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Los Angeles County, California

Adapted from Wikipedia · Adventurer experience

A beautiful view of the Los Angeles skyline with the iconic Hollywood area in the background.

Los Angeles County, often called LA County, is the most populous county in the United States, with about 9.7 million people living there. The county includes 88 cities and many other areas, covering 4,083 square miles. It is home to more than a quarter of all people living in California.

The main city in the county is Los Angeles, which is the second-most populous city in the United States. Los Angeles County is famous around the world as the home of the U.S. motion picture industry, making it a key place for movies and entertainment. The county is also one of the most ethnically diverse in the United States, with people from many different backgrounds living together.

History

Main articles: History of Los Angeles County, California and Ranchos of Los Angeles County

See also: Tovaangar; History of Los Angeles; Timeline of Los Angeles; History of Pasadena, California; History of the San Fernando Valley; Timeline of Long Beach, California; History of Santa Monica, California; and History of Santa Catalina Island"

Los Angeles County has been around since California became a state in 1850. It was bigger back then and included parts of what are now other counties. Over time, as more people moved in, parts of it were split off to create new counties.

Before the 1870s, the county was divided into different areas called townships. These included places like Azusa, El Monte, and the City of Los Angeles. Each township covered different parts of the land we know today.

Location

Los Angeles County is next to other areas. To the north is Kern County, to the east is San Bernardino County, to the southeast is Orange County, to the south is the Pacific Ocean, and to the west is Ventura County.

Geography

Los Angeles County is a big area in California. It has many kinds of land, like mountains, valleys, forests, lakes, rivers, and parts of the Mojave Desert. It also touches the Pacific Ocean.

Many people live in the south and southwest parts, especially near the Los Angeles Basin, San Fernando Valley, and San Gabriel Valley. The San Gabriel Mountains run through the county and have tall peaks like Mount San Antonio. The county also has islands like San Clemente Island and Santa Catalina Island off the coast.

The north has a desert climate, but most places have warm, dry weather. Rain usually comes in the winter, and mountains can get snow then.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County is very diverse with many different races and ethnicities. In the past, there were more White people in 1960 and more Black people in 1990. Today, most growth comes from Hispanic and Asian communities.

The county has many Asian Americans, including large groups of Burmese, Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Indonesian, Korean, Sri Lankan, Taiwanese, and Thai people. Some of the biggest Asian groups are Chinese, Filipino, and Korean.

Ethnic origins in Los Angeles County

Many different languages are spoken at home. Almost half of people speak only English, but many others speak Spanish, Tagalog, Chinese, Korean, Armenian, Arabic, or Hindi.

Los Angeles County has the largest Armenian population outside of Armenia and the largest Iranian population outside of Iran.

Percent of households with incomes above $150k across LA County census tracts

For the racial / ethnic profile of individual communities in Los Angeles County, see Demographics of Los Angeles County § Racial / Ethnic profile of places in Los Angeles County, California.

The county has many places of worship. There are over two thousand Christian churches, most of which are Catholic. There are also Jewish synagogues, Buddhist temples, Muslim mosques, Baháʼí Faith worship centers, Hindu temples, Tenrikyo churches, Shinto worship centers, and Sikh gurdwaras. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has about 5 million members, making it the largest diocese in the United States.

Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18503,530—
186011,333221.0%
187015,30935.1%
188033,381118.0%
1890101,454203.9%
1900170,29867.9%
1910504,131196.0%
1920936,45585.8%
19302,208,492135.8%
19402,785,64326.1%
19504,151,68749.0%
19606,038,77145.5%
19707,041,98016.6%
19807,477,5036.2%
19908,863,16418.5%
20009,519,3387.4%
20109,818,6053.1%
202010,014,0092.0%
2025 (est.)9,694,934−3.2%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010 2020
Racial composition202020102000199019801970196019501940
Hispanics48.0%47.7%44.5%37.8%27.6%14.9%11%5.8%2.2%
Non-Hispanic Whites25.6%27.8%31.1%40.8%52.8%70.9%79.3%87.9%93.3%
Asians14.7%13.5%11.9%11%5.6%2.9%1.9%1.3%1.9%
Blacks7.6%8.3%9.7%11.1%12.6%10.8%7.6%5%2.7%
Native Americans0.2%0.2%0.8%0.5%0.64%0.35%0.13%--
Pacific Islanders0.2%0.2%-------
Multiracial Americans3.0%2.0%-------
Racial composition as of 2023 07 01
Total population9,663,345
Hispanics4,695,90248.59%
Non-Hispanic Whites2,369,89924.52%
Asians1,454,66615.05%
Blacks709,5837.34%
Native Americans16,8900.17%
Pacific Islanders19,1280.20%
Multiracial Americans336,8403.49%

