4th September: Los Angeles

The city of Los Angeles was founded today in 1781 by Spanish settlers. 10 things you might not know about LA:

1. Native Americans called the area Yang-na, or poison oak place, or Bahia de las Fumas, valley of smoke.
2. The original Spanish settlers called it "El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora La Reina de Los Angeles de Porciuncula." In English, "The Town of Our Lady the Queen of Angels of the Porciúncula River".
3. The first settlers numbered just 44. In 2010, the population was 3,792,621, making it the second most populous city in the US (the first being New York City).
4. The highest point in the city is 5,074 ft (1,547 m) Mount Lukens.
5. The tallest building is the US Bank Tower, which at 1,018 feet high is the 47th tallest building in the world.
6. From May to October each year, the city lives up to its old name of Valley of Smoke, as this is the smog season. In most other cities rain clears smog, but LA gets just 15 inches (380 mm) of rain a year.
7. LA has 29 "sister" and "friendship" cities. These include Berlin, Mexico City, Auckland (New Zealand), Athens, Vancouver, Split (Croatia), Beirut, Tel Aviv (Israel), London and Manchester.
8. The city has hosted the Summer Olympic Games twice, in 1932 and 1984.
9. The iconic Hollywood sign was originally a real estate advertisement and was only supposed to last 18 months.
10. In September 1932, actress Peg Entwistle committed suicide by climbing a workman's ladder up to the top of the 'H' and jumping off. She was 24.