Los Angeles, California, known
affectionately as the ‘City of Angels’, ranks as the nation’s
second largest city in population. The 2000
Census reported more than 3.69 million residents within the
city, while the entire metropolitan area is home to more than 17.5
million. In general, when people refer to ‘L.A.’, they are
referring to the greater
metropolitan area.
Los Angeles, CA
projects a dynamic presence from its position as the seat of L.A.
County and as a significant source of culture and entertainment
for the world. Aerospace, agriculture, entertainment, international
trade, manufacturing, petroleum and tourism are the primary sectors
that drive L.A.’s burgeoning economy to success. KB
Home, Northrop
Grumman and Occidental
Petroleum are major Fortune
500 companies that call L.A. home. Additional companies that
operate their headquarters in Los Angeles include Herbalife,
Fox Sports Net,
Paramount
Pictures, Sunkist
and Twentieth
Century Fox.
Home to individuals from more than 140 countries, L.A. remains a
cosmopolitan city, which is reflected in the city’s massive array
of architecture, cuisine and cultural sites. Concentrated groups of
ethnic people often develop into their own little cities, such as Chinatown,
Little
Armenia, Little
Ethiopia, Little
Tokyo and Thai
Town. This rich cultural atmosphere inspires some of the most
unique and exquisite dining experiences imaginable. Also
contributing to the fine array of foods are several celebrity chefs,
such as Wolfgang
Puck.
Los Angeles, California boasts an unrivaled shopping scene.
Popular shopping venues include the Beverly
Center, the Hollywood
and Highland Complex, Melrose
Avenue and Rodeo
Drive in Beverly
Hills, CA. Exciting nighttime hotspots and clubs such as the Viper
Room are found throughout Los Angeles. Other well-known
nighttime destinations include sites in Downtown
L.A., Hollywood,
Silver
Lake and West
Hollywood, which is home to the renowned Sunset
Strip.
As the entertainment center of the region, Los Angeles, CA takes
part in numerous art, film, music and television industries. L.A. is
home to such institutions as the L.A.
County Museum of Art, the Getty
Center, the Natural
History Museum of Los Angeles, the Walt
Disney Concert Hall and the Kodak
Theater, which plays host to the prestigious Academy
Awards. Popular destinations providing entertainment to visitors
includes La Brea
Tar Pits, Los
Angeles Zoo, Universal
Studios Hollywood and the spectacular beaches
in Malibu, Santa Monica and Venice, California. Los Angeles, CA
hosted the Olympic Games in 1932
and 1984
and is the home of sporting teams such as the Clippers,
Dodgers, Kings,
Lakers and Sparks.
The astounding academic scene in L.A. includes a multitude of
choices for higher learning. Public facilities include California
State University Los Angeles, California
State University Northridge and UCLA.
Private institutions include Loyola
Marymount University, Mount
St. Mary’s College, Occidental
College, Otis
College of Art and Design, Pepperdine
University, Southwestern
University and the University
of Southern California. There also several campuses of the Los
Angeles City College system available in various parts of
greater Los Angeles, CA.
Los Angeles, California
lures people from all corners of the world with its balmy
Mediterranean climate, exotic landscapes and high-energy lifestyle.
The melting-pot style communities that make up L.A. afford its
visitors a well-balanced cultural experience and a familiar place to
call home.