Los Angeles County, California
Most populous county in the US and California From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Los Angeles County, officially the County of Los Angeles (Spanish: Condado de Los Ángeles), and sometimes abbreviated as L.A. County, is the most populous county in the United States, with 9,861,224 residents estimated in 2022. Its population is greater than that of 40 individual U.S. states. Comprising 88 incorporated cities and many unincorporated areas within a total area of 4,083 square miles (10,570 km2), it is home to more than a quarter of Californians and is one of the most ethnically diverse U.S. counties.[7] The county's seat, Los Angeles, is the second most populous city in the United States, with 3,822,238 residents estimated in 2022. The county has been world-renowned as the domicile of the U.S. motion-picture industry since the latter's inception in the early 20th century.
Los Angeles County | |
|---|---|
 Flag | |
| Nickname(s): "L.A. County", "Metro-LA", "Greater LA" | |
   | |
| Coordinates: 34°3′N 118°15′W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Region | Southern California |
| Metro area | Greater Los Angeles |
| Formed | February 18, 1850[1] |
| Named for | Our Lady, Queen of the Angels |
| County seat | Los Angeles |
| Largest city | Los Angeles |
| Incorporated cities | 88 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–CEO |
| • Body | Board of Supervisors |
| • Chair | Lindsey Horvath (D) |
| • Chair Pro Tem | Kathryn Barger (R) |
| • Board of Supervisors | Supervisors |
| • Chief Executive Officer | Fesia Davenport |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4,751 sq mi (12,310 km2) |
| • Land | 4,058 sq mi (10,510 km2) |
| • Water | 693 sq mi (1,790 km2) |
| Highest elevation | 10,068 ft (3,069 m) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 ft (0 m) |
| Population (July 1, 2023) | |
| • Total | 9,663,345  [4] |
| • Density | 2,430/sq mi (940/km2) |
| GDP | |
| • Total | $913.292 billion (2022) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific Time Zone) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (Pacific Daylight Time) |
| ZIP Codes | 90xxx–918xx, 92397, 92821, 92823, 93243, 935xx[6] |
| Area codes | 213/323, 310/424, 442/760, 562, 626, 657/714, 661, 747/818, 840/909 |
| FIPS code | 06-037 |
| GNIS feature ID | 277283 |
| Congressional districts | 23rd, 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st, 32nd, 34th, 35th, 36th, 37th, 38th, 42nd, 43rd, 44th, 45th |
| Website | lacounty.gov |
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Los Angeles County is one of the original counties of California, created at the time of statehood in 1850.[8] The county originally included parts of what are now Kern, San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo, Tulare, Ventura, and Orange counties. In 1851 and 1852, Los Angeles County stretched from the coast to the state line of Nevada.[9] As the population increased, sections were split off to organize San Bernardino County in 1853, Kern County in 1866, and Orange County in 1889.
Before the 1870s, Los Angeles County was divided into townships (many of which were amalgamations of one or more old ranchos):[10]
- Azusa – encompassed the foothill communities east of the San Gabriel River, including present-day Covina and Duarte
- El Monte – encompassed communities in the Whittier Narrows area, including present-day El Monte, La Puente, as well as Monterey Park
- Azusa and El Monte Townships – merged for the 1870 census
- City of Los Angeles – then consisting solely of its four-league Spanish land grant
- Los Angeles Township – consisted of areas surrounding the City of Los Angeles, including the San Fernando Valley and present-day West Los Angeles and East Los Angeles. Most of this area has now been annexed to the city of Los Angeles.
- Los Nietos – consisted of areas south of the Whittier Narrows and Puente Hills south to present-day Long Beach, centered on the early settlement at Los Nietos. Some of this area is now in Orange County
- San Jose – consisted of the eastern portions of the county drained by San Jose Creek, including what is now the cities of Pomona, Claremont and Walnut
- San Gabriel – consisted of the western San Gabriel Valley and foothill communities, including present-day Alhambra and Pasadena. Centered on the Mission San Gabriel
- Santa Ana – consisted of what is now northern and central Orange County, including what is now Fullerton, Huntington Beach and the City of Orange. Centered on Santa Ana).
- For the 1870 census, Anaheim district was enumerated separately[11][12]
- San Juan – consisted of what is now southern Orange County. Centered on Mission San Juan Capistrano
- San Pedro – consisted of the present-day South Bay communities, Compton and western Long Beach. Centered on the wharf of San Pedro. Renamed Wilmington Township by 1870).
