Few states of the United States have a more varied, a more interesting or a more instructive history than California, and few have done so little to preserve their history. In narrating the story of California, the author has endeavored to deal justly with the different eras and episodes of its history; to state facts; to tell the truth without favoritism or prejudice; to give credit where credit is due and censure where it is deserved. This accounts also for the prominence of Los Angeles in the second half of this volume. The consolidation of Los Angeles city and the cities of Wilmington, San Pedro and Hollywood has merged the history of these three into that of the Greater Los Angeles. The early history of these cities is given separately up to their consolidation. All over this book is a real treasure chest and every single of its more than 370 pages is a must-read for the people of California and Los Angeles County. *** American Ground is an ambitious series chronicling the rise, transformation, and soul of the United States through the dynamic histories of its greatest cities and counties. From the colonial roots of Boston and Philadelphia to the industrial ascent of Chicago, the cultural tides of Los Angeles, and the political pulse of Washington, D.C., each volume uncovers the unique narrative of place-how local histories have shaped national identity. Told with a blend of scholarly rigor and narrative flair, the series weaves together political upheaval, economic innovation, social movements, and cultural milestones, tracing how regions responded to war and peace, migration and modernization, boom and bust. Rural counties, urban centers, and everything in between are treated not as backdrops, but as characters in the American story-vivid, evolving, and essential. American Ground is both a celebration of regional diversity and a deep meditation on the common threads that bind the nation. Ideal for readers of history, civic leaders, educators, and anyone curio