The City of Los Angeles (from Spanish; Los Ángeles) is the second-largest city in the United States in terms of population, as well as one of the world's most important economic, cultural, and entertainment centers. It was incorporated as a city in California on April 4, 1850, and is the county seat of Los Angeles County. As of the 2000 census, it has a population of 3,694,820, but a May 1, 2005 California Department of Finance estimate shows the city's population at over 3.95 million, with the metropolitan area at over 17.5 million. The city is also large by geographic standards since it sprawls over more than 465 square miles (1200 square kilometers), making it larger than New York City and Chicago.

In addition, Los Angeles has hosted two Olympic Games (in 1932 and 1984) and is home to world-renowned and unrivaled scientific and cultural institutions. The city is also one of the most cosmopolitan places in the world, as well as an undisputed vanguard of creativity, since it is home to individuals from virtually every nation on Earth. People have always been attracted to the city for its balmy weather, its vibrant lifestyle, its unique, high-velocity energy, and the true opportunity to realize the "American Dream."