City of Los Angeles

City of Los Angeles
Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Los Angeles
Official name	City of Los Angeles
Nickname	"LA", "City of Angels"
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	United States
Subdivision type1	State
Subdivision name1	California
Established title	Founded
Established date	September 4, 1781
Area total km2	1302
Population total	3979576
Timezone	Pacific Time Zone

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City of Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a major city in the United States located in Southern California that serves as a global center for entertainment industry, finance, and culture of California. Founded in 1781 under New Spain and later part of Alta California, Los Angeles grew rapidly during the 19th and 20th centuries with landmarks such as Broadway (Los Angeles), Hollywood, and the Los Angeles River. The city hosts major institutions including University of California, Los Angeles, University of Southern California, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art while anchoring the Greater Los Angeles metropolitan area.

History

Los Angeles was founded by Felipe de Neve as "El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles" during the era of Viceroyalty of New Spain and later became part of Mexican California after the Mexican War of Independence. The city was ceded to the United States following the Mexican–American War and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, then incorporated in 1850 as part of California statehood. The arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad and the Los Angeles Aqueduct engineered by William Mulholland spurred growth, while the discovery of oil near Beverly Hills, California and industries tied to World War II defense contracts transformed the urban and industrial landscape. Key 20th-century events include the rise of Hollywood studios like Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, labor movements such as those led by Cesar Chavez, and civic episodes including the Watts riots and the aftermath of the 1992 Los Angeles riots following the Rodney King verdict. Recent history features the hosting of the 1932 Summer Olympics and the 1984 Summer Olympics, the development of Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena), and ongoing projects associated with the Expo Line and Los Angeles Metro Rail expansion.

Los Angeles occupies a coastal basin bounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Santa Monica Mountains, and the San Gabriel Mountains, incorporating neighborhoods such as Venice, Los Angeles, Hollywood Hills, San Fernando Valley, and Downtown Los Angeles. The region's Mediterranean climate is influenced by the Pacific High and phenomena like Santa Ana Winds and occasional El Niño–Southern Oscillation events. The Los Angeles River and engineered waterways intersect with urban districts including Echo Park, Chinatown, Los Angeles, and Little Tokyo, Los Angeles. The city's topography includes landmarks like Griffith Park, Runyon Canyon, Mount Washington (Los Angeles), and coastal zones such as Malibu and San Pedro, Los Angeles near the Port of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the United States, with large communities tied to Mexico, El Salvador, Korea, China, Philippines, Armenia, Japan, and Iran. Neighborhoods reflect this diversity with concentrations in Koreatown, Los Angeles, Chinatown, Los Angeles, Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, and Thai Town, Los Angeles. Religious institutions include Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Wilshire Boulevard Temple, St. Vibiana's Cathedral, and numerous mosques and temples associated with immigrant communities. Educational institutions such as California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles City College, and Occidental College contribute to population dynamics alongside health systems like Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and UCLA Medical Center.

Los Angeles anchors industries including film and television studios like Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., and Sony Pictures Entertainment, as well as music companies such as Capitol Records and Interscope Records. The port complex comprising Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach supports international trade with partners like China and Mexico, while LAX handles passenger and cargo aviation connected to airlines including American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. The region hosts tech hubs like Silicon Beach with companies such as Snap Inc. and Hulu; fashion centers in Downtown Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, California; finance firms in the Wilshire Corridor; and manufacturing clusters in Vernon, California and El Segundo. Major employers include Los Angeles County, City of Los Angeles, University of Southern California, and entertainment conglomerates like The Walt Disney Company.

Los Angeles operates under a mayor–council system with executive leadership by the Mayor of Los Angeles and legislative authority in the Los Angeles City Council. The city sits within Los Angeles County, California and interacts with regional bodies such as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Los Angeles County) and the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Political history features figures like Tom Bradley (American politician), Antonio Villaraigosa, and Eric Garcetti, and has been shaped by movements including Chicano Movement activism and labor organizing by unions such as the United Auto Workers and Teamsters. Local policy addresses issues intersecting with Caltrans, Los Angeles Police Department, and initiatives involving Affordable housing funding and climate action plans coordinated with the California Air Resources Board.

Los Angeles is home to cultural institutions such as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Getty Center, the Hollywood Bowl, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Entertainment landmarks include Hollywood Walk of Fame, Griffith Observatory, TCL Chinese Theatre, and the former studio complexes of RKO Pictures and United Artists. Sports venues host teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Rams, LA Galaxy, and Los Angeles Kings at arenas including Dodger Stadium and SoFi Stadium. Neighborhoods such as Silver Lake, Echo Park, Los Angeles, Westwood, Los Angeles, and Venice, Los Angeles feature culinary scenes with influences from Mexican cuisine, Korean cuisine, Japanese cuisine, and Armenian American cuisine. Annual events include the Academy Awards, the LA Pride, the Nisei Week festival, the Rose Parade (nearby), and film festivals like the Los Angeles Film Festival.

Transportation arteries include Interstate 5, Interstate 10, U.S. Route 101, and the Santa Monica Freeway connecting districts such as Compton, California, Culver City, California, Burbank, California, and Pasadena, California. Public transit is provided by Los Angeles Metro Rail, Metro Bus (Los Angeles County) and regional rail links via Metrolink to destinations like Anaheim, California and San Bernardino. Aviation hubs feature Los Angeles International Airport and general aviation at Van Nuys Airport, while seaports include the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach. Infrastructure projects involve Measure M (Los Angeles County), streetcar proposals in Downtown Los Angeles, and resilience planning for seismic events related to the San Andreas Fault and the Newhall Pass area.

Category:Cities in California