- Tejon – consisted of all of northern Los Angeles County and what is now southern Kern County. Centered on Fort Tejon
- When Kern County was formed, the portion of the township remaining in Los Angeles County became Soledad Township.[13]
As shown by the map below, Los Angeles County is bordered on the north by Kern County, on the east by San Bernardino County, on the southeast by Orange County, on the south by the Pacific Ocean, and on the west by Ventura County.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 4,751 square miles (12,310 km2), of which 4,058 square miles (10,510 km2) (85%) is land and 693 square miles (1,790 km2) (15%) is water.[14] Los Angeles County borders 70 miles (110 km) of coast on the Pacific Ocean and encompasses mountain ranges, valleys, forests, islands, lakes, rivers, and desert. The Los Angeles River, Rio Hondo, Ballona Creek, the San Gabriel River and the Santa Clara River flow in Los Angeles County, while the primary mountain ranges are the Santa Monica Mountains and the San Gabriel Mountains. The western extent of the Mojave Desert begins in the Antelope Valley, in the northeastern part of the county.
Most of the population of Los Angeles County resides in the south and southwest, with major population centers in the Los Angeles Basin, San Fernando Valley, and San Gabriel Valley. Other population centers are found in the Santa Clarita Valley, Pomona Valley, Crescenta Valley and Antelope Valley.
The county is divided west-to-east by the San Gabriel Mountains, which are part of the Transverse Ranges of southern California, and are contained mostly within the Angeles National Forest. Most of the county's highest peaks are in the San Gabriel Mountains, including Mount San Antonio 10,068 feet (3,069 m) at the Los Angeles–San Bernardino county lines, Mount Baden-Powell 9,399 feet (2,865 m), Mount Burnham 8,997 feet (2,742 m) and Mount Wilson 5,710 feet (1,740 m). Several lower mountains are in the northern, western, and southwestern parts of the county, including the San Emigdio Mountains, the southernmost part of Tehachapi Mountains and the Sierra Pelona Mountains.
Los Angeles County includes San Clemente Island and Santa Catalina Island, which are part of the Channel Islands archipelago off the Pacific Coast.
Lakes and reservoirs
- Bouquet Reservoir
- Castaic Lake
- Crystal Lake
- Elizabeth Lake
- Holiday Lake
- Hollywood Reservoir
- Hughes Lake
- Jackson Lake
- Las Virgenes Reservoir
- Malibou Lake
- Morris Reservoir
- Munz Lakes
- Lake Palmdale
- Puddingstone Reservoir
- Pyramid Lake
- Quail Lake
- Silver Lake Reservoir
- Stone Canyon Reservoir
- Tweedy Lake
- Westlake in City of Westlake Village
- Lake Lindero
Major divisions of the county
- East: Eastside, San Gabriel Valley, portions of the Pomona Valley
- West: Westside, Beach Cities
- South: South Bay, South Los Angeles, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Gateway Cities, Los Angeles Harbor Region
- North: San Fernando Valley, Crescenta Valley, portions of the Conejo Valley, portions of the Antelope Valley and Santa Clarita Valley
- Central: Downtown Los Angeles, Mid-Wilshire, Northeast Los Angeles
National protected areas
Many parts of the state are quite dry. There is rainfall and snowfall especially in the wintertime.[15]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 3,530 | — | |
| 1860 | 11,333 | 221.0% | |
| 1870 | 15,309 | 35.1% | |
| 1880 | 33,381 | 118.0% | |
| 1890 | 101,454 | 203.9% | |
| 1900 | 170,298 | 67.9% | |
| 1910 | 504,131 | 196.0% | |
| 1920 | 936,455 | 85.8% | |
| 1930 | 2,208,492 | 135.8% | |
| 1940 | 2,785,643 | 26.1% | |
| 1950 | 4,151,687 | 49.0% | |
| 1960 | 6,038,771 | 45.5% | |
| 1970 | 7,041,980 | 16.6% | |
| 1980 | 7,477,421 | 6.2% | |
| 1990 | 8,863,164 | 18.5% | |
| 2000 | 9,519,338 | 7.4% | |
| 2010 | 9,818,605 | 3.1% | |
| 2020 | 10,014,009 | 2.0% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 9,663,345 | [16] | −3.5% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[17] 1790–1960[18] 1900–1990[19] 1990–2000[20] 2010[21] 2020[22] | |||
2020 Census
