Hermosa Beach, California
Encyclopedia
Hermosa Beach is a beachfront city in Los Angeles County
, California
, United States
. Its population was 19,506 at the 2010 census, up from 18,566 at the 2000 census.
The city is located in the South Bay
region of the greater Los Angeles area
and is one of the three Beach Cities
. Hermosa Beach is bordered by the other two, Manhattan Beach
to the north and Redondo Beach
to the south and east.
The city's beach is popular for sunbathing, beach volleyball
, surfing
and paddleboarding
. The city itself extends only about 15 blocks from east to west and 40 blocks from north to south, with the Pacific Coast Highway running down the middle. Situated on the Pacific Ocean
, Hermosa's average temperature is 70 degrees in the summer and 55 degrees in the winter. Westerly sea
breezes lessen what can be high summertime temperatures in Los Angeles
and elsewhere in the county and help keep the smog
away 360 days of the year.
A paved path, called The Strand
, runs along Hermosa's beach from Torrance Beach in the south approximately twenty miles north to Santa Monica
and the Hermosa Beach pier
is at the end of Pier Avenue, which is one of the beach community's main and shopping, eating and partying areas.
Spanish
land grant that later became the ten-mile (16 km) Ocean frontage of Rancho Sausal Redondo
. In 1900 a tract of 1500 acres (6.1 km²) was purchased for $35 per acre from A. E. Pomroy, then owner of the greater part of Rancho Sausal Redondo. Messrs. Burbank and Baker, agents, bought this land for Sherman
and Clark who organized and retained the controlling interest in the Hermosa Beach Land and Water Company,
In early days, Hermosa Beach — like so many of its neighboring cities (Inglewood
, Lawndale
, Torrance
) — was one vast sweep of rolling hills covered with fields
of grain
, mostly barley
. During certain seasons of the year large herds of sheep were grazed over this land, and corrals and large barn
s for storing the grain, as well as providing shelter for horse
s and farm implements were located on the ranch
between Hermosa and Inglewood. The Spanish words Rancho Sausal Redondo mean a large circular ranch of pasture
of grazing
land, with a grove of willow
on it.
The first official survey was made in the year 1901 for the board walk on the Strand, Hermosa Avenue and Santa Fe Avenue; work on these projects commenced soon after. In 1904 the first pier was built. It was constructed entirely of wood even to the pilings and it extended five hundred feet out into the ocean. The pier was constructed by the Hermosa Beach Land and Water Company. In 1913 this old pier was partly washed away and later torn down and a new one built to replace it. This pier was built of concrete
1000 feet (304.8 m) long, and paved with asphalt
its entire length. Small tiled pavilions were erected at intervals along the sides to afford shade for fishermen and picnic
parties. A bait
stand was built eventually out on the end. Soon after, about 1914, an auditorium
building was constructed; it has housed various enterprises and at present the public rest rooms, the Los Angeles Life Guard Service, and the local branch of the Los Angeles County Public Library occupy rooms in the building. This pier is municipally owned.
The Santa Fe Railway was the only transportation system through Hermosa Beach. It was seven blocks from the beach. The street that led to the tracks was called Santa Fe Avenue, but was later renamed Pier Avenue. There was no railway station for Hermosa, but Burbank and Baker built a railway platform
on the west side of the tracks near Santa Fe Avenue, and later the Railroad Company donated an old boxcar
to be used as a storage place for freight. In 1926, the Santa Fe Company built a modern stucco
depot and installed Western Union
telegraph service in it.
The first city election for city officers was held December 24, 1906. On January 14, 1907, Hermosa Beach became the nineteenth incorporated city of Los Angeles County.
The name Hermosa comes from Spanish
and means "beautiful."
Hermosa Beach Open tournament, and several amateur CBVA tournaments during the year. The Strand
stretches north into Manhattan Beach
and south into Redondo Beach
and is a popular place for walkers, joggers and biking. Of the three Beach Cities, only Hermosa Beach owns its own beach. The other two cities' beaches are owned by the county of Los Angeles
.
Running parallel to The Strand is a lovely linear trail known today as the Hermosa Valley Greenbelt. Once part of a railroad easement, this narrow 24 acres (97,124.6 m²) strip had long been the subject of heated controversy and pressure from various commercial interests. After years of litigation and wrangling, the city was poised to permit intensive retail and condominium development in the mid-1980s when a grassroots group spearheaded by activist Rosamond Fogg forced the matter to a vote. The City Council at the time was divided over whether the matter was of much importance but after an energetic and passionate campaign, the citizens found that the greenbelt was a vital recreational resource and mandated its preservation for the use and enjoyment of residents and visitors. This ballot initiative passed by almost 87%, the highest in California history. The public also substantiated this effort by taxing themselves millions of dollars in order to purchase the lands. As a result, the Hermosa Valley Greenbelt has the quality of a rural country lane, home to butterflies and many bird and animal species. At any time of day or night joggers and walkers enjoy its soft woodchip trails and graceful landscaping. The Greenbelt is also now part of the Federal Rails to Trails network. RUDAT (an urban architectural planning group) found that Hermosa Beach, thanks in large part to the existence of the Greenbelt, was a "world class pedestrian city".
The city also has eight other parks:
Other facilities:
was 13,673.6 people per square mile (5,279.4/km²). The racial makeup of Hermosa Beach was 16,928 (86.8%) White, 229 (1.2%) African American, 49 (0.3%) Native American, 1,111 (5.7%) Asian, 46 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 325 (1.7%) from other races
, and 818 (4.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,632 persons (8.4%).
The Census reported that 19,491 people (99.9% of the population) lived in households, 11 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 4 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 9,550 households, out of which 1,878 (19.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,254 (34.1%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 460 (4.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 325 (3.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 710 (7.4%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 64 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 3,644 households (38.2%) were made up of individuals and 606 (6.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.04. There were 4,039 families
(42.3% of all households); the average family size was 2.80.
The population was spread out with 3,093 people (15.9%) under the age of 18, 1,242 people (6.4%) aged 18 to 24, 8,516 people (43.7%) aged 25 to 44, 4,898 people (25.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,757 people (9.0%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.0 years. For every 100 females there were 111.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.1 males.
There were 10,162 housing units at an average density of 7,123.5 per square mile (2,750.4/km²), of which 4,255 (44.6%) were owner-occupied, and 5,295 (55.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.4%. 10,083 people (51.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 9,408 people (48.2%) lived in rental housing units.
of 2000, there were 18,566 people, 9,476 households, and 3,553 families residing in the city. The population density
was 12,982.4 inhabitants per square mile (5,012.8/km²). There were 9,840 housing units at an average density of 6,880.7 per square mile (2,656.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.58% White
, 0.80% Black
or African American
, 0.40% Native American
, 4.40% Asian
, 0.22% Pacific Islander
, 1.68% from other races
, and 2.91% from two or more races. 4.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino
of any race.
There were 9,476 households out of which 14.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.6% were married couples
living together, 4.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 62.5% were non-families. 39.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.95 and the average family size was 2.65.
In the city the population was spread out with 12.0% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 55.0% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 6.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 112.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 113.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $81,153, and the median income for a family was $104,645. Males had a median income of $67,407 versus $50,295 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $54,244. About 1.7% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.
There are eight hotels and one youth hostel in the city.
The structure of the management and coordination of city services is:
The Beach Cities Health District
, provides health
and wellness services to the residents of Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach
, and Redondo Beach
. The voters of the three beach cities elect the 5-member Board of Directors
to 4-year terms. One of 78 California Health Districts, it was created in 1955 as South Bay Hospital and took on its current name in 1993. Beach Cities Health District opened AdventurePlex, a Manhattan Beach fitness center for kids and their families, in 2002. Filled with mazes, tunnels, outdoor rock climbing
walls, complex ropes courses, and an indoor gym
, AdventurePlex challenges children physically and intellectually in health-focused recreational activities.
The United States Postal Service
Hermosa Beach Post Office is located at 565 Pier Avenue.
