Land Use History of Los Angeles, CA
My hometown is Los
Angeles, California. It was originally inhabited by the Chumash and the Tongva
in the Los Angeles Basin and the Tataviam in the San Fernando Valley. It was discovered
by the Spanish in 1542, however, they did not settle there until 1769. Their settlement surrounded a river they named Nuestra
Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula. Twelve years later, eleven
families created a settlement called El Pueblo Sobre el Rio de Nuestra
Señora la Reina de los Angeles del Río de Porciúncula near the river. Later,
they shortened its name to Los Angeles. Like many other
explorers, they sought fertile land for crops and livestock.
A large part of California’s
history is the missions built by the Spaniards. They were built not only to indoctrinate
Christianity in the Native Americans but also to force them into the European
way of life. They were important proponents in agriculture, raising livestock,
and trade. In 1771, the first mission in Los Angeles was built called Mission
de San Gabriel Arcangel. The second was the San Fernando mission which had 30,000
grapevines and 21,000 heads of livestock. Los Angeles’s first population boom
was not because of its crop or livestock yield, but because of gold found near
the San Fernando mission in 1842. Soon after, the United States took over California
from the Spaniards making it the 30th state in the union.
Los Angeles’ natural
terrain is nothing like what you see today. What was once ranches and farmlands
are now covered in concrete and buildings. When the settlers first got to LA,
they noticed the natives had no need to farm because of the abundance of resources
already on the land. Farming did not start
until 1781 when the first true settlement was created, making agriculture the center
of life in Los Angeles. At one point, it was the top agriculture county in the
nation. The year-round sun makes it a good candidate for cropland; however, it
struggles with severe droughts. There were few things they couldn’t grow, but
when they needed something, they would trade cowhides. This started the first
economy of Los Angeles. While it is not the farming community it once used to
be, it still contributes to California’s agriculture production.
One of Los Angeles’s largest
ecological impacts was its urbanization. Many farmlands and trees were destroyed
to add buildings and homes. The valley, where I live, was covered in orange
groves not too long ago. Los Angeles is also a sprawling city meaning everything
is spread apart. To combat sprawling, good public transportation is necessary, however,
Los Angeles does not have that. This is horrible for the environment because it
requires more room and the need for cars.
California, State of.
“California Indian History.” California Indian History – California Native
American Heritage Commission,
nahc.ca.gov/resources/california-indian-history/. Accessed 28 May 2023.
Gerber, Judith. “Los
Angeles County’s Forgotten Farming History.” KCET, 19 Jan. 2021,
www.kcet.org/shows/la-foodways/los-angeles-countys-forgotten-farming-history.
Words by Discover Los
Angeles. “Historical Timeline of Los Angeles.” Discover Los Angeles, 31
Dec. 2022,
www.discoverlosangeles.com/things-to-do/historical-timeline-of-los-angeles.
The story of Los Angeles seems somewhat sad compared to a lot of other areas of the United States where nature was more preserved. I've never been there so I didn't know the extensive Spanish and Christian missionary work that led to the growth of the city and it's interesting to me that it was once a prized for agriculture. That seems so far distant now that it's hard to imagine at all.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post! You've nicely detailed LA's rich history and the dramatic changes that have occurred throughout time. It's fascinating to see how it's progressed from indigenous lands through agricultural hubs to urban sprawl. The environmental consequences of this, such as growing dependency on automobiles due to inadequate public transportation, are important difficulties that LA faces.
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