If you’re typing what counties are in los angeles into a search bar, you’re likely hitting a wall of geographic confusion that has baffled locals and tourists for roughly a hundred years.
Los Angeles is big. Like, "takes three hours to drive twenty miles" big.
But here’s the thing: Los Angeles isn't a collection of counties. It is one massive county. Period. When people talk about "Los Angeles," they usually mean Los Angeles County, which is a giant administrative bucket that holds the City of Los Angeles plus 87 other independent cities.
Think of it like a Russian nesting doll. You have the State of California. Inside that is Los Angeles County. Inside that county, you have the City of LA. But you also have Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Long Beach—which are totally separate cities but still very much inside the same county.
It's a mess. Honestly, even people who have lived here since the 90s get it wrong.
The Five-County Confusion
Why do so many people think there are multiple counties in Los Angeles?
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Basically, it’s because of the "Greater Los Angeles Area." This is a term used by the U.S. Census and local news anchors to describe the massive urban sprawl of Southern California. If you are looking at the region as a whole, you aren't just looking at one county; you’re looking at five distinct ones that all bleed into each other.
- Los Angeles County: The heart of it all. Population: roughly 10 million.
- Orange County: Home to Disneyland and some of the most famous surf spots in the world.
- Ventura County: To the west, where things get a bit more rural and mountainous.
- Riverside County: To the east, part of what locals call the "Inland Empire."
- San Bernardino County: Also part of the Inland Empire and, fun fact, the largest county in the lower 48 states by land area.
If you’re standing in a parking lot in Anaheim, you’re in Orange County. If you drive twenty minutes north to Long Beach, you’ve crossed back into Los Angeles County. There are no passport checks or "Welcome" signs at every border, so it feels like one endless city. It isn't.
What Counties Are in Los Angeles? The Hard Facts
To be crystal clear: There are zero counties "in" Los Angeles.
There are, however, 88 cities within Los Angeles County. This is where the real confusion starts. People often think West Hollywood or Santa Monica are just neighborhoods of the City of LA. Nope. They are their own incorporated cities with their own mayors, police departments, and street sweepers.
The City of Los Angeles is just the biggest shark in the tank.
Why the distinction actually matters
You might think this is just pedantic trivia. It's not. If you get a speeding ticket in Beverly Hills, you’re dealing with the Beverly Hills Police Department, not the LAPD. If you want to build an ADU in your backyard in Culver City, you go to Culver City Hall.
The county government—the County of Los Angeles—handles things that affect everyone regardless of which city they live in. This includes things like the public health department, the social services system, and the county jails. They are the "big picture" managers for those 10 million people.
The Neighboring Counties You Probably Mean
Most people asking what counties are in los angeles are actually trying to figure out which Southern California counties make up the "LA Area."
If you’re planning a move or a long road trip, these are the neighbors you’ll constantly hear about.
Orange County (The OC)
South of LA. It’s wealthier on average, famous for its beaches (Newport, Laguna, Huntington), and has a completely different vibe. It’s more suburban. The politics are traditionally more conservative than LA, though that's shifted lately. If you’re visiting Disney, you aren’t in LA. You’re in Orange County.
Ventura County
This is the neighbor to the west. It’s where you go when LA gets too loud. Cities like Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley are technically in Ventura. It’s got a lot more open space and a slower pace of life.
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The Inland Empire (Riverside and San Bernardino)
Commonly referred to as the IE. This is the massive desert and valley region to the east. San Bernardino County is so big it actually touches the Nevada and Arizona borders. People move here for cheaper housing, then spend four hours a day commuting into LA County for work. It's a brutal trade-off.
Common Myths About LA Geography
There is a weird quirk called "Unincorporated Areas."
About 65% of Los Angeles County is actually unincorporated. This means these areas don't belong to any city at all. Places like East Los Angeles or parts of the Antelope Valley are managed directly by the County Board of Supervisors.
If you live in an unincorporated area, you don't have a mayor. You have a Supervisor.
Is Long Beach in Los Angeles?
Yes and no. It is in Los Angeles County, but it is its own city. It is the second-largest city in the county. It has its own massive port, its own downtown, and its own identity. Do not tell someone from Long Beach they live in the City of LA. They won't like it.
Is Pasadena in Los Angeles?
Same deal. Pasadena is an independent city in the San Gabriel Valley, which is inside Los Angeles County.
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Actionable Steps for Navigating the Region
If you are trying to figure out where you actually are or where you need to go, stop looking for "Los Angeles" as a single entity.
- Check the Zip Code: A quick Google search of a zip code will tell you the specific municipality. This matters for taxes and local laws.
- Look at the Police Cars: Sounds silly, but it's the fastest way to know whose jurisdiction you're in. LAPD? You’re in the City of LA. LASD (Sheriff)? You’re likely in an unincorporated area or a city that contracts with the county.
- Use the "Five County" Rule for Travel: If you’re looking for jobs or housing, expand your search to the "Greater Los Angeles" area, which includes those five counties mentioned above. It gives you a much better picture of the Southern California lifestyle.
The reality of Southern California is that "Los Angeles" is more of a state of mind—and a very large, very complicated county—rather than just a single dot on a map. Understanding that it's a single county surrounded by four others is the first step to not getting lost in the sprawl.