Durham’s Place-Names of Greater Los Angeles: Includes Los Angeles, Ventura, and Orange Counties

• The pueblo that became the city was established in 1781 as “El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Angeles de la Porciuncula.” A hill located less than 1,000 feet from Los Angeles city hall was used as a base during the first American occupation of Los Angeles in 1846. Lieutenant Davidson built Fort Moore there in 1847 and named it to honor Captain Benjamin D. Moore, who was killed in battle at San Pasqual in 1846.

• Ventura County’s Pitas Point gets its name from los pitos which mean...