Hermosa Beach is located in the 28th Senate
District, represented by Democrat Ted Lieu
, and in the 53rd Assembly
District, represented by Democrat Betsy Butler
. Federally, Hermosa Beach is located in California's 36th congressional district
, which has a Cook PVI
of D +11 and is represented by Democrat Janice Hahn
.
In the 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama
won 61% of the vote compared to 36% for John McCain
.
or Redondo Beach
where rankings are in the 80 to 90th percentiles. Hermosa Beach residents are zoned to Hermosa Beach City School District
for grades (Kindergarten
through 8).
In 2005, Hermosa Valley and Hermosa View schools were honored as U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon Schools, along with 33 California schools and less than 300 schools across the nation. The award was based on academic achievement. Hermosa schools are among the top 10% of schools in the state with students scoring at or above the 90% in the highest grade tested in reading and math. For the award, the Department of Education reviewed growth in scores over a three-year period.
The district has two schools:
The Hermosa Beach City School District
as a whole received a score of 915 on the 2006 California Academic Performance Index
, neighboring Manhattan Beach Unified School District
scored just below at 906 making it one of California's best performing districts. Each individual school also ranks at the top of its respective category.
Hermosa Beach also has a private school
:
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), all of it land.
Average water temperature - 60 °F (15.5 °C) (Summer 68 °F (20 °C)/ Winter 50 °F (10 °C))
Hermosa Beach has an average of 325 days of sunshine a year. Because of its location, nestled on a vast open bay (Santa Monica Bay
), morning fog and haze is a common phenomenon in May, June and early July (caused by ocean temperature variations and currents). Locals have a particular terminology for this phenomenon: the "May Gray" and the "June Gloom
". Overcast skies are common for June mornings, but usually the strong sun burns the fog off by noon. Nonetheless, it will sometimes stay cloudy and cool all day during June, even as other parts of the Los Angeles area will enjoy sunny skies and warmer temperatures. At times, the sun shines east of PCH, while the beach area is overcast.
As a general rule, the temperature is from 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit (3 to 5.5 degrees Celsius) cooler than it is inland. A typical spring day (mid-April) is sunny, pleasant and about 68 °F (20 °C). In the summer, which stretches basically from May to late October, temperatures can reach to the mid-80's Fahrenheit (about 30 °C) at the beach. In early November, it is about 68 °F (20 °C). In late January, temperatures are around 63 °F (17 °C). It is winter, however, when the hot, dry Santa Ana wind
s are most common. In mid-December 2004, temperatures soared to 84 °F (28 °C) in Santa Monica, for a few straight days, with perfectly sunny skies.
The rainy season is from late October through late March. Winter storms usually approach from the northwest and pass quickly through the Southland. There is very little rain during the rest of the year.
Hermosa Beach usually enjoys a cool breeze blowing in from the ocean, keeping the air fresh and clean. Therefore, smog
is less a problem for Hermosa Beach than elsewhere around Los Angeles.
ranks communities in the area as some of the most expensive places to live in America. Homes located on The Strand frequently sell for $3–10 million. The home pictured to the right sold in 2003 for $8,100,000. The average 3-bed 2-bath home costs about $649 per square foot or $1,500,000 as of 2006.
West of PCH single homes mix with apartments, some have sunset views. East of PCH, the hills rise into upper middle class neighborhoods of tract homes with custom touches. Since the 1980s gentrification has set in, and many single-family dwellings and apartment buildings have been razed for condominiums. Multiple housing units dominate slightly over single family homes.
, Hermosa Beach is served by local daily the Daily Breeze
and local weeklies the Beach Reporter
and the Easy Reader
. One of the main online references for locals and visitors is the online home of the venerable Easy Reader
at EasyReaderNews.com and SouthBayEvents.com, which offers a weekly entertainment guide, as well as a full local business listing. The TV show Summerland
was partly filmed here.
were filmed in Hermosa Beach (and more in neighboring Redondo Beach), not Newport Beach
. This was necessary because of union
rules that make it expensive to film outside of Los Angeles County.
In the late 1970s the hardcore punk
band Black Flag
emerged from Hermosa Beach, and played their first show at Valley Park. The infamous "church" profiled in The Decline of Western Civilization
was on Pier Avenue, though it has since been torn down.
The melodic hardcore
band Descendents
also appered in Hermosa Beach in 1978. It paved the way to two other well known punk bands, the Circle Jerks
in 1979 and Pennywise
in 1988.
An episode of Gilmore Girls
(Season 4, Episode 17: Girls in Bikinis, Boys Doin' the Twist) was filmed at the Sea Sprite Inn where Rory went to "Florida" for spring break.
Hermosa Beach has been the sister city of Loreto, Baja California Sur
, since 1967.
In the film "Jackie Brown
" by Quentin Tarantino
the arms dealer Ordell Robbie, played by Samuel Jackson, kept his mistress Melanie, played by Bridget Fonda
, in a beachfront condo in Hermosa Beach.
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Its population was 19,506 at the 2010 census, up from 18,566 at the 2000 census.
The city is located in the South Bay
South Bay, Los Angeles
The South Bay is a region of the southwest peninsula of Los Angeles County, California, United States. The name stems from its geographic features stretching along the southern shores of Santa Monica Bay which forms its western border.The picture at right uses the broadest definition of the...
region of the greater Los Angeles area
Greater Los Angeles Area
The Greater Los Angeles Area, or the Southland, is a term used for the Combined Statistical Area sprawled over five counties in the southern part of California, namely Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County and Ventura County...
and is one of the three Beach Cities
Beach Cities
The term Beach Cities refers to both a region of California located in Los Angeles County along the Santa Monica Bay coastline as well as a smaller group of cities located therein the region...
. Hermosa Beach is bordered by the other two, Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach, California
Manhattan Beach is the wealthiest beachfront city located in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, USA. The city is on the Pacific coast, south of El Segundo, and north of Hermosa Beach. Manhattan Beach is the home of both beach and indoor volleyball, and surfing. During the winter, the...
to the north and Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach, California
Redondo Beach is one of the three Beach Cities located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 66,748 at the 2010 census, up from 63,261 at the 2000 census. The city is located in the South Bay region of the greater Los Angeles area.Redondo Beach was originally part of...
to the south and east.
The city's beach is popular for sunbathing, beach volleyball
Beach volleyball
Beach volleyball, or sand volleyball, is an Olympic team sport played by two teams of two players on a sand court divided by a net.Like volleyball, the object of the game is to send the ball over the net in order to ground it on the opponent’s court, and to prevent the same effort by the opponent....
, surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
and paddleboarding
Paddleboarding
Paddleboarding is a surface water sport in which the participant is propelled by a swimming motion usually on a long surfboard close to the shore. A derivative of paddleboarding is stand up paddle surfing.-History:...
. The city itself extends only about 15 blocks from east to west and 40 blocks from north to south, with the Pacific Coast Highway running down the middle. Situated on the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
, Hermosa's average temperature is 70 degrees in the summer and 55 degrees in the winter. Westerly sea
Sea
A sea generally refers to a large body of salt water, but the term is used in other contexts as well. Most commonly, it means a large expanse of saline water connected with an ocean, and is commonly used as a synonym for ocean...
breezes lessen what can be high summertime temperatures in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and elsewhere in the county and help keep the smog
Smog
Smog is a type of air pollution; the word "smog" is a portmanteau of smoke and fog. Modern smog is a type of air pollution derived from vehicular emission from internal combustion engines and industrial fumes that react in the atmosphere with sunlight to form secondary pollutants that also combine...
away 360 days of the year.
A paved path, called The Strand
The Strand (bicycle path)
The Strand is a paved bicycle path that runs mostly along the Pacific Ocean shoreline in Los Angeles County, California. The northern terminus of the trail is a paved Class 1 bicycle path at Will Rogers State Beach in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. The southern terminus of the trail is in...
