102-600: The Imperial Highway is a west-east thoroughfare in the counties of Los Angeles , Orange , Riverside , San Diego , and Imperial in the U.S. state of California . The main portion of the existing route begins at Vista Del Mar in Los Angeles near the Los Angeles International Airport and ends at the Anaheim – Orange city line at Via Escola where it becomes Cannon Street. Historically,
204-460: A chance to view rare plants and animals, and a playground for ATV and off-roading enthusiasts. The dunes are also popular in film making and have been the site for movies such as Return of the Jedi . The Colorado River streams through the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately 1,450 miles (2,330 km) long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of
306-585: A decrease due to net migration of 361,895 people. Immigration resulted in a net increase of 293,433 people, and migration from within the United States resulted in a net decrease of 655,328 people. The racial makeup of Los Angeles County was 4,936,599 (50%) White, 1,346,865 (13.7%) Asian, 856,874 (9%) African American, 72,828 (0.7%) Native American, 26,094 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 2,140,632 (21.8%) from other races, and 438,713 (4.5%) from two or more races. Non-Hispanic whites numbered 2,728,321, or 28% of
408-592: A five-member board elected by districts. Supervisors serve four-year terms. Other elected county officials include the Assessor, Auditor-Controller, District Attorney, County Clerk-Recorder, Public Administrator, Sheriff-Coroner, and Treasurer-Tax Collector. The county is run on a day-to-day basis by the County Executive Officer, who is currently Robin Hodgkin, on an interim basis. The county
510-529: A household in the county was $ 31,870, and the median income for a family was $ 35,226. Males had a median income of $ 32,775 versus $ 23,974 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 13,239. About 19.4% of families and 22.6% of the population were below the poverty line , including 28.7% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over. Imperial County has the lowest per capita income of any county in Southern California and among
612-494: A hundred. Imported water and a long growing season allow two crop cycles each year, and the Imperial Valley is a major source of winter fruits and vegetables, cotton , and grain for U.S. and international markets. Alfalfa is another major crop produced in the Imperial Valley. The agricultural lands are served by a constructed agricultural drain system, which conveys surface runoff and subsurface drainage from fields to
714-406: A large cluster of government buildings in the city's Civic Center. Historically, the courthouses were county-owned buildings that were maintained at county expense, which created significant friction since the trial court judges, as officials of the state government, had to lobby the county Board of Supervisors for facility renovations and upgrades. In turn, the state judiciary successfully persuaded
816-850: A local Quechan chief. This would lead towards the start of the Yuma War , with a Quechan-led coalition of tribes against the US army and their indigenous allies in Baja California and Sonora . In the First Yuma War, the Quechan laid siege on Fort Yuma in 1851, and forced the American garrison there to abandon the fort. The Americans returned to the area in 1852 and subdued the Quechan by destroying their villages and farmland, and killed any warriors that resisted, leading to Quechan surrender to
918-400: A median income of $ 36,299 versus $ 30,981 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 20,683. There are 14.4% of families living below the poverty line and 17.9% of the population, including 24.2% of under 18 and 10.5% of those over 64. Los Angeles County has the highest number of millionaires of any county in the nation, totaling 261,081 households as of 2007. The homeownership rate
1020-456: A single county. As a result, both the county superior court and the federal district court are respectively the busiest courts of their type in the nation. Many celebrities have been seen in Los Angeles courts. In 2003, the television show Extra (based in nearby Glendale ) found itself running so many reports on the legal problems of local celebrities that it spun them off into a separate show, Celebrity Justice . State cases are appealed to
1122-603: A subsidiary of the California Development Company , which at the turn of the 20th century had claimed the southern portion of the Colorado Desert for agriculture. The Imperial Land Company also owned extensive lands in Mexico ( Baja California ). Its objective was to develop commercial crop farming. By 1910, the land company had managed to settle and develop thousands of farms on both sides of
SECTION 10
#17327729903831224-574: Is 365,000 workers. Despite a business exodus from Downtown Los Angeles since the COVID-19 pandemic , the city's urban core is evolving as a cultural center with the world's largest showcase of architecture designed by Frank Gehry . The following major companies have headquarters in Los Angeles County: The Los Angeles County Office of Education provides a supporting role for school districts in
1326-400: Is 47.9%, and the median value for houses is $ 409,300. 42.2% of housing units are in multi-unit structures. Los Angeles County has the largest number of homeless people , with "48,000 people living on the streets, including 6,000 veterans ," in 2010. As of 2017 the number of homeless people in the county increased to nearly 58,000. In 2015, there were over two thousand Christian churches ,
