The County of Los Angeles has something for everyone. From its derived history to its plethora of entertainment options, it is one of the most well known counties in Southern California. According to HighBeam Research, “Los Angeles County is the nation's largest manufacturing center,” (HighBeam Research, LLC.). Los Angeles County and Los Angeles city are often confused with each other, however, Los Angeles city is in Los Angeles County. Los Angeles is advancing every minute, which is why it is the most populous county in the United States. L.A.’s county seat is Los Angeles city which is also the largest city in California and the 2nd largest in the U.S. behind New York City (HighBeam Research, LLC.). Los Angeles County in Southern California includes a rich history, a stable government, and major cities with a vast variety of entertainment options.
This history of the County of Los Angeles is very significant. It is studied that the rock formation of what is now Los Angeles was created about 1.7 billion years ago (Los Angeles Almanac). Native Americans inhabited L.A. for a few thousands of years and then along came the Europeans. A few of the explorers of Los Angeles were Juan Cabrillo, Sebastian Vizcaino, and Gasper de Portola (LA Tourism & Convention Board). The Europeans came in about 1540 and settled the area for the Spaniards. The Spanish Empire built many ranches and missions throughout Southern California. At the time in Los Angeles, “The Spanish period was dominated by vast Ranchos, the result of land grants.” The Spanish also built the Los Angeles River which today flows through L.A. County (Steen, Francis F.). One of the many historical figures that made an impact to Los Angeles at this time was Felipe De Neve. Govern...
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...a significant history, a stable government, and major cities making it a very well known county not only in California, but, also in the United States. L.A. reels in people from all around the world making it so popular. Its rich history will always be remembered. The county government which will always be known in a positive way. The beautiful cities that make up the County of angels will never be forgotten. The diversity that people love will keep growing. Los Angeles may have its negatives, however, for the most part it is such a unique and exquisite county that people of Southern California will forever love. It is a huge part of the state and made the state of California one of the most populous states in the country. Without Los Angeles in the United States, the country would probably be a somewhat boring place. It is such a blessing to live in such a place.
The tone of Whitewashed Adobe delivers an ethnic and cultural history of Los Angeles. The author, William Deverell, indicates “Los Angeles has been the city of the future for a long time.” The book takes a revealing and harsh look at prejudice, political power and control in the early vision of 19th century Los Angeles and its surrounding communities. Deverell’s main interest is the economically, culturally and politically powerful Anglos and their view of ethnicity and race that enabled them to distance themselves from the Mexican people. Whitewashed Adobe’s six chapters illuminate how these men “appropriated, absorbed, and occasionally obliterated” Mexican sites and history in going forth with their vision for Los Angeles.
In Barbara Berlund’s Making San Francisco American: Cultural Frontiers in the Urban West, Berlund explains how San Francisco grew from a young settlement which grew rapidly thanks to in part of the California Gold Rush which took place in 1949. Of course with the growing of this small settlement came it’s conflicts and how it rised to where it stands present day. A primary factor which helped San Francisco flourish a ton was the influence from those who had power and chose what would happen throughout the city, for example the Big 4. Those who were wealthy did not make this city what it is today without the help of people who made up the middle class as well. Every establishment within this city set the social order as to how the inhabitants of San Francisco would go about their life in society.
Through visiting La Plaza De Culturas Y Artes, I have learned a lot more interesting, yet, surprising new information about the Chicano history in California. For example, in the 1910’s and on the high immigration of Mexicans and other Chicanos, into coal mines and farms by major corporations, made California one of the richest states in the US. I also learned that most of California 's economy was heavily reliant on immigrants. Immigrants were the preferred worker for major corporations because they didn 't have American rights and were given the harder jobs for less pay.
Years ago, there was once a small town called Chaves Ravine within Los Angeles, California and this town was a poor rural community that was always full of life. Two hundred families, mostly Chicano families, were living here quite peacefully until the Housing Act of 1949 was passed. The Federal Housing Act of 1949 granted money to cities from the federal government to build public housing projects for the low income. Los Angeles was one of the first cities to receive the funds for project. Unfortunately, Chavez Ravine was one of the sites chosen for the housing project, so, to prepare for the construction work of the low-income apartments, the Housing Authority of Los Angeles had to convince the people of the ravine to leave, or forcibly oust them from their property. Since Chavez Ravine was to be used for public use, the Housing Authority of Los Angeles was able seize and buy Chavez Ravine from the property owners and evict whoever stayed behind with the help of Eminent Domain. The LA Housing Authority had told the inhabitants that low-income housing was to be built on the land, but, because of a sequence of events, the public housing project was never built there and instead Dodgers Stadium was built on Chavez Ravine. Although Chavez Ravine public housing project was the result of the goodwill and intent of the government, rather than helping the people Chavez Ravine with their promise of low-income housing, the project ended up destroying many of their lives because of those in opposition of the public housing project and government mismanagement.
Los Angeles is a place with a dynamic history. It has grown to be one of the most diverse cities in the world as a whole. Despite the diversity for which it is known for, the city has always had a striving conflict due to racial and class tension. The social stratification of its past continues to take its toll as dividing lines persist in contemporary Los Angeles. Furthermore, these dividing lines redefine place in Los Angeles, whether geographically or personally, to be subject to race and class. Fluidity has become evident recently however it is more common for the identity of people to be fixed in society. Through the novel Southland, by Nina Revoyr, and various means of academic sources, one is further able to explore the subject of race, place, and reinvention in Los Angeles.