, runs along Hermosa's beach from Torrance Beach in the south approximately twenty miles north to Santa Monica
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
and the Hermosa Beach pier
Hermosa Beach pier
The Hermosa Beach pier is located in the Southern California community of Hermosa Beach. It extends into the Pacific Ocean.In 1904 the first pier was built. It was constructed entirely of wood even to the pilings and it extended five hundred feet out into the ocean. The pier was constructed by the...
is at the end of Pier Avenue, which is one of the beach community's main and shopping, eating and partying areas.
History
Hermosa Beach was originally part of the 1884 Rancho San PedroRancho San Pedro
Rancho San Pedro was one of the first California land grants, and the first to win a patent from the United States. The land grant was validated by the Mexican government at in 1828, and a US patent validating was issued in 1858...
Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
land grant that later became the ten-mile (16 km) Ocean frontage of Rancho Sausal Redondo
Rancho Sausal Redondo
Rancho Sausal Redondo was a Mexican land grant in present day Los Angeles County, California given in 1837 to Antonio Ygnacio Avila by Juan Alvarado Governor of Alta California. The Spanish words, Rancho Sausal Redondo, mean a large circular ranch of pasture with a grove of willows on it...
. In 1900 a tract of 1500 acres (6.1 km²) was purchased for $35 per acre from A. E. Pomroy, then owner of the greater part of Rancho Sausal Redondo. Messrs. Burbank and Baker, agents, bought this land for Sherman
Moses Sherman
Moses Hazeltine Sherman was a land developer who built the Phoenix Street Railway in Phoenix, Arizona, and later built other lines and owned property in the San Fernando Valley and Hollywood, California. He also served on the Los Angeles Water Board.At the junction of his streetcar lines west of...
and Clark who organized and retained the controlling interest in the Hermosa Beach Land and Water Company,
In early days, Hermosa Beach — like so many of its neighboring cities (Inglewood
Inglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...
, Lawndale
Lawndale, California
Lawndale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 32,769 at the 2010 census, up from 31,711 according to the 2000 census...
, Torrance
Torrance, California
Torrance is a city incorporated in 1921 and located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. Torrance has of shore-front beaches on the Pacific Ocean, quieter and less well-known by tourists than others on the Santa Monica Bay, such as those of neighboring...
) — was one vast sweep of rolling hills covered with fields
Field (agriculture)
In agriculture, the word field refers generally to an area of land enclosed or otherwise and used for agricultural purposes such as:* Cultivating crops* Usage as a paddock or, generally, an enclosure of livestock...
of grain
GRAIN
GRAIN is a small international non-profit organisation that works to support small farmers and social movements in their struggles for community-controlled and biodiversity-based food systems. Our support takes the form of independent research and analysis, networking at local, regional and...
, mostly barley
Barley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
. During certain seasons of the year large herds of sheep were grazed over this land, and corrals and large barn
Barn
A barn is an agricultural building used for storage and as a covered workplace. It may sometimes be used to house livestock or to store farming vehicles and equipment...
s for storing the grain, as well as providing shelter for horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
s and farm implements were located on the ranch
Ranch
A ranch is an area of landscape, including various structures, given primarily to the practice of ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat or wool. The word most often applies to livestock-raising operations in the western United States and Canada, though...
between Hermosa and Inglewood. The Spanish words Rancho Sausal Redondo mean a large circular ranch of pasture
Pasture
Pasture is land used for grazing. Pasture lands in the narrow sense are enclosed tracts of farmland, grazed by domesticated livestock, such as horses, cattle, sheep or swine. The vegetation of tended pasture, forage, consists mainly of grasses, with an interspersion of legumes and other forbs...
of grazing
Grazing
Grazing generally describes a type of feeding, in which a herbivore feeds on plants , and also on other multicellular autotrophs...
land, with a grove of willow
Willow
Willows, sallows, and osiers form the genus Salix, around 400 species of deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere...
on it.
The first official survey was made in the year 1901 for the board walk on the Strand, Hermosa Avenue and Santa Fe Avenue; work on these projects commenced soon after. In 1904 the first pier was built. It was constructed entirely of wood even to the pilings and it extended five hundred feet out into the ocean. The pier was constructed by the Hermosa Beach Land and Water Company. In 1913 this old pier was partly washed away and later torn down and a new one built to replace it. This pier was built of concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
1000 feet (304.8 m) long, and paved with asphalt
Asphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
its entire length. Small tiled pavilions were erected at intervals along the sides to afford shade for fishermen and picnic
Picnic
In contemporary usage, a picnic can be defined simply as a pleasure excursion at which a meal is eaten outdoors , ideally taking place in a beautiful landscape such as a park, beside a lake or with an interesting view and possibly at a public event such as before an open air theatre performance,...
parties. A bait
Bait (luring substance)
Bait is any substance used to attract prey, e.g. in a mousetrap.-In Australia:Baiting in Australia refers to specific campaigns to control foxes, wild dogs and dingos by poisoning in areas where they are a problem...
stand was built eventually out on the end. Soon after, about 1914, an auditorium
Auditorium
An auditorium is a room built to enable an audience to hear and watch performances at venues such as theatres. For movie theaters, the number of auditoriums is expressed as the number of screens.- Etymology :...
building was constructed; it has housed various enterprises and at present the public rest rooms, the Los Angeles Life Guard Service, and the local branch of the Los Angeles County Public Library occupy rooms in the building. This pier is municipally owned.
The Santa Fe Railway was the only transportation system through Hermosa Beach. It was seven blocks from the beach. The street that led to the tracks was called Santa Fe Avenue, but was later renamed Pier Avenue. There was no railway station for Hermosa, but Burbank and Baker built a railway platform
Railway platform
A railway platform is a section of pathway, alongside rail tracks at a train station, metro station or tram stop, at which passengers may board or alight from trains or trams. Almost all stations for rail transport have some form of platforms, with larger stations having multiple platforms...
on the west side of the tracks near Santa Fe Avenue, and later the Railroad Company donated an old boxcar
Boxcar
A boxcar is a railroad car that is enclosed and generally used to carry general freight. The boxcar, while not the simplest freight car design, is probably the most versatile, since it can carry most loads...
to be used as a storage place for freight. In 1926, the Santa Fe Company built a modern stucco
Stucco
Stucco or render is a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as decorative coating for walls and ceilings and as a sculptural and artistic material in architecture...
depot and installed Western Union
Western Union
The Western Union Company is a financial services and communications company based in the United States. Its North American headquarters is in Englewood, Colorado. Up until 2006, Western Union was the best-known U.S...
telegraph service in it.
The first city election for city officers was held December 24, 1906. On January 14, 1907, Hermosa Beach became the nineteenth incorporated city of Los Angeles County.
The name Hermosa comes from Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
and means "beautiful."
Parks and recreation
The wide flat beach makes Hermosa Beach one of the most popular places to play beach volleyball, from professional to amateur. Hermosa Beach is home to the AVPAssociation of Volleyball Professionals
The Association of Volleyball Professionals, or AVP, is a beach volleyball tour which takes place throughout the United States. The summer tour starts in April and continues almost every weekend until the end of October....
