Los Angeles (Wikipedia) Los Angeles (US: /lɔːs ˈændʒələs/ lawss AN-jəl-əs; Spanish: Los Ángeles [los ˈaŋxeles], lit. ‘The Angels’), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the most populous city in California, the most populous U.S. state. It is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Southern California. Los Angeles is the second-most populous city in the United States after New York City, with a population of roughly 3.9 million residents within the city limits as of 2020. Los Angeles has a Mediterranean climate, an ethnically and culturally diverse population, and a sprawling metropolitan area. It is perhaps best known as the home of the Hollywood film industry.