Los Angeles is like no other place on earth. It's big, sprawling, beautiful, raucous, outrageous, fun-loving and larger than life. There is definitely an LA way of doing things and we're famous for it – whatever "it" means.  The expression "That's So LA" has become part of the language because it captures that indefinable something that makes LA – LA.

Los Angeles County is a dynamic yet complex place.   Most people view it through the prism of the Entertainment industry and the industry's associated hype.  However, a deeper look shows Los Angeles is much more -- the nation's largest hub for international trade and manufacturing, a center for higher and specialized education, and a focal point of creativity and innovation.   One way to put your arms around Los Angeles is to review a list of things "born in L.A.," from the hot fudge sundae to the first stealth fighter, from the Barbie doll to animatronics.   

According to the latest population estimates from the Census Bureau, Los Angeles County would be the eighth largest state in the union if it were a separate state.    If one  includes  the  four  surrounding counties,  which  form  the  "Los  Angeles  Consolidated  Metro  Area,"  the  combined population of 18.6 million would be the fifth largest state in  the  union.    (The population estimates from the California Dept.  Of Finance show even higher population counts for both L.A. County and the region.)  

L.A. County’s transportation infrastructure is extensive.  The county is  served by  a network  of  freeways  that  connects  its 88 cities  and  the  neighboring  counties.    This vast network of freeways is one of the best known symbols of the L.A. region.  L.A. County is also served by a growing web of heavy and light rail systems.   Metro, LA County’s transportation authority, operates the local subways.  Two other  rail  systems  operate  out  of Downtown  L.A.'s Union  Station,  the  central  hub  of  the  passenger  rail  network.   The Metro link  commuter  rail  system  connects  the  four  surrounding  counties to L.A., and the Amtrak national rail system connects L.A. to  the rest of the country.  Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the largest origin and destination (i.e.  non-connecting  flights)  airport  in  the  world,  and  the  sixth  largest  in  terms  of  total  passenger  volume.  Also, LAX is one of the busiest cargo airports in the world.   Major projects are underway to modernize its terminals and runways.  L.A. County also has two smaller airports with regularly scheduled domestic service:  Long Beach (LGB) and Bob Hope (BUR) in Burbank.
 
L.A. County has  two major  seaports, Los Angeles and Long Beach,  that  combined, make  up  the  largest  port  complex  in  the  nation.    In  terms  of  total  containers  processed,  the  LA/Long  Beach  complex  ranks  fifth  among  the  world’s  largest  ports  (behind  Singapore,  Shanghai, Hong Kong  and Shenzhen).   L.A.’s  seaports  and  airports  are  the  lifelines of   Southern California’s  thriving  international  trade  community.   Employment directly linked to trade related activities Largest Ports in the U.S. 2008