Hermosa Beach Open tournament, and several amateur CBVA tournaments during the year. The Strand
The Strand (bicycle path)
The Strand is a paved bicycle path that runs mostly along the Pacific Ocean shoreline in Los Angeles County, California. The northern terminus of the trail is a paved Class 1 bicycle path at Will Rogers State Beach in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. The southern terminus of the trail is in...
stretches north into Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach, California
Manhattan Beach is the wealthiest beachfront city located in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, USA. The city is on the Pacific coast, south of El Segundo, and north of Hermosa Beach. Manhattan Beach is the home of both beach and indoor volleyball, and surfing. During the winter, the...
and south into Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach, California
Redondo Beach is one of the three Beach Cities located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 66,748 at the 2010 census, up from 63,261 at the 2000 census. The city is located in the South Bay region of the greater Los Angeles area.Redondo Beach was originally part of...
and is a popular place for walkers, joggers and biking. Of the three Beach Cities, only Hermosa Beach owns its own beach. The other two cities' beaches are owned by the county of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
Running parallel to The Strand is a lovely linear trail known today as the Hermosa Valley Greenbelt. Once part of a railroad easement, this narrow 24 acres (97,124.6 m²) strip had long been the subject of heated controversy and pressure from various commercial interests. After years of litigation and wrangling, the city was poised to permit intensive retail and condominium development in the mid-1980s when a grassroots group spearheaded by activist Rosamond Fogg forced the matter to a vote. The City Council at the time was divided over whether the matter was of much importance but after an energetic and passionate campaign, the citizens found that the greenbelt was a vital recreational resource and mandated its preservation for the use and enjoyment of residents and visitors. This ballot initiative passed by almost 87%, the highest in California history. The public also substantiated this effort by taxing themselves millions of dollars in order to purchase the lands. As a result, the Hermosa Valley Greenbelt has the quality of a rural country lane, home to butterflies and many bird and animal species. At any time of day or night joggers and walkers enjoy its soft woodchip trails and graceful landscaping. The Greenbelt is also now part of the Federal Rails to Trails network. RUDAT (an urban architectural planning group) found that Hermosa Beach, thanks in large part to the existence of the Greenbelt, was a "world class pedestrian city".
The city also has eight other parks:
- Cypress Park, also known as Clark Field (9th Street & Ardmore Avenue) - BaseballBaseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
/SoftballSoftballSoftball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
Diamond, BasketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and TennisTennisTennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
Courts - South Park (Valley Drive & 4th Street) - Children's play area, Roller HockeyRoller hockeyRoller Hockey is a form of hockey played on a dry surface using skates with wheels. The term "Roller Hockey" is often used interchangeably to refer to two variant forms chiefly differentiated by the type of skate used. There is traditional "Roller Hockey," played with quad roller skates, and...
Rink, Large open field for Soccer and FootballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by... - Bi-Centennial Park (4th Street & Ardmore)
- Fort Lots-o-Fun (6th Street & Prospect)
- Noble Park (The Strand & 14th Street)
- Edith Rodaway Friendship Park (Prospect Avenue between Gentry & Hollowell)
- Valley Park (Valley Drive & Gould Avenue)
- Kay Etow Park (Herondo Street and Monterey Boulevard)
Other facilities:
- Skateboard Park - Pier Avenue and Ardmore Avenue
- Roller HockeyRoller hockeyRoller Hockey is a form of hockey played on a dry surface using skates with wheels. The term "Roller Hockey" is often used interchangeably to refer to two variant forms chiefly differentiated by the type of skate used. There is traditional "Roller Hockey," played with quad roller skates, and...
rink (South Park) - 4th and Valley Drive is frequently used for friendly pick-up games and league matches. - BasketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
(Cypress Park) - Two outdoor courts on 9th and Valley Drive - BaseballBaseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
/SoftballSoftballSoftball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
(Cypress Park)- Lighted field with lights on 9th and Valley Drive behind the basketball and tennis courts - TennisTennisTennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
- Lighted courts on 10th and Valley / Ardmore - Skateboarding Park - Lighted park behind the Hermosa Beach Playhouse
- Lawn Bowling Club is located next to Clark Building at 861 Valley Drive, Hermosa Beach. Open to the public and they furnish equipment and instruction to beginners. The club was founded in 1936, when Mayor John Clark obtained the approval of the City Council to install a green at his own expense. In 1958, a clubhouse was donated and in 1963 a second green was laid. In the 1960s, over 150 bowlers could be seen all dressed in white. When membership waned, the second green was lost to the basketball court. The club is informal and seeks new members.
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Hermosa Beach had a population of 19,506. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 13,673.6 people per square mile (5,279.4/km²). The racial makeup of Hermosa Beach was 16,928 (86.8%) White, 229 (1.2%) African American, 49 (0.3%) Native American, 1,111 (5.7%) Asian, 46 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 325 (1.7%) from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 818 (4.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,632 persons (8.4%).
The Census reported that 19,491 people (99.9% of the population) lived in households, 11 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 4 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 9,550 households, out of which 1,878 (19.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,254 (34.1%) were opposite-sex married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 460 (4.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 325 (3.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 710 (7.4%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
POSSLQ
POSSLQ is an abbreviation for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters," a term coined in the late 1970s by the United States Census Bureau as part of an effort to more accurately gauge the prevalence of cohabitation in American households....
, and 64 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 3,644 households (38.2%) were made up of individuals and 606 (6.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.04. There were 4,039 families
Family (U.S. Census)
A family or family household is defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes as "a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state...
(42.3% of all households); the average family size was 2.80.
The population was spread out with 3,093 people (15.9%) under the age of 18, 1,242 people (6.4%) aged 18 to 24, 8,516 people (43.7%) aged 25 to 44, 4,898 people (25.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,757 people (9.0%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.0 years. For every 100 females there were 111.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.1 males.
There were 10,162 housing units at an average density of 7,123.5 per square mile (2,750.4/km²), of which 4,255 (44.6%) were owner-occupied, and 5,295 (55.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.4%. 10,083 people (51.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 9,408 people (48.2%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 18,566 people, 9,476 households, and 3,553 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 12,982.4 inhabitants per square mile (5,012.8/km²). There were 9,840 housing units at an average density of 6,880.7 per square mile (2,656.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.58% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.80% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.40% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 4.40% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.22% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.68% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.91% from two or more races. 4.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 9,476 households out of which 14.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 4.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 62.5% were non-families. 39.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.95 and the average family size was 2.65.
In the city the population was spread out with 12.0% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 55.0% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 6.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 112.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 113.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $81,153, and the median income for a family was $104,645. Males had a median income of $67,407 versus $50,295 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $54,244. About 1.7% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.
There are eight hotels and one youth hostel in the city.
Local Government
According to the city’s most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city’s various funds had $32.4 million in Revenues, $33.9 million in expenditures, $93.8 million in total assets, $12.2 million in total liabilities, and $23.0 million in cash and investments.The structure of the management and coordination of city services is:
| City Department | Director |
|---|---|
| Administration | (City Manager) Stephen Burrell |
| Finance | Viki Copeland |
| Community Development | Ken Robertson |
| Community Resources | (open) |
| Personnel and Risk Manager | (open) |
| Police Chief | Gregory Savelli |
| Public Works | Frank Senteno |
| Fire Chief | David Lantzer |
The Beach Cities Health District
Beach Cities Health District
Beach Cities Health District is a government agency dedicated to providing preventive health services to the community. Formed in 1955, it is the special-purpose district responsible for the improving the health of the citizens of Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, and Redondo Beach...
, provides health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
and wellness services to the residents of Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach, California
Manhattan Beach is the wealthiest beachfront city located in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, USA. The city is on the Pacific coast, south of El Segundo, and north of Hermosa Beach. Manhattan Beach is the home of both beach and indoor volleyball, and surfing. During the winter, the...
, and Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach, California
Redondo Beach is one of the three Beach Cities located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 66,748 at the 2010 census, up from 63,261 at the 2000 census. The city is located in the South Bay region of the greater Los Angeles area.Redondo Beach was originally part of...
. The voters of the three beach cities elect the 5-member Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
to 4-year terms. One of 78 California Health Districts, it was created in 1955 as South Bay Hospital and took on its current name in 1993. Beach Cities Health District opened AdventurePlex, a Manhattan Beach fitness center for kids and their families, in 2002. Filled with mazes, tunnels, outdoor rock climbing
Rock climbing
Rock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
walls, complex ropes courses, and an indoor gym
Gym
The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
, AdventurePlex challenges children physically and intellectually in health-focused recreational activities.
The United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
Hermosa Beach Post Office is located at 565 Pier Avenue.
Politics
In the state legislatureCalifornia State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
Hermosa Beach is located in the 28th Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
District, represented by Democrat Ted Lieu
Ted Lieu
Ted W. Lieu is a Democratic Party California State Senator, who has represented the 28th Senate District since February 18, 2011, after being elected to fill the seat of deceased Senator Jenny Oropeza...
