Los Angeles: Capital of the Pacific Rim
In a century increasingly focused on Asia, USC builds on its location in Los Angeles, the "Capital of the Pacific Rim."
Los Angeles County offers an unprecedented diversity of cultures and global advantages:
- More people of Korean descent than anywhere outside the Korean peninsula
- More Thais and more Filipinos than anywhere outside those countries
- The largest U.S. populations of Japanese and Cambodians
- Major concentrations of Vietnamese
- World center of business, international trade, entertainment, culture, fashion, media, science, technology and education
- The number-one U.S. port in terms of container volume and cargo value
About This Photo: Los Angeles’ original Chinatown, founded in the late 1800s, was demolished in the 1930s to make way for Union Station. Owned and developed by the Chinese-American community, the new Chinatown was dedicated in 1938 and gained a dramatic gateway, located at 600 North Broadway, in 2001. The accompanying plaque reads: “The majestic dragons above the clouds usher in good luck and harmony. This gateway and the Chinatown skyline reflect the community’s prosperity. We came from far away - crossing the ocean to seek our dreams; together we have worked to create our new homeland. Hundred years of success were brought about by our forefathers; continual prosperity relies on our children from generation to generation. Blue skies and blooming flowers can be seen everywhere; But these roots in Chinatown are forever the heart of our family.”
