Los Angeles

The City of Los Angeles holds many distinctions. LA is the entertainment capital of the world, a cultural mecca boasting more than 100 museums, and a paradise of good weather. From tourist attractions like the Walk of Fame’s collection of stars (numbering 2,553, and growing by one or two a month) to career opportunities like those presented in the expanding tech industry, Los Angeles is the place to be. It is the only city in North America to have hosted the Summer Olympics twice. Downtown LA is the largest government center outside of Washington, D.C. Los Angeles has the only remaining wooden lighthouse in the state (located in San Pedro’s Fermin Park) and the largest historical theater district on the National Register of Historic Places (located Downtown on Broadway).

Los Angeles is on the leading edge of several growth industries. LA County, with more than 87,000 jobs in the fashion industry, has surpassed New York’s fashion district workforce. The LA five-county area also has more than 700,000 people at work in health services/biomedical activities and 190,000 people in aerospace/technology. Here are some more facts and figures about Los Angeles: the city, the county and the region.

TOURISM STATISTICS (2014)

Total Visitors to Los Angeles County                     44.2 million
Domestic Overnight Visitors                                     23 million
International Visitors                                                6.5 million
Day Visitors (traveled over 50 miles)                     14.7  million
Total Visitor Direct Spending                                $19.6  billion
Total Economic Impact                                          $14.7  billion

SIZE

City of Los Angeles:                                     472 square miles
County of Los Angeles:                             4,084 square miles
Los Angeles Five-County Area:               34,135 square miles
(Los Angeles, Riverside, Ventura, Orange and San Bernardino counties)

There are 88 incorporated cities in Los Angeles County ranging from Vernon (population 112) to Los Angeles city (population 3.8 million).

POPULATION (2015)

City of Los Angeles:                             3.96 Million
County of Los Angeles:                        10.1 Million
Los Angeles Five-County Area:             18.4 Million

(Los Angeles, Riverside, Ventura, Orange and San Bernardino)
Source:  California Department of Finance, Demographic Research Visit 

If the Los Angeles five-county area were a state, it would surpass all states in total population size with the exception of California, Texas, New York and Florida.  The County of Los Angeles alone would be the eighth most populated state, behind Ohio and ahead of Georgia, with 10.1 million people.  Los Angeles is the first in the nation to reach 10 million residents.

PEOPLE

The diverse, multiethnic population of Los Angeles today distinguishes the city as the cultural hub of the Pacific Rim. In fact, Los Angeles is one of only two U.S. cities without a majority population.  People from 140 countries, speaking approximately 86 different languages, currently call Los Angeles home.

Hispanic or Latino (of any race):               48.3 percent
White, non-Hispanic:                                27.2 percent
Asian/Pacific Islander:                              14.6 percent
African-American:                                       9.2 percent
American Indian/Others:                             1.5 percent

GEOGRAPHY

Los Angeles spans a widely diverse geographic area. Primarily a desert basin, the area is surrounded by the San Gabriel Mountain range and divided by the Santa Monica Mountains. Los Angeles County has 75 miles of coastline and altitudes ranging from 9 feet below sea level at Wilmington to 10,080 feet above sea level atop Mt. San Antonio. Area Rivers include the Los Angeles, Rio Hondo, San Gabriel, and Santa Clara rivers.

HISTORY

Sept. 4, 1781 is the city’s official birthdate, when 44 village settlers from the Mexican provinces of Sonora and Sinaloa made their home in what is now Downtown Los Angeles. Two of the 44 settlers were Spaniards, while the others were Indians, Blacks and Mestizos of mixed ancestry. The Spanish named the new settlement El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de Los Angeles, or The Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels. After the territory changed hands from Spain to Mexico, the town was officially declared a city in 1835. Los Angeles became part of the U.S. in January 1847.

CLIMATE

Southern California’s climate has often been described as “perfect” and with good reason. Most days are sunny and warm, with gentle ocean breezes in the summer.  The humidity is low with little rain.  In fact, there are no unpleasant seasons in Los Angeles.