, and in the 53rd Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
District, represented by Democrat Betsy Butler
Betsy Butler
Betsy Butler is an American politician currently serving in the California State Assembly. She is a Democrat representing the 53rd district, encompassing parts of Los Angeles and the South Bay...
. Federally, Hermosa Beach is located in California's 36th congressional district
California's 36th congressional district
California's 36th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California based in Los Angeles County. The district covers most of the coastal communities of Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Torrance, El Segundo, Venice, Wilmington, and San Pedro in Greater Los Angeles.The...
, which has a Cook PVI
Cook Partisan Voting Index
The Cook Partisan Voting Index , sometimes referred to as simply the Partisan Voting Index , is a measurement of how strongly an American congressional district or state leans toward one political party compared to the nation as a whole...
of D +11 and is represented by Democrat Janice Hahn
Janice Hahn
Janice Kay Hahn is the U.S. Representative from California's 36th congressional district and a member of the Democratic Party. She was previously a Los Angeles City Councilwoman representing the 15th district from 2001 to 2011...
.
In the 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
won 61% of the vote compared to 36% for John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
.
Education
Hermosa Beach has its own elementary school and middle school but high school students are served by either Manhattan BeachManhattan Beach, California
Manhattan Beach is the wealthiest beachfront city located in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, USA. The city is on the Pacific coast, south of El Segundo, and north of Hermosa Beach. Manhattan Beach is the home of both beach and indoor volleyball, and surfing. During the winter, the...
or Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach, California
Redondo Beach is one of the three Beach Cities located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 66,748 at the 2010 census, up from 63,261 at the 2000 census. The city is located in the South Bay region of the greater Los Angeles area.Redondo Beach was originally part of...
where rankings are in the 80 to 90th percentiles. Hermosa Beach residents are zoned to Hermosa Beach City School District
Hermosa Beach City School District
The Hermosa Beach School District is responsible for public education in the city of Hermosa Beach, California. It oversees two elementary schools and one middle school...
for grades (Kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
through 8).
In 2005, Hermosa Valley and Hermosa View schools were honored as U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon Schools, along with 33 California schools and less than 300 schools across the nation. The award was based on academic achievement. Hermosa schools are among the top 10% of schools in the state with students scoring at or above the 90% in the highest grade tested in reading and math. For the award, the Department of Education reviewed growth in scores over a three-year period.
The district has two schools:
- Hermosa View Elementary (KindergartenKindergartenA kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
to Grade 2) - Hermosa Valley Elementary (Grades 3 through 8)
- Mira Costa High SchoolMira Costa High SchoolMira Costa High School is a four-year public high school located in Manhattan Beach, California, United States that first began operating in 1950. It is the only high school in the Manhattan Beach Unified School District...
of Manhattan Beach Unified School DistrictManhattan Beach Unified School DistrictThe Manhattan Beach Unified School District is responsible for public education in the city of Manhattan Beach, California. It oversees five elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. MBMS, or Manhattan Beach Middle School is a public middle school with over a thousand students...
or - Redondo Union High SchoolRedondo Union High SchoolRedondo Union High School is a public high school in Redondo Beach, California.Redondo Union High School is a part of the Redondo Beach Unified School District....
of the Redondo Beach Unified School DistrictRedondo Beach Unified School DistrictRedondo Beach Unified School District is a school district with approximately 8,000 students headquartered in Redondo Beach, California.RBUSD serves the city of Redondo Beach. In addition, residents of Hermosa Beach may choose to attend Redondo Union High School of RBUSD or the Mira Costa High...
The Hermosa Beach City School District
Hermosa Beach City School District
The Hermosa Beach School District is responsible for public education in the city of Hermosa Beach, California. It oversees two elementary schools and one middle school...
as a whole received a score of 915 on the 2006 California Academic Performance Index
Academic Performance Index
The Academic Performance Index is a measurement of academic performance and progress of individual schools in California, United States. It is one of the main components of the Public Schools Accountability Act passed by the California legislature in 1999...
, neighboring Manhattan Beach Unified School District
Manhattan Beach Unified School District
The Manhattan Beach Unified School District is responsible for public education in the city of Manhattan Beach, California. It oversees five elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. MBMS, or Manhattan Beach Middle School is a public middle school with over a thousand students...
scored just below at 906 making it one of California's best performing districts. Each individual school also ranks at the top of its respective category.
| School | 2006 API Score |
|---|---|
| Hermosa View Elementary | 950 |
| Hermosa Valley Elementary | 910 |
| Mira Costa High School Mira Costa High School Mira Costa High School is a four-year public high school located in Manhattan Beach, California, United States that first began operating in 1950. It is the only high school in the Manhattan Beach Unified School District... |
852 |
Hermosa Beach also has a private school
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
:
- Our Lady of GuadalupeOur Lady of GuadalupeOur Lady of Guadalupe , also known as the Virgin of Guadalupe is a celebrated Catholic icon of the Virgin Mary.According to tradition, on December 9, 1531 Juan Diego, a simple indigenous peasant, had a vision of a young woman while he was on a hill in the Tepeyac desert, near Mexico City. The lady...
, a Catholic schoolCatholic schoolCatholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
with classes up to the eighth grade. Although it is a religious school, there is no convent so most classes are taught by lay persons. Religious studies and services are provided by Franciscan friars and priests.
Geography
Hermosa Beach is located at 33°51′59"N 118°23′59"W (33.866314, -118.399681).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), all of it land.
Climate
Average air temperature - (Summer 74 °F (23.3 °C)/ Winter, 55 °F (12.7 °C))Average water temperature - 60 °F (15.5 °C) (Summer 68 °F (20 °C)/ Winter 50 °F (10 °C))
Hermosa Beach has an average of 325 days of sunshine a year. Because of its location, nestled on a vast open bay (Santa Monica Bay
Santa Monica Bay
Santa Monica Bay is a bight of the Pacific Ocean in southern California, United States. Its boundaries are slightly ambiguous, but it is generally considered to be the part of the Pacific within an imaginary line drawn between Point Dume, in Malibu, and the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Its eastern...
), morning fog and haze is a common phenomenon in May, June and early July (caused by ocean temperature variations and currents). Locals have a particular terminology for this phenomenon: the "May Gray" and the "June Gloom
June Gloom
June Gloom is a southern California term for a weather pattern that results in cloudy, overcast skies with cool temperatures during the late spring and early summer. June Gloom in southern California is caused by the marine layer effect common to the West Coast, and is enhanced by the Catalina eddy...
". Overcast skies are common for June mornings, but usually the strong sun burns the fog off by noon. Nonetheless, it will sometimes stay cloudy and cool all day during June, even as other parts of the Los Angeles area will enjoy sunny skies and warmer temperatures. At times, the sun shines east of PCH, while the beach area is overcast.
As a general rule, the temperature is from 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit (3 to 5.5 degrees Celsius) cooler than it is inland. A typical spring day (mid-April) is sunny, pleasant and about 68 °F (20 °C). In the summer, which stretches basically from May to late October, temperatures can reach to the mid-80's Fahrenheit (about 30 °C) at the beach. In early November, it is about 68 °F (20 °C). In late January, temperatures are around 63 °F (17 °C). It is winter, however, when the hot, dry Santa Ana wind
Santa Ana wind
The Santa Ana winds are strong, extremely dry offshore winds that characteristically sweep through Southern California and northern Baja California in late fall and winter. They can range from hot to cold, depending on the prevailing temperatures in the source regions, the Great Basin and upper...
s are most common. In mid-December 2004, temperatures soared to 84 °F (28 °C) in Santa Monica, for a few straight days, with perfectly sunny skies.
The rainy season is from late October through late March. Winter storms usually approach from the northwest and pass quickly through the Southland. There is very little rain during the rest of the year.
