40 Interesting Facts About Los Angeles

The allure of Los Angeles is undeniable. Los Angeles is the land of the iconic HOLLYWOOD sign. As we know the city is a celebrity town and remains in much limelight and fame because of the grand television and film industry. Los Angeles is a homeland for Mickey Mouse, Minions and numerous tourist attractions such as the Walk of Fame’s collection of stars, Disneyland, and classic Getty Museum. If you are a tourist in LA, you must get out to Surfrider Beach in Malibu, or check out the Santa Monica Pier on a Segway. Los Angeles is an international atlas of exotic cuisines; City is full of Restaurants and Hotels where you can find movie stars actually do live and dine among regular folk. To get some more, you should check out these amazing facts about this City of Angels- Los Angeles:

Los Angeles
Los Angeles city

Image: flywestwind.com

1. “The Town Of Our Lady Queen”

When Los Angeles was founded, the city’s first name was “El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora Reina de Los Angeles Sobre el Rio Porciuncula.” This, when translated from Spanish, reveals a beautiful meaning, “The town of our Lady Queen of the angels on the Porciuncula River.”
Source: thequeenofangels.com

2. Only City To Host Summer Olympics Twice!

1984 Olympics ceremony
1984 Olympics ceremony, Los Angeles

Los Angeles is the place to be. It is the only city in North America to have hosted the Summer Olympics twice. It would also host the 2028 Olympics.
Source: discoverlosangeles.com, Image: 3.bp.blogspot.com

3. City Boasts Of Its Art and Museums

Skeleton of Dynasore in Natural History Museum
Skeleton of Dynasore in Natural History Museum
Petersen Automotive Museum Building
Petersen Automotive Museum Building

Los Angeles houses more than 105 museums, 225 theaters, 55 magnificent structures by the world’s best architects. The city is also home to 16 of the world’s most beautiful gardens. It also has more than 1,500 theatrical productions taking place every year.
Source: discoverlosangeles.com, Image: biddingforgood.com, image: fm.cnbc.com

4. Licking Toads Can Take You To Jail!

It is illegal to lick a toad in the City of Angels. Many teenagers are caught doing so because it contains drugs and is, therefore, not allowed in L.A. If you visit the city, this is one thing you need to keep in mind for sure.
source: thebolditalic.com

5. Parking Is A Challenge!

Cars in Los Angeles
Cars in Los Angeles

In Los Angeles, there are more cars than there are people. It is nearly impossible to find parking in the city.
Source: upout.com, Image: commondreams.org

6. Charming Nicknames

Los Angeles is widely famous for its interesting nicknames such as the ‘City of Angels,’ ‘Angel town,’La La Land,’ ‘Tinsel Town,’ ‘The Big Orange,’ ‘City of Flowers & Sunshine,’ and the most popular ‘L.A.’
Source: laalmanac.com, GIF: giphy.com

7. First Movie Theater

Prime Facade of Tally Theater in Los Angeles
Prime Facade of Tally Theater in Los Angeles

Tally’s Electric Theatre was the first movie theater in Los Angeles and even in California. The theater opened on April 2, 1902.
Source: timesunion.com, Image: s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com

8. Beware Of Your Suit

People wearing Zoot Suits
People wearing Zoot Suits

The baggy suits have been prohibited in Los Angeles since the Zoot Suit Riot in the year 1943. The Zoot Suit Riots were a series of racist attacks in which White servicemen and civilians attacked and stripped youths who wore Zoot Suits because the outfits were considered unpatriotic and extravagant during wartime.
Source: Wikipedia, Image: s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com

9. In-N-Out Burger

In-N-Out Burger Hamburgers and Cheeseburgers
In-N-Out Burger Hamburgers and Cheeseburgers

In-N-Out Burger is an American regional chain of fast food restaurants. The In-N-Out menu consists of three burger varieties: hamburger, cheeseburger, and “Double-Double.” It is very famous across the streets of Los Angeles. In-N-Out wasn’t started in Los Angeles. Actually, it was in an unincorporated city called Baldwin Park, where World War II Veteran and founder Harry Snyder grew up. The burger joint is still run by his family who is famous as LA burger royalty.
Source: theculturetrip.com, Image: wikimedia.org

