The most populated county in the United States, with a population of 9,818,605 reported by the U.S. Census in 2010, Los Angeles County California by itself has more people in it than 42 individual U.S. states. The county holds the second largest city in the United States and the largest in California, this city is Los Angeles. Los Angeles County also has two islands offshore, Santa Catalina and San Clemente. It is one of the most diverse counties in the country as over one quarter of all of California residents make their home there.

The Greater Los Angeles Area is made up by a core of five counties; Los Angeles County, one of the original counties created in 1850 at the time of statehood, was very large so parts of it were given to the surrounding counties, San Bernardino in 1850, Kern in 1866, and Orange County in 1889. The Los Angeles metropolitan area is made up 88 incorporated cities, the 10 most populous being listed in the categories section of this site. Most of the area of the county though contains unincorporated cites that have no government of their own but are under the county governments jurisdiction, they must petition the appropriate board of supervisors when they have grievances. 

Los Angeles County is home to many parks, the most visited being Griffith Park of Los Angeles. Sitting at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains, the park covers 4,310 acres of land making it one of the largest urban parks in North America. Sometimes it is referred to as the Central Park of Los Angeles (referring to New York's Central Park) but Griffith Park is much larger, rugged and untamed. The county hosts the rose parade, county fair, la Brea tar pits, an arboretum, two race car tracks and two horse racing tracks, miles of beaches and many more attractions. Many old western movies were filmed in the mountain, canyon, and desert areas.

An observatory in the San Gabriel Mountains is open to the public for viewing the stars with its computer assisted telescope. Many county residents use the Castaic Lake Recreation Area for swimming, water skiing and relaxation as well as enjoying the starry nights and natural surroundings on camping trips in the eastern Antelope Valley. The states flower is shown off in great numbers every spring on the rolling hills of the California Poppy Reserve in western Antelope Valley.

There is a vast array of recreational and cultural activities available to residents and visitors offered by the private sector and the county. There is 65,528 acres of lakes, trails, gardens and parks along with the world’s largest public golf course system, 19 courses and 31 public swimming pools. The 75 mile mainland coast has 25 miles of County managed beaches. Six Flags Magic Mountain broke the worlds record for having the most roller coasters in one park with 18 (now 17) and is visited by millions of people each year.

Advertised as the coolest place in L. A., Universal Studio Hollywood, a movie studio and theme park, started as tours of the studio but over the years has grown into a full blown theme park as the high tech rides, staged events and stunt demonstrations have overshadowed the motion picture production. The Los Angeles County Fair, now in its 88th year, is the largest county fair in the United States, it is held each September on 543 acres of fairgrounds known as Fairplex. The fair generates over $250 million each year, roughly equal to that of hosting a Super Bowl.