Los Angeles County, California: History
The County of Los Angeles is one of the original counties of California, created at the time of statehood in 1850. The county originally included parts of what are now Kern, San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo, Tulare, Ventura, and Orange counties. In 1851 and 1852, Los Angeles County stretched from the coast to the state line of Nevada. As the population increased, sections were split off to organize San Bernardino County in 1853, Kern County in 1866, and Orange County in 1889.
Before the 1870s, Los Angeles County was divided into townships (many of which were amalgamations of one or more old ranchos):
Azusa – encompassed the foothill communities east of the San Gabriel River, including present-day Covina and Duarte
El Monte – encompassed communities in the Whittier Narrows area, including present-day El Monte, La Puente, as well as Monterey Park
Azusa and El Monte Townships – merged for the 1870 census
City of Los Angeles – then consisting solely of its four-league Spanish land grant
Los Angeles Township – consisted of areas surrounding the City of Los Angeles, including the San Fernando Valley and present-day West Los Angeles and East Los Angeles. Most of this area has now been annexed to the city of Los Angeles.
Los Nietos – consisted of areas south of the Whittier Narrows and Puente Hills south to present-day Long Beach, centered on the early settlement at Los Nietos. Some of this area is now in Orange County
San Jose – consisted of the eastern portions of the county drained by San Jose Creek, including what is now the cities of Pomona, Claremont and Walnut
San Gabriel – consisted of the western San Gabriel Valley and foothill communities, including present-day Alhambra and Pasadena. Centered on the Mission San Gabriel
Santa Ana – consisted of what is now northern and central Orange County, including what is now Fullerton, Huntington Beach and the City of Orange. (Centered on Santa Ana).
For the 1870 census, Anaheim district was enumerated separately
San Juan – consisted of what is now southern Orange County. Centered on Mission San Juan Capistrano
San Pedro – consisted of the present-day South Bay communities, Compton and western Long Beach. Centered on the wharf of San Pedro. (Renamed Wilmington Township by 1870).
Tejon – consisted of all of northern Los Angeles County and what is now southern Kern County. Centered on Fort Tejon
When Kern County was formed, the portion of the township remaining in Los Angeles County became Soledad Township.