Los Angeles overview

As the birthplace of Hollywood and the world’s leading destination for the entertainment industry, LA draws its fair share of starry-eyed dreamers, who all come here looking to catch their first big break. Because of that creative energy pulses in the air here and it’s become a real haven for actors, singers, and artists, who are drawn to the wealth of opportunities on offer (you never know who you’re going to meet in the coffee shop or grocery store around the corner). But truth be told, you’ll find all sorts here. LA is fairly unique in its location, blending relaxed coastal living and wholesome outdoor pursuits with the glitz and grit of Hollywood and the urban edge of downtown, meaning the city draws a wide variety of people looking to set down roots in the Golden State.

Almost 4.000.000 people call the City of Angels home and that population is made up of individuals hailing from more than 140 countries. No wonder the city is recognized as the cultural hub of the Pacific Rim. Latino residents make up almost 50% of the population, and other prominent communities across the city include Koreans, Armenians, and Russians. Expats also hail from Great Britain, Australia, Canada, and beyond.

While English remains the main language spoken in Los Angeles, spend time in the city and you’ll hear a wide array of languages among the locals, most notably Spanish (thanks to the large Latino and Mexican communities), Vietnamese, Korean, Armenian, and Hebrew. You’ll find the same in the reading matter here, with locals able to choose from more than 50 foreign-language newspapers published in the county.

To reflect the diverse population in LA, numerous religions are followed in the city, though religious affiliations are not generally a key focus here. While Christianity is the most practiced religion in the city, with Christians making up around 65% of the population, all faiths are welcome here, and Catholics, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Sikhs, and Hindus can be found throughout the city.

Los Angeles is a very liberal city that’s proud to offer a safe and welcoming home to a variety of different communities. The city has a sizeable LGBT community who have put down roots in certain specific neighborhoods, such as West Hollywood, where the city’s Pride celebrations are held every year. California made the use of recreational marijuana legal in 2016, so you can now find cannabis dispensaries all over the city – as long as you’re over 21, visitors from other states and countries can partake in the experience too if that happens to be your bag. You have to be over 21 to drink alcohol in LA, and it’s illegal to drink alcohol on the street.

If LA County were a country in its own right, its GDP would rank no. 19 in the world, larger than Switzerland and Saudi Arabia. It has around $800 billion in annual output each year, making it one of the world’s largest economies. Much of LA’s wealth comes from the entertainment industry, while the rest comes mainly from manufacturing, international trade, tech, and digital media.

The city’s official birthdate is September 4, 1781, when 44 settlers from the Mexican provinces of Sonora and Sinaloa came across the border and made their home in what is now known as downtown Los Angeles. The town was officially declared a city in 1835 after the territory changed hands from Spain to Mexico, but Los Angeles didn’t officially become part of the US until January 1847.

The roots of Hollywood trace back to 1887 when Harvey Wilcox, a prohibitionist from Kansas, laid the area out as a subdivision. It wasn’t until the early 1900s that Hollywood became associated with moviemaking after The Count of Monte Cristo was completed here in 1908. The Hollywood Sign – which originally read ‘Hollywoodland’ – was erected in 1923 by Los Angeles Times publisher and real estate developer Harry Chandler (the last four letters were removed in 1949). The Golden Age of Hollywood started with the silent movie era shortly after and went on to cement LA as the definitive home of the entertainment industry.

Most of the rules you’ll encounter in LA are to do with driving. Those coming from out of state should be aware that you can turn right at a red traffic light here, provided you come to a complete stop first and there are no contradictory signs saying “no turn on red.” While jaywalking (crossing the road without being at a designated crossing) had long been illegal here, a recent law has changed that, meaning you can now cross the road wherever you like in LA without fear of getting a ticket, as long as it’s safe to do so.