The Sheffer Team

 About Long Beach

Long Beach is located in Los Angeles County in Southern California. It is the 36^th largest city in the nation, with 11 miles of coastline and a rich history. Prior to European settlement, indigenous people, the Tongva, inhabited the area that is now known as Long Beach. Throughout the years, Long Beach has seen much development, beginning in 1784 when the Spanish king gave a large piece of land to Spanish soldier Jose Manuel Nieto, which became known as Rancho Los Nietos. This territory later divided into Rancho Los Alamitos and Rancho Los Cerritos, the latter of which was purchased 1843 by Jonathan Temple, whose adobe ranch house still stands today. In 1866, Temple sold his rancho to the sheep-raising firm of Flint, Bixby & Company, and after many years as a sheep ranch, Long Beach became incorporated in 1897.

Long Beach grew as a seaside resort town with The Pike beachside amusement zone built in 1902 which featured a pier and boardwalk with food, games, and rides including a roller coaster called Cyclone Racer and a Ferris wheel. Oil was discovered in Long Beach in 1921, which led to the city becoming a major oil producer. The city also played a large role in World War II with its coastal location becoming a useful Navy port, and Douglas Aircraft Company opening a large plant adjacent to the current Long Beach Airport location to manufacture and transport planes.

Today with a population of nearly a half million people, Long Beach features a wide variety of neighborhoods from which to choose. From the hustle and bustle of Downtown to beach bungalows in Belmont Shore and Naples to the traditional ranch style suburban homes in Lakewood Village, there’s a neighborhood in Long Beach that is perfect for everyone!

Parks and Recreation

 Real estate in Long Beach is located in one of the most beautiful areas in the country. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that there are plenty of parks and beaches designated throughout the area where residents and visitors can partake in all the outdoor beauty that Long Beach has to offer. The Long Beach Parks Department manages 92 parks covering over 3,100 acres. Some of the parks in Long Beach include El Dorado Nature Center which features fishing lakes, an archery range, youth campground, bike trails and numerous picnic areas. Other local parks include Recreation Park, Bluff Park, Shoreline Aquatic Park, Admiral Kidd Park, and Belmont Plaza Pool. Visit the Long Beach Parks and Recreation Department for a full list of city parks.

Long Beach has taken great care to set aside and rehabilitate many natural spaces for wildlife preservation, which are also open to the public to enjoy, including Colorado Lagoon, Marine Stadium Reserve, Golden Shores Marine Reserve, and Los Cerritos Wetlands.

 

Attractions and Activities

 The Long Beach home buyer has the advantage of being located in one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Long Beach has many attractions and things to do, so you never have to worry about running out of activities to enjoy in Long Beach. Some of the attractions in the area include the Aquarium of the Pacific, the Queen Mary, Long Beach Museum of Art, Rainbow Harbor and Marina, Rancho Los Alamitos Historic Site, Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site, Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden just to name a few. There are miles of bike and pedestrian paths along the beach, along the San Gabriel River, and throughout the city, as well as a variety of golf courses, beaches and plenty of other outdoor activities for all ages. To see more of the attractions in Long Beach, go here: www.visitlongbeach.com.

Events

 There are plenty of events in Long Beach to fill up your calendar. Some annual events include the Grand Prix of Long Beach, Long Beach Sea Festival, Long Beach Marathon, Long Beach Jazz Festival, and the Dark Harbor annual Halloween event at the Queen Mary. Enjoy a play at the Carpenter Arts Center on the CSULB Campus, a performance at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, or shopping and dining at The Pike, Downtown Long Beach, Belmont Shore or Shoreline Village. Travel both in and out of Long Beach is a breeze, via the Long Beach Airport for air travel, Port of Long Beach for harbor and destination cruises and a variety of ground transportation.

Interactive Map of Long Beach: