12 Things You Should Know About the La Brea Tar Pits

Among the amazing museums you can visit in Los Angeles, one is extraordinarily unique.

Can Los Angeles County experience a tsunami?

What was behind the 2024 escalating landslides in the Palos Verdes Peninsula?

Do tornadoes occur in Los Angeles County?

What are those bells placed along streets and highways in Los Angeles County (and throughout California)?

The crew of this ship were the very first Americans known to visit the Los Angeles area. They just so happened to also be trying to avoid homeland security authorities of the time.

Spanish is spoken at home by 3.5 million people in Los Angeles County. Although English is America's common language, Spanish has been regularly spoken here even longer than the United States has been a nation.

If you've ever driven I-5 northward from L.A., you know this stretch of highway. Why is it called "the Grapevine?"

Telephone numbers today are cited as ten digits. This was not always the case and typically wasn't limited to digits.

In 1992, Los Angeles County opened a new courthouse in Monterey Park, the first of its kind in the United States.

Los Angeles County was one of the first to deploy paramedic firefighter units in the nation. It did not come about easily.

Although many believe Pentecostalism spread from Jerusalem long ago, its modern version spread from Los Angeles.

A 99 Cents Only Store in Hollywood became the scene for a photograph that became one of the highest priced photographs ever.

Of 3,506 Congressional Medals of Honor awarded since 1861, 30 went to persons from Los Angeles County.

How did the San Gabriel Valley become America's "Suburban Chinatown?"

Telephone numbers from prior to 1958 looked a lot different from telephone numbers today.

It is quite possible, that L.A. might not have become the metropolis it is today had it not been for this man.

We don't think of these much, but, Los Angeles County does have rivers.

Six whimsical sea creatures delight children and adults around Legg Lake.

The Felix Chevrolet showroom and sign at Figuero and Jefferson in Los Angeles in 2023. The story behind the Felix the Cat sign, one of L.A.'s iconic landmarks, goes back more than a hundred years.

The City of Lakewood was incorporated in 1954. It became the first city of its kind in the nation.

At one time, the Los Angeles metro area was criss-crossed by one of the largest urban rail systems in the nation.

For five years, thousands of young people came together on Easter Day for a counter-culture celebration at Elysian Park in Los Angeles.

America's first female deputy sheriff was hired by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

In November 2024, Los Angeles County adds its 12th telephone area code.

Commuters in Los Angeles County average about 31 minutes to get to work each day (4.3 minutes longer than the national average). That equates to about five days of their life sitting in traffic each year. Almost a quarter of L.A. County commuters leave home before 6:30 a.m. and about a third need even more time than 31 minutes.

Today's black bears roaming through Southern California's backyards are not truly native here. The California Grizzly was actually Southern California's only native bear. So, what happened?

The Ferris wheel at Santa Monica Pier is not only an icon, but also the first and only one of its kind in the world.

Los Angeles County's newest and largest road bridge is one of the largest of its kind in the nation.

Like all cities, Los Angeles has its share of colorful nicknames, some traced as far back as the mid-1800s.

Although not nearly as bad as COVID-19, the 2022-2023 flu season in Los Angeles County was the worst in at least 14 years. How bad has Los Angeles County's current flu season been?

What does life expectancy look like for Angelenos and how does it compare to that of the average American?

It was illegal to herd a flock of more than 2,000 sheep down Hollywood Boulevard. That was just one among other odd ordinances in Los Angeles County.

What are the most popular radio stations currently in the L.A. radio market?

New York's most famous version of its iconic song, "Theme from New York, New York" was recorded, not in New York, but 2,451 miles away.

Yes. Los Angeles does have an official Christmas song.

Some of the inspiration for a much-beloved Christmas song came from a hot San Fernando Valley day.

As the celebration of Christmas became increasingly commercialized, a Los Angeles Jewish department store owner decided that Hanukkah should not be left out.

This may have been the very first published story of Hanukkah in Los Angeles.

One of L.A.'s many freeways was the very first freeway in the Western United States.

