Two Harbors, California
Encyclopedia
Two Harbors, colloquially known as "The Isthmus", is a small unincorporated
island village on Santa Catalina Island, California
with a population of 298 (Census
of 2000). It is the second center of population on the island, besides the city of Avalon
. It is mainly a resort village. It has only one restaurant, one hotel, and one general store. The village has about 150 permanent residents that live on the isthmus year-round. One notable feature is the little one-room schoolhouse where those who live on the isthmus can go to school without having to drive one hour.
. On the Island's narrow isthmus
, it is located about 16 km (9.9 mi) from the only city in the Island, Avalon
. It is named for the two harbors separated by the 770 m section of land separating the leeward
(northern) Isthmus Cove (aka Banning Harbor) and Catalina (or Cat) Harbor on the windward
(southern) side, which together almost cut off the northwestern sixth (31.7 km²) from the main part of the island. 1.4 km northeast of Banning Harbor and 470 m northwest of the closest coastal point is Bird Rock, which is only 6312 m² in size.
, lead
and zinc
took place in the area. In 1864, during the Civil War
, the Union Army
sent 83 soldiers to the island to establish Camp Santa Catalina Island
, both to protect the area from Confederate privateer
s and survey the isthmus and adjacent Catalina Harbor for the Bureau of Indian Affairs
as a location for a future Indian reservation
for "militant" tribes captured in the Bald Hills War
. However the reservation idea was abandoned and so was the camp. As a result, the Army built barracks on the isthmus. The barracks were later used to house visiting film crews in the 1920s and 1930s, a contingent of the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II
, and in 1951 became the home of the Isthmus Yacht Club.
The Ning Po, a Chinese merchant ship built in 1753 and involved in over a century of war, rebellion, and piracy, eventually found its way to Catalina and was converted into a tourist attraction in 1913. The Ning Po burned off the western shore of the Isthmus in 1938. The fire which destroyed her also claimed several wooden sailing vessels that had been used in filming motion-picture "spectaculars", including the famous old down-Easter "Llewellyn J. Morse" which stood in for the — with accurate re-rigging — in the silent film "Old Ironsides".
. Young children in Two Harbors attend the one-room school, Two Harbors Elementary School in Two Harbors. Older children attend the middle school and high school at Avalon
.
is an environmental research and education facility run by the University of Southern California
in Two Harbors. The campus consists of a 2,800 square-meter (30,000 square-foot) laboratory building, a dormitory housing, a cafeteria, a hyperbaric chamber
, and a large waterfront staging area complete with dock, pier, helipad, and diving lockers. The facility was made possible by a donation from the Wrigley
family and was named for Philip K. Wrigley
.
. A helicopter can also be chartered to the village. The Catalina Airport-In-The-Sky is 10 miles (16.1 km) away to the east.
Most people generally walk, but shuttles are available, as are full-sized motor vehicles.
To get around the island from Two Harbors, one can get a bus that can take them anywhere on the Island, or one can hike
.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
island village on Santa Catalina Island, California
Santa Catalina Island, California
Santa Catalina Island, often called Catalina Island, or just Catalina, is a rocky island off the coast of the U.S. state of California. The island is long and across at its greatest width. The island is located about south-southwest of Los Angeles, California. The highest point on the island is...
with a population of 298 (Census
Census
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). It is the second center of population on the island, besides the city of Avalon
Avalon, California
Avalon, or Avalon Bay, is the only incorporated city on Santa Catalina Island of the California Channel Islands, and the southernmost city in Los Angeles County. Besides Avalon, the only other center of population on the island is the small unincorporated town of Two Harbors...
. It is mainly a resort village. It has only one restaurant, one hotel, and one general store. The village has about 150 permanent residents that live on the isthmus year-round. One notable feature is the little one-room schoolhouse where those who live on the isthmus can go to school without having to drive one hour.
Geography
Two Harbors is a small island village located approximately 37 km (23 mi) from San Pedro Harbor on Santa Catalina IslandSanta Catalina Island, California
Santa Catalina Island, often called Catalina Island, or just Catalina, is a rocky island off the coast of the U.S. state of California. The island is long and across at its greatest width. The island is located about south-southwest of Los Angeles, California. The highest point on the island is...
. On the Island's narrow isthmus
Isthmus of Catalina Island
The Isthmus of Catalina Island is a 770 metre section of land that joins the northwestern portion of Santa Catalina Island to the main part of the island. It lies approximately southwest of San Pedro Harbor....
, it is located about 16 km (9.9 mi) from the only city in the Island, Avalon
Avalon, California
Avalon, or Avalon Bay, is the only incorporated city on Santa Catalina Island of the California Channel Islands, and the southernmost city in Los Angeles County. Besides Avalon, the only other center of population on the island is the small unincorporated town of Two Harbors...
. It is named for the two harbors separated by the 770 m section of land separating the leeward
Windward and leeward
Windward is the direction upwind from the point of reference. Leeward is the direction downwind from the point of reference. The side of a ship that is towards the leeward is its lee side. If the vessel is heeling under the pressure of the wind, this will be the "lower side"...
