Explorer Gaspar de Portolá, sent out to establish missions in northern California, camped here in 1769. Early settlers faced the obstacles of isolation, poor harbors and lack of water.
In the mid-1800s, Los Angeles was a rough cow town, with frequent violence between Anglos and Mexicans. Development quickened with completion of the Southern Pacific rail line in 1872.
The local economy developed in bursts, with cattle, real estate, citrus, oil, autos, movies, aircraft and the military.
Los Angeles Housing and real estate
Median rent in Los Angeles, at the time of the 2000 Census, was $612. Monthly homeowner costs, for people with mortgages, were $1,598.