Los Angeles County has a population of more than 10 million people. What would 10 million people even look like, if you could imagine it?

At one time, Los Angeles County reigned as the "King of Agriculture" in America.

Certified Farmers Markets in Los Angeles County

We may be one of the most urbanized regions in the nation, but we still have direct access to farmers.

This woman started making toy dolls in El Segundo that became a cultural icon.

Los Angeles County has a handful of its own iconic coastal lighthouses.

California's first comprehensive water pollution law came from an incident that involved Montebello's water supply.

What are the longest and shortest streets in Los Angeles County (and those with the steepest grades)?

For the first few decades of the 20th century, this was one of the most popular attractions in Southern California.

Los Angeles County was where humanity actually discovered our place in the universe.

Is the Los Angeles basin basically just a giant bowl of sand?

Los Angeles County's oldest eatery still serving meals first began doing so in 1886.

Are palm trees native to Los Angeles?

Heritage Square Museum is a time portal that will take you back into an earlier Los Angeles.

How a passion for ice cream beginning in Glendale and Pasadena came to reach around the world.

Of 548 California city managers for which 2022 wage data was available, the statewide top 20 included nine from Los Angeles County.

Like others who grew up in Hawthorne, this young man achieved fame in music. He's also one of the last performers for whom a very famous band opened for.

The Rose Bowl Flea Market

The Rose Bowl Flea Market, held once every month, draws 20,000 visitors. It is one of the largest and most famous flea markets in the country and considered by some among the best in the world.

Things Invented, Introduced or Discovered in Los Angeles County

18 things that were invented, introduced or discovered right here in our own backyard.

California's first formal celebration of Independence Day, July 4th, was held here in Los Angeles.

What Causes “June Gloom”?

It's called “May Gray,” “June Gloom,” and, sometimes, “No-Sky-July” and even “Fogust.” What makes it happen and what makes it so unique?

Four historic and accomplished LGBTQ scientists in Los Angeles County.

Some well-known restaurant empires had their origins right here in Los Angeles County.

50 years ago, human beings accomplished what was arguably our most amazing engineering feat ever – to set foot upon the surface of the moon. Downey had an important part in making that happen.

How the Dodgers logo changed from 1938 through the present.

The Los Angeles River empties into the ocean at Long Beach. That wasn't always the case.

The population of Los Angeles County alone is larger than that of most U.S. states. If Los Angeles County were actually a state on its own (and, geographically, it is larger than either of the states of Rhode Island or Delaware), where would its population rank among U.S. states?

She was one of our nation's first African American woman police officers. She was also an officer of the Los Angeles Police Department.

A young immigrant Asian woman becomes one of America's aviation pioneers.

She was the first woman to practice medicine in Los Angeles. It was not easy.

Los Angeles County once rivaled Detroit as a center for auto manufacturing.

Years before the California Highway Patrol (CHP), they patrolled California roadways as the "Highway Patrol Service."

Among the three designers of the iconic “Theme Building” at the center of Los Angeles International Airport was a rather unique architect, especially for his time.

Los Angeles wasn't the only local city founded by people of African descent.

What is a "Sig Alert" and what is its origin?

If you faced criminal charges and you had no means to hire a defense attorney, you should thank this woman.

The Violent Beginning of American Los Angeles

Los Angeles was not orginally an American city. It became one rather violently.

20 Interesting Things About Pasadena

Let's start with one of the most beautiful public buildings in Southern California. Then there's booze, silly string, occultists, comedy, one amazing athlete...

This very famous Christmas song was actually written from the perspective of a New Yorker in Beverly Hills during Christmas.

First Public Hanukkah Menorah on the West Coast

Public Christmas trees have been a beloved feature of American holiday seasons since the early 20th century. Public Hanukkah menorahs, however, the most important symbol of the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah, are more recent. Los Angeles saw one of the earliest installations.

Celebrated every December at Olvera Street, it is said to be the oldest, continuously-celebrated Christmas event in Los Angeles.

Changing Boundaries for Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County's current boundaries have not always been where they are today.

