Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County had a population of 9,818,605 at the 2010 census making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County is also known as the County of Los Angeles and L.A. County. The county has a higher population than 42 of the states in the United States. The county is home to 88 cities and unincorporated areas, including two offshore islands, Santa Catalina Island and San Clemente Island. The largest cities in the county are:

  • Los Angeles
  • Long Beach
  • Glendale
  • Santa Clarita
  • Lancaster
  • Palmdale
  • Pomona
  • Torrance
  • Pasadena
  • El Monte
  • Downey
  • Inglewood
  • West Covina
  • Norwalk
  • Burbank

Los Angeles County is located within the area known as Southern California. The County of Los Angeles is not the same as the Los Angeles Basin or The Greater Los Angeles Area. The San Fernando Valley is located in the western part of Los Angeles County, the Crescenta Valley and the Antelope Valley are in the northern part of the county, and the San Gabriel Valley is in the eastern part of the country. The South Bay is in the southwest region of Los Angeles County. The San Gabriel River flows through the San Gabriel Valley and Los Angeles County.

 

 

Gateway Cities Region

 Gateway Cities Council of Governments

 

The Gateway Cities Region is an area in southeastern Los Angeles County consisting of several cities working together in order to: (1) Improve air quality, (2) Preserve and enhance open space, and (3) Improve mobility. The Gateway Cities Council of Governments (GCOG) is the entity created for that purpose. The organization is located in the city of Paramount.

 

Los Angeles Harbor Region

The Los Angeles Harbor Region is an area in Los Angeles County that includes the following cities or communities:

  • Avalon
  • Carson
  • Catalina
  • Harbor City
  • Harbor Gateway
  • Hawaiian Gardens
  • Lakewood
  • Long Beach
  • Rancho Dominguez
  • Signal Hill
  • San Pedro
  • West Carson
  • Wilmington

South Los Angeles is to the north, Orange County is to the east, the Pacific Ocean is to the south, and the South Bay Region is to the west.

 

The Los Angeles Conservancy

The Los Angeles Conservancy is a nonprofit historic preservation organization that works to preserve and revitalize historic buildings, places and neighborhoods in Los Angeles and Los Angeles County. It is the largest historic preservation organization in Los Angeles County and, with more than 7,000 members and 400 volunteers, the largest membership-based local preservation organization in the United States.

The Conservancy initially formed in 1978 to join efforts to save the Los Angeles Central Library (built 1926) from demolition. Since then, it has worked with business, government and developers to find ways to preserve Los Angeles' historic buildings. Some of their successes are the preservation of the Bullocks Wilshire (opened 1929 as one of the first Art Deco structures built in the United States), the Cathedral of Saint Vibiana (opened 1876 and L.A.'s Roman Catholic cathedral for more than 100 years), the Wiltern Theater (completed 1931 with the building considered one of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in the nation) and the oldest operating McDonald's restaurant located in Downey.

The Conservancy's vision is Los Angeles as a place that values its past and considers the past as an essential part of its present and future.

 

Walking Tours

The Conservancy is known for its popular weekend walking tours that regularly offer docent-guided tours of the architecture and history of historic downtown landmarks, the Angelino Heights historic neighborhood, Art Deco architecture in Downtown Los Angeles, the Broadway Historic Theatre District, the Millennium Biltmore Hotel and Union Station.

 

