BrainStuff What's the History of Skid Row?
Nov 21, 2025
Discover the fascinating history of Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles, where thousands live in makeshift shelters. Learn about the term's origins linked to Seattle and how Skid Row evolved in urban America. Explore LA's growth fueled by railroads and wartime challenges that created a lasting poverty cycle. Delve into urban renewal efforts and the ongoing struggle against gentrification pressures. Understand the unique services available and the recent legal battles shaping Skid Row's future.
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Concentrated Urban Poverty In Downtown LA
- Skid Row is a 50-block neighborhood in downtown Los Angeles housing an estimated 8,000–11,000 low-income residents.
- Many live in tents, shelters, and single-room hotels, with a high share experiencing chronic houselessness.
Name Comes From Logging Paths
- The term "Skid Row" originated in 1850s Seattle from paths used to skid logs to sawmills.
- Those milling areas became hubs of saloons and brothels frequented by transient laborers.
Economic Shocks Cemented The Neighborhood
- Railroads and seasonal agricultural work concentrated transient men near downtown LA, spurring cheap hotels and services.
- Economic shocks like the Depression created a permanent underclass living in these temporary lodgings.