L.A.'s First Uprising Against Racial Injustice

The struggle in Los Angeles against racial abuse and injustice goes back a long time. The first recorded uprising occurred in 1785. It was led by a young woman.

On September 10, 1915, Los Angeles saw its first woman mayor and the second woman to be mayor of a major U.S. city.

It's no longer with us, but it was once an iconic Downtown Los Angeles eatery that blended Japanese, American, pop atomic-age and punk rock culture.

The Mysterious Battle of Los Angeles, 1942

In the early morning of September 25, 1942, what did anti-aircraft gunners shoot at for more than an hour in the sky above Los Angeles?

In Los Angeles, even time travelers have a place that caters to their shopping needs.

In the Los Angeles area, women aren't just fans of football. They also play it.

In Los Angeles, wonderful immersive entertainment is not limited to the big immersive video experiences.

It's hidden within a trailer park and not accessible to the public. It's the oldest standing house in Los Angeles County.

Three of the four jetliners that were commandeered on the morning of September 11, 2001, and flown into the New York Twin World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon, were originally bound for Los Angeles. Aboard these three aircraft were 25 people returning home to Los Angeles County. Here are their names.

Downtown Los Angeles was a very different community, 250 years ago.

The American Civil War was not a distant war to Los Angeles.

Two decades ago, two areas of the City of Los Angeles asked voters to allow them to break away from the city and become independent cities.

Crime labs today are a common feature in crime stories and television investigative shows. America's crime labs go back about one hundred years, starting in Los Angeles.

The lowest point on land in Los Angeles County is a not a spot that most passersby would take note or even notice.

This little Los Angeles rail line is reputed to be the world's shortest railway.

Swimwear for women was long considered boring. Until Los Angeles garment-maker Fred Cole.

If you love the Los Angeles Dodgers, you should thank this woman.

This now ubiquitous nationwide chain of restaurants had its humble origins in Lakewood.

How to Pronounce "Los Angeles"

Although there is little dispute today about how to pronounce "Los Angeles," this wasn't always the case.

Will Los Angeles really eventually fall into the ocean?

The earliest known human remains found in the Los Angeles area are that of a young woman from about 10,000 years ago. She was named "La Brea Woman," due to her remains being uncovered at the famous La Brea Tar Pits.

It was once the largest aircraft ever built and flown (certainly the largest wooden aircraft) and it was built, flown, and displayed here in our backyard.

The U.S. Navy's first Asian American female naval officer came from Los Angeles.

Almost all the families recruited to establish the tiny new pueblo of Los Angeles in 1781 were headed by people of color. The head of one of those families was Filipino.

Yes, Los Angeles County has an official song.

Angelenos may be used to seeing this airship, but, in fact, they are one of the rarest types of aircraft to be seen in the sky.

Era of the Gambling Ships

Long before Las Vegas, Angelenos only had a short boat ride to hit the tables.

22 Interesting Things About Avalon & Santa Catalina Island

No. You do not need a passport to visit the island, although, some have argued differently.

The most extreme amount of rain to fall anywhere in California during any 24-hour period fell in our own backyard.

Before hamburgers, the McDonald brothers tried another type of business in the Los Angeles area.

103 years before Elon Musk and Tesla was this Los Angeles teenager.

Five U.S. Presidents, at some point in their lives, made their home in Los Angeles County.

What Did the Founders of Los Angeles Look Like?

Most Angelenos probably know little to nothing about the 44 people who, 239 years ago, founded what became today a world-class megalopolis of 10 million people. Every day, however, you probably see the likeness of their faces and hear their voices in the streets of L.A.

In 1947, a young Los Angeles County couple were not allowed to marry because of skin color. Their love ended up changing the law in California.

Snow happens in Los Angeles County, but it's rare. Unless you are in the mountains.

We commonly call these superhot winds the "Santa Ana Winds." Are we getting that wrong?

As of 2020, there were 7.6 million motor vehicles in Los Angeles County. This was the very first one.

Thomas Edison inadvertantly created Hollywood. Filmmakers were trying to get as far away from him as possible.