Annual precipitation:                    15 inches         Average high temperature:   74° F
Avg. sunny/partly sunny days:   292 days            Average low temperature:     56° F

LEADING INDUSTRIES

Leisure and hospitality is a leading industry in Los Angeles, employing 464,600 in 2014. In 2014, the leisure and hospitality sector added 25,300 jobs in Los Angeles County, representing a 5.8% year-over-year increase in employment. Southern California also employs the largest number of apparel workers in the U.S. and is one of the few places in the country where apparel continues to be manufactured. Apparel manufacturing employed 43,600 waged and salaried workers in Los Angeles County in 2014. L.A. County also has more than 390,400 people working in health care and 38,700 in aerospace product and part manufacturing. California is the leading supplier of entertainment in the world, and Los Angeles County produces the vast majority of the state’s entertainment output. The motion picture and entertainment industry in L.A. County generates approximately $120 billion annually in output.

BEACHES

The 75-mile Los Angeles County coastline is home to Southern California’s greatest beaches, stretching from Malibu to Long Beach. L.A.’s coastal regions boast some of the best surf spots, amazing oceanfront dining and trendy shops. Each seaside town is unique, offering distinctive landmarks such as Santa Monica’s famous pier, Venice’s iconic Muscle Beach, and Malibu’s stunning shorelines and Getty Villa. Further south is San Pedro — home to the Battleship USS Iowa, and the hip and chic beach towns that make-up South Bay-Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo.

ARTS AND CULTURE

With various museums and exhibits, Los Angeles is full of inspiring art and diverse cultural experiences. In fact, Los Angeles has more museums and theatres than any other city in the U.S., making it the perfect place to be immersed in arts and culture. Los Angeles is home to 105 museums and 225 theaters. In 2014 several institutions celebrated milestones including the 35th Anniversary of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) (spring) and the 50th Anniversary of the Music Center in Downtown L.A. (September).

DINING

Los Angeles is home to some of the most dynamic dining experiences a destination can offer. From quaint to red-carpet dishes, from celebrity chefs and top-rated cuisine to short order legends and bar-stool gourmet, the possibilities are endless in L.A. Each region of L.A. offers a variety of dining options that appeal to any palette and price point. L.A. is so diverse, it’s possible to dine around the world without ever leaving the city.

Visitors can also participate in dine LA Restaurant Week, held every winter and summer. The 12 consecutive-day, non-ticketed dining event, showcases Los Angeles as a premier dining destination and highlights the diversity of culinary experiences L.A. offers.

SHOPPING

Los Angeles has inspired “California-cool” fashion trends all over the world. From the high fashion shops on Rodeo Drive to the chic boutiques of the beach cities, Los Angeles offers shopping for every style. Top shopping enclaves include Rodeo Drive, the Fashion District in Downtown L.A., The Grove, Beverly Center, Hollywood & Highland, Americana at Brand in Glendale, Westfield Century City, Robertson Boulevard, Melrose Avenue, The Citadel Outlets, Third Street Promenade and Santa Monica Place. Throughout L.A., visitors will find eclectic shopping neighborhoods, museum gift shops and several outlets for bargain shoppers.

ACCOMODATIONS

As the fifth largest hotel market in the U.S., Los Angeles offers 994 hotels with more than 97,818 hotel rooms. Accommodations are conveniently located near prized attractions, museums and public transportation, ranging from value to luxury and simplistic to trendy. With eight new hotels scheduled to open in 2015, Los Angeles’ hotel community continues to grow along with the tourism industry.

ATTRACTIONS

Some of the world’s best-known and most iconic landmarks and attractions call Los Angeles home: the Hollywood Sign; Griffith Observatory; the Getty Center; the Walt Disney Concert Hall at the Music Center in Downtown L.A.; the Hollywood Walk of Fame; the TCL Chinese Theatre; Space Shuttle Endeavour at the California Science Center; the Battleship USS Iowa located at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro; Air Force One at the Ronald Regan Library; and Universal Studios Hollywood.

OUTDOOR RECREATION

Southern California is famous for its near-perfect weather and Los Angeles has plenty of outdoor activities to allow visitors to enjoy the sunshine. Plus, Los Angeles is one of few cities in the world where it’s possible to ski in the morning and surf in the afternoon.

Los Angeles is home to Griffith Park, one of the largest urban parks in North America, with more than 4,300 acres of recreational space and 50 miles of hiking trails that lead to some of the most spectacular views of the city and Hollywood Sign. Visitors can hike to the Griffith Observatory or even travel on horseback to experience the best sights. Runyon Canyon also offers great space for visitors to hike, bike and walk. The 106-acre park sits in the middle of Hollywood and offers several great hiking trails and a dog park.

