Los Angeles — often simply called L.A.—is the largest city in the state of California and the second-largest in the United States in terms of population. Los Angeles was founded in 1781 by Spanish Captain Rivera y Moncada. Los Angeles is one of the world's centers of culture, science, technology, international trade, and higher education, and is home to world-renowned institutions in a broad range of professional and cultural fields. The city and its immediate surrounding vicinity lead the world in producing popular entertainment—such as motion picture, television, and recorded music—which forms the base of Los Angeles's international fame and global status.