Where the Internet was Born

The internet was born in Los Angeles and began with a message of only two letters.

Unlike today's ranch-raised variety of turkey, there was a native species of turkey, found only in Southern California, that ranged freely and abundantly across the Los Angeles area. It even existed here long before the first human inhabitants arrived in the region. You won't find this bird on anyone's Thanksgiving table, though. There is, however, one place where you can still see it.

Some may not believe it, but, the official tree of Los Angeles is not a palm tree.

Los Angeles is famous for its televised car chases. How and when did this start?

There are only two major cities in the world in which big wild cats still roam freely. One is close to home.

Origin of the Name "Dodgers" for the Los Angeles Dodgers

There have been six Sheriffs of Los Angeles County of Hispanic/Latino heritage.

Immigration has long been a hot issue in California. At one time, American citizens were, ironically, the undocumented immigrants here.

August is, on average, the warmest month of the year for Downtown Los Angeles, with an average temperature, over the last 30 years, of 75°F. It is September, however, when downtown experiences its record high temperatures and is more likely to record high temperatures for the month at 100°F or higher. The temperature record for Downtown L.A. stands at 113°F, recorded on September 27, 2010. The highest temperature ever recorded anywhere in Los Angeles County was 120°F in Woodland Hills, on September 6, 2020.

See Monthly High/Low and Average Temperatures by Year for Downtown Los Angeles.

From the 1950s through the 1970s, the Los Angeles area was surrounded by a ring of Cold War missile bases, possibly nuclear-armed, ready to defend the region from Soviet bombers.

Los Angeles International Airport actually has an official song and that song was actually a hit.

Two of America's top 20 universities are found in Los Angeles County.

Angelenos know their city is expensive. Just where does Los Angeles rank for cost-of-living among cities of the world?

Los Angeles has already hosted the summer Olympic Games twice (in 1932 and 1984) and is set to do so again in 2028. By then, L.A. will join London and Paris as one of only three cities to host the Olympics three times. Even then, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is the only sports venue in the world to have hosted more than one Olympic Games.

What portion of the population of California, the United States and the world lives in Los Angeles County?

The oldest business still operating in California was founded here in Los Angeles.

The hottest recorded temperature in Downtown L.A. was 113^oF. The hottest ever recorded in Los Angeles County, however, was 21 miles away.

These are Los Angeles County's fastest growing Asian ethnic groups over the last 20 years.

This UCLA graduate and JPL scientist became the first person of Chinese descent in space.

Long Beach was once going to be the location of a new $3 billion Disney theme park.

There are food retailers still operating today that launched their business in Los Angeles as far back as 1873.

It was the leading amusement attraction in the Los Angeles area before there was a Disneyland.

With 95,210 employees, this is the single largest employer in Southern California.

Racial violence against Asian people in America is not new. The worst incidence of this in American history occurred right here in Los Angeles.

Amelia Earhart...Where Her Love of Flying Began.

America's first female law enforcement helicopter pilot patrolled in the sky above Los Angeles County.

It is the oldest restaurant still operating in Los Angeles County.

Our African American Legacy in Science, Engineering & Medicine

Eleven people connected to Los Angeles County who broke racial barriers and made their marks in science, engineering, medicine.

Ten Romantic Movies Set in Los Angeles

Was the fortune cookie actually invented in Los Angeles?

Walt Disney planned to build Disneyland in Burbank. How did it end up in Anaheim?

A species of tree found only on Santa Catalina Island is one of the rarest trees in North America.

Valspeak or Valley Speak is a social class dialect said to have originated among materialistic young upper-class white women in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley.

What is "The Grapevine"?

The rainiest day on record in Downtown Los Angeles was March 2, 1938, recording 5.88 inches of rain.

Southern California's First Christmas Tree

It was believed to be the first Christmas tree ever erected anywhere in Southern California.

How a tragic gun accident in Los Angeles led to help for others across America.

Who are the Native American tribal groups that are native to Los Angeles County?

