When you think of Los Angeles, do think of the entire county? Or just THE CITY of Los Angeles? (San Diego: live in, beach)

[Chicano3000X]

Usually I don't care to think of any other spot other than L.A., anywhere else is like a suburban wasteland. There's a couple of exceptions like Pasadena(mainly since it has a distinguished downtown area with a nice link to the Gold Line).

[UB50]

It depends on who I am talking to. If I'm talking to someone who lives here, LA means LA, not the suburbs. If I'm talking to someone who lives far away, LA means the whole region.

[jm1982]

Originally Posted by UB50

It depends on who I am talking to. If I'm talking to someone who lives here, LA means LA, not the suburbs. If I'm talking to someone who lives far away, LA means the whole region.

Yeah I agree . I don't think many people think of Palmdale or Lancaster for example when they hear "LA" even though those are in the county .

You do have to include the cities though for sure . Santa Monica and Beverly Hills especially are a significant part of the " LA area"

[Cinema Cat]

I've long lived in Santa Monica and considered myself an Angeleno. So yes, I think of Santa Monica as being L.A.

[majoun]

County, other than some of the more remote areas. Also I think of Long Beach and vicinity as separate.

[909er]

As a transplant (many moons ago), I've found locals consider L.A. to be "L.A. proper", as in the city limits.

As an outsider, the term L.A. tends to be more aligned toward the US Gov. definition of a CDA, "census designated area". That pegs L.A. as everything from Ventura to Yucaipa, and Santa Clarita to San Clemente, which is the entire metro area.

For example - "I'm going on vacation to L.A!!"

"What places are you going to see while you are out there?"

"Hollywood, Disneyland, Pasadena, Six Flags, the beach, all kinds of stuff."

"Have Fun!"

[quixotic59]

As a visitor, the county. By the way, thanks, now I know where Lancaster and Palmdale are!

[munchitup]

If I am not in Southern CA, I tell people I live in LA even though I am outside city limits in Pasadena. Although people around the world recognize Pasadena, I think they sometimes get the idea that it is a sleepy outer suburban area (partially due to its history and partially due to their experience in other cities which don't have urban/suburban hubs like we have in LA). To avoid them assuming I live in a place like, say, Lakewood, I would just say LA.

To anyone down here in Southern CA, I say I live in Pasadena. I don't really think of Pasadena as part of LA but it's about as close as you can get without being a part of the city. Same with areas like Glendale, Burbank, Alhambra, East LA, etc.

[nightlysparrow]

LOL Lots of people think of anything south of Santa Barbara and north of San Diego as "LA." This includes VC and OC.

[PDF]

I definitely consider places like Santa Monica to be LA. Who wouldn't? To me, LA also includes places like Pasadena.