Table of Contents [604951]

1
Table of Contents

Foreword …………………………………… …………………………………………… ……………………………….. 2
Chapter I: Introduction ……………………… …………………………………………… ………………………….. 3
Chapter II: Nicknames ……………………….. …………………………………………… ………………………… 4
Chapter III: History ………………………… …………………………………………… ……………………………. 5
The city flag ………………………………. …………………………………………… …………………….. 7
The city seal ………………………………. …………………………………………… …………………….. 7
Chapter IV: Geography ……………………….. …………………………………………… ……………………….. 8
Chapter V: Economy ………………………….. …………………………………………… ………………………… 9
Chapter VI: Culture
Museaums and Galleries ………………………. …………………………………………… …………… 10
Music ……………………………………… …………………………………………… ……………………… 10
Theatre and Dance …………………………… …………………………………………… ………………. 11
Arhitecture and Gardens ……………………… …………………………………………… ……………. 11
Urban Art ………………………………….. …………………………………………… ……………………. 12
Film and Television (Hollywood) ………………. …………………………………………… ………. 12
Fashion ……………………………………. …………………………………………… ……………………… 12
Literary LA ………………………………… …………………………………………… ……………………. 13
Chapter VII: Government ……………………… …………………………………………… ……………………… 14
Conclusion …………………………………. …………………………………………… ………………………………. 15
Bibliography ……………………………….. …………………………………………… ……………………………… 16
Attachments ………………………………… …………………………………………… ……………………………… 17

2
FOREWORD

The world's interest in the fascinating city of Los Angeles has grown over the years. Even if
you refer to it as ”La La Land”, ”The Big Orange” o r ”The City of Angels”, which are just some of
the numerous ways Los Angeles can be called, it is still the most interesting and exciting city in the
whole territory of the United States.
This city is often referred to as the world capital of entertainment and represents the subject
of my certification paper. The main reason why I ch ose Los Angeles as my subject is because I
consider it one of the greatest cities in the world , one of which I would love to visit someday, and
also a city of opportunities, where any dream can b ecome true.
What is more, Los Angeles has long been known as t he city of dreams, a place where
everything seems possible and anyone can start a ne w life.
The content of the project is divided in seven main topics such as history, geography of the
land and the nicknames that were atributed to the c ity or a visit through the culture of the city.
Throughout the pages you will discover that you can ’t have a boring day in Los Angeles. Discover
sea caves and tide pools on the beach, hike along h idden coves just near Malibu, walk or cycle
around the lake Hollywood Reservoir and see the ico nic Hollywood sign in the mountains across
the lake.

3
Chapter I: INTRODUCTION

Regarding population, Los Angeles is the second lar gest city in the United States and one of
the largest in terms of area. It is the center of a five-county metropolitan area and is considered th e
prototype of the perfect city. (image 1)
The glamour of Hollywood, Beverly Hills, the Sunset Strip, and the famous beaches have
added to Los Angeles's reputation as a California p aradise and have contributed to the
area's phenomenal growth. (image 2 and 3)
Los Angeles is a city of fascinating diversity, inc orporating one of the largest Hispanic
populations in the United States, a major Asian com munity, and sizable populations of nearly every
ethnic background in the world. Also, the inhabitan ts are referred to as Angelenos.
Los Angeles is the seat of Los Angeles County, the most populated and one of the most
ethnically diverse counties in the United States, w hile the entire Los Angeles area itself has been
recognized as the most diverse of the nation's larg est cities.
Los Angeles is also a center of international trade and banking, manufacturing, and tourism.
The city offers something for everyone in its large conglomeration of separate and very different
districts: a sleek, ultra-modern downtown, miles of beautiful beaches, mansions and stunning
canyon homes built with opulent luxury, and some of the world's most glamorous shopping and
dining. (image 4)
One of the best ways to experience Los Angeles is b y visiting its incredible cultural
attractions. L.A. has more museums and theaters tha n any U.S. city, and a thriving music and
gallery scene. An LA Philharmonic performance at Wa lt Disney Concert Hall is a must-see, as well
as an outdoor concert at the Hollywood Bowl and sho ws at other famous music venues. L.A.’s
world class museums include the stunning Getty Cent er in Brentwood and Los Angeles County
Museum of Art (LACMA) on Museum Row. Monthly artwal ks take place throughout the city,
including popular events in Downtown L.A. and Venic e Beach. And of course, when it comes to
film and television, Los Angeles is the entertainme nt capital of the world. (image 5)

