Sorry for being a novice, but what exactly is considered the city of LA versus county?

[Mr. Opinionated]

Well, the people who live in those neighborhoods might be partial. And while Los Angeles may not have a nationally popular nickname, "L.A." rather than Los Angeles, is one that was used often by natives as I was growing up during the 1970's. "City of Angels", the english version of it's original title, has been used often in movies television and romantic literature.

[Chowhound]

When people here say that they are going to LA they usually mean the actual city of Los Angeles, when talking to people outside of LA area you can just generally say LA when that could mean one of trillion cities within LA county.

It's a different mindset here comparing to NYC. The whole southern California area is so spread out that there isn't a distinct business center like say a Manhattan, yeah, you do have downtown LA, but like I said things are so spread out here. It's part of why it's such a car culture here too.

I'd love to live in a place like a Manhattan where you could live without a car, at least that's what I hear anyways. I think though in reality I'd find the overpopulation and hustle too much for me.

[kcimos]

some semi-interesting semi-related facts :

LA county = 4,058 sq mi (land)
10,116,705 population (2014 estimate)

Connecticut = 4,845 sq mi (land)
3,596,677 population (2014 est)

Hungary = 9,849,000 population (88th highest national population, highest of the sub ten million nations)

so if LA county became its own country it would rank 88th in pop.

[ryanms3030]

Originally Posted by batty2000

What would be considered the "center" of LA, if it even has one? Would it be downtown?

Center of LA is whichever part you live in. Because after living here from a while you won't want to sit in traffic to go anywhere else. At least that's how I feel. I have settled in Glendale/Burbank area and it would take a lot to get me to even go to Pasadena these days