Nicknamed the City
of Angels, Los Angeles is a world
center of business, international trade, entertainment, culture, media,
fashion, science, sports, technology, and education. It is home to renowned
institutions covering a broad range of professional and cultural fields and is
one of the most substantial economic engines within the United States. Los
Angeles has been ranked the third richest city and fifth most powerful and
influential city in the world. The Los Angeles combined statistical
area (CSA) has a gross metropolitan product (GMP) of
$831 billion (as of 2008), making it the third largest economic
center in the world, after the Greater Tokyo and New York metropolitan
areas. As the home base of Hollywood, it is also known as the
"Entertainment Capital of the World," leading the world in the
creation of television and stage production, motion pictures, video games, and
recorded music. The importance of the entertainment business to the city has
led many celebrities to call Los Angeles and its surrounding suburbs home.
Additionally, Los Angeles hosted the 1932 and 1984 Summer
Olympics. Los Angeles is often billed as the "Creative Capital of the
World", due to the fact that one in every six of its residents works in a
creative industry.
California's diverse geography ranges from the Pacific Coast in the
west, to the Sierra Nevada mountains in the east –
from the Redwood–Douglas-fir forests
of the northwest, to the Mojave Desert areas
in the southeast. The center of the state is dominated by Central Valley, a major agricultural area.
California contains both the highest and lowest points in the contiguous United States (Mount Whitney and
Death Valley),
and has the third-longest coastline of
all states (after Alaska and Florida). Earthquakes are a common occurrence due to the
state's location along the Pacific Ring of Fire: about 37,000 are
recorded annually.
The name California once referred to a large
area of North America claimed by Spain that included much of modern-day
Southwestern United States and the Baja California peninsula. Beginning in
the late 18th century, the area known as Alta
California, comprising the California territory north of the Baja
Peninsula, was colonized by the Spanish
Empire as part of New Spain.
In 1821, Alta California became a part of Mexico following
its successful war for independence. Shortly after the beginning of the Mexican-American War in 1846, a group
of American settlers in Sonoma declared an independent California Republic in Alta California.
Though its existence was short-lived, its flag became the precursor for
California's current state flag. American victory in the war led to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, in which
Mexico ceded Alta California to the United States. Western areas of Alta
California became the state of California, which was admitted as the 31st state on
September 9, 1850.
The California Gold Rush beginning in
1848 led to dramatic social and demographic change, with large scale
immigration from the U.S. and abroad and an accompanying economic boom. Key
developments in the early 20th century included the emergence of Los Angeles as
the center of the American entertainment industry,
and the growth of a large, state-wide tourism sector. The late 20th century saw
the development of the technology and information sectors, punctuated by the
growth of Silicon Valley. California's prosperous
agricultural industry also emerged; at least half of the fresh fruit produced
in the United States are now cultivated in California, and the state also leads
in the production of vegetables. Other important contributors to its
economy include aerospace, education, and manufacturing. If California were a
country, it would be the eighth-largest
economy in the world and the 34th most populous nation.
Sources:
Wikipedia