(northern) Isthmus Cove (aka Banning Harbor) and Catalina (or Cat) Harbor on the windward
Windward and leeward
Windward is the direction upwind from the point of reference. Leeward is the direction downwind from the point of reference. The side of a ship that is towards the leeward is its lee side. If the vessel is heeling under the pressure of the wind, this will be the "lower side"...
(southern) side, which together almost cut off the northwestern sixth (31.7 km²) from the main part of the island. 1.4 km northeast of Banning Harbor and 470 m northwest of the closest coastal point is Bird Rock, which is only 6312 m² in size.
History
The area where Two Harbors is located was originally referred to simply as the Isthmus of Catalina Island. By the 1860s, mining operations for silverSilver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
, lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
and zinc
Zinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
took place in the area. In 1864, during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
sent 83 soldiers to the island to establish Camp Santa Catalina Island
Camp Santa Catalina Island
Camp Santa Catalina Island , located on Santa Catalina Island, California at the isthumus, at what is now Avalon, California. In 1863, following the incident of the Confederate privateer, J. M...
, both to protect the area from Confederate privateer
Confederate privateer
The Confederate privateers were privately owned ships that were authorized by the government of the Confederate States of America to attack the shipping of the United States...
s and survey the isthmus and adjacent Catalina Harbor for the Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Indian Affairs
The Bureau of Indian Affairs is an agency of the federal government of the United States within the US Department of the Interior. It is responsible for the administration and management of of land held in trust by the United States for Native Americans in the United States, Native American...
as a location for a future Indian reservation
Indian reservation
An American Indian reservation is an area of land managed by a Native American tribe under the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs...
for "militant" tribes captured in the Bald Hills War
Bald Hills War
Bald Hills War was a war fought by the forces of the California Militia, California Volunteers and soldiers of the U. S. Army against the Chilula, Lassik, Hupa, Mattole, Nongatl, Sinkyone, Tsnungwe, Wailaki, Whilkut and Wiyot Native American peoples.The war was fought within the boundaries of the...
. However the reservation idea was abandoned and so was the camp. As a result, the Army built barracks on the isthmus. The barracks were later used to house visiting film crews in the 1920s and 1930s, a contingent of the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and in 1951 became the home of the Isthmus Yacht Club.
The Ning Po, a Chinese merchant ship built in 1753 and involved in over a century of war, rebellion, and piracy, eventually found its way to Catalina and was converted into a tourist attraction in 1913. The Ning Po burned off the western shore of the Isthmus in 1938. The fire which destroyed her also claimed several wooden sailing vessels that had been used in filming motion-picture "spectaculars", including the famous old down-Easter "Llewellyn J. Morse" which stood in for the — with accurate re-rigging — in the silent film "Old Ironsides".
Primary and secondary schools
Two Harbors is part of the Long Beach Unified School DistrictLong Beach Unified School District
The Long Beach Unified School District is a school district headquartered in Long Beach, California, United States.LBUSD serves most of Long Beach, all of the city of Signal Hill, and portions of Lakewood, and Paramount, as well as Avalon and Two Harbors on Santa Catalina Island.-School uniforms...
. Young children in Two Harbors attend the one-room school, Two Harbors Elementary School in Two Harbors. Older children attend the middle school and high school at Avalon
Avalon, California
Avalon, or Avalon Bay, is the only incorporated city on Santa Catalina Island of the California Channel Islands, and the southernmost city in Los Angeles County. Besides Avalon, the only other center of population on the island is the small unincorporated town of Two Harbors...
.
Colleges and universities
The USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental StudiesUSC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies
The USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies is an environmental research and education facility run by the University of Southern California...
is an environmental research and education facility run by the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in Two Harbors. The campus consists of a 2,800 square-meter (30,000 square-foot) laboratory building, a dormitory housing, a cafeteria, a hyperbaric chamber
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
Hyperbaric medicine, also known as hyperbaric oxygen therapy , is the medical use of oxygen at a level higher than atmospheric pressure. The equipment required consists of a pressure chamber, which may be of rigid or flexible construction, and a means of delivering 100% oxygen...
, and a large waterfront staging area complete with dock, pier, helipad, and diving lockers. The facility was made possible by a donation from the Wrigley
Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
The William Wrigley Jr. Company is a company headquartered in the Wrigley Building in Near North Side, Chicago, Illinois. The company was founded on April 1, 1891, originally selling products such as soap and baking powder. In 1892, William Wrigley, Jr., the company's founder, began packaging...
family and was named for Philip K. Wrigley
Philip K. Wrigley
Philip Knight Wrigley , sometimes also called P.K. or Phil. Born in Chicago, he was an American chewing gum manufacturer and executive in Major League Baseball, inheriting both those roles as the quiet son of his much more flamboyant father, William Wrigley Jr. After his father died in 1932, Philip...
.
Transportation
Two Harbors is served by ferry lines with regular daily service to San Pedro and Marina del ReyMarina del Rey, California
-Demographics:-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Marina del Rey had a population of 8,866. The population density was 6,094.6 people per square mile...
. A helicopter can also be chartered to the village. The Catalina Airport-In-The-Sky is 10 miles (16.1 km) away to the east.
Most people generally walk, but shuttles are available, as are full-sized motor vehicles.
To get around the island from Two Harbors, one can get a bus that can take them anywhere on the Island, or one can hike
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
.