Population Density: How Los Angeles Compares to New York and Chicago

When people think of crowded American cities, New York City usually comes to mind first. Los Angeles, by contrast, is often labeled as “sprawling,” while Chicago is seen as a middle ground. But population density tells a more nuanced story—especially when comparing city proper numbers versus metro-area density.

City Proper: How Dense Are the Cities Themselves?

Looking only at official city boundaries, the differences are stark:

• New York City averages about 27,000–28,000 people per square mile, making it by far the most densely populated major city in the United States.

• Chicago comes in at roughly 12,000 people per square mile, dense but far more spread out than New York.

• Los Angeles, despite being the nation’s second-largest city by population, averages just 8,400–8,500 people per square mile.

This gap reflects development patterns. New York grew upward with dense apartment buildings and extensive transit. Los Angeles expanded outward with single-family neighborhoods and car-oriented planning.

Metro Areas Tell a Different Story

When the lens widens to include surrounding suburbs and commuter communities, the rankings shift:

• Los Angeles Metro Area: ~7,000 people per square mile

• New York Metro Area: ~5,300 people per square mile

• Chicago Metro Area: ~3,500 people per square mile

This surprises many readers. While New York’s core is extremely dense, its metro region stretches across a vast, lower-density area spanning parts of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Los Angeles, on the other hand, has a metro region that is more consistently built-up, with fewer truly rural gaps.

Why Density Feels Different in Each City

Population density doesn’t always match perception:

• New York feels crowded because density is concentrated vertically and transit funnels millions into compact areas.

• Los Angeles feels congested not because of extreme density, but because people are spread out and heavily reliant on cars.

• Chicago balances both, with dense neighborhoods near the core and more traditional suburban sprawl outward.

Hollywood vs. Reality: How LA’s Wilshire Subway Was Really Built

Why This Matters

Density shapes:

• Transportation planning

• Housing affordability

• Infrastructure costs

• Environmental impact

For cities like Los Angeles—now reinvesting in rail, buses, and transit-oriented development—understanding density is critical. As coverage on LA Metro and urban revival continues, these numbers explain why transit challenges in Southern California differ so sharply from those in New York or Chicago.

The Big Picture

• Most dense city: New York City

• Most dense metro area: Los Angeles

• Most balanced: Chicago

Density isn’t just about how many people live in a place—it’s about how they live, move, and interact with the city around them.

Further Reading: Population Density & Urban Development

• U.S. Census Bureau – Urban vs. Rural and Urbanized Area Density
• U.S. Census Bureau – Population and Density Data for U.S. Cities
• New Geography – Density Rankings of Major U.S. Urban Areas
• Brookings Institution – Urban and Metropolitan Policy Research
• Planetizen – What Population Density Means in Urban Planning

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When the 1997 disaster film Volcano depicted lava erupting along Wilshire Boulevard and referenced blasting during Red Line subway construction, it delivered gripping cinema — but not accurate engineering.

In reality, Los Angeles Metro did not rely on large-scale blasting to construct subway tunnels beneath Wilshire Boulevard and the Miracle Mile. Instead, engineers used tunnel boring machines (TBMs) specifically to avoid the very risks Hollywood dramatized.

Why Blasting Was Avoided

The Wilshire Corridor sits atop historic oil fields, making methane gas pockets a known and serious concern. A deadly methane explosion near Fairfax Avenue in 1985 led to heightened scrutiny of underground construction in the area. Blasting in such conditions could have caused unpredictable gas releases, ground instability, or damage to surface structures.

As a result, Metro engineers chose pressurized, closed-face tunnel boring machines, which allow for:

• Controlled excavation in dense urban environments

• Continuous ground support to prevent settlement

• Integrated gas detection and ventilation systems

These machines grind slowly through soil and rock while installing precast concrete tunnel linings, creating a sealed, gas-resistant structure as they advance.

The Real Engineering Feat

Although Volcano took creative liberties for dramatic effect, the true story of tunneling under Wilshire is no less impressive. Advances in TBM technology and methane mitigation ultimately allowed the Metro D Line (formerly the Red Line/Purple Line) to safely pass through one of Los Angeles’ most geologically complex corridors — without explosions, collapsing streets, or cinematic chaos.