In the 2020 presidential election, as expected, Los Angeles County turned out to be a political "sea of blue." Joe Biden received 71 percent of the county's vote. There were, however, a few communities in Los Angeles County in which the Republican presidential candidate received the majority of votes. These were communities mostly in the northern part of the county. These were the cities of La Habra Heights and Rolling Hills and (in northern Los Angeles County) the unincorporated communities of Acton, Agua Dulce, Antelope, Castaic, Del Sur (Antelope Valley), Gorman (northwest corner of L.A. County), Green Valley, Lamanda (Pasadena Area), Leona Valley, Llano (Antelope Valley), Neenach (Antelope Valley), Pearblossom (Antelope Valley), and Quartz Hill.

Los Angeles County is home to the largest concentration of American Indians in the United States.

Although President Abraham Lincoln is considered one of the nation’s greatest presidents, he was not popular in Los Angeles County in his time.

Political Party Registration Among Los Angeles County Cities

Which L.A. County cities have more Democrats? Republicans? No Party Preference?

Mysterious L.A.: The Devil's Gate area has long drawn the attention of paranormal enthusiasts.

Los Angeles is on the move. Literally.

According the last census in 2010, more people in Los Angeles County are living to age 100 and over.

The Namesake of Olvera Street

So, who was Olvera and why is L.A.'s iconic street named for him?

On a hot day in August, 1975, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Irma Alvarez confirmed that women were up to the challenges of police work on the streets.

For English-only speakers, we offer a new map of Los Angeles County in the English language. It will probably appear quite foreign.

One in three Los Angeles County residents was born outside the United States, the largest foreign-born population in the nation. This is arguably one of the most culturally diverse concentrations of humanity ever.

It is among America's worst firefighter disasters and, for a long time, the biggest loss of lives to a wildfire in California history.

The most intense earthquake ever recorded in the United States occured in the Los Angeles area.

No. COVID-19 is not just like the flu.

The chart above shows the comparative impact of seasonal influenza (the "flu") with COVID-19 in Los Angeles County. Even if you were to combine the total of flu cases and deaths over nine seasons in Los Angeles County, the influenza toll still pales in comparison against the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths just for 2020 so far. The number of influenza-related deaths are so small, compared to COVID-19 deaths, that they are barely visual or not visible at all in this chart. COVID-19 is not just like the flu. It is more contagious, does more damage, is deadlier, and there is no vaccine for it.

Los Angeles Almanac Chart

A Little History: The Confederate County of Los Angeles

In 1861, the U.S. South was not the only part of the nation clamoring for secession from the Union.

At one time, your opportunities for buying or improving a home in most places in Los Angeles County were highly restricted if you had the wrong skin color or religion or were even neighborly with people of the wrong skin color or religion.

There are eight threatening volcanoes in California. Is the Los Angeles region in the danger zone?

Two very famous World War II generals were Angelenos.

There is probably no other major city in America or even in the world whose original name is as disputed as that of Los Angeles.

As it turns out, our current need to Stay-at-Home during the COVID-19 pandemic seems to have given Los Angeles some of the cleanest air among major cities of the world. Recently, IQAir, a Swiss air quality tech company that also monitors air pollution levels in cities around the world, ranked Los Angeles as high as third place among 97 world cities with the cleanest air in the world. At one point in the last week, Los Angeles ranked ahead of Berlin, Germany, and just behind second place Salt Lake City, Utah, and ahead of six other U.S. cities in the list, San Francisco, New York, Detroit, Denver, Portland, Oregon and Seattle. This further follows EPA’s 2019 Air Quality Index Report showing Los Angeles County to have had the most number of good quality air days since at least 1980.

How bad does the seasonal flu actually get in Los Angeles County?

The largest number of registered voters in Los Angeles County are registered as Democrats. The second largest number of registered voters are not registered as you might think.

The two most famous brothers in early Los Angeles history were of Indian, African and Spanish descent.

The geographic label "Southern California" (or “SoCal”) has fairly recent origins.

Angelino Heights is the oldest surviving residential suburb of Los Angeles.

A Los Angeles department store was the first to use commercial advertising to promote Hanukkah gift-giving.

