Chapter 1 - Intro

Photo courtesy of  Friends of the Los Angeles River

Los Angeles has a long and rich history. Before the Mexican & Spanish settlers came into the basin there were great communities of Indians living in the area and there had been for hundreds of years.

This map from a UCLA professor shows where the different tribes were settled before the settlers arrived. California Indian Pre-contact Tribal Territories

In 1769  the Mexican & Spanish settlers came into the basin they established a permanent settlement bringing with them the catholic missions. In 1846 the US invaded Mexico from the east reaching San Diego by the end of the year. As they say, "the rest is history".

Los Angeles and most of California is part of the Pacific Coast Region, Los Angeles is in a Mediterranean climate. With hot dry summers and just slightly less hot and less dry winters.

Los Angeles has become one of the most divers melting pots for culture in the nation.

The missions, the changing path of the LA river, and entertainment industry and many other aspects are reflected in the changes that Los Angeles has seen over the years.

Photo by: Bill Gabel