Los Angeles is one of the oldest cities in North America, with human bones dating back to 13,000 BC found in the area. The city was founded in 1781 and was part of Mexico until the Mexican-American War ended in 1848. The gold rush brought adventurers to the area, but most settled down and the population grew 300 percent over a decade. Today, Los Angeles is one of the most racially diverse cities in the US, with a population of nearly four million in 2016.
Los Angeles, or LA, is one of the oldest cities in North America. While the official founding date is 1781, Los Angeles has been around for much longer. Human bones dating back to 13,000 BC have been found in the area, including the remains of Arlington Man, the oldest set of human bones ever found in North America.
The area’s first inhabitants were Native Americans, such as the Tongva tribe, who were there long before Spanish explorers arrived in 1542. After a brief exchange between explorers and locals, California saw no more Europeans until the end of the 1540s. XVIII century. By then, missionaries had established Mission San Gabriel Arcángel near what is now known as the San Gabriel Valley. With only 18 original inhabitants, the settlement remained unknown until King Charles III of Spain ordered the founding of a city in the area.
The city was called “El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles del Río de Porciúncula” and remained small despite efforts to make it a center of cattle breeding. By 1790, the population had grown to just over 130. Because Los Angeles was part of Mexico at the time, most of the local population were mixed-race settlers (mulattos and Negroes) who were looking for a way to start a life away from the racial problems plaguing big cities.
Before the Mexican-American War ended in 1848, US troops had already taken control of Los Angeles and put down several riots and attempted raids. Los Angeles was officially incorporated as a city on April 4, 1850, with the existing population reaching 1,610.
The gold rush brought thousands of adventurers to the area, but most of them weren’t looking to settle down. The arrival of these people, however, improved local trade, particularly for cattle ranchers, who grew rich despite the changing market. After the gold rush era ended, people settled in Los Angeles and the surrounding area, and the population grew 300 percent over the course of a decade.
After 1900, Los Angeles’ population grew at an impressive rate, reaching nearly four million in 2016. Because of its history, Los Angeles remains one of the most racially diverse cities in the United States.
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