This Altadena display is the oldest large-scale Christmas lighting display in the world.

They are the foods and beverages believed to have originated in Los Angeles (and in Pasadena).

Los Angeles County was one of the first to deploy paramedic firefighter units in the nation. It did not come about easily.

So, what does it cost to attend a four-year college in Los Angeles County?

U.S. military troops deployed eight times into the Los Angeles area for military or security purposes.

Mysterious L.A.: During one summer afternoon in 1961, the story was that, for several hours, this creature terrorized the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Mysterious L.A.: She is said to have haunted Elysian Park and environs since at least World War II.

Before America entered World War II, the Nazis appeared to be building a fortress in Los Angeles.

Mysterious L.A.: What happened to cause the violent deaths of these long ago Los Angeles area residents?

A British newspaper declared an Alhambra ice cream shop to be the best place in the world to drink a milkshake. Yes, in the world.

This wonderful and iconic bookstore in Pasadena is the oldest independent bookstore in Southern California.

Your Area Code says a lot about you.

What are the current minimum wage rates in Los Angeles County?

The median pay of child care workers in Los Angeles County in 2018 was $13.00 per hour.

Four Apollo astronauts who set foot on the moon and their significant ties to Los Angeles County.

When and how did the largest fashion industry in the United States get started?

Santa Catalina Island has a queen. We had the privilege to meet her.

How can a city stand up to support fatherhood?

What causes “May Gray” and “June Gloom?”

What are the fastest growing occupations in Los Angeles County?

They lived in the Los Angeles area for more than 2,000 years. By what name do we call them?

On April 29, 1992, Los Angeles exploded.

Although many believe Pentecostalism spread from Jerusalem long ago, its modern version spread from Los Angeles.

And next to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, another exciting new museum is rising.

One of the youngest American women multibillionaires is Lynsi Synder, heiress, sole owner and president of In-N-Out, Inc. Her wealth is estimated to be about $3 billion.

An Angeleno (or La Cañada Flintridger, to be exact) discovered evidence of water on Mars and holds the off-world driving record.

Angelenos once mounted ostriches and alligators, gawked at celebrity lions, threw peanuts at monkeys, and cheered killer whales.

So, when did Wyoming begin looking a lot like Los Angeles?

It's almost like visiting the garage for the whole of the San Fernando Valley.

The Los Angeles County Arboretum offers a new delight for the holidays.

What does a former Navy pilot have to do with some of the most historic stained glass artwork in Southern California?

Without contest, it is the most unusual museum in Los Angeles County. It is also the most unusual museum we've visited anywhere in the world.

There are a number of places at or near LAX to indulge your interest in aviation and aviation history.

Not very long ago, as many as 18,000 animals were being killed in Los Angeles animal shelters each year. That was then.

During the 2017-2018 school year, the 22 community colleges in Los Angeles County enrolled a combined total of 623,558 students. The largest community college district in the county, the Los Angeles Community College District, is also the largest in the nation. Its nine campuses enrolled more than 230,000 students.

In the Little League World Series, two significant "Firsts" for the United States came out of Long Beach and San Pedro.

He was was the very first native Angeleno and Southern Californian to achieve international fame.

Air travellers are often less than happy these days, but those using an air transporation service operating from Santa Monica Airport appear to be the exception.

About one in three Los Angeles County residents are foreign-born.

According to an article in GQ Magazine, what part of Los Angeles may be America's Next Great City?

The Original Farmers Market, located at the corner of Fairfax and Third Street in Los Angeles, opened in the summer of 1934 with 18 vendors. It now features more than 100 shops, visited by an estimated 3 million people each year.

The nation's oldest Holocaust museum founded by survivors takes visitors into the depths of Holocaust history.

La Raza was the best known and most influential of Chicano activist publications during the late 1960s and into the 1970s.

If ever there is a unique example of passion and love, there is The Bunny Museum in Altadena.

According the last census in 2010, more people in Los Angeles County are living to age 100 and over.

These bookstores are Southern California's oldest, California's largest, the nation's largest university bookstore and the nation's oldest children's bookstore.