LOS ANGELES COUNTY / COASTAL COMMUNITIES
County Offices
500 West Temple Street
Los Angeles 213-974-1311
www.lacounty.gov
Chamber of Commerce
350 South Bixel Street
Los Angeles 213-580-7500
www.lachamber.com
Services
Newcomers to Los Angeles County can look forward to an array of state-of-the-art healthcare services and facilities that stand prepared to meet every need. Rehabilitation facilities, long-term care, skilled nursing centers, home health care, and hospices are some of the components of a comprehensive network of resources. With Southern California’s emphasis on well being and healthy lifestyles, many community hospitals have developed sweeping programs for education in vital areas like nutrition and fitness or public health screenings.
Education is another area where Los Angeles County excels, from the internationally recognized public University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) to prestigious private institutions like the Claremont Colleges or Pepperdine University. Throughout the region, community colleges provide an affordable, quality higher education on beautiful campuses. Vocation and technical institutes, career training centers, and a myriad of specialty schools encourage the development of individual interests.
Students, commuters, visitors, and residents alike will appreciate the vast network of transportation facilities within the county and the region. Los Angeles International Airport and Long Beach Airport combine with smaller facilities like the Van Nuys Airport and Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport to meet every aviation need. Freeways, interstates, and major highways form a solid network of connections to all points. Metrolink commuter rail system and the Metro Rail system of light rails and subways offer alternatives to single-vehicle driving.
Quality of Life
Home to Hollywood and the nation’s film industry, the sweeping expanse of Los Angeles County offers much more than glitter, glamour, and the legendary Beverly Hills’ Rodeo Drive shopping. Throughout the region, a kaleidoscope of urban centers, neighborhoods, suburbs, and communities provide a truly outstanding quality of life. Home options range from modest bungalows along quiet tree-shaded streets to elegant mansions or magnificent multi-million dollar estates nestled in elite hillside enclaves or perched above a Pacific Ocean view.
Beyond its prowess as a leading tourism magnet, Los Angeles County is a bustling economic center where electronic, computer, telecommunications, aerospace and other high-tech industries join grassroots manufacturing, retail, and service sectors. Sprawling malls with spectacular atriums, skylights, and architectural embellishments blend with antique district, factory outlet malls, and unique small-town districts. Every category “under the sun” boats world-class representation in Los Angeles County, from museums and aquariums to cultural organizations, performing arts., leisure attractions, and recreational sites.
Dances, concerts, parties, competitive sports, private clubs, celebrations, outdoor recreation, seashore water sports, and a whirlwind calendar of special events contribute to the prevailing youthful and vibrant attitude toward life. People of all ages are anxious to mingle and socialize with friends and neighbors in an endless variety of activities. In the midst of the seemingly endless opportunities, lifestyles, environments, and communities within this region, newcomers will discover that the warmth and friendliness of their new neighbors is the true treasure of the “Golden State.”
Agoura Hills
Municipal Offices
818-597-7300
www.ci.agoura-hills.ca.us
Chamber of Commerce
805-370-0035
www.conejochamber.org
Located in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains, Agoura Hills is an attractive bedroom community located off Highway 101 or the Ventura Freeway on the west side of the county. With this ideal location, commuting is convenient. Both downtown Los Angeles and the airport are accessible within a 45-minute drive. Agoura Hills boasts rolling hillsides, an abundance of oak trees, numerous equestrian and bike trails, and an award-winning school system. This vibrant community experienced rapid growth in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s and now features predominantly two-story, four-bedroom stucco homes. Amenities include a golf course and several nearby neighborhood parks.
Bellflower
Municipal Offices
562-804-1424
www.bellflower.org
Chamber of Commerce
562-867-1744
www.bellflowerchamber.com
Once a mecca of agricultural crops and dairies, Bellflower is now a busy residential and commercial community. The business community features many major medical facilities, family-owned restaurants, and convenient shopping opportunities. The city is proud of its family-friendly image, recreational activities for people of all ages, community theater, and weekly farmer’s market. Most of the houses in this thriving city are three-bedroom, built within the last four or five decades. Newcomers will also find an abundance of parks, tennis courts, and swimming pools, as well as a nine-hole golf course, several horseback riding trails, and a symphony orchestra.
