Why does LA feel emptier than the traditionally urban cities? (Los Angeles: to live, restaurants)

[pacific2]

Originally Posted by lovecrowds

You can find anything in Los Angeles County from the crazy dense neighborhood of West Hollywood and Westlake, newer areas like Santa Clarita, old-fashioned suburbs in the San Gabriel Valley like San Dimas and Claremont and even more ruralish areas in the Antolope Valley.

I was surprised to read that Orange County is actually more densely populated than LA County. Increasing density in OC has a lot of people here worried.

ORANGE COUNTY 2014 COMMUNITY INDICATORS
http://occhildrenandfamilies.com/wp-...014_Report.pdf

Orange County -3,822 people per square mile of land area-19th most populous US county.
LA County-2,425 people per square mile of land are-31st most populous US county.

OTH, I suppose the difference shouldn't be much of a surprise when you take into account LA County's more remote areas.

[Calisonn]

Originally Posted by pacific2

I was surprised to read that Orange County is actually more densely populated than LA County. Increasing density in OC has a lot of people here worried.

ORANGE COUNTY 2014 COMMUNITY INDICATORS
http://occhildrenandfamilies.com/wp-...014_Report.pdf

Orange County -3,822 people per square mile of land area-19th most populous US county.
LA County-2,425 people per square mile of land are-31st most populous US county.

OTH, I suppose the difference shouldn't be much of a surprise when you take into account LA County's more remote areas.

What was the point of this post then

[jm1982]

Originally Posted by checkup

-ppl are in cars
-the dense areas are the poorer ethnic communities that you probably aren't visiting on any frequent basis
-the richer white neighborhoods and DTLA are not dense in terms of residents

Yeah true. Someone mentioned the Westlake area and that is one area where you will pretty much always see people walking around. More people in that area likely can't afford a car versus other areas. Lot's of newer immigrants.
In the valley similarly Van Nuys Blvd usually has a lot of pedestrians walking around.
Ventura Blvd not so much. Even though Ventura Blvd is pretty walkable, the sidewalks are pretty wide in most parts.

Also parts of Hollywood, especially East Hollywood is similar with a lot of pedestrians.

There are people walking in L.A , but it's primarily hispanic immigrants.
The invisible majority in L.A it seems.

Another time you will see a lot of people walking is in heavily Jewish neighborhoods like the Fairfax area or Valley Village where families will be walking to Temple on Saturdays as they are not supposed to drive or work on Saturday.

[harhar]

Yeah, go on a freeway and it suddenly doesn't feel as empty.

From Sylmar to Mission Viejo over the 70 miles between the two cities there's of a mixture of suburbs, industry, urban areas, etc. That's non-stop developed area. Everywhere you go in LA/OC there's something, some building, houses, etc. You're not going to find that literally anywhere else in the US.

I'm not talking about population or sprawl, but just the contiguous nature of southern California. It's huge.

[SupBro]

Originally Posted by pacific2

I was surprised to read that Orange County is actually more densely populated than LA County. Increasing density in OC has a lot of people here worried.

ORANGE COUNTY 2014 COMMUNITY INDICATORS
http://occhildrenandfamilies.com/wp-...014_Report.pdf

Orange County -3,822 people per square mile of land area-19th most populous US county.
LA County-2,425 people per square mile of land are-31st most populous US county.

OTH, I suppose the difference shouldn't be much of a surprise when you take into account LA County's more remote areas.

Why is that surprising to you? OC is much smaller landwise and can build on a greater % of its land. LA has a giant mountain range running through it and the northern part of the county is uninhabitable desert.

[SayyWhatt]

Originally Posted by vdy1985

maybe it just feels emptier to you? i mean comparing LA to NYC and CHI central city, maybe, but it definitely to me feels massive. But compared with the rest of the top 10 populated cities like Philly, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, San Jose, San Diego, it definitely feels FULL.

Definitely false, but agree with all the rest after it.

[pwright1]

To me it feels quite urban and very crowded imo. Doesn't look like the typical east coast or midwestern large city. That's quite fine but it definitely feels urban and crowded to me.

[West of Encino]

Originally Posted by SayyWhatt

Because they are stuck in traffic.

Los Angeles area can claim the worst traffic in America. Again - LA Times

Where certain aggressive drivers will run the other off road or ramp.

[Csonka]

L.A. is not a lively town like NYC. It just isn't. It started as a city full of midwestern transplants, and it still has some midwestern boring qualities to it. And it is surrounded by beaches and agriculture, kind of redneck even in many ways around the outskirts. There just is not the mass of people in a small enough place to give you that city street vibe. And bars close early. Now granted you have some characters out here who make the place fun, but most people are just hardworking homebodies. You sit in traffic all day and just want to go home and unwind because you have to do it again tomorrow.

[Freddy K]

Overall, it's still more lively than any city sans NYC.
There's just too many pockets of activity.

Much of Chicago is the bungalow belt, and those areas are surprisingly quiet.
It reminds me of the valley, just a bit older and denser. But it's pretty car centric.