Hermosa Beach usually enjoys a cool breeze blowing in from the ocean, keeping the air fresh and clean. Therefore, smog
Smog
Smog is a type of air pollution; the word "smog" is a portmanteau of smoke and fog. Modern smog is a type of air pollution derived from vehicular emission from internal combustion engines and industrial fumes that react in the atmosphere with sunlight to form secondary pollutants that also combine...
is less a problem for Hermosa Beach than elsewhere around Los Angeles.
Economy
According to the City's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:| # | Employer | # of Employees | % of Total City Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24 Hour Fitness | 187 | 4.64% |
| 2 | City of Hermosa Beach | 183 | 4.54% |
| 3 | Vons Vons Vons is a southern California and southern Nevada supermarket chain and a division of Safeway Inc. It is headquartered in Arcadia, California, and operates stores under the Vons and Pavilions banners.-Beginning:... |
131 | 3.25% |
| 4 | Hope Chapel International Church of the Foursquare Gospel The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, commonly referred to as the Foursquare Church, is an evangelical Pentecostal Christian denomination. As of 2000 it had a worldwide membership of over 8,000,000, with almost 60,000 churches in 144 countries. In 2006, membership in the United States... Shorewood Realtors, Incorporated |
92 | 2.28% |
| 5 | Shorewood Realtors | 87 | 2.16% |
| 6 | Ralphs Ralphs Ralphs is a major supermarket chain in the Southern California area and the largest subsidiary of Cincinnati-based Kroger. It is the oldest such chain west of the Mississippi River. Ralphs also operates stores under the Food 4 Less and Foods Co. names in California.-History:Ralphs Grocery Company... |
64 | 1.59% |
| 7 | Hermosa Beach School District | 62 | 1.54% |
| 8 | Patrick Molloy's | 58 | 1.44% |
| 9 | Intensive Behavior Intervention | 55 | 1.37% |
| 10 | The Comedy & Magic Club The Comedy & Magic Club The Comedy & Magic Club is a comedy and magic club located in Hermosa Beach, California that was opened by Michael Lacey in 1978. The Comedy & Magic Club has hosted such comics as Jerry Seinfeld, Ray Romano, and Jay Leno.... |
52 | 1.29% |
Cost of living
The beautiful beach lifestyle comes at a price: according to public data from the LA Times, real estate prices increased almost 20% per year between 1999 and 2005. Properties within short walking distance of the ocean routinely sell for well over US$1.5 million. Those with direct, unhindered views routinely ask in excess of $2 million. Money MagazineMoney Magazine
Money Magazine is a business news and financial programme that is broadcast on Sundays at 7:00pm in Hong Kong by television channel TVB Pearl.-Producers and reporters:...
ranks communities in the area as some of the most expensive places to live in America. Homes located on The Strand frequently sell for $3–10 million. The home pictured to the right sold in 2003 for $8,100,000. The average 3-bed 2-bath home costs about $649 per square foot or $1,500,000 as of 2006.
West of PCH single homes mix with apartments, some have sunset views. East of PCH, the hills rise into upper middle class neighborhoods of tract homes with custom touches. Since the 1980s gentrification has set in, and many single-family dwellings and apartment buildings have been razed for condominiums. Multiple housing units dominate slightly over single family homes.
Events
- HermosaBeach.org City of Hermosa Beach Event Calendar
- Fiesta Hermosa Arts and crafts festival which has taken place for the last 35 years every Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend
- SouthBayEvents.com The locals' weekly entertainment and activities guide to Hermosa Beach.
- Hermosa Ironman Unofficial triathlon every July 4, consisting of running a mile in the sand, paddling a mile on a surfboard, and downing a 6-pack of beer. Then keeping it down for 20 minutes.
- AVP Hermosa Beach Open Started in 1969 and typically in June. Attracts combinations of pros and near pros. It's best to know a local to get in.
- Hermosa Beach Film Festival Started in 2005 and typically in August. Short films from each year are chosen to be screened at the Hermosa Beach Playhouse
- International Surf Festival Surfing, PaddleboardingPaddleboardingPaddleboarding is a surface water sport in which the participant is propelled by a swimming motion usually on a long surfboard close to the shore. A derivative of paddleboarding is stand up paddle surfing.-History:...
, Pier to Pier SwimSwimming (sport)Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
Events. Beginning of August - Hennessey's Paddle Board Festival U.S. Paddleboard Championships. Typically in July.
- Hermosa Beach Sunset Concert free concert series from bands who perform on the beach. Starts July 31 - Aug. 21 (4 Weeks)
- Farmers' MarketFarmers' marketA farmers' market consists of individual vendors—mostly farmers—who set up booths, tables or stands, outdoors or indoors, to sell produce, meat products, fruits and sometimes prepared foods and beverages...
Every Friday from 12 noon to 4 pm, rain or shine. (Valley Drive between 8th and 10th Streets) - Sand and Strand Run The second oldest standing run in the L.A. area. Unique is its course design, with 45% of the run on the Strand and 55% on the beach. February during low tide.
- Shakespeare by the SeaShakespeare by the Sea, Los Angeles- Shakespeare by the Sea :Shakespeare by the Sea is a nonprofit organization that was launched in 1998 by Producing Artistic Director Lisa Coffi. Shakespeare by the Sea offers a free repertory season that runs for nine weeks throughout Los Angeles and Orange County. All performances are admission...
- the South Bay's free Shakespeare in the Park company. Performances run June through August in a variety of venues in Los Angeles and Orange County. Shakespeare by the Sea - The Lighthouse CafeLighthouse CaféThe Lighthouse Café is a nightclub located at 30 Pier Avenue in Hermosa Beach, California. It has been active as a jazz showcase since 1949 and, under the name "The Lighthouse", was one of the central West Coast jazz clubs from the 1950s through the late 1970s....
, a seminal West Coast jazzWest coast jazzWest Coast jazz refers to various styles of jazz music that developed around Los Angeles and San Francisco during the 1950s. West Coast jazz is often seen as a sub-genre of cool jazz, which featured a less frenetic, calmer style than bebop or hard bop. The music tended to be more heavily arranged,...
venue, is located in Hermosa Beach.
Notable residents
- Lauren Mayhew: Superstar
- Adrianne Curry: First winner of America's Next Top Model who appeared on My Fair BradyMy Fair BradyMy Fair Brady is a celebrity reality television show on VH1 that follows Christopher Knight, who played Peter Brady on The Brady Bunch, and Adrianne Curry, who won the first season of America's Next Top Model, a year after they met and fell in love on the reality show The Surreal Life.The show...
, The Surreal LifeThe Surreal LifeThe Surreal Life is a reality television series that sets a select group of past-their-prime celebrities and records them as they live together in Glen Campbell's former mansion in the Hollywood Hills for two weeks...
, and was featured on the cover of Playboy twice - Christopher Knight: Actor, The Brady BunchThe Brady BunchThe Brady Bunch is an American sitcom created by Sherwood Schwartz and starring Robert Reed, Florence Henderson, and Ann B. Davis. The series revolved around a large blended family...
, The Surreal LifeThe Surreal LifeThe Surreal Life is a reality television series that sets a select group of past-their-prime celebrities and records them as they live together in Glen Campbell's former mansion in the Hollywood Hills for two weeks...
, and My Fair BradyMy Fair BradyMy Fair Brady is a celebrity reality television show on VH1 that follows Christopher Knight, who played Peter Brady on The Brady Bunch, and Adrianne Curry, who won the first season of America's Next Top Model, a year after they met and fell in love on the reality show The Surreal Life.The show... - A. J. CookA. J. Cook (actress)Andrea Joy "A.J." Cook-Andersen is a Canadian actress best known for her role as Supervisory Special Agent Jennifer "JJ" Jareau in the CBS crime drama Criminal Minds...
