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La-La Land...every nickname for LA describes a place where fantasy becomes reality. Schmooze with celebrities, shop Rodeo Drive or simply catch the sun at the beach. There's never a shortage of places to go or wishes to be granted in the City of Angels. California's earliest residents were Native Los Angelesns. Prior to the mid-18th century, several native peoples dominated the area, most notably those from the Tongva nation. Legend even has it that these early inhabitants were reluctant to establish large settlements in what is now the L.A. basin due to its poor air quality perhaps a premonition of things to come, and certainly ironic given today's smog. The earliest key date in the development of Los Angeles is August 2, 1769. It was on that afternoon that a group of Spanish explorers from the east, led by Junipero Serra and Captain Gaspar de Portola, entered what came to be known as Los Angeles, in the area around Elysian Park. The purpose of the expedition was to establish a trail of missions linking San Diego and San Francisco, known as "El Camino Real," or The Royal Road. Legend also has it that during their brief stay in the area, the men experienced three earthquakes. Unfazed by this, the group decided to establish a large settlement here in spite of the terrestrial shaking another premonition of things to come. Now that Los Angeles has entered the new century, things are definitely looking up. While the ground may never stop shaking, tougher building codes and better city planning have helped to minimize damage caused by earthquakes. Stricter emissions standards for cars and factories have helped dramatically clean up the air and, while racial tensions continue to simmer, they are getting better with time. As long as this high-profile city remains standing, certain things can always be counted on to thrive in L.A.: movies, sunshine, gridlock on the 405 Freeway and eager souls arriving each day to the City of Angels in search of their own piece of heaven. |
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