Los Angeles takes its name from the Spanish word meaning ‘angels.’ Not only is L.A., as it is affectionately known to its denizens, the largest city in California, it is the second largest city in all of the U.S. L.A. was founded on September 4, 1781 by its Spanish governor Felipe de Neve. Mexico claimed it as its own in 1821 after it gained independence from Spain. When California became part of the United States in 1848 after its purchase by the U.S. in the aftermath of the Mexican-American War, Los Angeles followed suit. On April 4, 1850 Los Angeles became an incorporated municipality.
It is hard to beat the prominence Los Angeles has as a world center for business, trade, culture, entertainment, fashion, science, technology and education. Forbes Magazine named Los Angeles as the eighth most economically powerful city in the world, and the third in the U.S. It is estimated that the Gross Metropolitan Product (GMP) of the combined statistical area (CSA) of Los Angles exceeds $831 billion per year, which means that Los Angeles is the third largest economic hub in the world.
Los Angeles is the birthplace of the motion picture industry, what is known as ‘Hollywood.’ Because Los Angeles is the world’s leading producer of films, television, video games and recorded music Los Angeles is often referred to as the “Entertainment Capital of the World.” Los Angeles has hosted the Summer Olympics twice, in 1932 and again in 1984.