Former Incorporated Cities in Los Angeles County

City

Barnes City

Belmont Heights

Eagle Rock

Hollywood

Hyde Park

San Pedro

Sawtelle

Tropico

Tujunga

Venice

Watts

Wilmington

Incorporation

1926

1908

1911

1903

1921

1888

1906

1911

1925

1904

1907

1907

Annexation

Annexed by Los Angeles in 1927

Annexed by Long Beach in 1909

Annexed by Los Angeles in 1923

Annexed by Los Angeles in 1910

Annexed by Los Angeles in 1923

Annexed by Los Angeles in 1909

Annexed by Los Angeles in 1922

Annexed by Glendale in 1918

Annexed by Los Angeles in 1932

Annexed by Los Angeles in 1925

Annexed by Los Angeles in 1926

Annexed by Los Angeles in 1909

Los Angeles County Unincorporated Communities

Community

Acton
Agua Dulce
Alondra Park
Altadena
West Athens
Avocado Heights
Baldwin Hills
Bassett
Big Mountain Ridge
Bouquet Canyon
Castaic
Charter Oaks
Citrus
City Terrace
Cornell
Del Aire
Del Sur
Desert View Highlands
East Compton
East La Mirada
East Los Angeles
East Pasadena
East San Gabriel
EI Camino Village
Fernwood
Florence-Graham
Forest Park
Glenview
Gorman
Green Valley
Hacienda Heights
Juniper Hills
Kagel Canyon
La Crescenta-Montrose
Ladera Heights
Lake Hughes
Lake Los Angeles
Lakeview
Lang
Lennox
Leona Valley
Littlerock
Llano
Malibu Bowl
Malibu Hills
Malibou Lake
Marina del Rey
Mayflower Village
Mint Canyon
Montrose
Neenach
North EI Monte
Oban
Pearblossom
Quartz Hill
Rancho Dominguez
Rosewood
Rowland Heights
Sandberg
Seminole Hot Springs
Sleepy Valley
Soledad
South San Gabriel
South San Jose Hills
South Whittier
Stevenson Ranch
Sulpher Springs
Sylvia Park
Topanga
Topanga Park
Universal City
ValVerde
Valinda
Valyermo
Vasquez Rocks
View Park-Windsor Hills
Vincent
Walnut Park
West Athens
West Carson
West Compton
West Puente Valley
West Whittier-Los Nietos
Westmont
Willowbrook
Wilsona Gardens
Windsor Hills

Location

Santa Clarita Valley
Santa Clarita Valley
South Bay
San Gabriel Valley
South Los Angeles
San Gabriel Valley
South Los Angeles
San Gabriel Valley
Antelope Valley
Santa Clarita Valley
Santa Clarita Valley
San Gabriel Valley
San Gabriel Valley
East Los Angeles Area
Santa Monica Mountains
LAX Area
Antelope Valley
Antelope Valley
South Los Angeles
Whittier Area
East Los Angeles Area
San Gabriel Valley
San Gabriel Valley
South Bay
Topanga Canyon
South Los Angeles
Santa Clarita Valley
Topanga Canyon
Northwest Los Angeles County
Angeles National Forest
San Gabriel Valley
Antelope Valley
Angeles National Forest
Verdugo Mountains
South Bay
Angeles National Forest
Antelope Valley
San Gabriel Valley
Santa Clarita Valley
LAX Area
Antelope Valley
Antelope Valley
Antelope Valley
Malibu Area
Malibu Area
Santa Monica Mountains
South Bay
San Gabriel Valley
Santa Clarita Valley
Verdugo Mountains
Antelope Valley
North of EI Monte
Antelope Valley
Antelope Valley
Antelope Yalley
Compton Area
South Los Angeles
San Gabriel Valley
Antelope Valley
Santa Monica Mountains
Antelope Valley
Antelope Valley
San Gabriel Valley
San Gabriel Valley
Whittier Area
Santa Clarita Valley
Santa Clarita Valley
Topanga Canyon
Topanga Canyon
Topanga Canyon
San Fernando Valley
Santa Clarita Valley
San Gabriel Valley
Antelope Valley
Santa Clarita Valley
South Los Angeles
San Gabriel Valley
South Los Angeles
South Los Angeles
South Bay
South Los Angeles
San Gabriel Valley
Whittier Area
South Los Angeles
South Los Angeles
Antelope Valley
South Los Angeles

Former Names of Los Angeles County Communities

Former Name

Comptonville
Corvalis
Dairy Valley
Fulton Springs
EI Pueblo de la Reina de los Angeles
Girard
Laurelwood
Lordsburg
Los Cerritos
Marion
Mirada Hills
Newmark
Ocean Park
Owensmouth
Picture City
Riverdale
Runnymeade
San Salvador
Sherman
Zelzah

Current Name

Compton
Norwalk
Cerritos
Santa Fe Springs
Los Angeles
Woodland Hills
Studio City
La Verne
Signal Hill
Reseda
La Mirada
Montebello
Venice
Canoga Park
Agoura
Glendale
Tarzana
Catalina Island
West Hollywood
Northridge

Mountain Ranges and Hills in Los Angeles County

Mountain Ranges

San Gabriel Mountains

Santa Monica Mountains

Santa Susana Mountains

Verdugo Mountains

Hills

Dominguez Hills

Hollywood Hills

Puente Hills

Palos Verdes Hills

East Los Angeles

East Los Angeles or East L.A. is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Los Angeles County. It is located east of the City of Los Angeles and west of Monterey Park which is in the western San Gabriel Valley. The population is approximately 130,000. Notable people from East Los Angeles include Oscar De La Hoya and Lucille Roybal-Allard. East Los Angeles College was located in East Los Angeles until the area was annexed by Monterey Park more than forty years ago.

