Los Angeles, officially
the City of Los Angeles , often known by its
initials L.A. , is a major city in California's
Southern California region, approximately 342
miles (551 km) south of San Francisco . With a
population of 3,792,621 as of 2010 , [1 Los
Angeles is the second-largest city in the
United States , after New York City, and the
most populous city in California . Los Angeles
is known for its mediterranean climate, ethnic
diversity, celebrity culture, traffic, and the film
and television industry.