Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by Dakimbria from greenwood, SC. Dakimbria Wonders, “Why is Los Angeles called Los Angeles?” Thanks for WONDERing with us, Dakimbria!

We’ve learned about the Big Apple and the Windy City. We’ve even explored the City of Lights and another made completely of rock. But for today’s Wonder of the Day, we’re heading to the City of Angels. That’s right, get ready for surf, sand, sun, and . . . Hollywood! Welcome to Los Angeles!

Los Angeles, also known as L.A., is located in sunny southern California. It reaches over 40 miles from the mountains to the Pacific Ocean.

L.A. is the largest city in California and the second-largest urban area in the United States. In fact, more than 18 million people call the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area home. In all, and the City of Angels alone spreads over 469 square miles.

Los Angeles was founded in 1781 by Spanish governor Felipe de Neve. The city became part of Mexico in 1821 after the Mexican War of Independence. After the Mexican-American War in 1848, Los Angeles and the remainder of California were purchased via treaty. That’s when they became part of the United States.

Why is L.A. called the “City of Angels”? Los Angeles means “the angels” in Spanish! You may have also heard the city called “La La Land.”

Modern-day Los Angeles is a truly global city. It’s involved with worldwide business, trade, entertainment, culture, sports, fashion, media, science, research, medicine, education, and technology.

Of course, Los Angeles is the home of Hollywood. Much of the city’s growth has been attributed to its fame as the center of the motion picture industry. But L.A. is famous for being the hub of many major forms of entertainment, including sports, television, and music.

Sports fans can find just about every type of professional team they could hope for in Los Angeles. In fact, in some sports, L.A. boasts more than one team. Los Angeles has also hosted the Summer Olympic Games twice—in 1932 and 1984.

There are many reasons for the success of Los Angeles as a major city. Its climate is generally warm and mild, which has attracted many people over the years. L.A. has also benefited greatly from the development of its citrus-fruit industry. Oil was also found there in the early 1890s. Its human-made harbor has also become one of the busiest ports in the United States.

Is your family looking for a nice place to visit on vacation? If so, Los Angeles has a little bit of something for everyone. Of course, many people love the movie industry sights in Hollywood. Others enjoy visiting the La Brea Tar Pits or Disneyland. Long Beach offers sun, sand, and beautiful ocean views. For educational attractions, you can’t beat the J. Paul Getty Museum or the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. It’s no WONDER Los Angeles is such a popular destination!

Standards: CCRA.L.3, CCRA.L.6, CCRA.R.1, CCRA.R.2, CCRA.R.4, CCRA.R.10, CCRA.SL.1

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