Friday, January 3, 2020, Los Angeles, California
San Gabriel Mountains northeast of downtown Los Angeles Los Angeles , officially the City of Los Angeles and often known by its initials L.A. , is the most populous city in California ; the second most populous city in the United States , after New York City ; and the third-most populous city in North America , after Mexico City and New York City. With an estimated population of nearly four million people, Los Angeles is the cultural, financial, and commercial center of Southern California . The city is known for its Mediterranean climate , ethnic diversity, Hollywood , the entertainment industry, and its sprawling metropolis. Los Angeles lies in a basin in Southern California , adjacent to the Pacific Ocean , with mountains as high as 10,000 feet, and deserts . The city, which covers about 469 square miles, is the seat of Los Angeles County , the most populous county in the United States. The Los Angeles metropolitan area (MSA) is the