4
Chapter II : NICKNAMES

A nickname is a shortened form of a name, but it ca n also be a descriptive appellative for a
person, place or thing. Many American cities have n icknames such as ”The Big Apple” for New
York City. These can help establish an identity, sp read pride among citizens, build unity, but they
can also be funny.
Los Angeles has several nicknames. One of them is s imply the city’s initials, L.A. It is also
called the ”City of Angels” because in Spanish Los Angeles means ”the angels”.
The city often has warm, sunny weathet, so another nickname is ”City of Flowers and
Sunshine”. However Los Angeles is sometimes called ”The Big Orange” because of the fruit that
grows in that city’s warm climate.
The American motion picture and television industri es were founded in Los Angeles, so it is
not surprising that it is also called ”The Entertai nment Capital of the World”. Many films are made
in the area called Hollywood. Millions of people vi sit this area because no trip to Los Angeles is
complete without seeing the word ”Hollywood” writte n on the hillside.
The city is sometimes called ”Tinseltown” because m any movie stars live in Los Angeles.
This nickname comes from the shiny, bright and ofte n unreal nature of Hollywood and the movie
industry.
Another nickname for Los Angeles is ”La-La Land”, u sing the first letters of Los and
Angeles. This means a place that is fun and not ser ious, and maybe even out of touch with reality.

5
Chapter III : HISTORY

Throughout the vast majority of human history, ther e was no city of Los Angeles. For
thousands of years, hunters and gatherers clustered in villages on the shores and the banks of the
rivers. The history of Los Angeles city and county begins with a small Mexican town that changed
in the three decades after 1848, when California be came part of the United States. Much greater
changes were to come from the completion of the San ta Fe railroad line from Chicago to Los
Angeles in 1885. Immigrants flooded in, especially white Protestants from the Midwest. LA had a
strong economic base in farming, oil, tourism, real estate and movies. It grew rapidly with only a
small downtown and many suburban areas inside and o utside the city limits. Hollywood made the
city world famous, and World War II brought new ind ustry, especially high-tech aircraft
construction. Politically, the city was moderately conservative, with a weak labor union sector.
Since the 1960s growth has slowed — and massive tra ffic delays have become famous, despite the
hundreds of miles of supposedly high speed freeways . (image 6) New ethnic groups, especially
from Mexico and Asia, have transformed the demograp hic base since the 1960s. Old industries have
declined, including farming, oil and aircraft, but tourism, entertainment and high tech remain
strong.
Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, an explorer from Portugal, claimed the area of southern California
for the Spanish Empire in 1542. (image 7)
On September 4th 1781, a group of forty-four settlers known as "Los Pobladores" founded
the pueblo (village) called "The Town of Our Lady t he Queen of Angels of the Porciúncula River”.
(image 8)
New Spain achieved its independence from the Spanis h Empire in 1821, and the pueblo
continued as a part of Mexico. During Mexican rule, Governor Pío Pico made Los Angeles
California's regional capital. Mexican rule ended d uring the Mexican – American War: Americans
took control from the Californios after a series of battles, culminating with the signing of the Treat y
of Cahuenga on January 13 th 1847. (image 9)
Railroads arrived with the completion of the Southe rn Pacific line to Los Angeles in 1876.
Oil was discovered in 1892, and by 1923, the discov eries had helped California become the
country's largest oil producer, accounting for abou t one-quarter of the world's petroleum output.

