Los Angeles

Los Angeles
Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Los Angeles
Nickname	"City of Angels"
State	California
Country	United States
Founded	1781
Area	502.7 sq mi
Population	3,898,747 (2020)

Los Angeles is a major city in Southern California known for its global influence in film industry, television, music industry, international trade, and technology. It hosts landmark institutions such as Hollywood, Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and University of California, Los Angeles. The city is a hub for diverse communities including large populations with roots in Mexico, Korea, Philippines, Armenia, and Japan.

History

The area was inhabited by the Tongva and later visited by explorers from Spain including expeditions linked to Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo and Gaspar de Portolá; it was formally founded under the Spanish Crown as part of New Spain and later became part of Mexican Cession following the Mexican–American War. American-era growth accelerated with arrivals tied to the California Gold Rush, the completion of the Southern Pacific Railroad, and the discovery of oil in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The rise of the film industry around Hollywood and the expansion of Aerospace Corporation contractors during World War II reshaped urban development; postwar decades saw large projects connected to the Interstate Highway System and civil changes influenced by events such as the Watts riots and rulings from the United States Supreme Court affecting municipal policies.

Geography and Climate

Located in the Los Angeles Basin and bordered by the Pacific Ocean, the city includes topography from the Santa Monica Mountains to river valleys like the Los Angeles River. Microclimates vary between coastal neighborhoods near Santa Monica and inland districts adjacent to San Fernando Valley, with temperature moderation influenced by the California Current and phenomena such as the Santa Ana winds. The region sits near major faults including the San Andreas Fault and Newport–Inglewood Fault, making seismic activity and preparedness central to municipal planning; water supply history involves infrastructure tied to the Los Angeles Aqueduct and controversies related to the Owens Valley.

Demographics

The population reflects large immigrant communities from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Korea, Philippines, China, Japan, Armenia, and Iran, alongside Afro-Latino and African diasporic populations with origins linked to Jamaica and Ethiopia. Neighborhoods like Boyle Heights, Koreatown, Little Armenia, Chinatown, and Echo Park illustrate cultural mosaics; census data show shifts influenced by housing trends, immigration policy shaped by statutes such as the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, and socioeconomic patterns traced by studies from institutions like UCLA and USC.

Economy

Regional economic drivers include the film industry studios of Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., and Walt Disney Studios, port activities at the Port of Los Angeles linked with Port of Long Beach, aerospace firms once including Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin facilities, and a growing technology industry cluster with companies akin to Snap Inc. and startups associated with Silicon Beach. The finance sector features offices for institutions such as Wells Fargo and branches of multinational firms; tourism centers around attractions like Universal Studios Hollywood, Staples Center, and cultural venues including the Getty Center. Labor relations have involved unions such as the Screen Actors Guild and International Brotherhood of Teamsters in landmark negotiations and strikes.

Culture and Arts

Los Angeles hosts major museums including Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Getty Center, and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, performing arts venues such as the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Ahmanson Theatre, and music scenes spanning venues like the Hollywood Bowl and The Roxy Theatre. The city has been central to movements in film industry innovation, the punk rock scene of Punk's Not Dead era venues, and the development of hip hop artists tied to Compton and South Central Los Angeles; festivals and parades such as the Tournament of Roses Parade and cultural events in Little Tokyo reinforce plural heritage. Culinary innovation reflects influences from Mexico City, Seoul, Tokyo, and Beirut through restaurants and markets across neighborhoods such as Grand Central Market and Olvera Street.

Government and Politics

Municipal administration operates under a mayor–council structure with offices interacting with entities like the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and state bodies in California. Political dynamics have been shaped by leaders linked to elected figures who have addressed issues including land use, public safety, and housing policy; local ballot measures and litigation have involved courts including the California Supreme Court and federal decisions from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Advocacy groups and coalitions tied to labor, tenants, and environmental organizations influence policy debates alongside interventions from federal agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Infrastructure and Transportation

Transportation infrastructure includes major arteries such as Interstate 5, Interstate 10, and U.S. Route 101, and public transit operated by agencies like the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority with rail lines including the Metro A Line and Metro B Line. Air travel is served by Los Angeles International Airport, with additional commercial service at Hollywood Burbank Airport and Long Beach Airport; the Port of Los Angeles handles container shipping connected to global trade networks including routes to Shanghai and Busan. Utilities and emergency services coordinate with regional bodies such as the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and Los Angeles Fire Department; major infrastructure projects have involved partnerships with the Federal Highway Administration and investments spurred by agencies such as the Federal Transit Administration.

Category:Cities in California