1428-406: Is a county located on the southeast border of the U.S. state of California . As of the 2020 census , the population was 179,702, making it the least populous county in Southern California . The county seat and largest city is El Centro . Imperial is the most recent California county to be established, as it was created in 1907 out of the eastern half of San Diego County . Imperial County
1530-663: Is a state-mandated county transportation commission that also operates bus and rail. In the United States House of Representatives , Los Angeles County is split between 17 congressional districts. In the California State Senate , Los Angeles County is split between 13 legislative districts. In the California State Assembly , Los Angeles County is split between 24 legislative districts. On November 4, 2008, Los Angeles County
1632-466: Is advised as to legal matters by the County Counsel, who is currently Katherine K. Turner. Previously strongly Republican, Imperial County is now a Democratic stronghold in presidential, congressional and local elections. The last Republican to win a majority in the county was George H. W. Bush in 1988 . However, in 2024 , Republican Donald Trump received 47.83% of the vote in the county,
1734-410: Is driven in part by California's mandate to generate 20% of its power from renewable sources by the end of 2010, the valley's excellent sun resources, the high unemployment, its proximity to large population centers on the coast, and large tracts of otherwise unusable desert land. Much of the land suitable for green energy is owned by the federal government ( Bureau of Land Management ). As of April 2008,
1836-491: Is home to the largest Armenian population outside of Armenia. Los Angeles County contains the largest Iranian population outside of Iran of any other county or county equivalent globally. At the 2000 census, there were 9,519,338 people, 3,133,774 households, and 2,137,233 families in the county. The population density was 2,344 inhabitants per square mile (905/km ). There were 3,270,909 housing units at an average density of 806 units per square mile (311 units/km ). Of
1938-589: Is located in the far southeast of California, in the Imperial Valley . It borders San Diego County to the west, Riverside County to the north, the U.S. state of Arizona to the east and the Mexican state of Baja California to the south. It includes the El Centro metropolitan statistical area and is part of the Southern California border region , the smallest but most economically diverse region in
2040-725: Is made from adobe, straw, and thousands of gallons of paint. It was created by Leonard Knight to convey the message that "God Loves Everyone". Knight refused substantial donations of money and labor from supporters who wished to modify his message of universal love to favor or disfavor particular groups. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park , portions of which are located in Imperial County, is the largest state park in California . 500 miles (800 km) of dirt roads, twelve wilderness areas, and many more miles of hiking trails provide visitors with an unparalleled opportunity to experience
2142-431: Is managed on a day-to-day basis by a chief executive officer and is organized into many departments, each of which is enormous in comparison to equivalent county-level (and even many state-level) departments anywhere else in the United States. Some of the larger or better-known departments include: The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority , despite its name, is not a County department. Technically it
SECTION 20
#17327729903832244-472: Is more arts-centered. Santa Monica's pier is a well known tourist spot, famous for its Ferris wheel and bumper car rides, which were featured in the introductory segment of the television sitcom Three's Company . Further north in Pacific Palisades one finds the beaches used in the television series Baywatch . The fabled Malibu , home of many film and television stars, lies west of it. In
2346-416: Is one of the most ethnically diverse U.S. counties. The county's seat , Los Angeles , is the second most populous city in the United States , with 3,822,238 residents estimated in 2022. The county has been world-renowned as the domicile of the U.S. motion picture industry since the latter's inception in the early 20th century. Los Angeles County is one of the original counties of California , created at
2448-399: Is rainfall mostly in the wintertime, but the mountains in the north-central part of the county have snow during winter. In 2019, the median household income in the county was $ 72,797. Los Angeles County had a population of 9,818,605 in the 2010 United States Census . This includes a natural increase since the last census of 583,364 people (i.e., 1,152,564 births minus 569,200 deaths) and
2550-715: Is signed as State Route 90 . A de facto freeway portion of the route in Yorba Linda is also known as the Richard M. Nixon Freeway . The portion in Los Angeles County between Lakewood Boulevard and Valley View Avenue is located about one mile north of, and runs parallel to, Rosecrans Avenue . Starting from Cannon Street & Via Escola in Orange , going east to west Cannon Street becomes Imperial Highway upon entering Anaheim . The highway then passes through
2652-511: Is the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense. Crime in 2013 According to the authors of Wild L.A. , a book about urban biodiversity, "Los Angeles is the birdiest county in the country with over 500 recorded species." L.A.'s amenable climate supports a large number of introduced, tropical and migratory species. Because of