Carson
Municipal Offices
310-830-7600
http://ci.carson.ca.us
Chamber of Commerce
310-217-4590
www.carsonchamber.com
Home of a campus for California State University, Carson was the site of the first air show held in the United States in 1910—an event that drew more than 175,000 people. From the time of its incorporation in 1968, Carson has enforced strict building and landscaping codes resulting in new industrial parks that are models of cleanliness and attention to appearance. Beautification efforts have also resulted in many lighting projects, street improvements, and parks. The housing boom began in the 1950s and continued through the 1990s. Homes situated near the university are among the largest and also the most handsome, with equally impressive landscaping. Recreational amenities include a sports complex, community center, golf courses, parks, and collegiate facilities. The center of town features a large shopping mall.
El Segundo
Municipal Offices
310-524-2300
www.elsegundo.org
Chamber of Commerce
310-322-1220
www.elsegundochamber.com
El Segundo, which means “The second,” is located south of Los Angeles International Airport and was the location of the second Standard Oil Refinery, built in 1917. The oil refinery is now Chevron and dominates much of the south side of town. This charming town has enjoyed a strong economy and good tax base over the years, enabling planners to add and maintain wonderful amenities. Newcomers will find a library, golf course, many parks, and an active Parks & Recreation Department that offers programs and activities for all ages. Most of the homes are two and three bedroom, built primarily between 1950 and 1970. Some homes on the hills and beach bluffs have spectacular vistas of the Pacific Ocean. In fact, beaches are just a short drive away. Commuters to downtown Los Angeles can look forward to an easy 20-mile trip.
Gardena
Municipal Offices
310-217-9500
https://www.cityofgardena.org/
Chamber of Commerce
310-532-9905
www.gardenachamber.org
Known locally as “The Freeway City,” Gardena is located near the intersection of the Harbor, San Diego and 91 Freeways. Only minutes from the Los Angeles International Airport, the Long Beach Airport, and the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, residents enjoy an excellent location that affords quick and easy access to a variety of destinations. Gardena offers the finest of urban living with all the advantages of a small town. Hundreds of mature trees are set amidst the area’s popular three-bedroom homes. Quality recreational opportunities can be found in the area’s six parks, filled with sports fields and other facilities. The ocean is just eight miles away for virtually unlimited water sports, fishing, boating, and sailing opportunities.
Hawthorne
Municipal Offices
310-349-2901
www.cityofhawthorne.org
Chamber of Commerce
310-676-1163
Characterized as a bedroom-apartment community, Hawthorne was named after “The Scarlet Letter” author, Nathaniel Hawthorne. The city is located about two miles southeast of the Los Angeles International Airport and about four miles from the Pacific Ocean. Incorporated in 1929, Hawthorne showcases a variety of housing constructed primarily between 1950 and 1990. In this working-class community, apartments outnumber homes about two to one. Commuters are drawn to this area for the close proximity of the airport and local employment centers. Highway 105 is a recent addition. Light rail runs a trolley west toward the airport and east to Norwalk with connections to downtown Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Hermosa Beach
Municipal Offices
310-318-0239
www.hermosabch.org
Chamber of Commerce
310-376-0951
www.hbchamber.net
The focal point of this small resort town is the sandy beach with its charming promenade that features restaurants, shops, and sprawling supermarkets. Just five miles south of Los Angeles International Airport, this town is divided by the Pacific Coast Highway. Many of the homes feature custom embellishments and some command breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. Most of the modest neighborhoods are filled with two and three-bedroom homes, while some of the custom-built homes in the hills are larger and more impressive. During the summer, college students arrive in increasing numbers to enjoy the sun, sand, and surf. Many of the smaller cottages that line the narrow streets near the beach serve as vacation rentals rather than permanent homes.
Lawndale
Municipal Offices
310-973-3200
www.lawndalecity.org
Chamber of Commerce
213-580-7500
www.lachamber.com
This vibrant city located between Torrance and Hawthorne started its building boom in the 1940s. Lawndale has steadily increased in population through the decades, offering a varied mix and good selection of housing styles that appeal to different income levels. Newcomers will find an abundance of two and three-bedroom suburban homes in clean, well-cared-for neighborhoods. Most of the housing is built on flat land, and the city overall claims a modest but neat appearance. Lawndale is just five miles from Los Angeles International Airport. Within the town are several parks and a library. A golf course and a community college campus are also located nearby.
