Gateway Cities  The Gateway Cities Region, or Southeast Los Angeles County (also shortened to Southeast Los Angeles and Southeast LA) is a largely urbanized region located in southeastern Los Angeles County, Southern California between the City of Los Angeles, Orange County, and the Pacific Ocean. The cluster of cities acquired the name because they are situated literally as the "gateway" between the two counties, with the central city of Cerritos located equidistant from downtown LA, Long Beach, and the center of Orange County. It is part of the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), and has a population of approximately two million. Despite its predominating urban fabric of single-family homes with low-scale multifamily residential structures, Southeast LA County comprises some of the most densely populated municipalities in the United States. The "Gateway Cities Council of Governments" (GCCOG) is located in the city of Paramount. Area residents identify as being part of urban Los Angeles, despite living in independent municipalities. The following cities are members of the Gateway Cities Council of Governments:  Also members of the Gateway Cities Council of Governments:   The region hosts a variety of colleges and universities:   Southeast LA County's Long Beach Airport (LGB) provides regular direct flights to and from the following (though the region can also be easily accessed from other airports in the Los Angeles region):  East Coast and Texas  West Coast Western U.S. Pacific The Port of Long Beach is also located within the region, at the nation's second busiest port, as well as significant freight rail infrastructure running through Vernon, Commerce, Industry, Santa Fe Springs, and Pico Rivera; as well as lines running between the Port of Long Beach and Vernon & Commerce. The LA Metro connects to Southeast LA County via the following commuter and light rail lines:  Given its high population, Southeast LA County is noticeably crisscrossed with regional freeway infrastructure, effectively connecting it to other parts of Greater Los Angeles, Orange County, and the Inland Empire. The following freeways directly service Southeast LA County:  Many cities of Southeast LA County share geographic identity with other parts of LA County, including: South Los Angeles (on north), Los Angeles Harbor Region (within south GC), East Los Angeles Region, South Bay Region (on west), and the San Gabriel Valley (on northeast). San Gabriel Valley Region:   East Los Angeles Region:   South Los Angeles Region:   Los Angeles Harbor Region: