appointed to finish Burkhalter's term. Elected in 1963. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1969. Re-elected in 1973. Retired. Bob RonkaDemocratic July 1, 1977 – June 30, 1981 Elected in 1977. Retired to run for Los Angeles City Attorney. Howard FinnIndependent July 1, 1981 – August 12, 1986 Elected in 1981. Re-elected in 1985. Died. Vacant August 12, 1986 –February 3, 1987 Chief Legislative Analyst William McCarley appointed as caretaker until next election. Gloria Molina Democratic February 3, 1987 – March 7, 1991 Elected in finish Finn's term. Resigned after election to the L. A. County Board of Supervisors. Vacant March 7, 1991 –August 13, 1991 Mike HernandezDemocratic August 13, 1991 – June 30, 2001Elected to finish Molina's term. Re-elected in 1995. Re-elected in 1997. Retired due to term limits. Ed ReyesDemocratic July 1, 2001 – June 30, 2013Elected in 2001. Re-elected in 2005. Re-elected in 2009. Retired due to term limits. Gil Cedillo Democratic July 1, 2013 – December 12, 2022Elected in 2013. Re-elected in 2017. Lost re-election. Eunisses HernandezDemocratic December 12, 2022 –presentElected in 2022. Re-elected in 2026.
References
External links Official City Council District 1 website