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Christmas Tree Lane, Altadena

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

America's First Woman Police Officer

Los Angeles Police Officer Alice Stebbins Wells was the first woman in America to serve fully as a police officer.

Gambling_Barge_Ferry, 1939

Era of the Gambling Ships

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

High School, Education, Los Angeles County

The average American high School has about 850 students. Dozens of high schools in Los Angeles County are much larger than that.

Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way, Mural, 1862

Immigration has long been a hot issue in California. Ironically, American citizens were once the undocumented immigrants here.

Frank Shaw, Mayor, Los Angeles

A car-bombing led to the only Los Angeles mayor ever be recalled from office.

George H.W. Bush and Family, 1947

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

99 Cents Only, Hollywood

A 99 Cents Only Store in Hollywood (when the chain was still in business) became the scene for a photograph that became one of the highest priced photographs ever.

San Gabriel Mission, Indigenous, Indian

Who and where were the earliest recorded burials in Los Angeles County?

Elizabeth Short, Black Dahlia, crime

These are some of the most infamous unsolved crimes in Los Angeles History.

Ghosts, Spectres, Los Anglees

Mysterious L.A.: How many ghosts are haunting Los Angeles County?

Elizabeth Short, Black Dahlia, crime

These are some of the most infamous unsolved crimes in Los Angeles History.

La Brea Tar Pits, Ice Age, Mammoths, Los Angeles

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.

How are freeway lanes actually numbered?

Local Names From Agoura Hills to Whittier

Los Angeles residents are commonly called "Angelenos." So, what are people from Culver City or Long Beach called?

Tsunami, Earthquake, Los Angeles

Can Los Angeles County experience a tsunami?

Landslide Map, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Rancho Palos Verdes

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

Imagined Tornado Over Los Angeles

Do tornadoes occur in Los Angeles County?

First El Camino Real Bell, 1906

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

Lelia Byrd, William Shaler, circa 1803

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.

Grapevine Route, Los Angeles County

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

Old Telephone

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

Edmund Edelman Children's Court

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

Los Angeles Fire Department Paramedic Unit

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

Pentacostals, Worship

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

Michael Monsoor, Recipient of Medal of Honor, 2006

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

San Gabriel Valley Business Sign in Chinese

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

Old Telephone

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

Los Angeles Mayor Jose

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

Rivers, Los Angeles County

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

Benjamin Dominguez, Sculpture, Legg Lake, Whittier Narrows Recreation Area

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

Felix Chevrolet, Felix the Cat, Auto Dealership

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.

Lakewood, 1950s

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

Pacific Electric Railway, Red Car, Whittier Museum

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

Young Women Dance, Easter, Love-In, Elysian Park, Los Angeles, 1970

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

Photo of Deputy Margaret Adams at work

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

Area Codes, Telephones, Los Angeles County

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

Traffic, Montebello

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.

The California Grizzly, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

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?

Pacific Wheel, Ferris Wheel, Pacific Park, Santa Monica Pier

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.

Long Beach International Gateway Bridge, Bridge, Long Beach, Terminal Island

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

LA, Los Angeles, Palm Trees

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

Influenza, Flu

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?

Aging

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.

Radio, Broadcasting, Los Angeles

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

Frank Sinatra

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.

Christmas Tree, Palm Trees

Yes. Los Angeles does have an official Christmas song.

Mel Torme, Nat King Cole and Oscar Moore

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

Hanukkah Gift

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

Hanukkah, Chanukah, Los Angeles Daily Herald, 1889

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

Arroyo Seco Parkway, Pasadena Freeway, 110

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

Image of 2,166 People

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?

Field Workers in Whittier Narrows Strawberry Fields

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

Redondo Beach Farmer's Market

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.

Barbie, Ruth Handler, Mattel, 1961

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

Lighthouse, Point Fermin, San Pedro, 1874

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

Glass of Water

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

Powers Place, Shortest Street in Los Angeles

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

Mount Lowe Railway, 1893

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

Mount Wilson Observatory

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

Los Angeles Basin From Space, 2013

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

The Original Saugus Cafe, Santa Clarita

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

Palm Trees, Beverly Hills

Are palm trees native to Los Angeles?

Docent-Led Tour at Heritage Square Museum

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

Baskin Robbins Ice Cream

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

City Managers, Los Angeles, Pay

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

Chris Montez

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.

Rose Bowl, Flea Market, Pasadena

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.

