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Below and to the right are some great online resources prepared
for you.
Los Angeles
When Spanish occupation of California began in 1769, an
exploratory expedition of more than 60 persons led by Gaspar
de Portolá moved north through the area now known
as Los Angeles. They camped by a river where fertile soil
and availability of water for irrigation impressed members
of the party. Father Juan Crespi, who accompanied the group,
saw the location as having all the requirements for a large
settlement. He named the river El Río de Nuestra
Señora la Reina de Los Angeles de Porciúncula,
which means "The River of Our Lady the Queen of the
Angels of Porciúncula."
Twelve years after Portolá's trek, which began in
San Diego and ended in Monterey, a company of settlers called
"Los Pobladores" were recruited in the states
of Sonora and Sinaloa in Mexico. Their mission, under authority
of Governor Felipe de Neve, was to establish pueblos in
the name of the King of Spain.
On September 4, 1781, the Pobladores, a group of 12 families
- 46 men, women, and children - established a community
in the area discovered by Portolá, and named it El
Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de Los Angeles
de Porciúncula, after the nearby river. Over time,
the city became known as the Ciudad de Los Angeles, "City
of Angels", and was destined to become the great city
of the West now known as "Los Angeles."
California was ruled by Spain until 1822 when Mexico assumed
jurisdiction. After a two year period of hostilities with
Mexico beginning in 1846, the area came under U.S. control.
In 1848 the Treaty of Guadalupe made California a United
States territory.
The County of Los Angeles was established on February 18,
1850 as one of the 27 original counties. It derived its
name from that of the City of Los Angeles (the designated
"seat" of County government) which had already
become a large community. On April 1, 1850 the people of
Los Angeles County asserted their newly won right of self-government
and elected a three man Court of Sessions as their first
governing body. A total of 377 votes were cast in this election.
In 1852 the Legislature dissolved the Court of Sessions
and created the five-member Board of Supervisors. In 1913
the citizens of Los Angeles County approved a charter recommended
by a board of freeholders which gave the County greater
freedom to govern itself within the framework of state law.
Below and to the right are some
great online resources prepared for you.
Area Schools
Please visit some of
the schools in the Los Angeles County.
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