Los Angeles, also known as the City of Angels, was founded in the late 1700’s when California was still part of the Spanish Empire. What started as a group of families clustered around a river (later the L.A. River) has become the second largest city in the United States.
Although the last of the automobile factories shut down in the 1990’s, the local aerospace industry has declined since the end of the Cold War, and much of the entertainment business has found cheaper areas to produce films and television shows, bringing the phrase “runaway production” into the lexicon, Los Angeles has maintained its place as a city not to be ignored. Many studios still operate in the city and its environs: CBS Television City at Beverly and Fairfax; Paramount Pictures on Melrose; 21st Century Fox in Century City; Sony in Culver City; Universal Studios in Universal City; NBC, Disney and Warner Bros. in Burbank; and DreamWorks in Glendale. The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences (The Oscars) is located in Hollywood and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (The Emmys) has its home in North Hollywood.
Los Angeles is one of the few major cities whose residents and workforce choose not to live downtown. This is due in part to the natural beauty and diversity of the area, which includes mountains, deserts and beaches within the commuter transportation system of freeways, trains, light rail and subways. Many of those who work and play in the city center come in from their homes in the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and San Gabriel Valleys; the Mojave Desert; and beach communities such as Santa Monica, Venice, Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo. However, there has been renewed interest in housing downtown and as a result many new condominium and apartment towers are being built, and several historic buildings have been renovated as condos/lofts (fortunately while maintaining their original exterior design).
Although Los Angeles encompasses many neighborhoods, many of those assumed to be part of the city are not. The city of San Fernando, Burbank, Glendale, Malibu, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Culver City are fully independent and have their own mayor and city council. Most of the San Fernando Valley, however, is part of Los Angeles proper, although there has long been a desire on the part of many to form their own city. This movement reached its zenith in 2002 when the proposition made it to a vote. The majority of Valley residents chose “Yes” but were thwarted by the “No” vote that resulted from citywide. Organizers of the proposed new San Fernando Valley city have vowed to persevere; if they are ever successful, a new city of approx. 1.3 million residents across over 200 square miles could be created. The new “Valley City,” as it may be called, would be the 6th largest in the U.S., just ahead of Phoenix. Los Angeles would then drop to 3rd place, behind Chicago, as it was for many decades.
Los Angeles, with its beautiful sunny weather, long stretches of beach, snow-capped mountains in the distance and buzz of excitement in the air, is irresistible to many, who feel like they are walking down the red carpet every step they take. |