Roughly thirty-eight million people live in the state of California. (U.S. Census Bureau, www.quickfacts.census.org) Imagine the various types of people to meet. California is the home to many ethnicities and cultures. Its high population hits on all types of groups of people, leaving no one out. From hardworking business men and women, to the laid back beach dwellers, California accepts everyone. The state is home to singers, actors, doctors, beach goers, snowy mountain inhibiters, and much more. Although Florida is known for its beautiful boardwalks, it is only home to nineteen million Americans. (U.S. Census Bureau, www.quickfacts.census.org) The state is not home to as many people as California; it is not home to various groups of people either. Florida does not offer a place to live for those who enjoy big forests and windy mountains. Florida is the land of pesky resort owners and beach-bums. In comparison, Florida is not as diverse, and is much smaller in population size.
One of the first comparisons that can be made is how the living space of the Spanish was drastically different from that of the Americans. The Spanish lived in Plazas that were made from sandstone, while the Americans made there houses out of trees. The way the Plazas where built was also a unique part of the Spanish culture. Clark states: “At La Placita, five of the seven structures have doorways facing out to the central site area”1. This leads to the conclusion that the Spanish where very community oriented with their living spaces. Even the land that the Plazas sat on where communally held, no one person could c...
Enticingly, the Spanish homesteaders came to this land with a passionate objective to develop the land and extract its natural resources for their profit. To this day, the Spanish's activities on this land has brought success and has propagated California to be the leading role in the advancement of new technologies and the creation of motion pictures. Notwithstanding of having this recognition, people seldom discuss on the origin of the land. When the Spanish came, the Indian are the occupants of the area; governing the land and surviving through the natural resources. As history is portrayed by the victor, the destiny of the right proprietor of the land has dependably been untold. Their once serene time has ceased to proceed as the Spanish
Santa Catalina Island, often known as Catalina Island, is located off the coast of Southern California, southwest of Los Angeles. Catalina Island forms part of the Channel Islands archipelago. Catalina is the only island, out of eight, that has been significantly developed. There are two major settlement location within the island - the city of Avalon and the unincorporated town of Two Harbors (“Visit Catalina Island,” 2014). Beyond the town boundaries the island is covered by wild life that it is owned and operated by the Catalina Island Conservancy ("The Official Catalina Island Website,” 2013).
In historical terms the city of Oakland was named after the many Oak trees that inhabited the land when the city was established. Oakland was first founded in 1852 and is located on the East side of the Bay Area in Northern California.(Oakland History) Native Americans had previously lived in the area for over 5 thousand years before many arrived for the Gold Rush, and put down their roots. The famous author Jack London also spent many of his earlier years in Oakland, and his works have said to have been influenced by the city. My personal perception of Oakland is that it has always been the forgotten city in the Bay Area. Almost no one would notice that famous actors Clint Eastwood, and Tom Hanks spent many of their childhood days in the city. Basketball future hall of famers Gary Payton and Jason Kidd also spent their childhood days there. Baseball hall of famers Reggie Jackson and Ricky Henderson still own homes in the city.
During the late 1840's California did not show much promise or security. It had an insecure political future, its economic capabilities were severely limited and it had a population, other than Indians, of less than three thousand people. People at this time had no idea of what was to come of the sleepy state in the coming years. California would help boost the nation's economy and entice immigrants to journey to this mystical and promising land in hopes of striking it rich.
The director yells “cut,” signaling that the scene has been finished. In an instant, the lights go dim as the actors and actresses disperse among the set to get their makeup and hair redone. Presumably, no other world could embrace the lights, camera, and action as well as Hollywood. One of the most well known places in California, Hollywoodland, was founded by Harvey Henderson Wilcox and his wife in 1853. In Hollywoodland, movies and films were produced for the public. After the sign was established in 1923, it was neglected, which led to the disrepair of the letters. The last four letters were taken off in 1943 as it is now known today as “Hollywood” (“History of Hollywood, California”). Los Angeles,
Before the Gold Rush of 1849, the initial people who lived in California were the Native Indians. California was the home to approximately 275,000 Native Californians, which included the Pomo, Chumash, Mojave, Karok, Yuma, Paitute, and Shoshone. Spain had decided to Colonize California, also known as the “Sacred Expedition,” which began in early 1769. This expedition was composed of two miniature ships carrying soldiers, missionaries, livestock, and supplies, known as the San Carlos and the San Antonio, while the other two groups traveled by land. Missionaries play a critical role in Californian history, for they had built the 21 missions along the coast of California and had converted the majority of Native Californians to Catholicism. As New Spain won its independence from Spain on September 1821, California, now part of the...
The 1992 Los Angeles Riots was a series of riots and civil disturbances that include lootings, arsons, and racial attacks. The acquittal of four Los Angeles Police Deparment officers who excessively beat an African-American male on film and the murder of a teenage African-American girl ignited the riots. The aftermath of the Los Angeles Riots resulted in 55 deaths and approximately $1 billion in property damage.1
California saw many changes very fast. Most of these play part in shaping it into what it is today. From Hollywood to San Francisco, today’s lifestyles in California have roots in the Gold Rush. Because the failure rate was so high, it became common to come out to California lookin...