Did You Know These About Long Beach?

Long Beach is the 7th largest city in California and it has many interesting facets. Get to know about the interesting facts about the geography, demography, historical, economic, governmental and other facts right here.

DID YOU KNOW that….

• Long Beach is the 7th largest city in California located on San Pedro Bay in LA
• Town was laid out and established in 1881 by a developer W. E. Willmore who called Willmore City. It was later named Long Beach for its 8.5 mile long beach
• City was incorporated in 1888 and reincorporated in 1897
• According to the 2013 census, population was estimated at 469,428 sand land area covers 130 square km
• The altitude is highest at 170 feet and lowest at sea level, and while the average daily temperature equals 55.9 degree F in January, it is 73.1 degree F in July.
• There are 92 city owned park and 2 FM as well as 2 AM radio stations 
• Chambers of Commerce include the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
• Long Beach is a diverse city with Americans, African Americans, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asians, Hispanic/Latino residing here.

• 50 years after Columbus’s epic discovery, Cabrillo and his crew discovered the present Long Beach as the Bay of Somikes or Bahia de los Fumos
• First modern identity for Long Beach commenced with a ranch awarded to Manuel Nieto in 1784- Long Beach was segregated into two ranchos namely  Los Alamitos and Los Cerritos
• In 1888, the city of Long Beach was incorporated and the area that now constitutes the city comprised the two ranchos.  
• In 1902, introduction of the Pacific Electric trolley caused the city to grow as a business and leisure center
• From 1902-1910, Long Beach was the most rapidly growing city in the US and in 1911, the Port of Long Beach was established 
• In 1921, oil was struck off Signal Hill  and Long Beach grew as city
• In the 1940s, first and only flight of Howard Hughes Spruce Goose took off Long Beach Harbor- this being the world’s largest airplane
• It was in 1949 that the California State University was founded in Long Beach
• In 1984, Long Beach was the site for Olympic events during LA Olympics and in 1988, Long Beach celebrated its centennial. 

• Long Beach is a massive industrial port city, ranked the second busiest in the US and the 10th in the world
• High technology has also been an important growth engine for the Long Beach economy
• Noted technology and aerospace corporations including Boeing and Gulf Stream have their facilities in Long Beach
• Tourism is important for Long Beach’s economy and major attractions are the Aquarium of Pacific and Queen Mary. 
• Long Beach is a California charter city governed by 9 city council members elected by the district and a mayor who is elected at large 
• City auditor, prosecutor and attorney are also posts for which election is held 
• Long Beach was first incorporated in 1999 and it was re-incorporated in 1897 which is shown as the year of incorporation on the city seal
• Long Beach is a full service city  which means that it provides all of its municipal services as against a contract city
• In the California State Senate, Long Beach is divided between the 33rd, 34th and 35th senate district 
• Unemployment rate in Long Beach, CA is 8.40% with job growth of 2.50%-future job growth is predicted to be 36.60% over the next decade
• In Long Beach, CA sales tax rate is 9% and income tax is 6% 
• Per capita income is USD 26866 and the median household income is USD 52,900
• Located between Orange County and LA, Long Beach is one of the largest cities in California with downtown Long Beach being one of the prime real estate markets in Southern California
• Its location has made Long Beach a strategic place for business in Southern California, crisscrossed by 4 freeways and an airport
• Long Beach is located within 30 minutes from all major Southern California destination. 

• Long Beach is the 36th largest city in the United States and 17% of the persons living in the city are between the ages of 25 to 34
• More than 5 million tourists arrive at the city each year; this city has over 40 tourist attractions for visitors to enjoy
• The Aquarium of the Pacific has a record of close to 1 million visitors per year and Port of Long Beach is one of the leading and busiest seaports n the world
• It is the second busiest container port in America
• Parks in Long Beach have received gold medal awards from leading national bodies for excellence in park and recreation management 
• The city experiences 345 days of sunshine in a year and it was not officially a city till 1888
• A famous person who originated from Long Beach is ex lead singer in the band Sublime, Brad Nowell
• Original Queen Mary is docked on Long Beach’s shores and it is an exclusive club and restaurant right now
• Long Beach is the fifth biggest city in California in terms of its population and close to 5.5 million tourists and convention delegates visit this city each year 
• Some of the most famous figures to have originated from Long Beach include journalist Jack Anderson, artist Jennifer Bartlett, actress Barbara Britton, actor Nicholas Cage, actress Sally Kellerman, tennis player Billy Jean King, track star Martha Rae Watson and dancer Heather Watts.