States, and 12% of the Latino population. As of 1996 the family size of Central American households is, according to Lopez, Popkin, and Telles, "considerably" above average. As of 1996 the poverty rates of Guatemalan and Salvadoran households in Los Angeles is 2.5 times greater than the rate of non-Central American households. The per capita income of Guatemalans and Salvadoran Americans is fewer than 40% of the per capita income of non-Central Americans. The disparity in earning between Central Americans and non-Central Americans is more severe than the median income disparity, but Lopez, Popkin, and Telles wrote that the larger than average number of wage earners per household "somewhat" compensates for the earning disparity. Geography Rosamaria Segura, the author of Central Americans in Los Angeles, wrote that the Pico-Union area has the "most conspicuous" presence of Central Americans in Los Angeles. In August 2012, the City of Los Angeles designated a portion of Vermont Avenue in Pico-Union as the "El Salvador Community Corridor." Languages As of 1996 the Central American groups continue to speak their native languages. As of 2008 many Salvadoran immigrants began adopting Mexican Spanish due to contact with the Mexican community and in order to better fit into the Mexican community, along with adopting aspects of Mexican culture. Some Salvadorans in Los Angeles insist on using Salvadoran Spanish. Education The Oscar Romero Charter Middle School opened in 2007. The school, named after Óscar Romero, teaches Salvadoran children about their heritage. Culture and recreation Salvadoran Day is celebrated in Los Angeles each summer. Many pupusa restaurants operate in Los Angeles. Notable Central Americans from Los Angeles References Lopez, David E., Eric Popkin, and Edward Telles. "Central Americans: At the Bottom: Struggling to Get Ahead" (Chapter 10). In: Waldinger, Roger and Mehdi Bozorgmehr (editors). Ethnic Los Angeles. Russell Sage Foundation, December 5, 1996. Start page 279. , 9780871549013. Segura, Rosamaria. Central Americans in Los Angeles. Arcadia Publishing, 2010. , 9780738571638. Notes External links CARECEN Los Angeles El Salvador Community Center The Salvadoran American Leadership & Educational Fund (SALEF) Belizean-American culture Costa Rican-American culture Central Americans Guatemalan-American culture History of Los Angeles Hispanic and Latino American history Hispanic and Latino American culture in Los Angeles Hispanic and Latino American history of California Honduran-American culture Nicaraguan-American culture Panamanian-American culture Salvadoran-American culture in California