The first Regional Planning Commission in the United States was created in 1922 in which jurisdiction?

• A. Chicago
• B. Boston
• C. New York City
• D. Los Angeles County

Answer: (D)

Regional planning looks at coordinating land use, transportation, and infrastructure across multiple municipalities within a region. The first formal regional planning commission in the United States was established in Los Angeles County in 1922. This county-level body was created to develop a regional plan for growth and public works across the county, acknowledging that sprawling development in Southern California couldn’t be managed by a single city alone. Its creation set a pattern for cross‑jurisdiction planning and influenced many later RPCs. While other places had early planning efforts, Los Angeles County is recognized as the originator of the first formal regional planning commission in 1922.