10. So Many People With So Many Languages!

Chinatown in Los Angeles
Chinatown in Los Angeles

The City of Angels is so diverse that it is home to people from more than 140 countries who speak over 200 different languages. One can experience different cultures and languages by visiting nearby towns such as Chinatown, Korea Town, Little Tokyo, Little Ethiopia, Thai Town, and Little Armenia, etc.
Source: studyabroadcorner.com, Image: duhoccanadachuyennghiep.com

11. Busiest Airport

LAX Airport Los Angeles
LAX Airport Los Angeles

LAX or Los Angeles International Airport is the largest and busiest airports in California and 2nd busiest airport in the U.S. behind Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson. It is the 4th busiest airport in the world.
Source: usatoday.com, Image: discoverlosangeles.com

12. Once Part Of Mexico

Los Angeles was actually part of Mexico under the Spanish Empire before it was annexed by the U.S. in 1848 during the Mexican-American War.
source: Wikipedia

13. Second Most Populous City

Los Angeles is the second largest city by population in the US after New York. It has a population around four Million.
source: Wikipedia, GIF: giphy.com

14. Worst Traffic Congestion

Los Angeles always tops the list of world’s worst traffic congestion cities. According to reports, the time and fuel wasted during traffic congestions cost more than $2,800 to a typical driver.
source: dailynews.com, GIF: giphy.com

15. Is San Francisco Coming Closer?

San Francisco to Los Angeles
San Francisco to Los Angeles

Los Angeles and San Francisco are getting 2.5 inches closer every year due to their placement on opposite sides of the San Andreas Fault Line.
Source: wow-really.blogspot.in, Image: esotericvelvet.com

16. Hollywood: A Municipality!

Los Angeles is home to the prominent US film industry. In 1870 Hollywood was a small community and was incorporated as a municipality in 1903. It was consolidated with the city of Los Angeles in 1910, and soon after a prominent film industry emerged, eventually becoming the most recognizable film industry in the world.
Source: Wikipedia

17. Car Free L.A.

Owing to the traffic congestions, The Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board has taken various initiatives to discover L.A. without a car. Car Free L.A. enlists a series of self-guided “car free” vacation itineraries, with which, one can experience the hidden gems of L.A.’s diverse neighborhoods via foot, bike and Metro.
Source: discoverlosangeles.com, Image: gifer.com

18. Most Populated County

Los Angeles County

With more than 10 million inhabitants (as in 2017), Los Angeles County, officially the County of Los Angeles, is the most populous county in the United States.
Source: lacounty.gov, Image: publicdomainpictures.net

19. Economic Engine

With a diverse economy in a broad range of cultural and professional fields, Los Angeles is one of the most prominent economic engines within the United States.
Source: Wikipedia

20. The Birth Of Los Angeles

Downtown Los Angeles

September 4, 1781, is the official birthdate of Los Angeles when 44 village settlers from the Mexican provinces of Sonora and Sinaloa made their home in what is now Downtown Los Angeles.
Source: discoverlosangeles.com, Image: Flickr

21. When It Became A City

Los Angeles Was Under The Control Of Mexico

When the area of Los Angeles was under the Spanish control, it was a town; however, when the territory was transferred from Spain to Mexico, the town officially declared a city in 1835.
Source: discoverlosangeles.com, Image: Wikimedia

22. Became A Part Of The United States

Los Angeles And Treaty of Cahuenga

During the Mexican-American War, Mexican rule ended, and after a series of battles, which culminated with the Treaty of Cahuenga on January 13, 1847, Los Angeles became a part of the United States.
Source: Historical and Biographical Record of Southern California By James Miller Guinn, Image: Wikimedia

23. Largest Oil Producer

Los Angeles Oil Production

When petroleum was discovered in the surrounding areas of Los Angeles, it helped California becoming the largest oil producer in the United States.
Source: Los Angeles in the 1930s: The WPA Guide to the City of Angels, Image: Flickr

24. When Hollywood Merged Into Los Angeles

In 1910, Hollywood merged into Los Angeles, and by 1921, Los Angeles had become home to more than 80 percent of the world’s film industry.
Source: L.A. Noir: The Struggle for the Soul of America’s Most Seductive City By John Buntin

25. A Center Of Wartime Manufacturing

Los Angeles During World War II

When World War II exploded into American life, Los Angeles became a center of wartime manufacturing including shipbuilding and aircraft.
Source: kcet.org, Image: Wikimedia

