Los Angeles is the most populous city in California and the second most populous city in the United States, after New York. It is the cultural, financial, and commercial center of the West Coast.

Los Angeles is in a large basin bounded by the Pacific Ocean on one side and by mountains as high as 10,000 feet (3,000 m) on the others. The city proper, which covers about 469 square miles (1,210 km2), is the seat of Los Angeles County, the most populated county in the country. Los Angeles is also the principal city of the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the second largest in the United States after that of New York City.

Street scenes of Los Angeles in the 1970s

Los Angeles is one of the most substantial economic engines within the United States, with a diverse economy in a broad range of professional and cultural fields. It is also famous as the home of Hollywood, a major center of the world entertainment industry.

These fascinating photos from Flickr’s members that show what Los Angeles looked like in the 1970s.

Los Angeles street scenes, 1970

The demolition of L. A. High after the earthquake of February 1971

Morrison Hotel, Los Angeles, May 1972

Western Avenue looking south toward Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, 1972

The Broadway, Los Angeles, 1973

Viewed from the roving restaurant in Los Angeles, 1973

Gelson’s market, Century City, Los Angeles, 1974

Hollywood and Vine, Los Angeles, 1974

Union Station, Los Angeles, June 1974

Wilshire Blvd, the ‘Miracle Mile’, between Crescent Heights Blvd and La Jolla Ave, 1974

A Trans World Airlines (TWA) Lockheed L-1011 TriStar turning on to the runway for takeoff at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in November 1976

KPOL radio station on Sunset Blvd, 1976

Sunset and La Brea, Hollywood, 1976

Sunset Blvd and Fairfax Ave, Hollywood, 1976

Sunset Strip, Los Angeles, 1976

6th Street, Los Angeles, 1977

7th Street, Los Angeles, 1977

Broadway and 7th st, Los Angeles, 1977

Brown Derby Restaurant, Wilshire Blvd, 1977

CBS building and entrance Los Angeles, 1977

Downtown sidewalk, Los Angeles, August 1977

Figueroa Street, Downtown Los Angeles, 1977

Gravman’s Chinese Theater, Hollywood Blvd, 1977

Hollywood and Vine with Drug King Building, 1977

Hollywood Blvd Japanese restaurants, 1977

Looking across Broadway, Los Angeles, 1977

Olivera Street, Los Angeles, 1977

Park Square near City Hall with artwork in center, 1977

Pershing Square, Los Angeles, 1977

War Gas Prices, Los Angeles, 1977

7th and Hill St looking towards the May Com, Los Angeles, 1977

Couple on the street, Los Angeles, June 1978

Hollywood Blvd at Highland Ave, Hollywood, 1978

Sunset and Highland, Hollywood, 1978

View from Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles, 1978

Los Angeles street scenes, 1979

The Sunset Strip with billboards for Cher, Eddie Money and Judy Collins, Los Angeles, 1979

Vermont Avenue looking south from 1st Street, Los Angeles, 1972

Wilshire Boulevard, downtown LA, Feb. 1979

3rd St at Broadway, downtown Los Angeles, Jan. 1979