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1990[23] | Pop 2000[24] | Pop 2010[21] | Pop 2020[22] | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 3,618,850 | 2,959,614 | 2,728,321 | 2,563,609 | 40.83% | 31.09% | 27.79% | 25.60% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 934,776 | 901,472 | 815,086 | 760,689 | 10.55% | 9.47% | 8.30% | 7.60% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 29,159 | 25,609 | 18,886 | 18,453 | 0.33% | 0.27% | 0.19% | 0.18% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 907,810 | 1,124,569 | 1,325,671 | 1,474,237 | 10.24% | 11.81% | 13.50% | 14.72% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | N/A | 23,265 | 22,464 | 20,522 | N/A | 0.24% | 0.23% | 0.20% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 21,327 | 19,935 | 25,367 | 58,683 | 0.24% | 0.21% | 0.26% | 0.59% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | N/A | 222,661 | 194,921 | 313,053 | N/A | 2.34% | 1.99% | 3.13% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3,351,242 | 4,242,213 | 4,687,889 | 4,804,763 | 37.81% | 44.56% | 47.74% | 47.98% |
| Total | 8,863,164 | 9,519,338 | 9,818,605 | 10,014,009 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
In 2019, the median household income in the county was $72,797.[25]
2010 Census
Los Angeles County had a population of 9,818,605 in the 2010 United States Census.[26] This includes a natural increase since the last census of 583,364 people (i.e., 1,152,564 births minus 569,200 deaths) and a decrease due to net migration of 361,895 people. Immigration resulted in a net increase of 293,433 people, and migration from within the United States resulted in a net decrease of 655,328 people.[27]
The racial makeup of Los Angeles County was 4,936,599 (50%) White, 1,346,865 (13.7%) Asian, 856,874 (9%) African American, 72,828 (0.7%) Native American, 26,094 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 2,140,632 (21.8%) from other races, and 438,713 (4.5%) from two or more races.
Non-Hispanic whites numbered 2,728,321, or 28% of the population.[28] Hispanic or Latino residents of any race numbered 4,687,889 (48%); 36% of Los Angeles County's population was of Mexican ancestry, 3.7% Salvadoran, and 2.2% Guatemalan heritage.[29]
The county has a large population of Asian Americans, being home to the largest numbers of Burmese, Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Indonesian, Korean, Sri Lankan, Taiwanese, and Thai outside their respective countries.[30] The largest Asian groups in Los Angeles County are 4.0% Chinese, 3.3% Filipino, 2.2% Korean, 1.0% Japanese, 0.9% Vietnamese, 0.8% Indian, and 0.3% Cambodian.
Racial and ethnic composition since 1960
| Racial composition | 2020[31] | 2010[31][32] | 2000[32] | 1990[32] | 1980[32] | 1970[32] | 1960[32] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic or Latino | 48.0% | 47.7% | 44.5% | 37.8% | 27.6% | 18.3% | - |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 25.6% | 27.8% | 31.1% | 40.8% | 52.8% | - | - |
| Asian (non-Hispanic) | 14.7% | 13.5% | 11.9% | 10.2% | - | - | 1.8% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 7.6% | 8.3% | 9.7% | 11.1% | 12.6% | 10.8% | 7.6% |
| Native American (non-Hispanic) | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.8% | 0.5% | - | - | 0.1% |
| Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic) | 0.2% | 0.2% | % | - | - | - | - |
| Mixed race (non-Hispanic) | 3.0% | 2.0% | % | - | - | - | - |
Race and ancestry
| Population, race, and income (2022) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total population[33] | 9,721,138 | ||||
| White[33] | 2,857,095 | 29.4% | |||
| Black or African American[33] | 739,392 | 7.6% | |||
| American Indian or Alaska Native[33] | 135,624 | 1.4% | |||
| Asian[33] | 1,453,709 | 15.0% | |||
| Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander[33] | 24,450 | 0.3% | |||
| Some other race[33] | 2,510,738 | 25.8% | |||
| Two or more races[33] | 2,000,130 | 20.6% | |||
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race)[33] | 4,766,616 | 49.0% | |||
| Per capita income[34] | $43,171 | ||||
| Median household income[35] | $82,516 | ||||
| Median family income[35] | $92,506 | ||||
The racial makeup of the county is 48.7% White,[36] 11.0% African American, 0.8% Native American, 10.0% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 23.5% from other races, and 4.9% from two or more races. 44.6% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. The largest European-American ancestry groups are German (6%), Irish (5%), English (4%) and Italian (3%). 45.9% of the population reported speaking only English at home; 37.9% spoke Spanish, 2.22% Tagalog, 2.0% Chinese, 1.9% Korean, 1.87% Armenian, 0.5% Arabic, and 0.2% Hindi.[37]
The county has the largest Native American population of any county in the nation: according to the 2000 census, it has more than 153,550 people of indigenous descent, and most are from Latin America.
