The Los Angeles Basin is the largest lowland area
in California that directly fronts the ocean. Long the home of the
Tongva people, settlement of the basin grew rapidly in the late nineteenth
century. During the boom of the 1880s, the population of Los Angeles
swelled from 11,000 to 50,000.
Construction of a huge breakwater
along the harbor at San Pedro began in 1899 and was later extended
to protect the combined harbors of San Pedro and Long Beach. In
1994 this bustling port overtook New York as America's premier gateway
for foreign trade.
Construction of a huge breakwater
along the harbor at San Pedro began in 1899 and was later extended
to protect the combined harbors of San Pedro and Long Beach. In
1994 this bustling port overtook New York as America's premier gateway
for foreign trade.