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The cities size is 469.1 square miles and has a population of 3,694,820 people (2000), making it the 2nd largest city in the USA. The metro area is much larger with 16,373,645 people. This also makes it the 2nd largest metro area in the USA. This metro area includes many other large cities in their own right, such as Long Beach, Anaheim, Riverside, Glendale, Huntington Beach and San Bernardino, all top 100 sized cities in the USA. It is serviced by 2 major airports, Los Angeles International (LAX) and Hollywood (Burbank) Airport. There is no extensive train or rail system. Together with the huge expanse of the area, having a car is a must in this region. Known as the City of Angels or simply L.A, the city is broken into numerous sections and has numerous mountain ranges in the area. Elevations vary from sea level to over 10,000' in the nearby Angeles National Forest.
Los Angeles was settled in 1781 by the Spanish govenor of California, Felipe de Neve. Control was ceded to the USA in the 1840s during the Mexican-American War. It was later incorporated into the City of Los Angeles in 1850. Because of its remote location from the eastern United States, growth was slow until the arrival of the Southern Pacific railroad in 1876. Later the Santa Fe railroad arrived in 1885. Growth became rampant between 1890-1940. Irrigation techniques allowed citrus fruit to be grown. A great harbor was built between 1899-1914 with the San Pedro breakwater. The city then built an aqueduct to the north, providing water from the Sierran streams in the Owens River Valley. This induced many local communities to annex with the growing city. In the 1920s, Hollywood became the motion picture industry center. The oil industry expanded and after World War II aircraft manufacturers contributed to the growth. With beautiful weather and jobs, growth was extensive and mostly unplanned. This led to severe air pollution issues and widespread ghettos. The Watts riots of 1965 and the South-Central riots of 1992 have become symbolic of urban ills in the USA. By the 1980s, Los Angeles had become the 2nd largest city in the USA. Despite earthquakes that have occassionaly caused significant damage to the area, it has continued to grow and was a major shipbuilding area during WWII.
The city's economy is very diverse. It is most famous for being the motion picture or movie capital of the world. The word Hollywood is synonymous with the motion picture industry and glamorous stars. For each star, there are hundreds of up and coming stars, wannabes and dreamers trying to fill a few slots for stardom. Besides movies, the entertainment industry dominates in the world of TV and radio broadcasting and music recording. Los Angeles also is a leader in the defense industry. This is especially true in the field of aerospace for both defense and commercial applications. Other manufacturing includes electronic equipment, clothing, processed foods, metal goods, chemicals, building supplies and printed materials. Many large corporations have their headquarters in the L.A area. Research and development facilities and financial institutions are found throughout the area. Tourism is a huge industry. People from around the world are attracted to the allure of Hollywood and the beautiful homes associated with it. People also come to the many amusement parks such as Disneyland and Universal studios. The natural beauty of the area, ringed with huge mountains, the Pacific Ocean and rugged coastline, surfing and mild, temperate weather all attract people year round to the area. The port of Los Angeles-Long Beach, which is located in San Pedro Bay, is the largest west coast Pacific Ocean port for the U.S. Los Angeles is also a major transportation center for railroad, airplanes and is reknowned for its extensive (and often crowded, not moving) freeway systems.
Los Angeles is a beautiful city.... Like any paradise, it has a price to be paid by living here. Urban sprawl, unprecedented for the U.S, makes traveling in the area often difficult. Lack of mass transit, the huge volume of automotive travel and being surrounded by huge mountains insures lots of smog for the area. Occasional but severe earthquakes, wildfires and mudslides interrupt an otherwise tranquil setting.
There are many well known institutions of higher learning. They include UCLA (University of California at Los Angeles), USC (University of Southern California), Loyola Marymount University, Yeshiva University of Los Angeles and many others. Museums include the Getty Museum, La Brea Discoveries Museum, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum amongst the many museums.
Buffered by temperate weather, January, the coldest month, averages 56F. In the summer, August, the hottest month averages 69F. The typical minimum and maximum temperatures do not vary much from the averages, one of the reasons why it is such a popular place to live. The city receives slightly less then 13"/year of rain. The rainy season is in the winter and the area receives almost no rain during the summer. Mostly sunny, fog and smog can often block an otherwise clear sky.
Los Angeles is a diverse city, with over 35% of its residents born outside the USA. People of Hispanic origin constitute about 40% of the population. Asians account for 10% and African-Americans 14%. The remaining people are whites.
All pictures are from Los Angeles or the immediate area. The pictures below on this page are all from various parts of the city, using various film and digital cameras. Subsequent pages found directly below will continue the city tour. They will tend to concentrate on well known areas.
Visit numerous other Parks and Cities by World from the Web.
Skyscrapers as seen from Pershing Park in LA. Pershing Park is located at 6th and Olive, downtown Los Angeles.
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Skyscrapers as seen from Pershing Park in LA.
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Pershing Park in LA.
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Clock Tower as seen from Pershing Park in LA.
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AON building in downtown LA, near 7th and Grand.
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From McCarthur Park, 7th and S. Park View, the view of downtown Los Angeles.
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The public Library at Hope and 6th Street in LA.
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The Highland First National Building at Hollywood Blvd and Highland.
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Hollywood Blvd and Orange, the Graumans Chinese Theatre.
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Next to the Grauman's Chinese Theatre, the Kodak Theatre.
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Perhaps the brightest and tragic of the stars along Hollywoods Walk of Fame, Hollywood Blvd, Marilyn Monroe.
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John Travolta is one of the many stars along Hollywoods Walk of Fame, Hollywood Blvd.
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The shops on Rodeo Drive, corner of Dayton in Beverly Hills.
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The Beverly Hills Hotel at Sunset Blvd. and Rodeo Dr.
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Will Rogers Memorial Park, across the street from the Beverly Hills Hotel.
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Beautiful house found in Beverley Hills on Foothill Dr.
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The following Los Angeles parks are listed below for your viewing.
Malibu Creek State Park by World from the Web.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area by World from the Web.
Topanga State Park by World from the Web.
Additional parks not in Los Angeles but in the area are listed below for your viewing.
Angeles National Forest by World from the Web.
Joshua Tree National Park by World from the Web.
The West Coast by World from the Web.
Further information on Los Angeles can be found at the City of Los Angeles Official Web Site or
Los Angeles Digital city site.
