Scholars have long considered Los Angeles the paradigm of a low-density area, yet they have focused more on the effects of density than on density itself. This research note tests the idea that the Los Angeles metropolitan area is low-density——a decentralized metropolis without a pronounced population center. It finds that Los Angeles city is denser than most California cities and most eastern cities that in 1950 were of comparable size. In addition, Los Angeles suburbs are denser than those of Chicago and Philadelphia, two comparably sized cities in 2000. Finally, the Los Angeles area has a visible population center and does not have a polycentric population makeup; there may be several business centers, but only one pronounced population center.