6
By 1900, the population had grown to more than 102, 000, putting pressure on the city's
water supply. The completion of the Los Angeles Aqu educt in 1913, under the supervision of
William Mulholland, assured the continued growth of the city.
In 1910, not only had the city of Los Angeles annex ed Hollywood, but there were already at
least 10 movie companies operating in the city. By 1921, more than 80 percent of the world's film
industry was concentrated in L.A. The money generat ed by the industry kept the city insulated from
much of the economic pain suffered by the rest of t he country during the Great Depression. By
1930, the population surpassed one million.
In 1932, the city hosted the Summer Olympics. In 19 84, the city hosted the Summer
Olympic Games for the second time. Despite being b oycotted by 14 Communist countries, the
1984 Olympics became more financially successful th an any previous, and the second Olympics to
turn a profit until then – the other, according to an analysis of contemporary newspaper reports,
being the 1932 Summer Olympics, also held in Los An geles. Los Angeles will host the 2028
Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games, making Los An geles the third city to host the Olympics
three times. (image 10)
During World War II, Los Angeles was a major center of wartime manufacturing, such as
shipbuilding and aircraft. Calship built hundreds o f Liberty Ships and Victory Ships on Terminal
Island, and the Los Angeles area was the headquarte rs of six of the country's major aircraft
manufacturers.
Following the end of World War II, Los Angeles grew more rapidly than ever, sprawling
into the San Fernando Valley. In 1969, Los Angeles became the birthplace of the Internet, as the
first ARPANET transmission was sent from the Univer sity of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to
SRI in Menlo Park. (image 11)

7
III .1. The City Flag

The original flag of the City of Los Angeles was de signed in 1931. Ordinance 70,000
officially established the City’s own flag, then kn own as the "Fiesta Flag" on July 22, 1931,
designed for the City's 150th birthday. (image 12)
It has a taffeta background of notched stripes of r ed, goldenyellow, and green. The red
represents the vineyards, the golden-yellow depicts the orange groves, and the green symbolizes the
olive trees. The colors of the flag are also found in the flags of Spain and Mexico, whose past was
very important in the early history of Los Angeles. The replica of the City Seal is shown in the
center of the flag.
The flag was designed by Roy E. Silent and E.S. Jon es of Los Angeles. Raising of the flag
occurred in April 1937, eighty-seven years after in corporation of the City. The flag was presented to
Mayor Frank E. Shaw by Isadore B. Dockweiler, Presi dent of the La Fiesta Association.

III .2. The City Seals

The Minutes of the Common Council, written in Spani sh, read "The City shall provide itself
with a seal to be attached to public documents." Th e seal was to show a cluster of grapes and leaves
surrounded by the words "Corporation of the City of Los Angeles."
By 1905, a seal representing more than the industry of grapes was needed. On March 27,
1905, Ordinance 10,834 authorized the present City Seal.
Ordinance 10,834 describes the City Seal being used today. It explains that the lion and the
castle are from the Arms of Spain and represent Los Angeles under Spanish rule from 1542-1821.
The eagle holding the serpent is from the Arms of M exico and represents Los Angeles under
Mexican rule from 1822-1846. The Bear Flag shows th e California Republic of 1846. The stars and
stripes indicate Los Angeles as an American city. T he olives, grapes, and oranges are reminders that
Los Angeles is a garden community. The Rosary aroun d the Seal represents the part played by the
Mission Padres in the early years of Los Angeles. (image 13)

