East Los Angeles (often shortened to East L.A.) is an unincorporated area and census-designated place (CDP) in Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is located immediately east of the Boyle Heights district of the City of Los Angeles, which is the eastern edge of the city in this area; hence the name "East L.A."East L.A. is notable for being the most populous CDP in California, as the area had a total population of 126,496, up from 124,283 at the 2000 census.