- actress on Criminal MindsCriminal MindsCriminal Minds is an American police procedural drama that premiered September 22, 2005, on CBS. The series follows a team of profilers from the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit based in Quantico, Virginia. The BAU is part of the FBI National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime... - Bill ButlerBill Butler (cinematographer)Wilmer C. “Bill” Butler, A.S.C. is an American cinematographer, part of the New Hollywood generation. He shot The Conversation, and completed One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest after Haskell Wexler was fired from the production. He also shot three Rocky films, among many other movie projects...
- cinematographer - Bill SimpsonBill SimpsonBill Simpson , is a retired American racecar driver, but is best known as a pioneer in the racing safety business with his company Simpson Performance Products. He left Simpson Performance in a controversy surrounding Dale Earnhardt's death and started Impact! Racing...
- racecar driver (retired) - Brent BarryBrent BarryBrent Robert Barry is an American former professional basketball player. The , shooting guard was selected out of Oregon State University by the Denver Nuggets with the 15th overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft, but was traded shortly after to the Los Angeles Clippers.Barry played professionally...
- professional NBA basketball player - Carson DalyCarson DalyCarson Jones Daly is an American television host. He is the host of NBC's Last Call with Carson Daly, a late-night talk show that began airing on January 7, 2002. Before his role as host of that program, Daly was a VJ on MTV's TRL, and a DJ for the Southern California based radio station KROQ-FM...
- television personality - Daniel ToshDaniel ToshDaniel Dwight Tosh is an American stand-up comedian and host of the Comedy Central television show, Tosh.0.-Personal life:...
- comedian - DescendentsDescendentsThe Descendents are an American punk rock band from Hermosa Beach, California. As of 2011, they have released six studio albums, three live albums, three compilation albums and three EPs. The Descendents broke up and reformed several times over the years, sometimes with different musicians...
- punk band - Dylan O'BrienDylan O'BrienDylan O'Brien is an American actor. He was born in New York City and grew up in Springfield Township, Union County, New Jersey before moving with his family to Hermosa Beach, California when he was 12 years old. As of July 2011, he co-starred as Stiles in the MTV series Teen Wolf...
- actor; Stiles on Teen Wolf (2011 TV series)Teen Wolf (2011 TV series)Teen Wolf is an American television series that currently airs on MTV, and in reruns on TeenNick. The series premiered on June 5, 2011, following the 2011 MTV Movie Awards. Teen Wolf is a supernatural drama series that follows Scott McCall , a high school student and social outcast who is bitten by... - Eric FonoimoanaEric FonoimoanaEric Fonoimoana is an American volleyball player who currently resides in Hermosa Beach, California. He was born in Manhattan Beach, California, and attended UCSB, where he became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity . He is most notable for winning the gold medal in the 2000 Olympic Games. He has...
- professional AVPAssociation of Volleyball ProfessionalsThe Association of Volleyball Professionals, or AVP, is a beach volleyball tour which takes place throughout the United States. The summer tour starts in April and continues almost every weekend until the end of October....
volleyball player - Jack BlackJack BlackJack Black , is an American actor and musician, notably of Tenacious D.Jack Black may also refer to:* Jack Black , late 19th - early 20th Century author and hobo* Jack Black , drummer for 1970s UK punk band The Boys...
- actor who grew up in Hermosa - Jacqueline Frank DeLucaJacqueline Frank DeLucaJacqueline Frank DeLuca is an accomplished American water polo goalkeeper, 2004 bronze medal Olympian and two-time collegiate National Player of the Year.-Early life:...
- water polo goalie; bronze medalist, 2004 Summer OlympicsWater polo at the 2004 Summer OlympicsWater polo at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place at the Olympic Aquatic Centre where women competed for only the second time in the event at the Summer Olympics.... - Jason AcunaJason AcuñaJason Acuña , also known as Wee-Man, is an American TV host and actor. He is one of the stars of Jackass on MTV and the host of NESN's skateboarding show 54321. Acuña has achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism, and is tall...
- JackassJackass (TV series)jackass is an American reality series, originally shown on MTV from 2000 to 2002, featuring people performing various dangerous, crude, ridiculous, self-injuring stunts and pranks...
personality, actor and professional skateboarder - Jim FinnJim FinnJames Finn, Jr. is an American football fullback who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Chicago Bears in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Pennsylvania...
- professional NFL football player - Jimmy KimmelJimmy KimmelJames Christian "Jimmy" Kimmel is an American television host and comedian. He is the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, a late-night talk show that airs on ABC. Prior to that, Kimmel was best known as the co-host of Comedy Central's The Man Show and Win Ben Stein's Money...
- television host Jimmy Kimmel Live! and comedian - Kerri WalshKerri WalshKerri Lee Walsh-Jennings is an American professional beach volleyball player.Walsh-Jennings and teammate Misty May-Treanor were the gold medalists in beach volleyball at both the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics...
- Gold medalist and professional AVPAssociation of Volleyball ProfessionalsThe Association of Volleyball Professionals, or AVP, is a beach volleyball tour which takes place throughout the United States. The summer tour starts in April and continues almost every weekend until the end of October....
volleyball player - Kyle HarrisonKyle HarrisonKyle Harrison is a lacrosse player from Baltimore, Maryland born to Wanda and Miles Harrison,M.D.. He matriculated to the Friends School of Baltimore, and later played in college at Johns Hopkins. While playing for the Blue Jays, he led the team to the 2005 NCAA Division I National Championship.His...
- professional lacrosseLacrosseLacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
player and 2005 Tewaaraton TrophyTewaaraton TrophyThe Tewaaraton Trophy is an award given annually, since 2001, to the most outstanding American college lacrosse player. It is the lacrosse equivalent of football's Heisman Trophy. The trophy is presented by the Greater Washington Sports Alliance and the University Club of Washington, D.C...
winner - LeRoy GrannisLeRoy GrannisLeRoy 'Granny' Grannis was a veteran photographer. His portfolio of photography of surfing and related sea images from the 1960s enjoys a reputation that led The New York Times to dub him "the godfather of surfphotography." He was born in Hermosa Beach, California.-Life:Living a beachfront...
co-founder of Surfing magazine. Legendary surf photographer - Leonard Wibberley - Author of The Mouse that Roared
- OzzieOzzie NelsonOswald George "Ozzie" Nelson was an American entertainer and band leader who originated and starred in The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet radio and television series with his wife and two sons.-Early life:...
and Harriet NelsonHarriet NelsonHarriet Nelson was an American singer and actress. Nelson is best known for her role on the long-running sitcom The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.-Early life and career:...
- Actors on the The Adventures of Ozzie and HarrietThe Adventures of Ozzie and HarrietThe Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet is an American sitcom, airing on ABC from October 3, 1952 to September 3, 1966, starring the real life Nelson family. After a long run on radio, the show was brought to television where it continued its success, running on both radio and TV for a couple of years... - PennywisePennywise (band)Pennywise is a Californian punk rock band from Hermosa Beach, California, formed in 1988. The name is derived from the monster, It, from the Stephen King novel of the same title....
- punk band - Rachel HunterRachel HunterRachel Hunter is a New Zealand born American model, actress and reality TV show host who now resides in the U.S. She is best known for her appearance in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues and her longtime marriage to singer Rod Stewart, which ended in 2006...
and LA Kings Jarret StollJarret StollJarret Stoll is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League... - Mae MarshMae MarshMae Marsh was an American film actress with a career spanning over 50 years.-Early life:...
- former actress - Michael StrahanMichael StrahanMichael Anthony Strahan is a former National Football League defensive end who played his entire career for the New York Giants; a career where he set the record for the most sacks in a single season and won a Super Bowl in his final year. He is currently a football analyst on Fox NFL Sunday, and...
- professional NFL football player - Misty May-TreanorMisty May-TreanorMisty Erie May-Treanor is an American professional volleyball player. She has won more tournaments than any other female player with 107 career wins....
- Gold medalist and professional AVPAssociation of Volleyball ProfessionalsThe Association of Volleyball Professionals, or AVP, is a beach volleyball tour which takes place throughout the United States. The summer tour starts in April and continues almost every weekend until the end of October....
volleyball player - Morgan EnsbergMorgan EnsbergMorgan Paul Ensberg is a former infielder in Major League Baseball. Ensberg bats and throws right-handed...
