Los Angeles is a port city located along the Pacific Coast in the southwestern portion of California. Although now the city is the 2nd largest in the United States, Los Angeles began as a small ranching community with a big name. Founded in 1781 by a diverse group of settlers, Los Angeles was originally christened El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula (The Village of Our Lady, the Queen of the Angels of Porciuncula); but as the population grew larger, the name became shorter. Once Los Angeles and the state of California became part of the United States at the end of the Mexican-American War in 1848, it wasn’t long before the city would become a major industrial center for the nation and for the world. Los Angeles’ success was boosted in part by the discovery of oil in 1892; by 1923, the city was producing a quarter of the world’s petroleum.

Today Los Angeles boasts a population of over 3.8 million and is ranked as one of the most culturally diverse areas in the nation. Much of Los Angeles’ international fame is due to its status as a world leader in the entertainment industry, including the filming of motion pictures, television, and music recording. The city is home to many stars of the big screen, and many can be spotted dining on the Sunset Strip or shopping in the designer boutiques on Beverly Hills’ Rodeo Drive. And although it is often thought to be its own city, Hollywood is actually a district within Los Angeles, located north-northwest of the city’s downtown. Because of its international reputation as the center for the film industry, Hollywood has become a term synonymous with American cinema.

But for those of us who have yet to reach celebrity status, Los Angeles is still a great place to work and to live. As a prominent center for culture, technology, business, and international trade, Los Angeles is a city full of career opportunities. The Los Angeles port, together with that of Long Beach, is depended upon by trade within the Pacific Rim, and is thus one of the most significant ports in the world. The city is headquarters to many major corporations, including the five Fortune 500 companies, Northrop Grumman, Occidental Petroleum, Health Net, KB Home, and Reliance Steel & Aluminum. Los Angeles is also big in the financial industry—companies such as Citigroup, Wells Fargo, U.S. Bancorp, and Bank of America all have offices in the downtown district of Bunker Hill. After the work day is done, Los Angeles features a variety of entertainment possibilities, including casual and fine dining, museums, art galleries, shopping, performance arts, and sporting events. Because Los Angeles’ communities are so diverse, there is literally a recreation niche for every whim, whether you want to dance the night away in a high profile nightclub, enjoy an quiet and elegant meal at Nobu Matsuhisa, or spend a rowdy afternoon cheering on the L.A. Dodgers, Clippers, or Lakers.

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