The American Cyclopædia (1879)/Los Angeles (county)

LOS ANGELES, a S. county of California, on the Pacific, drained by the San Gabriel, Los Angeles, and Santa Anna rivers; area, about 6,000 sq. m.; pop. in 1870, 15,309, of whom 236 were Chinese. Except in the Los Angeles, Santa Anna, and San Fernando valleys, the surface is mountainous. These valleys are exceedingly fertile. Gold, silver, tin, copper, asbestus, and coal mines abound. Petroleum is found in the San Fernando hills, and a few wells are in operation. The county is noted especially for its extensive culture of the vine and semi-tropical fruits. The chief productions in 1870 were 12,210 bushels of wheat, 454,896 of Indian corn, 153,080 of barley, 20,407 of potatoes, 962,603 lbs. of wool, 65,590 of honey, 531,710 gallons of wine, and 11,249 tons of hay. There were 9,652 horses, 635 mules and asses, 2,468 milch cows, 19,226 other cattle, 247,603 sheep, and 5,702 swine; 2 manufactories of carriages, 2 of brick, 7 of saddlery and harness, 3 of tin, copper, and sheet-iron ware, 43 of wine, 2 breweries, 2 distilleries, 2 flour mills, and 1 quartz mill. Capital, Los Angeles.