8
Chapter IV : GEOGRAPHY

The city is divided into over 80 districts and neig hborhoods, many of which were
incorporated places or communities that were annex ed by the city. Greater Los Angeles includes a
number of enclaves and nearby communities. Generall y, the city is divided into the following areas:
Downtown LA, East Los Angeles and Northeast Los Ang eles, South Los Angeles, the Harbor Area,
Greater Hollywood, Wilshire, the Westside, and the San Fernando and Crescenta Valleys.
Important landmarks in Los Angeles include Walt Dis ney Concert Hall, the Cathedral of
Our Lady of the Angels, Angels Flight, the Kodak Th eatre, the Griffith Observatory,, the Los
Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Los Angeles County M useum of Art, Grauman's Chinese Theatre,
the Hollywood Sign, the Bradbury Building, Hollywoo d Boulevard, the Capitol Records Building,
Los Angeles City Hall, Battleship USS Iowa, the Wat ts Towers, the Staples Center, Dodger
Stadium and La Placita Olvera (Olvera Street).
Los Angeles is both flat and hilly. The highest poi nt in the city is Mount Lukens (1,547 m),
located at the northeastern end of the San Fernando Valley. The eastern end of the Santa Monica
Mountains stretches from Downtown to the Pacific Oc ean and separates the Los Angeles Basin
from the San Fernando Valley. Other hilly parts of Los Angeles include the Mt. Washington area
north of Downtown, eastern parts such as Boyle Heig hts, the Crenshaw district around the Baldwin
Hills, and the San Pedro district.
The Los Angeles area is rich in native plant specie s due in part to a diversity in habitats,
including beaches, wetlands, and mountains. The Los Angeles River starts in the Simi Hills and
Santa Susana Mountains and flows through Los Angele s County, California, from Canoga Park in
the western end of the San Fernando Valley, nearly 48 miles (77 km) southeast to its mouth in Long
Beach. Los Angeles is subject to earthquakes due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire. The
geologic instability has produced numerous faults, which cause approximately 10,000 earthquakes
annually in Southern California, though most of the m are too small to be felt. Los Angeles has a
Subtropical-Mediterranean climate.
Los Angeles has plenty of sunshine throughout the y ear, with an average of only 35 days
with measurable precipitation annually. Owing to ge ography, heavy reliance on automobiles, and
the Los Angeles/Long Beach port complex, Los Angele s suffers from air pollution in the form of
smog, which lasts from May to October. The 2006 and 2007 annual reports of the American Lung
Association ranked the city as the most polluted i n the country. (image 14)

9
Chapter V : ECONOMY

The economy of Los Angeles is driven by internation al trade, entertainment (television,
motion pictures, video games, recorded music), aer ospace, technology, petroleum, fashion, apparel,
and tourism. Los Angeles is also the largest manufa cturing center in the western United States. The
contiguous ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach toge ther comprise the fifth-busiest port in the
world and the most significant port in the Western Hemisphere and is vital to trade within the
Pacific Rim. Other significant industries include m edia production, finance, telecommunications,
law, healthcare, and transportation.
The Los Angeles – Long Beach – Santa Ana metropolit an statistical area (MSA) has a gross
metropolitan product (GMP) of $735.7 billion (as of 2010), making it the third largest economic
center in the world, after the Greater Tokyo Area a nd the New York-Newark-Bridgeport CSA.If
counted as a country, the surrounding CSA has the 1 5th largest economy in the world in terms of
nominal GDP.Los Angeles has been classified an "Alp ha world city" according to a 2012 study by
a research group at Loughborough University in Engl and.
The city is home to six Fortune 500 companies. They are energy company Occidental
Petroleum, healthcare provider Health Net, metals d istributor Reliance Steel & Aluminum,
engineering firm AECOM, real estate group CBRE Grou p and builder Tutor Perini. The University
of Southern California (USC) is the city's largest private sector employer and contributes $4 billion
annually to the local economy. (image 15)

10
Chapter VI : CULTURE

One of the best ways to experience Los Angeles is b y visiting its incredible cultural
attractions. L.A. has more museums and theaters tha n any U.S. city, and a thriving music and
gallery scene. An LA Philharmonic performance at Wa lt Disney Concert Hall is a must-see, as well
as an outdoor concert at the Hollywood Bowl and sho ws at other famous music venues. L.A.’s
world class museums include the stunning Getty Cent er in Brentwood and Los Angeles County
Museum of Art (LACMA) on Museum Row. Monthly artwal ks take place throughout the city,
including popular events in Downtown L.A. and Venic e Beach. And of course, when it comes to
film and television, Los Angeles is the entertainme nt capital of the world.

