# Los Angeles

> seat of Los Angeles County, and largest city in California, United States

**Wikidata**: [Q65](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q65)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/los-angeles

## Summary
Los Angeles is the largest city in California and the seat of Los Angeles County in the United States. Founded on September 4, 1781, it is a major global metropolis incorporated as a charter city. Known as the "City of Angels," it serves as a primary hub for the film industry and is one of the most populous cities in North America.

## Key Facts
- **Official Name:** City of Los Angeles.
- **Location:** Los Angeles County, California, United States, North America.
- **Coordinates:** 34.05223° N, -118.24368° W.
- **Inception:** September 4, 1781.
- **Incorporation Date:** April 4, 1850.
- **Population (2020 Census):** 3,898,747.
- **Area (2016):** 1,302.15 square kilometers.
- **Elevation:** 106 meters above sea level.
- **Time Zone:** UTC−08:00 (Standard) / UTC−07:00 (Daylight Saving).
- **Demonym:** Angeleno.
- **Legislative Body:** Los Angeles City Council.
- **Head of Government (Mayor):** Karen Bass (term start: December 2022).
- **UN/LOCODE:** USLAX.

## FAQs

**What is the origin and history of Los Angeles?**
Los Angeles was founded on September 4, 1781, under the native name *El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles del Río de Porciúncula*. It was incorporated as a city on April 4, 1850. The city is named after the Queen of Heaven.

**What are the demographic and geographic statistics of the city?**
According to the 2020 United States Census, the population is 3,898,747. The city covers a land area of approximately 1,302.15 square kilometers, with water making up about 6.77% of its total area. It is situated in the Pacific Time Zone.

**What is the governmental structure of Los Angeles?**
Los Angeles is a charter city and the county seat of Los Angeles County. Its legislative body is the Los Angeles City Council, and its chief executive is the Mayor, a position held by Karen Bass as of 2023. The city is also designated as an LGBT sanctuary city.

**What are some of the city's major global connections?**
The city maintains sister city relationships with numerous global metropolises including London, Berlin, Mumbai, and Tokyo. It is part of the Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim urban area and serves as a major business cluster for the film industry.

## Why It Matters
Los Angeles is a critical global node as the largest city in California and a primary economic engine of the United States. Its significance is amplified by its status as a "megacity" and "global city," serving as the world's leading business cluster for the film industry. The city's vast metropolitan area and port facilities drive international trade and culture. Its designation as an LGBT sanctuary city and its hosting of major global events like the Summer Olympics (1932, 1984) further underscore its role as a center for social progress and international cooperation.

## Notable For
- **Population:** Largest city in California and the second-largest in the United States (2020 population: 3,898,747).
- **Olympics Host:** Hosted the Summer Olympics in 1932 and 1984.
- **Cultural Hub:** Home to Hollywood and identified as a major business cluster for the film industry.
- **Diversity of Aliases:** Known globally by nicknames like "Tinseltown," "La La Land," and the "City of Angels."
- **Sitelink Presence:** Has one of the highest sitelink counts (277) among global cities, indicating extensive documentation and recognition.

## Body

### Geography and Location
Los Angeles is located in Southern California within Los Angeles County, overlapping the primary place of the Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim urban area. It sits on the North American continent at coordinates 34.05223, -118.24368, bordering the Pacific Ocean. The city's total area was measured at 1,302.15 square kilometers in 2016, with water covering 88.12 square kilometers (6.77% of the area). It shares borders with numerous localities including Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Glendale, and Long Beach.

### Demographics and Population
The city has experienced steady growth from a population of 1,610 in 1850 to nearly 4 million in 2020. Key census data points include:
- **1880:** 11,183
- **1900:** 102,479
- **1950:** (Data inferred from growth trends between 1900 and 2010)
- **2010:** 3,792,621
- **2020:** 3,898,747 (Preferred data)

The 2016–2020 American Community Survey recorded 1,402,522 households and a per capita income of $37,143.

### Government and Administration
As a charter city, Los Angeles operates under its own municipal charter rather than general law. The city serves as the county seat for Los Angeles County. The Los Angeles City Council acts as the legislative body. The executive branch is led by the Mayor; Eric Garcetti served from July 2013, succeeded by Karen Bass in December 2022. The city owns key infrastructure including Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Los Angeles World Airports, and the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena.

### History and Naming
Founded on September 4, 1781, the city was originally named *El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles del Río de Porciúncula*. It was incorporated on April 4, 1850. The city's name, "Los Angeles," translates to "The Angels," named after the Queen of Heaven.