 

City Terrace

City Terrace is an older unincorporated residential community in the San Rafael Hills of Los Angeles County just northeast of Downtown Los Angeles. The University Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles is to the north, California State University Los Angeles is to the northeast, Monterey Park is to the east, the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles is to the west, the Lincoln Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles is to the northwest, and East Los Angeles is to the south. The communities steep, winding streets are lined primarily with small, Spanish Colonial Revival style homes. Many of the homes have excellent views of Downtown Los Angeles, the western San Gabriel Valley, and the San Gabriel Mountains. The County of Los Angeles operates the City Terrace Library which is a modern, full service library. City Terrace Park, developed in 1933, is a 3.5 acre park that offers swimming, tennis, basketball, a gymnasium, picnic areas, and lots of green open space with mature shade trees.

 

 

California Coastal National Monument

The California Coastal National Monument consists of approximately 20,000 islets, rock outcroppings, and reefs along the entire coast of California. The area covers the entire 840 mile coast to a distance of 12 nautical miles. Depending upon the tide levels, the approximate area of 1,000 acres is managed and protected by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Many of the protected areas in Ventura County are important habitats for birds and sea animals.

 

 

San Gabriel Mountains

The San Gabriel Mountains are a mountain range located in northern Los Angeles County and also in western San Bernardino County. The Angeles National Forest is located within the San Gabriel Mountains. The highest peak is Mount San Antonio, also known as Mt. Baldy, which stands at 10,068 feet. Mount Wilson is another well-known peak which stands at 5,710 feet. The main road that runs through the San Gabriel Mountains is Angeles Crest Highway, State Route 2. It starts in La Cañada Flintridge and ends just past Wrightwood near Victor Valley where it joins State Route 138. A second major road is the Angeles Forest Highway that starts about eleven miles northeast of La Cañada Flintridge at its Angeles Crest Highway junction and ends near Acton. Mountain High and Mt. Baldy are two popular ski resorts in the San Gabriel Mountains.

 

 

Tehachapi Mountains

The Tehachapi Mountains are located in the far north area of Los Angeles County and southern Kern County, north of the Angeles National Forest and west of the Antelope Valley. The range extends approximately forty miles with the highest peak being Double Mountain which rises to 7,981 feet.

 

 

Los Angeles River - L.A. River

The Los Angeles River or L.A. River starts in the west San Fernando Valley and flows from its headwaters in Canoga Park almost 48 miles to its mouth in Long Beach. The river is in Los Angeles County.

 

 

Santa Ana River

The Santa Ana River is the largest river in Southern California originating rising in the Santa Ana Canyon in the southern San Bernardino Mountains in San Bernardino County at an elevation of 6,991 feet. It then flows through Riverside County, Los Angeles County and Orange County into the Pacific Ocean at Huntington Beach. The 96 mile long river flows past the cities of San Bernardino, Riverside, Anaheim, Santa Ana, and Huntington Beach. Tributaries include Bear Creek, the San Jacinto River, Lytle Creek, Warm Creek, City Creek, Day Creek, Santiago Creek, Mill Creek, San Timoteo Creek, and Temescal Creek.

 

 

Sepulveda Pass

The Sepulveda Pass is a mountain pass through the Santa Monica Mountains that connects the Los Angeles Basin to the San Fernando Valley, Encino and Sherman Oaks are at the north end of the pass in the San Fernando Valley, and Brentwood and Westwood are at the south end. The San Diego Freeway (405) runs through the pass along with Sepulveda Boulevard.

 

 

Cahuenga Pass

The Cahuenga Pass is a mountain pass through the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles. The pass connects the Los Angeles Basin to Studio City and the San Fernando Valley. The Hollywood Freeway (101) runs through the pass.

 

 

Whittier Narrows

The Whittier Narrows is a water gap in Los Angeles County, located at the southern end of the San Gabriel Valley between the Puente Hills to the east and the San Rafael Hills to the west. It is the point where both the Rio Hondo and the San Gabriel River leave the San Gabriel Valley and flow into the Los Angeles Basin.

 

 

Whittier Narrows Dam

The Whittier Narrows Dam is a 56 foot tall earthen dam on the San Gabriel River located at the Whittier Narrows. The dam, which was built in 1956-1957 as a flood control project, created a major reservoir which is now a popular recreation destination.

 

 

Newhall Pass

The Newhall Pass, previously called the Fremont Pass and the San Fernando Pass, separates the Santa Susana Mountains from the San Gabriel Mountains. The pass links the Santa Clarita Valley to the San Fernando Valley and is the primary entry into the Greater Los Angeles area from Santa Clarita. The Newhall Pass is located within Los Angeles County.

 

 

San Jose Hills

The San Jose Hills are located in the eastern part of Los Angeles County where the San Gabriel Valley and the Pomona Valley meet. The hills are located within Covina, West Covina, San Dimas, Walnut, and Pomona. The highest peak is Buzzard Peak which reaches to 1,329 feet. Wildlife includes gray fox, skunks, opossums, squirrels, and bobcats.