Lakewood
Municipal Offices
562-866-9771
www.lakewoodcity.org
Chamber of Commerce
562-531-9733
www.lakewoodchamber.com
The community known as Lakewood sprang to life after World War II and experienced a building boom in the 1950s. More than 80 percent of the city’s homes are owner-occupied, creating a bedroom community that demonstrates pride of ownership in the maintenance of properties and landscaping. The majority of homes are three-bedroom styles on attractive streets with an abundance of trees and shrubs. Students currently attend schools in four school districts, although Lakewood is in the process of forming its own school district. A community college and state university are also close by. Residents have the advantage of three libraries, a number of community parks, movie theaters, and riding stables. The Lakewood Center Mall, built on 225 acres, features popular department stores and specialty shops.
Lomita
Municipal Offices
310-325-7110
www.lomita.com/cityhall
Chamber of Commerce
213-580-7500
www.lachamber.com
This “Little Hill,” tucked between Torrance and Rolling Hill Estates is a small modest community that grew rapidly after World War II. Just one mile wide and two miles long, Lomita was once acclaimed as the celery capital of the world. Most of the houses were built between 1950 and 1980 and are simple two and three-bedroom suburban styles. Homes higher in the hills are larger and more luxurious, including custom builds and meticulous landscaping. Five community parks add open space and lush greenery to the Lomita cityscape, including the park that houses the main recreation center. Tennis courts, a library, and a railroad museum are located in town, while beaches and oceanside recreation are just five miles away.
Long Beach
Municipal Offices
562-570-6101
www.longbeach.gov
Chamber of Commerce
562-436-1251
www.lbchamber.com
Overlooking San Pedro Bay on the south coast of Los Angeles County, Long Beach is located 22 miles south of the downtown district for Los Angeles. Boasting 35 miles of beautiful beaches, the busiest port of the West Coast, and more than four million visitors annually, Long Beach is a bustling, vibrant city. Long Beach is also home to the 120,000-square-foot Aquarium of the Pacific, a campus for California State University, the Queen Mary (former luxury cruise liner that is docked in Long Beach Harbor as a tourist attraction and hotel), the Greater Los Angeles World Trade Center, and the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center. Housing covers a wide range of sizes, architectural styles, and price ranges. Close to the water, older homes are charming, well kept, and picturesque. In addition to boating activities and over 3,500 boat slips, the area offers several golf courses and nearly 60 parks.
Manhattan Beach
Municipal Offices
310-802-5000
www.citymb.info
Chamber of Commerce
310-545-5313
www.manhattanbeachchamber.com/#&panel1-4
Divided by Sepulveda Boulevard, Manhattan Beach is a charming city with tree-lined streets, year-round sunshine, and high-scoring schools. Homes to the east of the boulevard are primarily three-bedroom suburban styles from the 1950s and 1960s. Homes to the west tend to be larger and more luxurious, continuing to grow in elegance and opulence as the neighborhoods stretch to the Pacific Ocean. Manhattan Beach is home to the new Manhattan Beach Studios, a 550,000-square-foot television and film production facility, whose tenants include many top rated TV shows. Other attractions include Manhattan Village Mall, nearly a dozen parks, a golf course, two miles of beach, and a fishing pier.
Marina Del Ray
County Offices
213-974-1311
www.lacounty.gov
Chamber of Commerce
213-580-7500
www.lachamber.com
Distinguished as the only yacht harbor resort area in Los Angeles, Marina Del Ray is also a seaside community with a population of approximately 9,000 in unincorporated Los Angeles County. Marina Del Ray is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles. The boundaries of the community are approximately the area west of Lincoln Boulevard, east of Via Dolce, north of Ballona Creek, and south of Washington Boulevard (Oxford Basin. Nestled against the sparkling Pacific Ocean, this water-oriented community is ideally situated just four miles north of Los Angeles International Airport, three miles south of Santa Monica, and adjacent to Venice Beach. Newcomers will discover a rare quality of life with outstanding properties, shopping, entertainment, and nightlife.
Palos Verdes Peninsula
Palos Verdes Offices
310-378-0383
www.pvestates.org
Ranchos Palos Verdes Offices
310-544-5200
www.rpvca.gov
Rolling Hills Offices
310-377-1521
www.rolling-hills.org
Rolling Hills Estates Offices
310-377-1577
www.ci.rolling-hills-estates.ca.us
Chamber of Commerce
310-377-8111
https://www.palosverdeschamber.com/
Located on the Palos Verdes Peninsula about 25 miles from downtown Los Angeles, the prestigious area known as Palos Verdes Peninsula is also one of the most scenic sections of Los Angeles. On the western side of the Peninsula with the Pacific Ocean at its doorstep, Palos Verdes Estates is the oldest community. Homes tend to be upscale and many command amazing views of the Pacific Ocean. To the southwest is the newest and largest community of Ranchos Palos Verdes, with 7.5 miles of coastline that includes pristine coves and beaches protected by steep cliffs. Housing selections here range from elegant mansions to luxury homes. Marymount College is also located here. Rolling Hills zones one acre as the minimum lot size and is strictly residential. Neighboring Rolling Hills Estates offers somewhat older but impressive homes. It also features a mile-long shopping complex with services, boutiques, and restaurants.