26. World’s Largest Electrified Rail System

Los Angeles Electrified Rail System

Sprawled around the city centers of Los Angeles and San Bernardino, the Pacific Electric Railway Company, nicknamed the Red Cars, was the largest electric railway system in the world in the 1920s. However, with the expansion of the Interstate Highway System during the 1950s and 1960s, resulted in the demise of the city’s electrified rail system.
Source: la.curbed.com

27. Birthplace Of The Internet

First Internet Router

With the first ARPANET transmission, which was sent from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to SRI in Menlo Park in 1969, Los Angeles became the birthplace of the Internet.
Source: Where Wizards Stay Up Late: The Origins Of The Internet By Matthew Lyon, Katie Hafner, Image: Wikimedia

28. Largest Riots In U.S. History

Los Angeles Riots 1992

In  April 1992, Los Angeles witnessed one of the largest racial riots in U.S. history. On April 29, 1992, after the acquittal of four Los Angeles Police officers charged in the beating of Rodney King, an African-American, a white trucker named Reginald Denny was savagely attacked by a mob; leading to a series of riots, which resulted in the destruction of 3,000 structures; leaving $1 billion in property damage and 54 people killed.
Source: cnn.com, Image: Wikimedia

29. Most Documented Police Corruption

Rampart Police Station Los Angeles

In the late 1990s, Los Angeles witnessed one of the most widespread cases of documented police corruption in U.S. history; known as the Rampart Scandal. In the scandal, more than 70 police officers were implicated in some form of misconduct including unprovoked beatings, unprovoked shootings, the framing of false evidence, illegal trade in narcotics, bank robbery, perjury, and the covering up of evidence of these activities.
Source: pbs.org, Image: Wikimedia

30. When Hollywood Almost Seceded From Los Angeles

In 2002, the San Fernando Valley and Hollywood embarked a secession drive that nearly split Los Angeles apart. However, voters in Los Angeles rejected the Valley’s effort to break away.
Source: dailynews.com

31. Highest Point

Los AngelesAt 5,074 ft (1,547 m), Mount Lukens of the San Gabriel Mountains is the highest point in the City of Los Angeles.
Source: hundredpeaks.org, Image: Wikimedia

32. The Official Tree

Los Angeles Official Palm Tree

The Coral Tree (Erythrina caffra) is the official tree of Los Angeles. The tree is native to Southeastern Africa and is often cultivated in India.
Source: Tropical Legumes: Resources for the Future, Image: Wikimedia

33. The Official Flower

Los Angeles Official Flower The Bird Of Paradise

The official flower of Los Angeles is the Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae). The plant is indigenous to South Africa.
Source: Los Angeles Magazine Apr 2003, Image: Wikimedia

34. Beware Of Earthquakes!

Los Angeles often subject to earthquakes; because of its location on the Pacific Rim of Fire. There are approximately 10,000 earthquakes annually in Southern California.
Source: earthquake.usgs.gov, GIF: prixintrablog.com

35. Second Largest Population Of Jews

After New York, Los Angeles is home to the largest population of Jews in the United States.
Source: simpletoremember.com, GIF: giphy.com

36. World’s Largest Temple

The Los Angeles California Temple

Dedicated in 1956 and situated on Santa Monica Boulevard in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, The Los Angeles California Temple was the largest in the world when completed.
Source: churchofjesuschristtemples.org, Image: Flickr

37. Greatest Variety Of Buddhists In The World

Buddhism In Los Angeles

Los Angeles is home to many significant Buddhist congregations, formed by the immigrants from Asia; making the city home to the greatest variety of Buddhists in the world.
Source: prolades.com, Image: Wikimedia

38. Creative Capital Of The World

With one in every six people in the city employed in a creative field, Los Angeles is often termed as the “Creative Capital of the World.”
Source: zdnet.com, GIF: underconsideration.com

39. The Most Per Capita Museum In The World!

With more than 841 museum and art galleries, Los Angeles has more museums per capita than any other city in the world.
Source: Wikipedia, GIF: squarespace.com

40. World’s Wealthiest Art Institution!

Getty Center Los Angeles

The Getty Center, which is a part of the J. Paul Getty Trust, is considered as the wealthiest art institution in the world.
Source: latimes.com, Image: Wikimedia