2754-644: Is the largest diocese in the United States. In 2014, the county had 3,275 religious organizations, the most out of all US counties. The Government of Los Angeles County is defined and authorized under the California Constitution , California law and the Charter of the County of Los Angeles. Much of the Government of California is in practice the responsibility of local governments such as
2856-468: The Colorado River , to Imperial Valley from 1948 to 1951. By the 1950 census, more than 50,000 residents lived in Imperial County alone, about 40 times the population of 1910. Most of the population was year-round, but would increase every winter by migrant laborers from Mexico. Until the 1960s, the farms in Imperial County provided substantial economic returns to the company and the valley. During
2958-534: The County of Los Angeles and sometimes abbreviated as L.A. County , is the most populous county in the United States , with 9,861,224 residents estimated in 2022. Its population is greater than that of 40 individual U.S. states . Comprising 88 incorporated cities and many unincorporated areas within a total area of 4,083 square miles (10,570 km ), it is home to more than a quarter of Californians and
3060-622: The Great Recession of 2008–11, El Centro had one of the highest unemployment rates (above 30–34%) in the U.S. In the early 2020s, Imperial ranks as one of California's poorest counties. It has a lower median household income than either the state or national medians. Fort Yuma is located on the banks of the Colorado River in Winterhaven, California . First established after the end of the Mexican–American War in 1848, it
3162-720: The La Brea Tar Pits , the Arboretum of Los Angeles , and two horse racetracks and two car racetracks ( Pomona Raceway and Irwindale Speedway ), also the RMS ; Queen Mary located in Long Beach, and the Long Beach Grand Prix , and miles of beaches—from Zuma to Cabrillo. Venice Beach is a popular attraction whose Muscle Beach used to attract throngs of tourists admiring "hardbodies". Today, it
Imperial Highway - Misplaced Pages Continue
3264-756: The Los Angeles Basin , San Fernando Valley , and San Gabriel Valley . Other population centers are found in the Santa Clarita Valley , Pomona Valley , Crescenta Valley and Antelope Valley . The county is divided west-to-east by the San Gabriel Mountains , which are part of the Transverse Ranges of southern California, and are contained mostly within the Angeles National Forest . Most of
3366-718: The Metro A and C Lines at Wilmington Avenue in Willowbrook at the Willowbrook/Rosa Parks station . There is also another C Line station at Aviation Boulevard . Western terminus coordinates (El Segundo): 33°55′50.91″N 118°26′5.42″W / 33.9308083°N 118.4348389°W / 33.9308083; -118.4348389 Eastern terminus coordinates (Anaheim): 33°50′7.76″N 117°47′43.32″W / 33.8354889°N 117.7953667°W / 33.8354889; -117.7953667 Imperial Highway
3468-864: The Mexican border at the southern end of the Salton Sea in California's Imperial Valley . Situated along the Pacific Flyway , the refuge is the only one of its kind, located 227 feet (69 m) below sea level. Because of its southern latitude, elevation, and location in the Colorado Desert , the refuge experiences some of the highest temperatures in the nation. Daily temperatures from May to October generally exceed 100 °F (38 °C) with temperatures of 116–120 °F (47–49 °C) recorded yearly. The Museum of History in Granite in
3570-579: The Rocky Mountains . The natural course of the river flows from north of Grand Lake, Colorado, into the Gulf of California . For many months out of the year, however, no water actually flows from the United States to the gulf, due to human use. The river is a popular destination for water sports, including fishing, boating, water skiing, and jet skiing. Salvation Mountain is an artificial mountain north of Calipatria, California , near Slab City . It
3672-447: The Salton Sea , which is a designated repository for agricultural runoff. Imperial County produces nearly 2/3 of all vegetables consumed by Americans during the winter. El Centro is the commercial center of Imperial County. Fifty percent of the jobs in El Centro come from the service and retail sector. A recent growth in the interest of Imperial County as a filming location, has spurred growth in servicing this industry. Because of
3774-710: The San Emigdio Mountains , the southernmost part of Tehachapi Mountains and the Sierra Pelona Mountains . Los Angeles County includes San Clemente Island and Santa Catalina Island , which are part of the Channel Islands archipelago off the Pacific Coast . The Northern part of the county has a Desert climate , while the rest of the county generally is a mix of Semi-arid and a hot-summer Mediterranean climate . There
3876-744: The San Gabriel River and the Santa Clara River flow in Los Angeles County, while the primary mountain ranges are the Santa Monica Mountains and the San Gabriel Mountains . The western extent of the Mojave Desert begins in the Antelope Valley , in the northeastern part of the county. Most of the population of Los Angeles County resides in the south and southwest, with major population centers in
3978-457: The U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 4,482 square miles (11,610 km ), of which 4,177 square miles (10,820 km ) is land and 305 square miles (790 km ) (6.8%) is water. Much of Imperial County is below sea level. Imperial County is roughly twice the size in total square miles as the State of Delaware. Imperial county is bordered on the north by Riverside County ; on
4080-620: The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit denied Imperial County legal standing in the case Hollingsworth v. Perry . Imperial County is in California's 25th congressional district , represented by Democrat Raul Ruiz . In the state legislature , the county is in the 36th Assembly District , represented by Democrat Eduardo Garcia , and the 18th Senate District , represented by Democrat Steve Padilla . The following table includes
