History of Los Angeles

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The history of Los Angeles began in 1781 when 44 settlers from central New Spain (modern Mexico) established a permanent settlement in what is now Downtown Los Angeles, as instructed by Spanish Governor of Las Californias, Felipe de Neve, and authorized by Viceroy Antonio María de Bucareli. After sovereignty changed from Mexico to the United States in 1849, great changes came from the completion of the Santa Fe railroad line from Chicago to Los Angeles in 1885. "Overlanders" flooded in, mostly white Protestants from the Lower Midwest and South.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Los Angeles had a strong economic base in farming, oil, tourism, real estate and movies. It grew rapidly with many suburban areas inside and outside the city limits. Its motion picture industry made the city world-famous, and World War II brought new industry, especially high-tech aircraft construction. Politically the city was moderately conservative, with a weak labor union sector.

Since the 1960s, growth has slowed—and traffic delays have become infamous. Los Angeles was a pioneer in freeway development as the public transit system deteriorated. New arrivals, especially from Mexico and Asia, have transformed the demographic base since the 1960s. Old industries have declined, including farming, oil, military and aircraft, but tourism, entertainment and high-tech remain strong. Over time, droughts and wildfires have increased in frequency and become less seasonal and more year-round, further straining the city's water security.[7][8][9]

  1. ^ "The Overland Emigration". Los Angeles Star. Vol. 2, no. 12. July 31, 1852 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  2. ^ "News by the Goliah". Los Angeles Star. Vol. 4, no. 19. September 21, 1854 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  3. ^ "From the Texan Border". Los Angeles Star. Vol. X, no. 4. June 2, 1860 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  4. ^ "Breckinridge to Visit California". Los Angeles Star. Vol. X, no. 12. July 28, 1860 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  5. ^ "Overland Mail—Southern Route". Los Angeles Star. Vol. XII, no. 35. January 3, 1863 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  6. ^ "His Nose was Scratched". Los Angeles Herald. Vol. 35, no. 58. December 11, 1890 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  7. ^ Abramsky, Sasha (December 3, 2021). "The Drought That May Never End". The Nation. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  8. ^ "Advancing Drought Science and Preparedness across the Nation". National Integrated Drought Information System. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  9. ^ Boxall, Bettina; St. John, Paige (November 10, 2018). "California's most destructive wildfire should not have come as a surprise". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 11, 2018.