Law, government, and politics

Government

Main article: Government of Los Angeles County

The Government of Los Angeles County is set up by the California Constitution, California law, and the Charter of the County of Los Angeles. Many jobs of the Government of California are done by local groups such as the Government of Los Angeles County.

The Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration is the seat of the government of Los Angeles County.

The people of the county choose five leaders to be on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Each leader represents more than 2 million people. The board helps make rules, tells departments what to do, and makes decisions on important local matters.

The county’s leaders watch over a big budget and many workers. They have many departments that help people with different needs, like safety, health, and courts.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Los Angeles County

The Grand Avenue entrance of the Stanley Mosk Courthouse

Los Angeles County has many areas that choose leaders for the U.S. House of Representatives, California State Senate, and California State Assembly.

Legal system

Further information: Los Angeles County Superior Court

Los Angeles County has important courts where people solve problems and settle legal matters. These courts are very busy because many people and famous people live there. Cases can be sent to higher courts for more review.

Population and registered voters (Sept. 2025)
Total population9,757,179
  Registered voters5,834,38059.8%
    Democratic2,988,63451.2%
    Republican1,098,88418.8%
    Democratic–Republican spread+1,889,750+32.4%
    American Independent200,1913.4%
    Libertarian48,1970.8%
    Peace and Freedom43,1650.7%
    Green28,4440.5%
    Unknown32,2090.5%
    Other45,9610.8%
    No party preference1,348,69523.1%

Crime

Sorry, this section talks about serious and sensitive topics that are not suitable for young readers. We’ve skipped it to keep things safe and appropriate.

Ecology

Los Angeles County has lots of wildlife! It has over 500 kinds of birds, making it a great place to spot them. The warm weather lets many animals live here, like tropical birds and parrots that eat fruit from trees such as dates, figs, and loquats.

Many introduced species, such as this Indian peafowl, adapt readily to urban living and Los Angeles County's mild climate.

The county has many different landscapes, from mountains to deserts to oceans. This means you might see animals like desert bighorn sheep and green sea turtles in the same day! There are also many insects, mammals, and reptiles, such as bobcats, gray foxes, and mule deer. Seeing these animals helps scientists learn about the environment, and you can help by reporting what you see using the iNaturalist app.

Economy

See also: Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce

Los Angeles County is well-known for its entertainment and digital media industry. All five major film studios—Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros., Universal Pictures, and Walt Disney Studios—are located here. The county has many other important industries, such as international trade helped by the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach, music recording, aerospace, fashion, and professional services like law, medicine, and engineering. There are many jobs in high-tech and manufacturing in the area. After the COVID-19 pandemic, some businesses moved away from Downtown Los Angeles, but the city is growing as a cultural center with many buildings designed by famous architect Frank Gehry.

The following major companies have headquarters in Los Angeles County:

Education

The Los Angeles County Office of Education helps school districts. It runs two special schools: the International Polytechnic High School and Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. Many private schools are in the county, especially those run by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese. The largest public school system is the Los Angeles Unified School District, which serves the city of Los Angeles and nearby areas.

