Los Angeles

Los Angeles, often called LA, is the biggest city in the U.S. state of California. It is the business, financial, and cultural center of Southern California. With about 3.88 million people, it is the second-most populous city in the United States, after New York City.

Originally home to the indigenous Tongva people, Los Angeles was founded in 1781. The city grew quickly after oil was found in the 1890s. It grew even more with the building of the Los Angeles Aqueduct in 1913. Today, Los Angeles is well known for its film and television industry, busy ports, and diverse culture. The city has a strong economy and has hosted the Summer Olympics before, and will host them again in the future.

Toponymy

See also: Etymology of place names in Los Angeles County, California

On September 4, 1781, a group of settlers called "Los Pobladores" started a town. They named it El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles, which means 'The Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels'. The original name is not fully known.

Over time, people in English started saying the city's name in different ways. In the early days, it had a softer sound. Later, people tried to say it in a more Spanish way. Today, in the United States, most people say the name based on rules set in 1934. In the United Kingdom, people often say it in a different way, based on how Greek words sound.

History

Main article: History of Los Angeles

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Los Angeles.

For a topical guide, see Outline of the history of Los Angeles.

The area now called Los Angeles has been home to people for thousands of years. The Tongva people, also called the Gabrieleño, lived in the Los Angeles Basin and San Fernando Valley. Their village Yaanga became the spot where Spanish settlers later built the town of Los Angeles.

In 1542, Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo claimed the area for Spain. In 1771, Junípero Serra helped build the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel. In 1781, settlers founded El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles, which grew from a small town into a big city.

Los Angeles grew fast in the 20th century. Railroads came in the late 1800s, and oil was found in 1892. By 1900, the city's population was over 102,000. The Los Angeles Aqueduct, finished in 1913, brought water to help the city grow.

During World War II, Los Angeles became an important place for building aircraft and ships. After the war, the city spread out, and many new neighborhoods were built.

Los Angeles has hosted the Summer Olympics twice—once in 1932 and again in 1984. The city will host the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games, marking the third time Los Angeles has held the Olympics.

Geography

See also: Los Angeles Basin and San Fernando Valley

Topography

Los Angeles covers 502.7 square miles (1,302 km²). It has both flat and hilly areas. The highest point is Mount Lukens at 5,074 ft (1,547 m).

Vegetation

Los Angeles has many native plants because of its many habitats. Common plants include the California poppy and toyon.

Fauna

The city has many animals, including bobcats. You can also find bats, coyotes, and raccoons.

Geology

Los Angeles is on the Pacific Ring of Fire and has earthquakes because of the San Andreas Fault. Most earthquakes are too small to feel.

Cityscape

Main article: List of districts and neighborhoods in Los Angeles

See also: List of tallest buildings in Los Angeles

Los Angeles has many districts and neighborhoods. Major streets are very long.

Climate

Main article: Climate of Los Angeles

Los Angeles has dry summers and mild winters. Autumn can be hot, while spring is cooler. The city gets about 35 days of rain each year.

Environmental issues

Further information: Pollution in California § Los Angeles air pollution

Los Angeles has air pollution because of its location and many cars. The city works to reduce pollution with cleaner cars and better public transportation.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a big city with many different people. In 2020, about 3.9 million people lived there. The city is very busy, with about 8,300 people living in each square mile. Many families live in Los Angeles, but some people rent their homes instead of owning them.

People in Los Angeles speak over 200 different languages! Most people grew up speaking something other than English at home. The city has many different groups of people from around the world. For example, many people come from Mexico, the Philippines, Korea, and many other places. You can find neighborhoods like Chinatown, Koreatown, and Little Tokyo where people share their cultures and languages.

Los Angeles also has many different religions. Most people practice Christianity, but there are also Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, and many other faiths represented in the city. Because of its diverse population, Los Angeles is a place where many cultures and traditions come together.

Economy

See also: Los Angeles County, California § Economy

Los Angeles has a big and busy economy! It is known for international trade, making movies, TV shows, video games, and music. Other important jobs come from aerospace, technology, oil, fashion, and tourism. Even though many businesses moved away after the COVID-19 pandemic, people are working hard to make the downtown area a fun place to visit.

Los Angeles is also a major manufacturing city and has busy ports that help trade with countries around the Pacific Rim. The city is home to big companies like AECOM, CBRE Group, and Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co, plus many others that make things like pizza, animation, and insurance. Even with challenges, Los Angeles remains an important place for business and jobs.

Arts and culture

Main article: Culture of Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a creative city with many artists, writers, and performers. Its culture is influenced by Mexican traditions, because California was once part of Mexico and the Spanish Empire. The city has colorful murals and special architecture, like Spanish Colonial Revival and Art Deco.