With over 431 miles of bikeways, including 120 new miles created within the city of Los Angeles in the last few years, and increased Metro transit options it’s easier than ever to get around and experience Los Angeles Car Free. L.A. Tourism has launched a Car Free L.A. initiative that encourages travelers to explore the city in a fresh and healthy new way – via foot, bike and public transportation using tested themed self-guided itineraries. Visitors can also see L.A. without having to get behind the wheel with guided tour options such as Bikes and Hikes L.A. and Starline Tours Hop-On, Hop-Off tours.

SPORTS

With famous venues like the Staples Center at L.A. LIVE, home to the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, NHL’s L.A. Kings, and Dodger’s Stadium, where the Los Angeles Dodgers serve as a main attraction sports fans flock to in L.A. Los Angeles is also home to several esteemed universities that have large sports followings such as USC and UCLA.

MEETING SPACE

The Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC), located in Downtown Los Angeles, is a world class Convention and exhibition facility that is equipped with sun-drenched spaces and technology to meet every meeting need.  As of 2015, the Downtown Los Angeles Central Business District offers 7,961 hotel rooms and additional hotel meeting space near the Convention Center. This includes the JW Marriot Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE and The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles adjacent to the LACC.

Convention Center Statistics
Exhibition Space:                                                                                       720,000 sq. ft.
Meeting Room Space:                                                                               147,000 sq. ft.
Number of Meeting Rooms:                                                                       64 rooms
On-site parking:                                                                                         5,400 vehicles
Adjacent Hotel Meeting Space:                                                                 100,000+ sq. ft.

AIRPORT PASSENGERS (2014)

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)                          70,662,212
Ontario International Airport                                            4,127,280
Bob Hope Airport (Burbank)                                            3,861,179
Long Beach Airport                                                          2,823,996

LOS ANGELES WORLD AIRPORTS (LAWA)

Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) is a unique system of three airports owned and operated by the City of Los Angeles. Each of the airports – Los Angeles International (LAX), L.A./Ontario International (ONT) and Van Nuys (VNY) – plays an integral role in helping to meet the regional demand for passenger, cargo and general aviation service.

As the gateway to the West Coast and the No. 1 international gateway to Asia/Pacific, LAX offers direct flights from 85 domestic cities and 67 international destinations.  LAX is the fifth busiest passenger airport in the world.

Operations at the new, $1.9 billion Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) at LAX began in September 2013.  With a design inspired by the waves of the Pacific Ocean along L.A.’s coastline, TBIT offers 18 new aircraft boarding gates, half of which can accommodate the larger, new-generation aircraft and a fully modernized customs facility accommodating 4,500 passengers per hour, nearly double the previous level.

A Great Hall with soaring 110-foot-tall ceilings features more than 60 premier dining and luxury shops including 22 local Los Angeles Brands (Fred Segal, Umami, Border Grill), as well as global luxury brands (Hermes, Gucci, Bulgari).

L.A./Ontario is a medium-hub, full-service airport with commercial jet service to major U.S. cities. ONT is located in the Inland Empire, approximately 38 miles east of Downtown Los Angeles in the center of Southern California. The airport is the centerpiece of one of the fastest-growing transportation regions in the U.S.

IMPORTS/EXPORTS:

Los Angeles/Long Beach is the biggest port complex in the nation. The total value of two-way trade handled at the Los Angeles Customs District in 2014 rose to a record $426 billion.

The top trading commodities in 2014 were furniture, auto parts, apparel, electronics, footwear, paper, animal feed, scrap metal and fabrics.

AMTRAK PASSENGER STATISTICS

AMTRAK PASSENGER BOARDINGS IN ALL LOS ANGELES COUNTY STATIONS IN FY2011:  1,643,706

Los Angeles Union Station is the 5th busiest station in the national Amtrak System. 

THE ECONOMY

Los Angeles has developed into one of the premier centers of economic and cultural activity in the world. When comparing the economy of the world’s top 25 countries, the L.A. five-county area ranks at No. 16 in the world. The state of California has surpassed Russia and Italy to become the eight largest economy in the world.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Los Angeles is home to 113  accredited colleges and universities, including such prestigious institutions as the University of Southern California (USC), UCLA, Pepperdine University, Occidental College, Loyola Marymount University and the Art Center College of Design.

ABOUT LOS ANGELES TOURISM & CONVENTION BOARD

Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board is a private, nonprofit business association whose primary mission is to market and promote Los Angeles as the premier site for leisure travel, meetings and conventions. Los Angeles Tourism is recognized as the City's official tourism marketing organization.