Bottom Line

Volcano remains a memorable piece of 1990s disaster cinema, but its portrayal of subway construction is fiction. The real achievement lies in decades of careful planning, modern tunneling technology, and engineering solutions that quietly reshaped Los Angeles beneath its busiest boulevard.

Related Links:

• LA Metro – D Line (Purple Line) Extension Project
• Engineering News-Record: Tunneling Through Gas and Tar in LA
• Los Angeles Times Archive: Methane Risk and Subway Construction

Dreambreaker: A Pickleball Story — A Closer Look at the Documentary and Its Uncredited Voice

Dodger Gondola Project Faces Major Setbacks as L.A. Leaders and Residents Push Back

For years, the Los Angeles Aerial Rapid Transit (LA ART) — better known as the Dodger Gondola Project — has been pitched as a bold, futuristic connection between Union Station and Dodger Stadium, whisking riders above traffic in a six-minute aerial trip. Supporters call it L.A.’s chance to build a cleaner, faster, iconic transit link. But as 2025 winds toward its close, the project faces more turbulence than ever.

A Quick Refresher: What the Gondola Would Be

The proposed gondola line would travel about 1.2 miles, with stations at Union Station, a stop near L.A. State Historic Park, and Dodger Stadium. Private backers connected to former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt have promoted it as a zero-emission way to move more than 5,000 passengers per hour on game days — and potentially daily for tourists, residents, and park visitors.

Why the Dream Is Stalling

In November 2025, the Los Angeles City Council voted 12–1 to formally oppose the project, urging Metro to abandon it. While the vote isn’t legally binding, it signaled a major political shift. Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, who introduced the resolution, cited environmental and community concerns — especially the impact on Chinatown, Solano Canyon, and L.A. State Historic Park.

A California Court of Appeals ruling earlier in the year also struck down Metro’s original environmental review, forcing a supplemental EIR that reopened debates about tree removal, tower placement, noise, and neighborhood impacts. The city has additionally ordered a comprehensive traffic study, pausing key permits until it’s complete.

Communities Speak Out

Local opposition has been strong and well-organized. Residents warn the gondola would remove mature trees, alter the character of the State Historic Park, and intrude over communities that have already shouldered decades of infrastructure burdens. Advocacy groups say the project favors private interests over public need, pointing to the lack of a clear long-term funding or maintenance plan.

Not Dead — But Deeply Uncertain

Despite mounting challenges, the gondola isn’t entirely grounded. Metro is still reviewing public comments on the supplemental environmental report, and state lawmakers are debating legislation that could streamline some project requirements. Whether those efforts succeed — or whether political pressure ultimately stalls the gondola indefinitely — remains to be seen.

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The Big Picture

The Dodger Gondola Project sits at the intersection of transit innovation, environmental justice, and the future of Los Angeles mobility. For supporters, it represents a chance to modernize travel to one of the nation’s most visited stadiums. For opponents, it’s an unnecessary experiment that risks community space and public resources.

Either way, the next year will be pivotal — and L.A.’s debate over the gondola is far from over.

Sources and links for further information

Associated Press: “Los Angeles officials seek to halt proposed Dodger Stadium gondola” — apnews.com 

Los Angeles Times: “Los Angeles City Council votes 12-1 to urge Metro to halt Dodgers gondola project” — latimes.com 

NBC Los Angeles: “Dodger Stadium gondola should be a no-go, LA City Council says” — nbclosangeles.com 

PR Newswire (project press release): “LA ART Gondola Project Takes Next Step Forward … with Release of Draft Supplemental Environmental Report” — prnewswire.com 

LAist: “Controversial Dodger Stadium gondola project gets new environmental report. Here’s how you can weigh in” — laist.com 

Official Metro page: “Los Angeles Aerial Rapid Transit (LA ART)” — metro.net 

Site for public comment: “Stop The Gondola – Public Comment” — stopthegondola.org 

CEQA Notice of Availability: “Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report – LA ART Project” — ceqanet.lci.ca.gov