Settlement of a City

Settlement of a City. The Los Angeles River. , The Los Angeles River , The site for the founding of Los Angeles in 1781 was by the Los Angeles River, or El Río de Nuestra Señora la Reina de Los Ángeles de Porciúncula as the Spanish named it. The river was the source of life for the indigenous Tongva people, and later where Spanish- colonial settlers established the pueblo of Los Angeles. A major flood in 1810 forced the relocation of the original pueblo. Another flood five years later changed the course of the river to empty into Ballona Creek, forcing the pueblo and its Plaza to move again to its current site. Another flood in 1833 diverted the river's course back to its current course. Each flood caused widespread destruction of the city's water supply and infrastructure, including loss of the waterwheel and reservoirs in 1833 and later. After a major flood in 1938, the river was brought under control when it was channelized with concrete. , Settlement of a City , The first Spanish-colonial settlement was located near the Tongva village of Yaanga where water, game and fertile land were plentiful. Governor Felipe de Neve laid out a rectangular plaza with corners of the cardinal points of the compass and house lots on three sides. A church and public buildings were planned for the fourth side. The Pueblo remained under the religious guidance of Mission San Gabriel Arcángel until La Iglesia Nuestra Señora La Reina de Los Angeles was built in 1822. The church served as a symbol of the Pueblo's growing independence as a civic town no longer dependent on traveling to the mission for church services. By 1790, the pueblo grew to 139 inhabitants. , La Placita Church and Cemetery , Construction of the city's first church, La Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Reina de Los Angeles, began in 1818 and was completed by 1822. It is known by locals as "La Placita church" because of its location across from the Old Plaza and is the oldest and most historic house of worship in Los Angeles. Today, La Placita church is part of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and continues to serve Catholic parishioners throughout the Los Angeles basin and beyond. The adjoining historic cemetery is a federally-registered site that is maintained by LA Plaza.