4182-655: The Western Interior Seaway . The Painted Gorge , located on the eastern side of the Coyote Mountains, consists of sedimentary , metamorphic and igneous rock ; Heat and movement over time has created fantastic shapes and colors. Dark ochre, iron-reds, royal purples, and mauves (mixed with dark browns/black) create a palette of color as the sun illuminates and plays shadows upon this geologic wonder. The Imperial National Wildlife Refuge protects wildlife habitat along 30 miles (50 km) of
Imperial Highway - Misplaced Pages Continue
4284-494: The census of 2000, there were 142,361 people, 39,384 households, and 31,467 families residing in the county. The population density was 34 people per square mile (13 people/km ). There were 43,891 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (3.9/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 49.4% White , 4.0% Black or African American , 1.9% Native American , 2.0% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 39.1% from other races , and 3.7% from two or more races. 72.2% of
4386-471: The rosy boa . Located near Ocotillo, California in the Coyote Mountains , Fossil Canyon (and the surrounding area) is a great place for rock-hounding and fossil hunting. The fossils here are not necessarily of dinosaurs; more commonly found are ancient oyster and seashell , coral , and other marine life from the prehistoric Miocene epoch, when the entire area was submerged as part of
4488-467: The 1870s, Los Angeles County was divided into townships (many of which were amalgamations of one or more old ranchos ): As shown by the map below, Los Angeles County is bordered on the north by Kern County , on the east by San Bernardino County , on the southeast by Orange County , on the south by the Pacific Ocean , and on the west by Ventura County . According to the U.S. Census Bureau ,
4590-496: The 3,133,774 households 37% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48% were married couples living together, 15% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32% were non-families. 25% of households were one person and 7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.61. The age distribution was 28% under the age of 18, 10% from 18 to 24, 33% from 25 to 44, 19% from 45 to 64, and 10% 65 or older. The median age
4692-461: The BLM has received 163 applications to build renewable energy projects on 1,600,000 acres (6,500 km ) in California. Almost all of these are planned for the Imperial Valley and the desert region north of the valley. Stirling Energy is currently building one of the world's largest solar thermal plants, 10 square miles (26 km ) with 38,000 "sun catchers," it will power up to 600,000 homes once it
4794-676: The Blue Angels' season with their first air show, traditionally held in March. The city of Imperial is home to the California Mid-Winter Fair and Fiesta which is the local county fair, held in late February to early March. It is also home to the Imperial Valley Speedway, a race track of 3 ⁄ 8 mile (600 m). The name Algodones Dunes refers to the entire geographic feature, while
4896-930: The Court of Appeal for the Second Appellate District, which is also headquartered in the Civic Center , and then to the California Supreme Court , which is headquartered in San Francisco but also hears argument in Los Angeles (again, in the Civic Center). Federal cases are appealed to the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit , which hears them at its branch building in Pasadena . The court of last resort for federal cases
4998-458: The Government of Los Angeles County. The county's voters elect a governing five-member Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors . The small size of the board means each supervisor represents over 2 million people. The board operates in a legislative, executive, and quasi-judicial capacity. As a legislative authority, it can pass ordinances for the unincorporated areas (ordinances that affect
5100-745: The Greater Los Angeles Area. LAX is operated by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), an agency of the City of Los Angeles. Other important commercial airports in Los Angeles County include: The following general aviation airports also are located in Los Angeles County: The U.S. Air Force operates three airports in Los Angeles County: Imperial County Imperial County ( Spanish : Condado de Imperial )
5202-507: The Imperial Highway extended from Vista Del Mar to Calexico , where a portion of the highway still exists. The original route was replaced with other highways, leading the older portions of the Imperial Highway to fall out of use. The total length of the Greater Los Angeles portion of the Imperial Highway is approximately 41 miles (66 km), of which 14 miles (23 km) run through Orange County and 27 miles (43 km) through Los Angeles County. Between SR 91 and SR 39, Imperial Highway
SECTION 50
#17327729903835304-420: The Spanish explorers any overland access to Alta California , despite Spanish attempts to mediate the conflict. Decades later, after the Mexican–American War , the northern half of the valley was annexed in 1848 by the U.S., while the southern half remained under Mexican rule. Following the war, another war would consume the region in 1850 after the Glanton Gang sabotaged Quechan ferry operators and mugged
5406-408: The US. The Second Yuma War would later see neighboring tribes erode much of the military advantages that the Quechan had left. Small-scale settlement in natural aquifer areas had occurred in the early 19th century (the present-day site of Mexicali ), but most permanent settlement was after 1900. In 1905, torrential rainfall in the American Southwest caused the Colorado River (the only drainage for
