Los Angeles officially the City of Los Angeles and often known by its initials L.A., is the cultural, financial, and commercial center of Southern California and the most populous city in the state of California. Here are a few facts about Los Angeles that you may not know yet.

1.The city’s full name when founded was “El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora Reina de los Angeles sobre el Rio Porciuncula”, translating in  Spanish as “The town of our lady queen of the angels on the Porciuncula River.”

2. The Hollywood sign wasn't as we all know nowadays, but had the designation “Hollywoodland.”

3.The smallest city in Los Angeles is County, Vernon with only 114 residents.

4. LA's longest street is Sepulveda Boulevard counting 40 miles and the shortest one is Powers Place which is just 13 feet long.

Photot : unsplash.com/jackofallstreets

5. Did you know that there’s a magic castle in the middle of the city? Located in the Hollywood district ''The Magic Castle''  is a nightclub for magicians and magic enthusiasts -undoubtedly the most unusual private club in the world. The entrance is allowed only at members and their guests. Many celebrities have performed there such as  Orson Welles, Johnny Carson, Steve Martin, and Neil Patrick Harris.

6. Los Angeles has a drive-in right in the heart of downtown, the Electric Dusk Drive-In, projecting a big range of classic movies such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s  and offering room to park a car. Even though you can bring outside food, there is also a snack bar which offers a wide variety of BBQ items, candy, popcorn and beverages.

7. Los Angeles doesn't have just one area code, nor 2 or 3 but seven area codes! Those seven area codes are 301, 323, 213, 424, 626, 818, and 747.

Photo : unsplash.com/aberkecz

8. When the walls of the Walt Disney Concert Hall were firstly installed, they reflected so much light that nearby sidewalks hit temperatures of 140°F due to the fact they were made of steel. 

9.  It is estimated that an average driver living in the city of Los Angeles spends 59 hours -over two full days- in traffic on an annual basis.

10. An interesting fact is that Los Angeles has more people per square mile than New York. Los Angeles is ahead by 7,000 people per square mile compared to New York, which has 5,319 people.

11. The Shirley Temple cocktail was invented in Los Angeles. It is a non-alcoholic beverage of ginger ale, grenadine, and a maraschino cherry.

Photo : unsplash.com/joelmott