 

 

South San Jose Hills

South San Jose Hills is an unincorporated, census-designated, residential community in the San Gabriel Valley region of Los Angeles County. It is located just south of West Covina at the southern end of the San Jose Hills. The population is approximately 21,000.

 

 

Dominguez Hills

The Dominguez Hills are a low mountain range in southern Los Angeles County between the Baldwin Hills and Palos Verdes Peninsula.

 

 

Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area

The Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area, also known as Hahn Park, established in 1984, is a 401 acre state park in Baldwin Hills operated by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation. The City of Culver City is directly to the west and Inglewood is to the south. The park has a fishing lake that is stocked with trout and catfish on a regular basis and is popular for picnics and family gatherings. Hahn Park offers more than 100 picnic tables distributed throughout the park, four children’s play areas, extensive hiking trails, basketball, volleyball, and several multipurpose fields. In addition, the park has a beautiful Japanese garden with a stream and waterfall. Hahn Park is a wildlife habitat and home to raccoons, grey foxes, rabbits, skunks, and more than 45 species of birds.

 

 

Museum of Tolerance

The Museum of Tolerance, established in 1993, is located on the Westside of Los Angeles. The museum and educational center was designed to examine racism in depth with a strong emphasis on the Holocaust. Anyone interested in world history and human rights must visit this museum. It is the only museum of its kind in the world. Every child and adult in America should visit the Museum of Tolerance.

 

 

L.A. County Fair

The L.A. County Fair, previously known as the Los Angeles County Fair, is an annual county fair that has been operating since 1922. It is one of the largest county fairs in the United States typically drawing more than one million visitors from the Greater Los Angeles Area and other parts of Southern California. The fair is held during the month of September at the Fairplex in Pomona which is in eastern Los Angeles County. The Fairplex is also commonly called by its former name the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds. The fair offers extensive entertainment, exhibits, food, rides, and much more. The fair has always been a link between California’s agricultural industry and the public offering many opportunities to learn about agriculture and the history of California.

 

 

Associated Historical Societies of Los Angeles County

The Associated Historical Society of Los Angeles County is a non-profit association of local historical societies that work together for common goals. The society holds regular conferences and events that are helpful to its members. Memberships are open to local historical societies as well as individuals.

 

California Historical Society

The California Historical Society, founded in 1871, is headquartered in northern California, but regularly hosts exhibits and collections throughout California. Its purpose is to preserve and promote California history. The organization maintains a huge collection of historical photos, maps, newspapers, legal documents, and other valuable research materials.

 

Pio Pico State Historic Park

Pio Pico State Historic Park is the site of El Ranchito, also known as the Pico Adobe or Pio Pico Mansion. The home, built in 1853, was the final home of Pio Pico, the last Governor of Alta California under Mexican rule. The home is situated on three acres and has been designated a California Historical Landmark. It is also listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Just west of the famous landmark is the Los Angeles River and the city of Pico Rivera, named after the governor.

 

 

Rancho Los Nietos

Rancho Los Nietos was the 300,000-acre Spanish land grant given in 1784 in present day Los Angeles County and Orange County that included Anaheim, Artesia, Buena Park, Bolsa Chica State Beach and Reserve, Cerritos, Downey, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Lakewood, parts of Long Beach, parts of Los Alamitos, Naples, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, Seal Beach, Sunset Beach, and Whittier. The ranch remained intact until 1933 when it was portioned into six smaller ranches.

Other well known cities located within the county include: Agoura Hills, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Malibu, Santa Monica, Lakewood, Culver City, El Segundo, and Westlake Village. The Mulholland Scenic Parkway and Corridor starts in the City of Los Angeles and ends in Ventura County.

Los Angeles County is located within the area known as Southern California. The County of Los Angeles is not the same as the Los Angeles Basin or The Greater Los Angeles Area. The San Fernando Valley is located in the western part of Los Angeles County, the Crescenta Valley and the Antelope Valley are in the northern part of the county, and the San Gabriel Valley is in the eastern part of the country. The South Bay is in the southwest region of Los Angeles County. The San Gabriel River flows through the San Gabriel Valley and Los Angeles County.

 

Southern California Association of Governments

The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for six of the ten counties in Southern California, serving Imperial County, Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, and Ventura County. San Diego County's MPO is the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) which is a separate government agency. SCAG and SANDAG are the only Metropolitan Planning Organizations in Southern California. There are eighteen federally mandated Metropolitan Planning Organizations in California.

Beaches in Los Angeles County

 

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