5508-505: The Union Pacific railroad skirts the eastern edge. The dune system is divided into three areas. The northernmost area is known as Mammoth Wash. South of Mammoth Wash is the North Algodones Dunes Wilderness established by the 1994 California Desert Protection Act. This area is closed to motorized use and access is by hiking and horseback. The largest and most heavily used area begins at Highway 78 and continues south just past Interstate 8 . The expansive dune formations offer picturesque scenery,
5610-455: The administrative designation for that portion managed by the Bureau of Land Management is the "Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area" (sometimes called the "Glamis Dunes"). The Algodones Sand Dunes are the largest mass of sand dunes in California. This dune system extends for more than 40 miles (64 km) along the eastern edge of the Imperial Valley agricultural region in a band averaging 5 miles (8 km) in width. A major east–west route of
5712-400: The area. The county office also operates two magnet schools, the International Polytechnic High School and Los Angeles County High School for the Arts . There are a number of private schools in the county, most notably those operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese . The county's public education sector is run by numerous school districts with the Los Angeles Unified School District being
5814-464: The border. The Mexican Revolution soon after severely disrupted the company's plans. Rival Mexican armies affiliated with different ethnicities killed nearly 10,000 farmers and their families in northern Mexico. Not until the 1920s was the other side of California in the United States sufficiently peaceful and prosperous for the company to earn a return for a large percentage of Mexicans. Some chose to stay and create roots in newly developed communities in
5916-438: The bottom five counties in the state. By 2006 the population had risen to 160,201, the population growth rate since the year 2000 was 30%, the highest in California and fifth highest in the United States in the time period. High levels of immigration, new residents search for affordable homes, and a search for retirement homes can explain the population increase. The county is governed by the Imperial County Board of Supervisors,
6018-477: The chance to see include the bobcat , coyote , golden eagle , kit fox , mule deer , mountain lion , red-tailed hawk and roadrunner , as well as the iconic desert subspecies of bighorn sheep (formerly more common, across the southwest U.S. and northern Mexico). Many varied reptile species call the area home, such as the banded gecko , chuckwalla , desert iguana , desert tortoise , desert sidewinder , gopher snake , kingsnake , red diamond rattlesnake and
6120-481: The cities and communities of Anaheim Hills , Yorba Linda , Placentia , Brea , Fullerton , La Habra , La Mirada , Santa Fe Springs (some sections in La Mirada and Santa Fe Springs are next to unincorporated LA County), Norwalk , Downey , South Gate , Lynwood , Los Angeles ( Watts , and South LA – a portion after South LA is in unincorporated LA County), Inglewood , Hawthorne , El Segundo (southside of street only), and Westchester (part of Los Angeles on
6222-437: The county are considered ecologically significant indicators of ecosystem health and may be documented using the iNaturalist app. Los Angeles County is commonly associated with the entertainment and digital media industry; all five major film studios — Paramount Pictures , Sony Pictures , Warner Bros. , Universal Pictures , and Walt Disney Studios —are located within the county. Numerous other major industries also define
SECTION 60
#17327729903836324-402: The county has an area of 4,751 square miles (12,310 km ), of which 4,058 square miles (10,510 km ) (85%) is land and 693 square miles (1,790 km ) (15%) is water. Los Angeles County borders 70 miles (110 km) of coast on the Pacific Ocean and encompasses mountain ranges, valleys, forests, islands, lakes, rivers, and desert. The Los Angeles River , Rio Hondo , Ballona Creek ,
6426-532: The county is 48.7% White, 11.0% African American, 0.8% Native American, 10.0% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 23.5% from other races, and 4.9% from two or more races. 44.6% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. The largest European-American ancestry groups are German (6%), Irish (5%), English (4%) and Italian (3%). 45.9% of the population reported speaking only English at home; 37.9% spoke Spanish, 2.22% Tagalog , 2.0% Chinese, 1.9% Korean , 1.87% Armenian , 0.5% Arabic , and 0.2% Hindi . The county has
6528-432: The county's desert environment and proximity to Los Angeles, California , movies are sometimes filmed in the sand dunes outside the agricultural portions of the county. These have included Return of the Jedi , Stargate , The Scorpion King , and Into the Wild . Additionally, portions of the 2005 film Jarhead were filmed here because of its similarity to the desert terrain of Iraq . In 2016, Imperial County had
6630-405: The county's highest peaks are in the San Gabriel Mountains, including Mount San Antonio 10,068 feet (3,069 m) at the Los Angeles– San Bernardino county lines, Mount Baden-Powell 9,399 feet (2,865 m), Mount Burnham 8,997 feet (2,742 m) and Mount Wilson 5,710 feet (1,740 m). Several lower mountains are in the northern, western, and southwestern parts of the county, including