Important places include the Hollywood Sign, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and Griffith Observatory. Los Angeles is a center for movies, television, and music, with events like the Academy Awards. The city has many museums, such as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Getty Center, along with many libraries and many kinds of food from around the world, like Mexican tacos and Asian dishes.

Sports

Main article: Sports in Los Angeles

See also: Soccer in Los Angeles and History of the National Football League in Los Angeles

Los Angeles has many top sports teams. Some of these teams are the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Rams, and Los Angeles Chargers. There are also teams in basketball, hockey, and soccer like the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Kings, and Los Angeles Galaxy.

The city has hosted the Summer Olympic Games three times and will host them again someday. Los Angeles has famous sports places such as Dodger Stadium and Crypto.com Arena.

Government

Main article: Government of Los Angeles

Further information: List of elected officials in Los Angeles

See also: Government of Los Angeles County

Los Angeles is a special city called a charter city. It has a mayor and a city council that help make decisions. The current mayor is Karen Bass. The city is divided into fifteen areas, and each area has its own group of representatives called a city council district.

The city has important groups like the police department, the fire department, and the public library. These groups help keep the city safe, provide help in emergencies, and offer resources for everyone. There are also neighborhood councils that represent people in different parts of the city. These councils make their own rules and choose their own leaders.

Crime

Main article: Crime in Los Angeles

See also: List of criminal gangs in Los Angeles

Los Angeles has seen changes in crime over the years. In the past, there were more crimes, but numbers went down a lot in later years. Today, crime levels are lower than they were before.

Historically, some groups controlled parts of the city. Today, there are still many groups active in the city, including well-known ones.

Education

Los Angeles has many colleges and universities. The city has three public universities: California State University, Los Angeles, California State University, Northridge, and University of California, Los Angeles. There are also private colleges, like the American Film Institute Conservatory and the University of Southern California.

The city has nine community colleges, such as Los Angeles City College and Los Angeles Valley College. The Los Angeles Unified School District runs most of the city's public schools.

Media

Main article: Media in Los Angeles

See also: List of television shows set in Los Angeles, List of films set in Los Angeles, and List of Los Angeles television stations

Los Angeles is a big center for media and entertainment. It is the second-largest place in the U.S. for TV and radio broadcasts. The city has important newspapers like the Los Angeles Times and La Opinión, as well as papers for different communities such as The Korea Times and The World Journal.

Major TV networks such as ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and The CW have offices and studios in Los Angeles. The city also has many smaller newspapers, magazines, and online guides that cover local arts, culture, and news.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Main article: Transportation in Los Angeles

Freeways

Main article: Southern California freeways

Los Angeles and nearby areas have many freeways and highways. These roads can get very busy, especially during rush hour. Even with the traffic, people in Los Angeles often spend less time traveling to work than in big cities like New York.

Important highways connect Los Angeles to other places. For example, I-5 goes south to San Diego and the Mexican border, and north to Sacramento, Portland, and Seattle. I-10 runs east and west across the United States, and US 101 leads to the California Central Coast and San Francisco.

Public transit

Los Angeles has many buses and trains to help people get around. The Los Angeles Metro runs most of the bus services, including special fast bus lines called the G and J lines. The Metro also operates subways and light rail trains. The light rail system is very busy.

Los Angeles is also a center for commuter rail service called Metrolink and for Amtrak inter-city trains. All these trains meet at Union Station, a big train station opened in 1939.

Airports

Main article: List of airports in the Los Angeles area

See also: Los Angeles International Airport in popular culture

The main airport in Los Angeles is Los Angeles International Airport, often called LAX. There are also other airports nearby, like Ontario International Airport, Hollywood Burbank Airport, Long Beach Airport, and John Wayne Airport in Orange County.

Seaports

The Port of Los Angeles is a major hub for ships and trade. Together with the nearby Port of Long Beach, it is one of the busiest ports in the world. The port has many bridges and offers ferry rides to islands like Santa Catalina Island.

Notable people

Main listing: List of people from Los Angeles

Los Angeles is home to many famous people. They work in entertainment, sports, and business. The city's culture has attracted artists, actors, musicians, and innovators. They have helped shape industries around the world.

Sister cities

Los Angeles has 25 sister cities around the world. Some of these cities include Eilat in Israel, Nagoya in Japan, and Bordeaux in France, among many others.

The city also has several "friendship cities," such as Łódź in Poland and Melbourne in Australia. These partnerships help build cultural and economic ties between the cities.