Mars Rovers

Things Invented, Introduced or Discovered in Los Angeles County

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

Fort Moore Memorial Wall, Los Angeles

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

June Gloom Over Southern California Beach

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?

Scientists, LGBTQ

Four historic and accomplished LGBTQ scientists in Los Angeles County.

Postcard of Denny's Coffee Shop

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

Apollo 11 Saturn V Launch, 1969

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.

Dodgers, Logo, Baseball, Brooklyn

How the Dodgers logo changed from 1938 through the present.

Looking South Toward Mouth of Los Angeles River in Long Beach

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

Los Angeles County Among US States

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?

Georgia Ann Robinson, African American, Police Officer, LAPD

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

Katherine Cheung, Pioneer Aviatrix

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

Dr. Elizabeth Follansbee

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

Studebaker Plant in Vernon

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

1930s Auto Club highway patrol in Southern California

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

Theme Building at Los Angeles International Airport

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.

Welcome Sign to Beverly Hills

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

Sigalert, I-405, Traffic

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

Clara Shortridge Foltz, Circa 1900

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.

Pasadena City Hall

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...

Bing Crosby and Marjorie Reynolds Singing White Christmas in Film Holiday Inn, 1942

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

Happy Hanukkah Menorah

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.

Las Posadas Procession on Olvera Street, 2017

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.

Portrayal of Toypurina

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.

Estelle Lawton Lindsey, 1915

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

Atomic Cafe

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.

Searchlights, Antiaircraft Fire, World War II, Los Angeles, 1942

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?

Time Travel Mart, Echo Park

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

Football, Women

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

Velaslavasay Panorama, Shengjing, Los Angeles

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.

9-11 Memorial, New York

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.

Yaangna Village, Indian, Gabrieleno, Gabrielino, Tongva, Kizh

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

Drum Barracks during the Civil War

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

Secession, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, 2002

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.

LAPD Forensic Specialist Ray Pinker and Detective Miles Ledbetter, 1935

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.

Long Beach, Wilmington

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

Angels Flight Car

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

Swoon Suit Swimsuit Ad, 1944

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

Los Angeles Councilwoman Rosalind Wyman, ca. 1953

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

Denny's Restaurant, Monrovia

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.

Pacific Coast of California

Will Los Angeles really eventually fall into the ocean?

La Brea Woman, La Brea Tar Pits, Prehistoric Los Angeles

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.

Spruce Goose, Howard Huges

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.

Susan Ahn Cuddy, Philip Ahn, Ralph Ahn, Asian American, Korean American, Circa 1944

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

Filipino, Spanish, Colonial

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.

Song Sheet for Seventy-Six Cities, 1965

Yes, Los Angeles County has an official song.

Goodyear Blimp Wingfoot Two

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.

Avalon Harbor, Santa Catalina Island

22 Interesting Things About Avalon & Santa Catalina Island

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

Rainfall

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

Vintage McDonald's Sign in Downey, California

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

Earle C. Anthony and Automobile, Los Angeles, Circa 1897

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

Image Portrayal of Founders of Los Angeles, 1781

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.

Marriage

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 at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 1949

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

Map Illustration of Santa Ana Winds Over Southern California

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

First Automobile, Los Angeles, 1897

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

Thomas Edison, Eastman Kodak, 1928

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

Internet, ARPANET, UCLA, Los Angeles, 1969

Where the Internet was Born

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

Meleagris Californica, Californian Turkey, La Brea Tar Pits

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.

Coral Tree

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

Speeding Car

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

Mountain Lion, Cougar, Puma, Leopard

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

Dodgers, Baseball, Brooklyn, 1913

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

Sheriffs, Hispanic, Latino, Los Angeles County

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

Weather, Heat, Temperatures, Los Angeles

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.

U.S. Army, Nike Hercules, Air-Defense, Missile, LA88

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.

2003 Los Angeles City Proclamation of Official Song of LAX

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

CalTech Beckman Institute, Pasadena

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

Los Angeles

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

Los Angeles Olympic Games, 1932, 1984, 2028

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.

L.A. County Population Ratios

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

Drawing of Ducommon Watch and Jewelry. 1868

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

Record High and Low Temperatures for Select LA County Locations

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

Indian Girl

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

Taylor Wang, NASA, Astronaut, 1984

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

DisneySea, Long Beach Concept, 1990

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

First Ralphs Grocery Store Opened in Los Angeles, 1886

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

Entrance to the Pike in Long Beach, 1960

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

Los Angeles County Health Workers

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, 1936

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

Los Angeles County, Sheriff, Pilot, Helicopter, 1981

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

The Original Saugus Cafe, Santa Clarita

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

African American, Heritage, Science, Engineering, Medicine, Los Angeles

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.

Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park

Ten Romantic Movies Set in Los Angeles

Fortune Cookie and Fortune

Was the fortune cookie actually invented in Los Angeles?

Disneyland Entrance

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

Catalina Mahogany Tree

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

Valley Speak

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"?

Downtown Los Angeles, Skyline, Weather

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

The Christmas Tree by Winslow Homer, 1858

Southern California's First Christmas Tree

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

J. Robert Atkinson with Braille Books in Los Angeles, 1929

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

Original Native People of Los Angeles County

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

Map of Blue Versus Red Presidential Vote Areas in Los Angeles County, 2020

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.

Mexican American Indian Performers

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

President Abraham Lincoln, 1863

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, Los Angeles County, 2020

Political Party Registration Among Los Angeles County Cities

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

Devil's Gate on the Arroyo Seco, Circa 1920

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

Los Angeles City Hall in San Francisco Suburbs

Los Angeles is on the move. Literally.

100th Birthday Celebration

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

Agustin Olvera

The Namesake of Olvera Street

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

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Irma Alvarez, 1976

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.

Map of Los Angeles County in English Language

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

Los Angeles, Space, International Space Station

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.

Griffith Park Fire Victims, 1933

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.

Influenza Toll Versus COVID-19 Toll, Los Angeles County

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

Confederate Flag Over Los Angeles County, 1861-1865

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.

Map Overlay of Racially-Assessed Communities from 1939

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.

Volcanic Eruption

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

Generals George S Patton Jr and James H Doolitte Arrive in Los Angeles, 1945

Two very famous World War II generals were Angelenos.

Virgin With Angeles by Bouguereau

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.

Downtown Los Angeles Skyline as Seen From First AME Church, 2019

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.

Suffering the Flu

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

Voter Registration 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.

Portraits of Brothers Andres Pico and Pio Pico

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

Southern California Beach at Sunset

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

Victorian Homes in the Angelino Heights District, Los Angeles

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

Girl With Menorah

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

Foods Straight Out of LA

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

Los Angeles Fire Department Paramedic Unit

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

Student Behind Books

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

California Army National Guard on Patrol in Los Angeles During Riots, 1992

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

Eye of a Creature

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.

The White Lady of Elysian Park

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

Swastika Over LA

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

Archeological Burial Site

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

Fosselman's Ice Cream Co., Alhambra, California

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.

Vroman's Bookstore, Pasadena

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

Phone, Telephone, Beach, Area Code

Your Area Code says a lot about you.

Child Care Worker With Children

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.

Earthrise Over Lunar Surface, 1969

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

Workers in a Los Angeles Shirt Factory, Circa 1940s

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

Rosie and Earl Cadman in Avalon, Circa 1945

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

A Dad Teaches His Daughter to Surf

How can a city stand up to support fatherhood?

June Gloom Over Southern California Beach

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

Paralegal at Work

What are the fastest growing occupations in Los Angeles County?

Indian Woman Gathering Acorns by Charles Nahl, 1859

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

Entrance to 2017 California African American Museum Exhibit

On April 29, 1992, Los Angeles exploded.

Worshipping Hands

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

Lucas Museum of Narrative Art Artist Rendering

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

Replica of Original In-N-Out Stand Near Original Location

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.

Artist Conception of Mars Rover

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

Los Angeles Alligator Farm, ca. 1900

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

Map of Wyoming From TV Series Longmire

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

Valley Relics Museum

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

Archways of Light in the Moonlight Forest

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

Adamm’s Stained Glass Studio & Art Gallery, Santa Monica, California

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

Museum of Jurassic Technology, Culver City, 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.

DC-3 Passenger Plane at Flight Path Museum

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

Pets need love, too.

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

Los Angeles Trade Technical College

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.

2007 Little League World Series Game in South Williamsport, PA

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

Guy Orlando Rose in Giverny, France, Circa 1890

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

Aircraft in Flight

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.

International Flags Displayed at USC

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

America's Next Great City

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

Fairfax Farmer's Market, Los Angeles

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.

Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust

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

La Raza Exhibition at Autry Museum

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

The Bunny Museum, Altadena, California

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

100th Birthday Celebration

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

Vroman's Bookstore, Pasadena

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