Los Ángeles (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles)

Los Ángeles (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles)
Name	Los Ángeles
Native name	El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles
Settlement type	City
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	United States
Subdivision type1	State
Subdivision name1	California
Established title	Founded
Established date	1781
Area total sq mi	468.7
Population total	3970000
Population as of	2020
Timezone	Pacific Time Zone

Los Ángeles (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles) is a major city on the Pacific coast of the United States within California and the principal municipality of Los Angeles County. Founded in 1781, the city is a national center for entertainment, trade, and higher education with extensive links to Hollywood, Downtown Los Angeles, and the Port of Los Angeles. The city is known for its diverse population, sprawling metropolitan area, and institutions such as the UCLA, the USC, and the Getty Center.

History

The settlement was founded in 1781 by Spanish colonists associated with Charles III and the Viceroyalty of New Spain, alongside figures from the Presidio and Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, during an era shaped by the Spanish Empire, Mexican War of Independence, and later Mexican–American War. In the 19th century, the city saw landholders from the Rancho period, including families linked to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and the California Gold Rush, which connected Los Ángeles to San Francisco, Sacramento, and San Diego. The 20th century brought migration tied to World War I, World War II, and the rise of industries centered in Hollywood, Burbank, and the San Fernando Valley, while civic leaders, labor unions such as the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, and events like the Los Angeles Riots of 1992 shaped urban reform and policy.

Geography and climate

The city lies within the basin of the Los Angeles River and is bounded by Santa Monica Mountains, the Pacific Ocean, and neighboring municipalities such as Long Beach, Glendale, Pasadena, and Inglewood. Its topography includes the San Fernando Valley, Hollywood Hills, and coastal plains adjacent to the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach. Los Ángeles experiences a Mediterranean climate influenced by the California Current, characterized by warm dry summers and mild wet winters, with microclimates across neighborhoods like Venice, Echo Park, Silver Lake, and Beverly Hills. The regional environment is subject to hazards including Southern California wildfires, earthquakes, and episodic impacts from El Niño–Southern Oscillation events.

Demographics

The population combines communities from Mexico, El Salvador, Korea, China, Philippines, Armenia, Iran, and Japan, reflecting migration patterns tied to policies such as the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 and historical movements involving Bracero Program participants. Neighborhoods show concentrations of Pico-Union, Chinatown, Koreatown, Little Tokyo, and Little Armenia, with linguistic diversity that includes Spanish language, Tagalog, Korean, and Armenian. Socioeconomic indicators vary across areas like South Los Angeles, Westlake, Santa Monica, and Century City, with civic responses coordinated by institutions such as the Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, and nonprofit organizations like United Way of Greater Los Angeles.

Economy and infrastructure

Los Ángeles hosts major employers in the entertainment industry including Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros., Netflix, and Paramount Pictures, alongside aerospace firms near El Segundo and Palmdale connected to Northrop Grumman and The Boeing Company. The Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach form one of the busiest trade gateways, linked to freight corridors via the Interstate 710 and the BNSF Railway, while finance and technology clusters are concentrated in Downtown Los Angeles and Silicon Beach. Health and research institutions such as Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, UCLA Medical Center, and City of Hope National Medical Center contribute to the life sciences sector. Urban utilities and public works are managed by agencies like the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

Culture and landmarks

Cultural institutions include the LACMA, the Getty Center, the Hollywood Bowl, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and performance venues on Broadway near the Walt Disney Concert Hall plaza and Grand Park. The city's landmarks span the Griffith Observatory, Hollywood Sign, Union Station, Angel Stadium region attractions, and historic districts such as Olvera Street and the Bradbury Building. Annual events like the Academy Awards, LA Pride, the Nisei Week Japanese Festival, and the LA Marathon highlight ties to Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and community organizations. The culinary scene reflects diasporic links to Mexican cuisine, Korean cuisine, Japanese cuisine, and fusion movements centered in neighborhoods including Grand Central Market, Silver Lake, and West Hollywood.

Government and administration

Municipal governance is organized under a mayoral office and a city council with districts similar to models used in city council systems; historically, mayors and officials have interacted with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the California State Legislature, and federal agencies such as the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Legal and civic institutions include the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the Los Angeles Superior Court, and municipal departments overseeing planning, transportation, and public safety in coordination with regional bodies like the Southern California Association of Governments.

Transportation and urban development

The city's transportation network incorporates freeways including Interstate 5, Interstate 10, and US Route 101, rail services by Metrolink and the Metro Rail, and major terminals at LAX and Union Station. Recent projects involve transit expansion funded through measures like Measure M and light-rail extensions connecting neighborhoods from Pasadena to Downtown Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. Urban development patterns show mixed-use projects in Arts District, adaptive reuse in Downtown Los Angeles, and suburban growth in the San Gabriel Valley, with planning influenced by agencies such as the Los Angeles Department of City Planning and preservation efforts by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Category:Cities in California Category:Los Angeles County, California