The City of Angels
The city of Los Angeles wears many hats, so to speak. It is known as the "Entertainment Capital of the World", it is also a cultural hotspot with over 300 museums, it's the only city in North America that has had the honor of hosting the Summer Olympics twice, Downtown L.A. is the largest center of government outside of Washington, D.C., it is home to the largest historical theater district listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and... it has the last wooden lighthouse in California. On top of all that, there is a general consensus that the city experiences near perfect weather. Pretty impressive so far! Now, let's get a little background information about the city and what makes it so unique.
Los Angeles, often referred to as L.A. or "The City of Angels", is the second-largest city in the U.S. with a population of over 3.7 million, as of the 2010 Census. The city is also the most populous in the state of California, and is the county seat of Los Angeles County. The city proper occupies an area of 472 square miles and is located approximately 380 miles south of San Francisco. The areas surrounding the city are referred to as the L.A. Metropolitan Area, which is comprised of 88 cities and a multitude of unincorporated communities. The total population of the L.A. Metro Area is 12.1 million as of 2010.
L.A. TRAVEL RESOURCES
Information for all Los Angeles Visitors
Diversity in Geography, Climate, Culture, & Entertainment
Los Angeles is spread over a very diverse geographic region. Mostly consisting of desert basin, the region is surrounded by the San Gabriel Mountain range and is divided by the Santa Monica Mountains. Los Angeles County has 75 miles of sunny coastline, while its altitudes range from 9 feet below sea level at the lowest point (Wilmington), to 10,080 feet about sea level at the highest point (Mt. San Antonio). The county's rivers include Los Angeles, Santa Clara, San Gabriel, and Rio Hondo.
The city's climate is referred to as 'Mediterranean,' and most days are warm and sunny, with pleasant breezes coming in from the Pacific Ocean in the summer. Humidity is low and as a general rule there is little rainfall throughout the year. The area is, however, prone to earthquakes due to its location along the Pacific Ring of Fire.
The city is also characterized by its racial and ethnic diversity; people from 140 countries call the city home. A myriad of different languages and dialects are spoken in the region.
Another great source of pride for the city is that it is the leading supplier of various forms of entertainment to the world, including movies, television productions, music, and video games.
The port of Los Angeles also takes first place for top import/export spot in the U.S. Two-way trade values at the port total more than $400 billion annually. Top commodities include computers, appliances, machinery, automobiles and parts, natural gas and refined oil, and clothes and accessories.