6732-427: The county's population is Hispanic, with the vast majority being of Mexican origin. The remainder of the population is predominantly non-Hispanic white, in addition to smaller African American, Native American, and Asian minorities. The indigenous peoples of the area were the Quechan along the Colorado River , the Kamia- Kumeyaay west of the Quechan, and the Cahuilla to the north. Spanish explorer Melchor Díaz
6834-409: The county's wide range of biomes it is possible to see desert bighorn sheep and green sea turtles in the same day, without crossing the county line. The range of habitats in the county is "greater than in many states, with mountains, wetlands, desert, ocean, meadows and chaparral, each with its own endemic species." There are at least 100 species of trees, and 1000 species of non-native plants, in
6936-405: The east by Yuma County , Arizona ; on the south by Mexico ; and on the west by San Diego County . The Colorado River forms the county's eastern boundary. Two notable geographic features are found in the county, the Salton Sea , at 235 feet (72 m) below sea level, and the Algodones Dunes , one of the largest dune fields in America. The county is in the Colorado Desert , an extension of
7038-411: The eastern Antelope Valley – California State Parks' largest in area within the county. The California Poppy Reserve is located in the western Antelope Valley and shows off the State's flower in great quantity on its rolling hills every spring. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), located in the Westchester district, is the primary commercial airport for commercial airlines in the county and
7140-497: The economy is heavily based on agriculture due to irrigation , which is supplied wholly from the Colorado River via the All-American Canal . A vast system of canals , check dams, and pipelines carry the water all over the valley, a system which forms the Imperial Irrigation District , or IID. The water distribution system includes over 1,400 miles (2,300 km) of canal and with 1,100 miles (1,800 km) of pipeline. The number of canal and pipeline branches number roughly over
7242-430: The economy of Los Angeles County, including international trade supported by the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach , music recording and production, aerospace and defense, fashion, and professional services such as law, medicine, engineering and design services, financial services. High-tech sector employment within Los Angeles County is 368,500 workers, and manufacturing employment within Los Angeles County
7344-527: The former Mission Puerto de Purísima Concepción . This site had been occupied by Camp Calhoun, named for John C. Calhoun , established in 1849. Fort Yuma was established to protect the southern emigrant travel route to California and to attempt control of the Yuma Indians in the surrounding 100-mile (160 km) area. NAF El Centro is the winter home of the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, The Blue Angels . NAF El Centro historically kicks off
7446-519: The highest percentage since 1988. On November 4, 2008, Imperial County voted 69.7% for Proposition 8 , which amended the California Constitution to ban same-sex marriages, showing more support for the proposition than any other strongly Democratic county. After Prop 8 was declared unconstitutional by a lower federal court, Imperial County continued to defend Proposition 8 in the federal judicial system. However, on February 6, 2012,
7548-435: The highest unemployment rate of any county in the United States, at 23.5%. Cotton in Imperial County and Riverside is predominantly Bt cotton . This is in contrast to the rest of the state, which largely relies on non-incorporated pesticides . The introduction of Bt cotton has dramatically reduced pesticide use here. Imperial Valley has become a hotbed of renewable energy projects, both solar and geothermal. This
7650-565: The larger Sonoran Desert . The Chocolate Mountains are located east of the Salton Sea , and extend in a northwest–southeast direction for approximately 60 miles (97 km). In this region, the geology is dominated by the transition of the tectonic plate boundary from rift to fault . The southernmost strands of the San Andreas Fault connect the northernmost extensions of the East Pacific Rise . Consequently,
7752-560: The largest Native American population of any county in the nation: according to the 2000 census, it has more than 153,550 people of indigenous descent, and most are from Latin America . As estimated by the Public Policy Institute of California in 2008, Los Angeles County is home to more than one-third of California's undocumented immigrants , who make up more than ten percent of the population. Los Angeles County
7854-761: The largest one running public schools primarily within the city of Los Angeles and its immediately neighboring cities. The county's most visited park is Griffith Park , owned by the city of Los Angeles. The county is also known for the annual Rose Parade in Pasadena, the annual Los Angeles County Fair in Pomona, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art , the Los Angeles Zoo , the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County ,
7956-491: The lower Colorado River in Arizona and California , including the last un-channeled section before the river enters Mexico . The river and its associated backwater lakes and wetlands are a green oasis, contrasting with the surrounding desert mountains. It is a refuge and breeding area for migratory birds and local desert wildlife. The Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge is located 40 miles (64 km) north of
