The Los Angeles Region

The City
With sweeping vistas of downtown Los Angeles and the Pacific Ocean, Loyola Marymount University is situated in one of the most dynamic and diverse cities in the world. Los Angeles is the second largest city in the United States, with an estimated population of 4 million. Residential development is booming, cultural institutions are multiplying, and retail and entertainment options are thriving on an unprecedented scale. LMU students and faculty take all that Los Angeles has to offer, and use is as a laboratory for understanding the complexity of cultures, industries, images, and opportunities that Southern California embraces.

Diversity
The diversity of the Los Angeles area has always been one of its greatest strengths. Los Angeles has the largest Latino population of any major American city. It is also home to more Koreans than any city outside of North and South Korea, and home to more Filipinos than anywhere but Manila. In fact, more than half of the population in the K-12 system is made up of minority groups. As America's most populated county, L.A. County is also the third-most racially diverse county in the United States. In this multicultural environment, minority business thrives. The Los Angeles area leads the nation for the number of firms owned by several ethnic groups. In fact, nearly four of 10 small firms in Los Angeles County are owned by minorities.

Economics
If the Los Angeles five-county metro area were a separate nation, its $477 billion gross product would make it the 11th largest nation in the world. The City of Los Angeles is the largest international trade center in the United States, with about $200 billion in imports and exports. L.A. County has a labor force of 4.5 million people, including one million college graduates. Business management services, health services and tourism are the top three industries in the county. Biotechnology is one of the fastest growing industries in L.A. County, with more than 500 biotechnology firms employing more than 25,000 people. Los Angeles is the top apparel manufacturing center in the nation, surpassing New York City in the mid 1990s. Revenues from the entertainment industry in L.A. County is about 10 times that of New York City.

Cultural Opportunities
Los Angeles County is home to 841 museums and art galleries. Los Angeles leads California's cultural growth, with more museums per capita than any other city in the nation. Among the new facilities and institutions are the Getty Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the upcoming Walt Disney Concert Hall, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The LA Opera, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Center Theatre Group are among the nation's largest and most respected companies in their disciplines.

For more information, click here to browse the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce website.