Redondo Beach
Municipal Offices
310-372-1171
www.redondo.org
Chamber of Commerce
310-376-6911
www.redondochamber.org
The community of Redondo Beach is an historic town that once served as a commercial port. Redondo Beach today is characterized as a resort town with a pleasure pier full of shops, restaurants, marinas, and sport fishing facilities. The seafront esplanade is popular as a romantic destination for couples who come to relax and enjoy the setting sun against the ocean. Both homes and apartments vie for space at the shore. Further north are many well kept homes, built each decade from the 1940s to the 1990s. The three-bedroom suburban style is the most predominant. Residents also enjoy the recreational amenities in 15 parks and a lovely performing arts center. Redondo Beach is located about 15 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles.
San Pedro, Wilmington
Los Angeles City Offices
213-473-3231
www.lacity.org
San Pedro Chamber of Commerce
310-832-7272
www.sanpedrochamber.com
Wilmington Chamber of Commerce
310-834-8586
www.wilmington-chamber.com
Boasting majestic cliffs and bluffs with ocean vistas and balmy breezes, San Pedro is located just south of Los Angeles and borders the affluent community of Rancho Palos Verdes. Especially on the west side of town, San Pedro reflects some of the luxurious appearance of its upscale neighbor. This charming community offers a wide variety of gracious single-family homes that include hillside lots with spectacular ocean views. Smaller homes further east are well kept and offer an attractive but more affordable housing alternative. San Pedro is also distinguished as one of the busiest ports on the Pacific Ocean. Wilmington, which borders an oil refinery, features affordable housing that was generally constructed right after World War II. Both cities offer plenty of ocean-related sports and activities such as fishing and boating.
Santa Catalina
Municipal Offices
310-510-0220
www.cityofavalon.com
Chamber of Commerce
310-510-1520
www.catalinachamber.com
Located approximately 22 miles off the coast of Los Angeles and just a short one-hour boat ride away, Santa Catalina Island is a beautiful retreat from the rush and crowds of the city. The city of Avalon on the island is home to a large harbor with throngs of tourists flocking to the hotels, beaches, shops, and condominiums. For recreation, residents and visitors rent bikes, explore the lush botanical gardens, or enjoy boating and sailing as well as snorkeling and sport fishing. In the summertime, the island’s population can reach 10,000; although the residential population is typically about 3,500. In the decade between 1980 and 1990, the population increased an amazing 44 percent as new residents discovered this tropical paradise adrift in the sparkling Pacific.
Signal Hill
Municipal Offices
562-989-7306
www.cityofsignalhill.org
Chamber of Commerce
888-687-1718
http://signalhillchamber.org
The community of Signal Hill first came to fame when oil was discovered in 1921. In decades past, Signal Hill was actually referred to as an “oil town” and escaped the post-World War II housing boom because the land was considered too valuable for residential development. In recent years, however, the city has evolved into a family-oriented residential community of apartment complexes and suburban homes along tree-shaded streets. Most of the housing selection near the bottom of the hills was constructed in the ‘80s, although older homes may date as far back as the 1920s. Signal Hill, completely surrounded by the city of Long Beach, is about 30 miles south of downtown Los Angeles.
Torrance
Municipal Offices
310-328-5310
www.torranceca.gov
Chamber of Commerce
310-540-5858
www.torrancechamber.com
The community of Torrance has transformed into a retail, financial, and corporate hub, serving as headquarters for a number of corporations. A housing boom from the 1950s to the 1970s created an abundance of modest single-family homes; while many larger, more impressive homes have been constructed in the last two decades. Graced by a multitude of trees and flowers throughout the city, Torrance maintains a picturesque and peaceful atmosphere. For recreation, active residents enjoy tennis, golf, swimming, 1.5 miles of beaches, and over 350 acres of open space and parkland that include the freshwater habitat of Madrona Marsh. Attractions include the Torrance Cultural Arts Center, the Joslyn Fine Arts Gallery, The Torrance Historical Society Museum, the South Bay Center of the Arts at El Camino College, and Del Amo Fashion Center, a large shopping mall.