8058-434: The majority of which are Catholic. Roman Catholic adherents number close to 40% of the population. There were 202 Jewish synagogues , 145 Buddhist temples, 38 Muslim mosques , 44 Baháʼí Faith worship centers, 37 Hindu temples , 28 Tenrikyo churches and fellowships, 16 Shinto worship centers, and 14 Sikh gurdwaras in the county. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has approximately 5 million members and
8160-508: The mountain, canyon, and desert areas one may find Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park , where many old Westerns were filmed. Mount Wilson Observatory in the San Gabriel Mountains is open for the public to view astronomical stars from its telescope, now computer-assisted. Many county residents find relaxation in water skiing and swimming at Castaic Lake Recreation Area – the county's largest park by area – as well as enjoying natural surroundings and starry nights at Saddleback Butte State Park in
8262-435: The name, Westland's version runs a mere three blocks, north from Bock Street, then northeast from Hambleton Street, across John Hauk Road and stopping at Pardo Street. (It used to continue to Ford Road , but this section has been a hardware store parking lot since the 1970s.) [REDACTED] Media related to Imperial Highway at Wikimedia Commons Los Angeles County, California Los Angeles County , officially
8364-540: The northside). Imperial Highway ends at Dockweiler Beach on Vista Del Mar near Playa Del Rey, just past LAX . Along its route, Imperial Highway crosses over or under these freeways from west to east: Metro Local lines 120 and formerly 625 run via Imperial Highway, as well as Norwalk Transit line 4; Metro line 625 ran between Pershing Drive and La Cienega Boulevard . Metro line 120 runs between Aviation Boulevard and Norwalk Station , and Norwalk line 4 between Norwalk Station and Beach Boulevard. Imperial intersects with
8466-482: The number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense. Thousands of acres of prime farmland have transformed the desert into one of the most productive farming regions in California with an annual crop production of over $ 1 billion. Agriculture is the largest industry in Imperial County and accounts for 48% of all employment. Although this region is a desert, with high temperatures and low average rainfall of 3 inches (76 mm) per year,
8568-444: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 65.7% spoke Spanish at home, while 32.3% spoke only English . There were 39,384 households, out of which 46.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couples living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.1% were non-families. 17.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who
8670-617: The population. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race numbered 4,687,889 (48%); 36% of Los Angeles County's population was of Mexican ancestry, 3.7% Salvadoran, and 2.2% Guatemalan heritage. The county has a large population of Asian Americans , being home to the largest numbers of Burmese , Cambodian , Chinese , Filipino , Indonesian , Korean , Sri Lankan , Taiwanese , and Thai outside their respective countries. The largest Asian groups in Los Angeles County are 4.0% Chinese, 3.3% Filipino, 2.2% Korean, 1.0% Japanese, 0.9% Vietnamese, 0.8% Indian, and 0.3% Cambodian. The racial makeup of
8772-623: The region is subject to earthquakes , and the crust is being stretched, resulting in a sinking of the terrain over time. Related to the active geology are some interesting hydrothermal features. The 2010 United States Census reported that Imperial County had a population of 174,528. The racial makeup of Imperial County was 102,553 (58.8%) White , 5,773 (3.3%) African American , 3,059 (1.8%) Native American , 2,843 (1.6%) Asian , 165 (0.1%) Pacific Islander , 52,413 (30.0%) from other races , and 7,722 (4.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 140,271 persons (80.4%). As of
8874-556: The region) to flood, including canals that had been built to irrigate the Imperial Valley. Since the valley is partially below sea level, the waters never fully receded, but collected in the Salton Sink in what is now called the Salton Sea . Imperial County was formed in 1907 from the eastern portion of San Diego County . The county was named for Imperial Valley. This had been named for the Imperial Land Company ,
8976-423: The state Legislature to authorize the transfer of all courthouses to the state government in 2008 and 2009 (so that judges would have direct control over their own courthouses). Courthouse security is still provided by the county government under a contract with the state. Unlike the largest city in the United States, New York City , all of the city of Los Angeles and most of its important suburbs are located within
9078-525: The state. Although this region is a desert, with high temperatures and low average rainfall of 3 inches (76 mm) per year, the economy is strongly based on agriculture. This is supported by irrigation , with water supplied wholly from the Colorado River via the All-American Canal . The Imperial Valley straddles the border between the United States and Mexico. Imperial County is strongly influenced by Mexican culture. Approximately 80% of
9180-422: The time of statehood in 1850. The county originally included parts of what are now Kern , San Bernardino , Riverside , Inyo , Tulare , Ventura , and Orange counties. In 1851 and 1852, Los Angeles County stretched from the coast to the state line of Nevada . As the population increased, sections were split off to organize San Bernardino County in 1853, Kern County in 1866, and Orange County in 1889. Before