As estimated by the Public Policy Institute of California in 2008, Los Angeles County is home to more than one-third of California's undocumented immigrants, who make up more than ten percent of the population.[38]
Los Angeles County is home to the largest Armenian population outside of Armenia.[39]
Los Angeles County contains the largest Iranian population outside of Iran of any other county or county equivalent globally.[40]
2000
At the 2000 census,[41] there were 9,519,338 people, 3,133,774 households, and 2,137,233 families in the county. The population density was 2,344 inhabitants per square mile (905/km2). There were 3,270,909 housing units at an average density of 806 units per square mile (311 units/km2).
Of the 3,133,774 households 37% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48% were married couples living together, 15% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32% were non-families. 25% of households were one person and 7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.61.
The age distribution was 28% under the age of 18, 10% from 18 to 24, 33% from 25 to 44, 19% from 45 to 64, and 10% 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.
Income
 | This section needs to be updated. (March 2024) |
The median personal earnings for all workers 16 and older in Los Angeles County are $30,654, slightly below the US median; earnings, however vary widely by neighborhood, race and ethnicity, and gender.[42] The median household income was $42,189 and the median family income was $46,452. Males had a median income of $36,299 versus $30,981 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,683. There are 14.4% of families living below the poverty line and 17.9% of the population, including 24.2% of under 18 and 10.5% of those over 64. Los Angeles County has the highest number of millionaires of any county in the nation, totaling 261,081 households as of 2007.[43]
The homeownership rate is 47.9%, and the median value for houses is $409,300. 42.2% of housing units are in multi-unit structures. Los Angeles County has the largest number of homeless people, with "48,000 people living on the streets, including 6,000 veterans," in 2010.[44] As of 2017[update] the number of homeless people in the county increased to nearly 58,000.[45]
Religion
In 2015, there were over two thousand Christian churches, the majority of which are Catholic.[46][47] Roman Catholic adherents number close to 40% of the population. There were 202 Jewish synagogues, 145 Buddhist temples, 38 Muslim mosques, 44 Baháʼí Faith worship centers, 37 Hindu temples, 28 Tenrikyo churches and fellowships, 16 Shinto worship centers, and 14 Sikh gurdwaras in the county.[48] The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has approximately 5 million members and is the largest diocese in the United States. In 2014, the county had 3,275 religious organizations, the most out of all US counties.[49]
Government
The Government of Los Angeles County is defined and authorized under the California Constitution, California law and the Charter of the County of Los Angeles.[50] Much of the Government of California is in practice the responsibility of local governments such as the Government of Los Angeles County.
The county's voters elect a governing five-member Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. The small size of the board means each supervisor represents over 2 million people. The board operates in a legislative, executive, and quasi-judicial capacity. As a legislative authority, it can pass ordinances for the unincorporated areas (ordinances that affect the whole county, like posting of restaurant ratings, must be ratified by the individual city). As an executive body, it can tell the county departments what to do, and how to do it. As a quasi-judicial body, the Board is the final venue of appeal in the local planning process, and holds public hearings on various agenda items.
As of 2020, the Board of Supervisors oversees a $35.5 billion annual budget and over 112,000 employees.[51] The county government is managed on a day-to-day basis by a chief executive officer and is organized into many departments, each of which is enormous in comparison to equivalent county-level (and even many state-level) departments anywhere else in the United States. Some of the larger or better-known departments include:
- Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs – offers consumers in the county a variety of services including: consumer and real estate counseling, mediation, and small claims counseling investigates consumer complaints, real estate fraud and identity theft issues. The department also provides small business certifications and helps entrepreneurs navigate the process of opening a business.
- Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services – administers foster care
- Los Angeles County Fire Department – provides firefighting and emergency medical services for the unincorporated parts and 58 cities of Los Angeles County, as well as for the city of La Habra[52] in Orange County. A 2021 Los Angeles Times investigation revealed that more than 54 percent of all fires requiring an LAFD response were associated with homelessness. That is equivalent to more than 24 fires every day. Arson-related fires constituted one-third of overall incidents, rising along with homeless-related fire incidents. The city's arson clearance rate was 6 percent, meaning that most perpetrators went unpunished.[53]
- Los Angeles County Department of Health Services – operates several county hospitals and a network of primary care clinics.
