Government
Los Angeles, Then and Now (1894-2011)
A look back at how far downtown L.A. has come since the turn of the 20th century
With the 20th century approaching, Los Angeles was about to turn from a bustling town into one of the most important economic regions in the world. The city had been part of the United States for less than 50 years but with new railways (1870s) and the discovery of oil (1892), Los Angeles was booming, seeing a 350 percent population increase from 1880 to 1890.
The growth would remain explosive as L.A. became the film production center of the world and an international trade hub in the early 20th century and onward.