Introduction
Los Angeles is ranked second largest city in United States of America. It was founded by Chinese in 1781 and acquired city status in 1850. Los Angeles is home to a number of ethnicity groups; and a metropolitan city. The city covers an area of 3,041.3/km2 (The Official Web Site of The City of Los Angeles, 2010). This paper focuses on a population study of this city; it will look into birth rate, age distribution, population trends, death rates, immigration and emigration, population growth rate, and how these factors affect the society.
Population
California Department of Finance estimated the population of the city in January 2009 at 4, 094,047. Conversely, the census conducted in 2000 held the population at 3,694,820. The same census recorded a total of 1,275,412 households. There were 798,719 people. The population density was 7,876.8 people per square mile.
The population is composed of a number of tribes with white Americans being the majority with 46.9%; African American follows with 11.2%; Asians with 10.5% and other small tribes, which include Native American makes the remaining percentage.
Females are the majority forming 50.2% while men form a population of 49.8%, the median age of the population standards at 31.7 %. The population from the above analysis is seen to be (mainly) young and thus there have been a decreased number of employment activities. The change in population stands at 4.6%. This is a rate that is supported by improved living conditions, medical development, and youthful population (Johnson, 2003).
Migration and Emigration
Migration and emigration may be both legal and illegal. Ministry of foreign affairs is the one that is responsible to administer issues affecting immigrating and emigration. Every country has a legal way that defines the process to be when a foreigner is entering or staying in the country.
Illegal immigration is the violation of these procedures, rules and restrictions; it involves the movement of people across borders without legal permission of the destination country. In Los Angeles the population of work force is composed of 46% immigrants. Modern immigrants are mostly from African and Arabian countries. Illegal immigration has for a long period been a bother to both developed and developing countries.
Illegal immigration is triggered by factors either in country of origin or country of destination. They have more negative effects to the country of destination than the positive contribution that they make. However, there are measures that can be put in place to reverse the trend (Anon, 2009).
Death and Birth rate
Birth rate is 15.1 in every 1000 people; this is a percentage of 1.51%. Death rate stands at 6.1 in every 1000; this translates to 0.61%. The increased birthrate is mostly brought about by young population and high levels of immigrants. Health facilities are highly improved and available and thus they have encouraged a better life improvement. The increased population of the city has resulted in various positive and negative effects.
Positive Effects of Increased Population
With the increased population there is a higher demand for goods and services that make locally brand internationally recognized. This has facilitated trade in the city. Tourism is a major source of revenue in the city and with increased influx of temporary immigrants as tourism; the country has experienced an increase in foreign revenue. High population is a local market that leads to development in the city.
High population is a source of labor; high population leads to high supply of cheap labor. Cheap labor makes the production of goods and services to be low. This assists in manufacturing of low cost goods. Innovation is facilitated by an increased population. This is due to different interactions which might lead to a breakthrough in a certain issue.
Negative Effects
High population offers a strain in social services. The provision of social services is affected if a country is highly populated. There are some scarce resources and an increase in population only offers a strain to the existing amenities. These are in road and transport services provision, health factors, education, and recreational facilities.
With an increased population there is an increased pollution. Pollution is when the economy is making efforts to feed the population. Social crime is on the rise in the city; this has been facilitated by the increased population. Crime calls for more social security which strains the government provision.
Unemployment especially in today’s economic crisis that started in 2007 has increased. With high unemployment rate the city’s amenities are strained. Unemployment in 2007 stood at 5.2% (Bachman, 2008).
Conclusion
Los Angeles is the second largest city in United States. The city is metropolitan where trade is facilitated through international participation and domestic trade. It gained city status in 1850. It is home to a number of ethnic communities. The city covers an area 3,041.3/km2. Unemployment stood at 5.2 in 2007. It has a well developed infrastructures and social amenities, which have resulted in increased population.
Reference List
Anon. (2009). Los Angeles, California, 2007. World Almanac & Book of Facts, 332. Retrieved from Master FILE Premier database.
Bachman, K. (2008). Los Angeles. Media Week, 18(9), 32. Retrieved from Master FILE Premier database.
Johnson, J. (2003). “Los Angeles.” Dictionary of American History. Ed. Stanley I. Kutler. 3rd ed. Vol. 5. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons. 151-155. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web.
The Official Web Site of the City of Los Angeles. (2010). Los Angeles Highlights. Web.