- Los Angeles County Department of Public Health – administers public health programs including STD programs, smoking cessation, and restaurant inspection. The cities of Long Beach and Pasadena have their own autonomous Public Health departments assuming county functions, and county public health orders are not applicable in those cities.
- Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services – administers many federal and state welfare programs
- Los Angeles County Department of Public Works – operates countywide flood control system, constructs and maintains roads in unincorporated areas.
- Los Angeles County District Attorney – prosecutes criminal suspects.
- Los Angeles County Office of the Public Defender – defends indigent people accused of criminal offenses.
- Los Angeles County Probation Department
- Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department – provides law enforcement services for the unincorporated parts of Los Angeles County, as well as 42 cities.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, despite its name, is not a County department. Technically it is a state-mandated county transportation commission that also operates bus and rail.
Politics
| Year | Republican / Whig | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 1,145,530 | 26.86% | 3,028,885 | 71.03% | 89,950 | 2.11% |
| 2016 | 769,743 | 22.41% | 2,464,364 | 71.76% | 200,201 | 5.83% |
| 2012 | 885,333 | 27.83% | 2,216,903 | 69.69% | 78,831 | 2.48% |
| 2008 | 956,425 | 28.82% | 2,295,853 | 69.19% | 65,970 | 1.99% |
| 2004 | 1,076,225 | 35.60% | 1,907,736 | 63.10% | 39,319 | 1.30% |
| 2000 | 871,930 | 32.35% | 1,710,505 | 63.47% | 112,719 | 4.18% |
| 1996 | 746,544 | 30.96% | 1,430,629 | 59.34% | 233,841 | 9.70% |
| 1992 | 799,607 | 29.04% | 1,446,529 | 52.54% | 507,267 | 18.42% |
| 1988 | 1,239,716 | 46.88% | 1,372,352 | 51.89% | 32,603 | 1.23% |
| 1984 | 1,424,113 | 54.50% | 1,158,912 | 44.35% | 29,889 | 1.14% |
| 1980 | 1,224,533 | 50.18% | 979,830 | 40.15% | 235,822 | 9.66% |
| 1976 | 1,174,926 | 47.78% | 1,221,893 | 49.69% | 62,258 | 2.53% |
| 1972 | 1,549,717 | 54.75% | 1,189,977 | 42.04% | 90,676 | 3.20% |
| 1968 | 1,266,480 | 47.65% | 1,223,251 | 46.02% | 168,251 | 6.33% |
| 1964 | 1,161,067 | 42.52% | 1,568,300 | 57.43% | 1,551 | 0.06% |
| 1960 | 1,302,661 | 49.45% | 1,323,818 | 50.25% | 8,020 | 0.30% |
| 1956 | 1,260,206 | 55.38% | 1,007,887 | 44.29% | 7,331 | 0.32% |
| 1952 | 1,278,407 | 56.21% | 971,408 | 42.71% | 24,725 | 1.09% |
| 1948 | 804,232 | 46.51% | 812,690 | 47.00% | 112,160 | 6.49% |
| 1944 | 666,441 | 42.68% | 886,252 | 56.75% | 8,871 | 0.57% |
| 1940 | 574,266 | 40.58% | 822,718 | 58.13% | 18,285 | 1.29% |
| 1936 | 357,401 | 31.62% | 757,351 | 67.00% | 15,663 | 1.39% |
| 1932 | 373,738 | 38.55% | 554,476 | 57.19% | 41,380 | 4.27% |
| 1928 | 513,526 | 70.22% | 209,945 | 28.71% | 7,830 | 1.07% |
| 1924 | 299,675 | 65.51% | 33,554 | 7.33% | 124,228 | 27.16% |
| 1920 | 178,117 | 69.10% | 55,661 | 21.59% | 23,992 | 9.31% |
| 1916 | 135,554 | 50.59% | 114,070 | 42.58% | 18,297 | 6.83% |
| 1912 | 2,181 | 1.32% | 55,110 | 33.34% | 108,005 | 65.34% |
| 1908 | 41,483 | 56.77% | 22,076 | 30.21% | 9,518 | 13.02% |
| 1904 | ||||||