VI .1. Museums & Galleries
World class cultural attractions are located throug hout Los Angeles, which has more
museums than any other city in America. Downtown L. A.’s Exposition Park includes the California
Science Center, the Natural History Museum and the California African American Museum.
Museum Row features the LA County Museum of Art, th e La Brea Tar Pits and the Petersen
Automotive Museum. The collections of the J. Paul G etty Museum can be viewed at the Getty
Center in Brentwood and the Getty Villa in Malibu. Pasadena is home to the Norton Simon
Museum and the Pacific Asia Museum, while history b uffs can tour the Ronald Reagan Presidential
Library & Museum in Simi Valley. L.A.’s thriving ga llery scene can be experienced in Chinatown,
Bergamot Station and the NoHo Arts District, as wel l as monthly art walks. (image 16, 17 and 18)

VI .2. Music
There’s nothing quite like experiencing concerts in Los Angeles, whether it’s a stadium
show with tens of thousands of screaming fans, or a late night jazz session in an intimate club. LA’s
world class venues include the stunning Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Nokia Theatre at L.A.
Live in Downtown LA, Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre, and the historic Wiltern and the Palladium.
LA's year-round sunny weather is ideal for enjoying outdoor concerts at the Hollywood Bowl,
Greek Theatre and John Anson Ford Theatre. Music fe stivals and free concerts include the Grand
Performances at California Plaza, the Music Spotlig ht Series at Universal CityWalk, and the
Twilight Dance Series at the Santa Monica Pier. Con certs happen every night in smaller clubs like
the Conga Room and the House of Blues Sunset Strip. (image 19)

11

VI .3. Theatre & Dance
There are more theaters in Los Angeles than any oth er city in the United States, and its
1,500 annual productions are more than any city in the world. Dance productions range from
classical ballet to avant-garde performances. Holly wood’s landmark Pantages Theatre presents all-
time Broadway hits like Book of Mormon, Peter Pan a nd West Side Story. Center Theatre Group is
one is of the largest theatre companies in the nati on, with year-round programming at the Mark
Taper Forum and the Ahmanson Theatre in Downtown L. A., and the Kirk Douglas Theatre in
Culver City. Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The M usic Center (KDMC) is one of the largest
West Coast presenters of dance. REDCAT is a creativ e laboratory inside Walt Disney Concert Hall
that nurtures today’s cutting-edge artists. (image 20)

VI .4. Architecture & Gardens
Many Los Angeles landmarks are renowned as architec tural masterpieces, and L.A.’s lush
gardens are equally as famous. Pritzker Prize winni ng architects designed Walt Disney Concert
Hall, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, the Broad Contemporary Art Museum at LACMA,
and the Getty Center. Legendary architect Frank Llo yd Wright designed several L.A. landmarks,
including the Hollyhock House and the Ennis House. Gardens are an integral part of L.A.’s cultural
landscape, such as Descanso Gardens and the Hunting ton Library. Exposition Park’s famous Rose
Garden is on the National Register of Historic Plac es. Renowned artist Robert Irwin designed the
Getty Center’s Central Garden. UCLA’s Mildred E. Ma thias Botanical Garden maintains one of the
country's most important living botanical collectio ns. (image 21 and 22)

12
VI .5. Urban Art
Los Angeles has over 1,600 murals throughout the ci ty that touch on a variety of subjects.
The Chandler Outdoor Gallery is a collection of mur als in the NoHo Arts District. Hollywood’s
urban art is more celebrity-focused, such as “Holly wood Jazz 1945-1972” on the iconic Capitol
Records building, “You Are the Star” on Wilcox, and “Dolores del Rio” on Hudson. In Downtown
L.A., “The Pope of Broadway” depicts actor Anthony Quinn dancing on the side of the Victor’s
Clothing Building. “Los Angeles Teachers” features Edward James Olmos in character alongside
Jaime Escalante in a mural located behind East L.A. ’s famous El Mercado marketplace. For urban
art from a different point of view, Metro's Art Dep artment has commissioned more than 300 artists
to incorporate art into transportation projects thr oughout L.A. County. (image 23)

VI .6. Film & Television
Los Angeles locations have made countless appearanc es in films and TV episodes.
Downtown L.A.’s City Hall, Union Station, Millenniu m Biltmore Hotel and the Bradbury Building
have had starring roles for decades. Historic Holly wood locations include landmarks such as
Yamashiro Restaurant and the Hollywood Roosevelt Ho tel. L.A.’s natural landscape provides
numerous locations, whether it’s Santa Monica beach for Baywatch or Vasquez Rocks, as seen in
Star Trek. For over a century, L.A. has been the ho me of legendary studios, where silent movies,
the latest blockbusters and hit TV shows have been shot. Must-sees for fans are tours of Universal
Studios, Warner Brothers, Paramount Pictures and So ny Pictures. And a sure way to get on TV is to
attend a taping of a game show or talk show at a ma jor network studio. (image 24)

