Chapter 4: Population Geographies of Canada and the United States since 1950

In 1965 with the Immigration Act, the doors were opened to a new generation of immigrants from all over the world. According to the U.S. census, by 2000 36.2% of all Los Angeles residents were foreign born, when in 1970 the number was only 11.3%. Of Los Angeles' minority population, those of Latino/Hispanic origin number 4.2 million accounting for 47.3% of the entire population. In a survey conducted by the Los Angeles Unified School District, 130 different languages were found to be spoken by all school-age children. Los Angeles has become the major immigrant port of entry, leaving behind New York City.


Population density: 2,344 people per square mile
3,270,909 housing units with an average household of 2.98
Median age 32
Birth rate 2003: 15.1 per 1,000 population
Death rate 2003: 6.1 per 1,000 population
Life expectancy 2004 (entire state of California): 77.8 years