California

Los Angeles

10,014,009
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 3,530. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 10,014,009.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 33 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Medea Creek Cemetery Violence – Ventura, Gabrielino-Tongva Conflict – Los Angeles Basin, Medea Creek Cemetery Violence, and 624 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202010,014,009
20109,818,605
20009,519,338
19908,863,164
19807,477,503
19707,032,075
19606,038,771
19504,151,687
19402,785,643
19302,208,492
1920936,455
1910504,131
1900170,298
1890101,454
188033,381
187015,309
186011,333
18503,530
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Los Angeles

Military engagements that took place in Los Angeles, California.

Medea Creek Cemetery Violence – Ventura
1100
Gabrielino-Tongva Conflict – Los Angeles Basin
1200
Medea Creek Cemetery Violence
1200
Malibu Creek Conflict – Los Angeles
1350
Resistance at Mission San Gabriel 1771
1771
Gabriel's Revolt — Mission San Gabriel
1785
Battle of Dominguez Rancho / Battle of Rancho Dominguez
1846
San Pedro Landing – Stockton's Marine Advance
1846
Rancho Dominguez — Battle of the Old Woman's Gun
1846
Siege of Los Angeles
1846
Battle of Dominguez Ranch – Detail
1846
Skirmish at San Pedro
1846
Battle of Dominguez Ranch
1846
San Pedro Landing
1846
Battle of Dominguez Rancho
1846
Capitulation of Cahuenga
1847
Capitulation of Cahuenga — Treaty of Cahuenga
1847
Battle of San Gabriel
1847
Battle of La Mesa
1847
Battle of Los Angeles – Capitulation of Cahuenga
1847
Battle of San Gabriel (California 1847)
1847
Mexican-American War — Battle of Rio San Gabriel
1847
Battle of Rio San Gabriel
1847
Battle of Cahuenga Pass
1847
Battle of La Mesa (California)
1847
Battle of Rio San Gabriel River Crossing
1847
Mexican-American War — Battle of La Mesa
1847
Drum Barracks – Los Angeles Union Garrison
1862
New York Anti-Chinese Riot (1871 Los Angeles)
1871
Battle of Los Angeles (Anti-Aircraft 1942)
1942
Nike Ajax / Hercules Site LA-96 (Los Angeles Defense Ring)
1956
Watts Riots 1965
1965
Los Angeles Riots 1992
1992

Historic places in Los Angeles

National Register of Historic Places listings in Los Angeles, California.

Twentieth Street Historic District
Los Angeles
Villa Verde
Pasadena
Workman Adobe
Industry
Bradbury Building
Los Angeles
Bentz, Louise C., House
Pasadena
Alvarado Terrace Historic District
Los Angeles
Alexander Theatre
Glendale
Farnsworth, Gen. Charles S., County Park
Altadena
Glendale Southern Pacific Railroad Depot
Glendale
Bullock's Pasadena
Pasadena
Angelus Temple
Los Angeles
Storer House
Los Angeles
Hollywood High School Historic District
Los Angeles
Norton, John, House
Pasadena
US Post Office-Burbank Downtown Station
Burbank
Charmont Apartments
Santa Monica
Sovereign Hotel
Santa Monica
US Post Office-Beverly Hills Main
Beverly Hills
Case Study House No. 22
Los Angeles
Golden Gate Theater
Los Angeles
US Post Office-San Pedro Main
San Pedro
Schindler, R. M., House
West Hollywood
American Trona Corporation Building
Los Angeles
Orange Grove Court
Pasadena
Browse all Californiahistoric sites ›

Other counties in California

Explore census history and historic records for more California counties.

Contra CostaDel NorteEl DoradoFresnoGlennHumboldtImperialInyoKernKingsKlamathLakeLassenMaderaMarinMariposaMendocinoMercedModocMono
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Los Angeles County, California

This page charts the census history of Los Angeles County, California. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Los Angeles County, California report
Or see a real report first

Explore California records

Californiahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from California

Frequently asked about Los Angeles

When does Los Angeles first appear in the US census?
Los Angeles, California first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 3,530.
What is the population of Los Angeles?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Los Angeles had a recorded population of 10,014,009.
Were any battles fought in Los Angeles?
33 documented military engagements took place in Los Angeles, including Medea Creek Cemetery Violence – Ventura, Gabrielino-Tongva Conflict – Los Angeles Basin, Medea Creek Cemetery Violence.
How many historic places are in Los Angeles?
624 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Los Angeles, California.
Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report