VI .7. Fashion
When it comes to fashion, Los Angeles has always be en a city ahead of the curve.
Fashionistas should head straight to the Fashion Di strict in Downtown L.A., one of the best
shopping areas in the world for cutting edge fashio n and bargain prices. Visit La Brea Avenue for
trendy gear and vintage clothing, or stroll nearby West Third Street and its many boutiques. The jet
set park their Ferraris on famed Rodeo Drive for th e ultimate luxury items, while mere mortals can
shop with the stars on Robertson Blvd. Celebrities have also made Ventura Blvd. in the Valley a
hotspot for vintage and high end fashion alike. Tom orrow’s fashion superstars are being created
today at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchand ising (FIDM), where the public can attend the
annual DEBUT Runway Show, and fashion exhibits at t he FIDM museum.

13

VI .8. Literary L.A.
Los Angeles is one of the best cities in the countr y for book fans. Even though L.A. is
blessed with year round sunny weather, some of its most famous characters were at home in the
night, such as Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe. A nother famed hardboiled crime author was
James M. Cain, who set his novels Double Indemnity and Mildred Pierce in Los Angeles. The heirs
to Chandler and Cain include Michael Connelly’s Har ry Bosch and Walter Mosley’s Easy Rawlins.
John Fante’s acclaimed Ask the Dust takes place in Downtown L.A.’s Bunker Hill, and was a major
influence on Charles Bukowski, who lived in East Ho llywood and considered L.A. his favorite
subject. The annual L.A. Times Festival of Books we lcomes thousands of book lovers and authors
to USC for a weekend celebration of the written wor d.

14
Chapter VII : GOVERNMENT

Los Angeles is a charter city as opposed to a gener al law city. The current charter was
adopted on June 8, 1999 and has been amended many t imes since then. The elected government
consists of the Los Angeles City Council and the Ma yor of Los Angeles which operate under a
mayor-council government, as well as the city attor ney (not to be confused with the district
attorney, a county office) and controller. The curr ent mayor is Eric Garcetti. There are 15 city
council districts.
The city has many departments and appointed officer s, including the Los Angeles Police
Department (LAPD), the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners, the Los Angeles Fire
Department (LAFD), the Housing Authority of the Cit y of Los Angeles (HACLA), the Los Angeles
Department of Transportation (LADOT), and the Los A ngeles Public Library (LAPL). Like most
American cities.
Like most American cities, Los Angeles has been exp eriencing significant decline in crime
since the mid-1990s, and reached a 50-year low in 2 009 with 314 homicides. Police speculate that
the drop resulted from a number of factors, includi ng young people spending more time online.

15
CONCLUSION

To sum up, Los Angeles is a vital place in the hist ory of music , film industry and any kind
of entertainment .The city of Los Angeles has becom e a real symbol, almost a trademark of the
United States, being very popular among people from all over the world.
Los Angeles is the one place on the planet where pe ople come exclusively to dream and
create. Los Angeles is the city with the most subst ance in the United States, cultural substance.
The City of Los Angeles holds many distinctions. LA is the entertainment capital of the
world, a cultural mecca boasting more than 300 muse ums, and a paradise of good weather.
Los Angeles is a paradise for actors and artists, a place where fantasies become reality .This
great city of angels is a place where things get do ne. This is why I chose to talk about this city,
because it is representative for our modern world a nd for its values and ideals to Western
civilization.
A city of dreams, a little piece of paradise, the p erfect place to spend a holiday, a city where
I wish to spend my life, a city that has its flaws but are by far outweighed by its perks, that is Lo s
Angeles.

16
BIBLIOGRAPHY

https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/
https://www.lacity.org/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles
http://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/things-to-do/los -angeles-attractions