9282-613: The town of Felicity exhibits granite monuments made from Missouri Red Granite. Each is 100 feet (30 m) long. Subjects include a Korean War Memorial, History of Arizona, The Wall for the Ages, the eight monument History of Humanity, and the History of the United States of America. Smaller monuments include the Felicity Stone (sm), a Rosetta Stone for the future located at the center of the History of Humanity monuments. According to
9384-1022: The urban areas of the county. Charismatic biodiversity indicator species native to the area include three species of amphibian ( Baja California chorus frog , black-bellied slender salamander , western toad ), 14 species of bird ( acorn woodpecker , California quail , canyon wren , cinnamon teal , great blue heron , great horned owl , greater roadrunner , hooded merganser , Northern harrier , red-tailed hawk , red-winged blackbird , spotted towhee , western bluebird , western meadowlark ), nine kinds of invertebrates ( Behr's metalmark , bramble green hairstreak , bumblebees , El Segundo blue butterfly , harvester ants , Lorquin's admiral , North American Jerusalem crickets , Sara orangetip , velvet ants ), five mammals ( bobcat , dusky footed woodrat , gray fox , mountain lion , mule deer ), and six reptiles ( California kingsnake , coachwhip snake , gopher snake , side-blotched lizard , western pond turtle , western rattlesnake ). Any observations of these species within
9486-610: The valley. During the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl , the county attracted migrating " Okies " from drought-ridden farms on the plains by the need of migrant labor. More prosperous job-seekers also arrived from across the U.S. in the 1930s and 1940s. American entry into World War II stimulated the growth of jobs and need to expanded agriculture, and the All American Canal was completed from its source,
9588-510: The whole county, like posting of restaurant ratings, must be ratified by the individual city). As an executive body, it can tell the county departments what to do, and how to do it. As a quasi-judicial body, the Board is the final venue of appeal in the local planning process, and holds public hearings on various agenda items. As of 2020, the Board of Supervisors oversees a $ 35.5 billion annual budget and over 112,000 employees. The county government
9690-634: The wonders of the Colorado Desert . The park's name is a combination of the last name of Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza , and the Spanish word for bighorn sheep , borrego . The park features many sweeping vistas, washes ( wadis ), rocky outcrops, boulder-strewn hillsides, in addition to the vast expanses of sandy desert; in springtime (especially after periods of rain), these areas appear to change shape, as they come alive with blooming wildflowers , flowering and fruiting cacti and numerous other species of native flora. Fauna that visitors may also have
9792-418: Was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males. The median personal earnings for all workers 16 and older in Los Angeles County are $ 30,654, slightly below the US median; earnings, however vary widely by neighborhood, race and ethnicity, and gender. The median household income was $ 42,189 and the median family income was $ 46,452. Males had
9894-452: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.33 and the average family size was 3.77. In the county, the population was spread out, with 31.4% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 18.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 109.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.4 males. The median income for
9996-492: Was almost evenly split over Proposition 8 , which amended the California Constitution to ban same-sex marriages. The county voted for the amendment 50.04% with a margin of 2,385 votes. The Los Angeles County Superior Court is the county's court of general jurisdiction, while the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California may hear cases where federal jurisdiction is present. Both are headquartered in
10098-691: Was built in large part because of lobbying from the Imperial Highway Association, founded in 1929. The Imperial Highway Association lobbied city and county governments to build Imperial Highway, gaining cities along the way until the highway finished construction in 1961. Imperial Highway was initially conceived as a commercial route connecting Imperial County to Los Angeles County. A segment remains today as California County Route S2 in Imperial County which connects Interstate 8 near Ocotillo . A segment in San Diego County
10200-595: Was one of the first Europeans to visit the area of the Imperial Valley in 1540. The explorer Juan Bautista de Anza also explored the area in 1776. The indigenous peoples in the county were also engaged in an armed regional conflict, with the Quechan leading a coalition with the Kumeyaay against the Maricopa -led coalition with the Cahuilla, Cocopah , and other tribes in modern-day Arizona. Constant warfare would deny
10302-588: Was originally located in the bottoms near the Colorado River, less than 1 mile (1.6 km) below the mouth of the Gila River . It was to defend the newly settled community of Yuma, Arizona , on the other side of the Colorado River and the nearby Mexican border . In March 1851 the post was moved to a small elevation on the Colorado's west bank, opposite the present city of Yuma, Arizona, on the site of
10404-613: Was renamed the Great Overland Stage Route of 1849. Another segment adjacent to Lake Elsinore (Riverside County) was once indicated on 1960s vicinity maps by H.M. Gousha ( Gousha ), publisher of street maps. There are other Imperial Highways in the United States, including one in San Diego (better known as Imperial Avenue) and in the Detroit suburbs of Redford Township, Michigan and Westland, Michigan . Despite
#382617