- professional MLBMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
baseball player - Raymond PettibonRaymond PettibonRaymond Pettibon is an American artist who currently lives and works in Venice Beach, California.-Early life:...
- Contemporary American artist largely associated with the LA Punk scene; notably Black Flag. Also the brother of Greg Ginn of Black Flag. - Rodney MullenRodney MullenJohn Rodney Mullen is a professional freestyle and street skateboarder. He is widely acknowledged as one of the most innovative and influential street skaters in the history of skateboarding...
- professional skateboarder - Ryan StarrRyan StarrRyan Starr is an American female singer, songwriter and actress. She ranked seventh on the season 1 of the talent search television series American Idol...
- On American IdolAmerican IdolAmerican Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment... - Steve LyonsSteve Lyons (baseball)Stephen John Lyons is a former Major League Baseball player and a television sportscaster. He is of French and Irish descent, and currently resides in Hermosa Beach, California....
- former professional MLBMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
baseball player, FoxFox Broadcasting CompanyFox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
sportcaster and current Dodgers broadcast team - Ted CoombsTed CoombsTed Coombs is an American technology author, futurist, artist, and scientist. He set a Guinness World Record for Roller Skating across the United States in 1979.-Work:...
- Author of "For Dummies" computer books series - Ty PageTy PageTy Scott Page is a professional skateboarder who was known as one of the most innovative skateboarder in the world. Ty Page was a leader in the skateboard world during "the golden era" of skateboarding in the early 1970s....
- Professional skateboarder - Peter RevsonPeter RevsonPeter Jeffrey Revson was an American race car driver who had successes in Formula One and the Indianapolis 500.-Background:Peter Revson was born in New York City, the son of Julie and Martin Revson....
- race car driver - Kim Lyons - personal trainer on The Biggest LoserThe Biggest LoserThe Biggest Loser is an American reality game show that debuted on NBC October 19, 2004. The show features obese people competing to win a cash prize by losing the highest percentage of weight relative to their initial weight....
and Dr. PhilDr. Phil (TV series)Dr. Phil is a reality/talk television show hosted by Phil McGraw. After McGraw's success with his segments on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Dr. Phil debuted on September 16, 2002... - Teri PoloTeri PoloTheresa Elizabeth "Teri" Polo is an American actress known for her role of Pam Focker in the movie Meet the Parents and its two sequels, Meet the Fockers and Little Fockers...
- Actress "Meet the Fockers", "Meet the Parents" - Warren MillerWarren Miller (director)Warren Miller is an American ski and snowboarding filmmaker. He is the founder of Warren Miller Entertainment and produced, directed and narrated his films until 1988. His credits include over 750 sports films, several books and hundreds of published non-fiction stories...
- Warren Miller Films made over 50 feature length documentary films on extreme sports
Media
In addition to the Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, Hermosa Beach is served by local daily the Daily Breeze
Daily Breeze
The Daily Breeze is a 70,000-circulation daily newspaper published in Torrance, California. It serves the South Bay cities of Los Angeles County. Its slogan is "LAX to LA Harbor".- Early history :...
and local weeklies the Beach Reporter
Beach Reporter
The Beach Reporter is a weekly newspaper serving the Beach Cities of Los Angeles's South Bay. It primarily focuses on the cities of Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, and El Segundo. It is published every Thursday, with a circulation of approximately 55,000...
and the Easy Reader
Easy Reader
Founded in 1970, the is a weekly newspaper published every Thursday and delivered to homes in Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, and Redondo Beach , with a circulation of approximately 57,000, offering local news and extensive entertainment listings. It is the legally adjudicated newspaper for the...
. One of the main online references for locals and visitors is the online home of the venerable Easy Reader
Easy Reader
Founded in 1970, the is a weekly newspaper published every Thursday and delivered to homes in Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, and Redondo Beach , with a circulation of approximately 57,000, offering local news and extensive entertainment listings. It is the legally adjudicated newspaper for the...
at EasyReaderNews.com and SouthBayEvents.com, which offers a weekly entertainment guide, as well as a full local business listing. The TV show Summerland
Summerland (TV series)
Summerland is an American drama television series created by Stephen Tolkin and Lori Loughlin. It is centered on a clothing designer in her 30s, Ava Gregory , raising her niece and nephews after their parents die in a tragic accident...
was partly filmed here.
Trivia
Segments of the television show The O.C.The O.C.
The O.C. is an American teen drama television series that originally aired on the Fox television network in the United States from August 5, 2003, to February 21, 2007, running a total of four seasons...
were filmed in Hermosa Beach (and more in neighboring Redondo Beach), not Newport Beach
Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach, incorporated in 1906, is a city in Orange County, California, south of downtown Santa Ana. The population was 85,186 at the 2010 census.The city's median family income and property values consistently place high in national rankings...
. This was necessary because of union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
rules that make it expensive to film outside of Los Angeles County.
In the late 1970s the hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
band Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
emerged from Hermosa Beach, and played their first show at Valley Park. The infamous "church" profiled in The Decline of Western Civilization
The Decline of Western Civilization
The soundtrack was released in December 1980 by Slash Records on LP. In the late 1990s it was released on CD as well. It is currently out of print. Germs singer Darby Crash appears on the soundtrack album cover. He died shortly before the film was released, though the promotional images for the...
was on Pier Avenue, though it has since been torn down.
The melodic hardcore
Melodic hardcore
Melodic hardcore is a subgenre of hardcore punk with a strong emphasis on vocal melody. The genre is commonly defined with fast hardcore drum beats, complex guitar riffs and melodic singing with occasional screaming and shouting.-History:...
band Descendents
Descendents
The Descendents are an American punk rock band from Hermosa Beach, California. As of 2011, they have released six studio albums, three live albums, three compilation albums and three EPs. The Descendents broke up and reformed several times over the years, sometimes with different musicians...
also appered in Hermosa Beach in 1978. It paved the way to two other well known punk bands, the Circle Jerks
Circle Jerks
The Circle Jerks are an American hardcore punk band, formed in 1980 in Los Angeles, California. It was formed by Black Flag's original singer, Keith Morris, and future Bad Religion guitarist Greg Hetson. They were among the preeminent hardcore punk bands of the L.A. scene in the late 1970s.The band...
in 1979 and Pennywise
Pennywise (band)
Pennywise is a Californian punk rock band from Hermosa Beach, California, formed in 1988. The name is derived from the monster, It, from the Stephen King novel of the same title....
in 1988.
An episode of Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls is an American family comedy-drama series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, starring Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel. On October 5, 2000, the series debuted on The WB and was cancelled in its seventh season, ending on May 15, 2007 on The CW...
(Season 4, Episode 17: Girls in Bikinis, Boys Doin' the Twist) was filmed at the Sea Sprite Inn where Rory went to "Florida" for spring break.
Hermosa Beach has been the sister city of Loreto, Baja California Sur
Loreto, Baja California Sur
Loreto was the first Spanish settlement on the Baja California Peninsula. It served as the capital of Las Californias from 1697 to 1777, and is the current seat of the municipality of Loreto in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur...
, since 1967.
In the film "Jackie Brown
Jackie Brown
-People:*Jackie Brown , English boxer , former flyweight boxer*Jackie Brown , former flyweight boxer*Jackie Brown , American baseball pitcher...
" by Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Jerome Tarantino is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer and actor. In the early 1990s, he began his career as an independent filmmaker with films employing nonlinear storylines and the aestheticization of violence...
the arms dealer Ordell Robbie, played by Samuel Jackson, kept his mistress Melanie, played by Bridget Fonda
Bridget Fonda
Bridget Jane Fonda is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in films such as The Godfather Part III, Single White Female, Point of No Return, It Could Happen to You, and Jackie Brown...
, in a beachfront condo in Hermosa Beach.