Los Angeles, one the most popular and well famed cities of America, also being the second largest city in the country, is the capital of the state of California. Los Angeles is a very busy and multi-cultural city with people of different races namely Americans, African-Americans, Asians, Hispanic and Latino Americans. Thus, making it one of the few cities in America with inhabitants from different racial and cultural backgrounds. This city has a very vibrant atmosphere and is also the home for Hollywood.

Official Website of Los Angeles

http://www.losangeles.com/

Los Angeles is one of the rapidly developing cities in America. The state of California was transferred under the United States after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 which ended after the Mexican-American war. They were significant changes in the city after the Chinese Massacre in 1871, the completion of the railway line and discovery of oil are the main developments. The state was then formed under the union of the United State of America. The city has been nicknamed as the "Creative Capital of the World" and an interesting fact can be noticed that almost everyone who hails from here has a creative interest.

History Details from Laavenue.com

http://www.laavenue.com/LAHistory.htm

The city still preserves some of its historic landmarks and is currently used as the state administrative offices. Each building represents a very deep and important history in the formation of the city. Its progress towards development has made it one of the popular and well known cities in the world.

Wiki Info on Los Angeles

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Los_Angeles

Information at La.com

http://www.la.com/

The present day Los Angeles has become more of an entertainment and celebrity city, but much of its culture and heritage still remains among the people and still display their pride and respect for this great city.

Don't forget to visit Downtown Los Angeles, better known as the business district of the city when you travel in Los Angeles.

1) Ancient history of Downtown Los Angeles

Initially the area was inhabited by Native Americans. By the late 1960's, European settlement began when a Spanish Catholic missionary found this area perfect for settlement.

Towards the 1880's, the population in the city increased and infrastructure began to develop with the coming of street grids, rail lines and so on.

By the 1920's, infrastructure development transformed this area into a business and financial center with lots of banks, hotels, shopping centers, movie houses etc.

2) Downtown Los Angeles Post World War II

After World War II, there was decreased investment in Downtown Los Angeles and corporate headquarters moved to other more promising areas.

In 1955, the Community Redevelopment Agency of the city of Los Angeles undertook the Bunker Hill Redevelopment Project with the aim of restoring the city as a business center.

Land was cleared and skyscrapers emerged in place of houses and soon many businesses were headquartered in Bunker Hill. Old office buildings in other Downtown areas were recently renovated into lofts and condos.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downtown_Los_Angeles#History

http://losangeles.about.com/od/neighborhoods/a/downtown.htm

Your Los Angeles area travel can be very much fulfilling if you have an overview of the historical background of the place. This can be very helpful in understanding the traditions as well as the residents you will encounter in Los Angeles.

Pre-Colonial Time

The natives of Los Angeles are known as the Tongva, which means people of the earth. Other pre-colonial settlers here are adept fishers and hunter-gatherers known as the Chumash Tribes.

First Western Contact

The Spanish Empire first explored the Pacific shores of Los Angeles, California in the mid 1500s. Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo designated the area as the City of God in 1542. He did not choose to establish settlement and continued to explore.

Settlement

Settlement in the area begun more than two centuries later, when Gaspar de Portola and a Franciscan Missionary named Juan Crespi decided that the area has high potentials for development.

Los Angeles as a Town

The area was officially a town by September 4, 1781 and was occupied by Hispanics from the north of Mexico. It was named El Pueblo de Nuestra Se?ora la Reina de los ngeles del Rio de Porciuncula, or the Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels on the Porciuncula River under the rule of the Spanish governor, Felipe de Neve.

Development

Southern Pacific Railroad attributed much of the development of Los Angeles by the completion of the American rail lines. It was in 1892 when oil was found in here. At the turn of the century, growth of the city has increased. They are supplying 25% of the worlds petroleum needs by 1923. This led two major industries, aviation and cinema to develop here. By the late 20th century, Los Angeles was home to one of the biggest industries of the modern world today. One of the first Internet transactions occurred here when the UCLA was interconnected to the SRI International via the network named the ARPANET.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Los_Angeles

Further Details

In the interest of the citys history, a Los Angeles Area travel would best include a visit to its history museum. The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is open from 9:30 am to 5 pm every day, except on special holidays. This museum would be a great place to visit for both the young and old. Even more is that all children below five years of age are free.

http://www.nhm.org/