### International Relations (Sister Cities)
Los Angeles maintains active sister city agreements with 25 cities worldwide, fostering cultural and economic exchange. Key relationships include:
- **Nagoya, Japan:** Since April 1, 1959.
- **Bordeaux, France:** Since May 26, 1964.
- **Berlin, Germany:** Since June 27, 1967.
- **Mexico City, Mexico:** Since December 11, 1969.
- **Tehran, Iran:** Since May 26, 1972.
- **Saint Petersburg, Russia:** Since February 10, 1984.
- **Auckland, New Zealand:** Since 1971.
- **Kaunas, Lithuania:** Since 1991.

Other sister cities include London, Montreal, Seoul, Yerevan, Amsterdam, Busan, and Manila.

### Infrastructure and Transport
The city is served by multiple local dialing codes: 213, 310, 323, 424, 747, and 818. It uses the UN/LOCODE USLAX and contains extensive postal code ranges (90001–90189). Its major airport is LAX, managed by the city-owned Los Angeles World Airports.

### Cultural and Digital Identity
Los Angeles has a strong digital and media presence. Its official website is https://lacity.gov/. The city engages with the public via verified social media accounts, including the Twitter handle @LACity and the subreddit r/LosAngeles. It is referenced extensively across knowledge bases including Wikipedia (252 sitelinks), Britannica, and specialized databases like GeoNames and MusicBrainz. The city flag and seal are standard civic symbols, depicting imagery related to its history and agriculture.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lamayor.org/)
2. [Source](https://mayor.lacity.gov/about-mayor-karen-bass)
3. Integrated Authority File
4. Global LEI Index
5. [Source](https://www.cacities.org/Resources-Documents/Resources-Section/Charter-Cities/Charter_Cities-List)
6. [Los Angeles leaders move to protect immigrants and LGBTQ students in advance of Trump’s return to the White House. CNN.com. 2024](https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/19/us/los-angeles-sanctuary-city-lgbtq-students-votes/index.html)
7. [Los Angeles is now a sanctuary city for LGBTQ+ youth and immigrants. The Advocate](https://www.advocate.com/politics/los-angeles-sanctuary-city-lgbtq)
8. [Source](http://sistercities.lacity.org/html/05.html)
9. [Source](http://www.bordeaux.fr/ebx/LinkResolverServlet?classofcontent=presentationStandard&id=5350)
10. [Source](https://sistercities.lacity.org/html/18.html)
11. [Source](https://sistercities.lacity.org/)
12. [Source](https://kvs.gov.spb.ru/en/agreements/)
13. [Source](http://www.kaunas.lt/apie-kauna/miesto-partneriai/)
14. [Source](https://sistercities.lacity.org/html/02.html)
15. [Source](https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/about-auckland-council/our-partnerships/Pages/international-relations.aspx)
16. Virtual International Authority File
17. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
18. Medical Subject Headings
19. MusicBrainz
20. [Source](https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=bkmk)
21. [Source](http://www.laalmanac.com/population/po02.htm)
22. [Source](http://physics.bu.edu/~redner/projects/population/cities/la.html)
23. 2010 U.S. Gazetteer Files
24. [2010 United States Census](https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0100000US%241600000&y=2010&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29)
25. [Source](https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=United%20States&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1)
26. [2020 United States Census](https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?t=Populations%20and%20People&g=0100000US,%241600000&y=2020)
27. [Source](https://www.findmecity.com/)
28. [Trove](http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1050919)
29. [2016–2020 American Community Survey](https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?d=ACS%205-Year%20Estimates%20Detailed%20Tables)
30. [Source](http://cnig.gouv.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/CNT-PVM_r%C3%A9vis%C3%A9_2020-01-27-1.pdf)
31. GeoNames
32. BBC Things
33. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/us.htm)
34. [Source](https://it-ch.topographic-map.com/map-qqbkl/Los-Angeles/?zoom=19&center=34.05369%2C-118.2428&popup=34.05379%2C-118.24289)
35. 2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files
36. [Los Angeles, California - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Los_Angeles,_California)
37. [Source](https://tapchicongthuong.vn/michael-jackson-truoc-nam-1975-duoc-phien-am-thanh-manh-khac-lac-khac-ton--va-hon-100--ten-quoc-gia--dia-danh--ca-si--dien-vien-dien-anh--doc-len-rat-la-tai-65715.htm)
38. [Source](https://trinm.wordpress.com/2010/08/22/lan-man-v%E1%BB%81-vi%E1%BB%87t-hoa-d%E1%BB%8Ba-danh-va-ten-danh-nhan/)
39. BabelNet
40. UMLS 2023
41. 2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files
42. Quora
43. [Source](https://www.google.com/maps?cid=16298491244936825076)
44. Open Library
45. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
46. [Source](https://gynopedia.org/Los_Angeles)
47. [Source](https://golden.com/wiki/Los_Angeles-DN56)
48. Name Suggestion Index
49. KBpedia
50. [Source](https://github.com/opencivicdata/ocd-division-ids/blob/3be08665c80a9472d06409f547df352dd71132da/identifiers/country-us/state-ca-census.csv)