Welcome to Los Angeles, CALos 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.
© 2008 Reliance Relocation Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Contributed by:  | More Local Area InformationIf you are looking to relocate to Los Angeles, you can rest assured knowing that the city’s limitless possibilities are extended to its real estat... Read moreThe San Fernando Valley is located in Southern California. More than half of the city of Los Angeles' land area lies within the San Fernando Valley... Read moreGlendale, California is located at the eastern end of the San Fernando Valley. In 1798, Jose Maria Verdugo, a corporal in the Spanish army receive... Read morePasadena, which means “Crown of the Valley” is a name derived from the Chippewa Indians, its earliest inhabitants. The San Gabriel Mountains forme... Read moreOnce a year, Pasadena becomes a stage for the world to see, for on January 1 or 2, the famed Tournament of Roses Parade winds down Colorad... Read moreBurbank, California is located at the far Eastern border of the San Fernando Valley, near the Western border of the San Gabriel Valley. Burban... Read moreNestled at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains, above Pasadena, Altadena, California offers the beauty and serenity of foothills living with th... Read moreLa Crescenta-Montrose, California is an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County. Its neighbors are the Angeles National Forest to the north, L... Read moreLa Cañada Flintridge, California is nestled at the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, to the Northeast of Glendale and to the Northwest o... Read moreArcadia, CA is best known for three things: The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens where many movies have been filmed, Santa Anit... Read moreOne can always spot a Sierra Madre resident, for their car license plate frame will say, “Foothill Village.” The residents of Sierra Madre al... Read moreWhittier, California was founded by the Quakers in the late 1800s. In fact, the city takes its name from a quaker poet, John Greenleaf Quaker. Buil... Read moreManhattan Beach, California is a city filled with beautiful homes on tree-lined streets, year-round sunshine and beautiful beaches. This city i... Read moreManhattan Beach, California has a private tennis club and a 9-hole public golf course. The community provides a large number of activities for it... Read moreIn 1883 part of Lucky Baldwin's estate, Rancho Santa Anita, was sold to William N. Monroe, Monrovia's namesake. The City of Monrovia, California wa... Read moreThe City of Torrance is as dynamic as it is diverse! The 6th largest city in Los Angeles County, it boasts a bustling downtown, safe communities an... Read more“Hermosa” means beautiful…and that it is! Hermosa Beach, California is a stunning town and the beach is flat, sandy and long ... Read moreThe population of Hacienda Heights is around 53,000. Most of the housing in Hacienda Heights was constructed in the 70s and 80s. Many of the home... Read moreWhat began as a lima bean fields has emerged into a model planned community. The small, mass produced homes were sold initially to Korean & WW I... Read moreRedondo Beach, California is an ocean city with around 55,000 residents. This city has two miles of sandy beaches (South Redondo) for swimming... Read more |