Colleges

Universities

K–12 schools

Main article: List of school districts in Los Angeles County, California

See also: List of schools in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles

Sites of interest

LA County Fair at dusk, 2008

Los Angeles County has many fun places to see. The most popular park is Griffith Park, owned by the city of Los Angeles. You can also watch the yearly Rose Parade in Pasadena and visit the Los Angeles County Fair in Pomona. Other cool spots include the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Los Angeles Zoo, and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

The area has famous beaches like Venice Beach and Santa Monica's pier, which has a big Ferris wheel. In the mountains, you can go to Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park, where old Western movies were made, and the Mount Wilson Observatory for looking at the stars.

Museums

Photo of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art during its 2005 Ancient Egypt exhibit

Entertainment

Music venues

Amusement parks

Other attractions

Other areas

Transportation

Main article: Transportation in Los Angeles

Los Angeles County has many ways to get around, including highways, airports, trains, and ports.

Major highways

Los Angeles County has many important highways that help people travel within the county and to other places. Some of the main highways include:

Air

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), located in the Westchester district, is the main airport for the county and the Greater Los Angeles Area. LAX is run by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), an agency of the City of Los Angeles.

Other important airports in Los Angeles County include:

The county also has several general aviation airports, including:

The U.S. Air Force runs three airports in Los Angeles County:

Rail

Los Angeles is a big center for freight railroads, especially because of the large amount of goods moving in and out of the county's seaports. The ports are connected to downtown rail yards and to the main lines of Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe through a special freight rail corridor called the Alameda Corridor.

Passenger rail service in the county is provided by Amtrak, Los Angeles Metro Rail and Metrolink.

Amtrak has several intercity services at Union Station in Los Angeles:

Union Station is also the main hub for Metrolink commuter rail, which serves much of the Greater Los Angeles Area.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) provides light rail, subway (heavy rail), and long-distance bus service. Other smaller regional transit agencies serve specific parts of Los Angeles County.

Sea

The county's two main seaports are the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach. Together, they handle over a quarter of all container traffic entering the United States, making them the largest and most important port complex in the country, and the third-largest port in the world by shipping volume.

The Port of Los Angeles is the largest cruise ship center on the West Coast, handling more than 1 million passengers each year.

The Port of Long Beach is home to the Sea Launch program, which uses a floating platform to launch payloads into orbits that are hard to reach from land.

Catalina Express ferries connect Catalina Island's city of Avalon to the mainland at San Pedro and Long Beach, as well as Dana Point in Orange County.

Water

Los Angeles County gets water from more than 200 water districts or agencies. Because of droughts in California, it can sometimes be difficult to have enough water for everyone.

Communities

For the racial / ethnic profile of individual communities in Los Angeles County, see Demographics of Los Angeles County § Racial / Ethnic profile of places in Los Angeles County, California.

Cities

Main article: List of cities in Los Angeles County, California

Los Angeles County has 88 cities. The biggest cities are listed here:

Unincorporated areas

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Proposed communities

See: Los Angeles Almanac MAP: Unincorporated Areas and Communities of Los Angeles County

See also: List of districts and neighborhoods of Los Angeles

Largest cities, 2024 Estimate
CityPopulation
Los Angeles
3,878,704
Long Beach
450,901
Santa Clarita
229,159
Glendale
187,823
Lancaster
167,426
Palmdale
162,536
Pomona
147,966
Torrance
139,576
Pasadena
137,195
Downey
109,368
West Covina
106,920
El Monte
104,639
Burbank
103,533
Inglewood
102,774

Images

A beautiful view of Mt. Baldy in the San Gabriel Mountains from Angeles Crest Highway.
A scenic aerial view of West End on Santa Catalina Island in California, showcasing its beautiful coastline and natural landscape.
A beautiful fountain from the 1920s featuring a statue of Neptune in Palos Verdes Estates, California.
The Langham Huntington hotel in Pasadena, Los Angeles – a grand and elegant building.
Beautiful wildflowers blooming in the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve.
Official logo of Los Angeles County, California.

Related articles

Los Angeles
Orange County, California
Pacific Ocean
Mojave Desert
Universal Pictures
Port of Long Beach

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Los Angeles County, California, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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