Los Angeles (often abbreviated as L.A.) is the largest city in the state of California by population, and the second most populous city in the United States. Los Angeles was founded in 1781 by the Spanish. Los Angeles is one of the world's centers of culture, science, technology, international trade, and higher education, and is home to world-renowned institutions in a broad range of professional and cultural fields. The city and its immediate vicinity lead the world in producing popular entertainment—such as motion picture, television, and recorded music—which forms the base of Los Angeles' international fame and global status.
