Los Angeles: 15 Things You Didn’t Know
- PPCorn
- Feb 21, 2016
- 3 min read
Los Angeles is one of the biggest and most popular cities in the world. However, despite the fact that the city has spent a considerable amount of time in the spotlight and under the scrutiny of the public eye, there are still some things that many people don’t know. With that in mind, here we present our list of 15 things you probably didn’t know about Los Angeles. Check out part one below, and stay tuned for part two, coming soon!
Number Fifteen: Los Angeles Has Seven Area Codes
Most people are aware of L.A.’s sprawl, but what some people don’t know is that the sprawl lasts for a whopping seven area codes. Those seven area codes are 310, 323, 213, 424, 626, 818, and 747. No other city in the U.S. can match it.
Number Fourteen: It’s Home to the Largest Thai Population Outside of Thailand
If you have roots in Thailand but can’t afford a trip there, just take a vacation in Los Angeles. You’ll feel right at home!
Number Thirteen: The City’s Average Driver Spends 59 Hours in Traffic Every Year
It’s true! Drivers in L.A. spend a depressing amount of time just sitting in traffic – over two full days every year, on average.
Number Twelve: Griffith Park Was a Gift From a Man Named Griffith J. Griffith
It’s a good thing that Griffith J. Griffith gave L.A. the gift of Griffith Park because his name must have been a talking point he hated. What were his parents thinking?
Number Eleven: It’s Always Had Smog
Though some people attribute the city’s smog to pollution, the truth is that it’s always been that way. In fact, one nickname given to L.A. by the ancient Chumash tribe actually translates to “valley of smoke.”
Number Ten: The County’s Smallest City Has a Population Under 200
The smallest city in Los Angeles County is called Vernon. Vernon has a population of just 114 people.
Number Nine: The Shirley Temple Was Invented in Los Angeles
The Shirley Temple cocktail is a non-alcoholic beverage of ginger ale, grenadine, and a maraschino cherry. Interestingly, it was invented in L.A.
Number Eight: Los Angeles Has More People Per Square Mile Than New York
While New York has an impressive 5,319 people per square mile, L.A. has almost 7,000. Considering the sprawl of the city, that’s almost unbelievable!
Number Seven: It’s Home to the World’s First Movie Theater
But is that really such a surprise? The first movie theater was Tally’s Electric Theatre, and it opened in 1902.
Number Six: The Story Behind Murphy’s Ranch
Murphy’s Ranch might sound like a warm, inviting place, but it’s just the opposite. The ranch is actually a bunker that Hitler was going to use to run his empire after the war. The bunker included a giant meat locker and a diesel power plant.
Number Five: Beverly Hills Began as a Lima Bean Ranch
It’s true! While it’s now renowned for its impressive real estate and A-list celebrities, the city started out as just a little old lima bean ranch.
Number Four: The City Houses a Shocking Number of Undocumented Immigrants
Approximately one in 10 Los Angeles residents is an undocumented immigrant. Many undocumented immigrants flock to the city, so the population continues to grow.
Number Three: The Hollywood Sign Once Read ‘Hollywoodland’
Though the sign is now famous for simply reading “Hollywood,” when it was originally released it read “Hollywoodland.” The sign was first unveiled in 1923.
Number Two: Its Longest Street Stretches 40 Miles
The longest street in Los Angeles is Sepulveda Boulevard. If you were to drive down the entire street, you’d be driving for an impressive 40 miles.
Number One: It’s No Longer the Murder Capital
While the city recorded nearly 1,100 murders in 1992, 20 years later in 2012 there were only 298. This is great news for the city, which no longer has a reputation for being excessively dangerous. We hope you enjoyed our list of 15 things you didn’t know about Los Angeles!
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