Final answer:
Los Angeles was originally named 'The Town of Our Lady the Queen of Angels of the River Porciúncula' when founded in 1781 by the Spanish, and the name was later shortened to what it is today.
Step-by-step explanation:
The city that was founded in 1781 with a name that translates to English as "The Town of Our Lady the Queen of Angels of the River Porciúncula" and was later shortened is Los Angeles. Initially, this city was part of a Spanish colonial strategy to establish a presence in Southern California.
Thanks to its fertile soil, dependable water source from the L.A. River, and large Indigenous population, Los Angeles became a key settlement and the location chosen for the pueblo by the Spanish. Over time, water rights cemented its status, preventing other towns from competing for resources and forcing nearby settlers to join the existing pueblo, thus contributing to the growth of Los Angeles.