Other South Bay Cities
The South Bay is geographically defined as the area of Southwest Los Angeles County bound by Los Angeles International Airport to the north, along the Century Freeway (105) east to the Long Beach Freeway, then south along the Long Beach Freeway (710) to the Los Angeles Harbor, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the south. Its name comes from its location at the south end of beautiful Santa Monica Bay.
Comprised of 15 cities, the South bay is home to El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills and Rolling Hills Estates, Lomita, Carson, Gardena, Inglewood, Hawthorne, and Lawndale, as well as portions of the city of Los Angeles (San Pedro and Wilmington), and unincorporated Los Angeles County. Each city has its own distinctive personality and history; each offers the real estate investor or home buyer something different and special.
El Segundo: Immediately south of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), lies the community of El Segundo. Originally the site of Standard Oil Company’s second refinery operation (hence its name), El Segundo has become known as an “All American City”. A real small town USA feeling abounds in El Segundo, which boasts a marvelous school system and outstanding community and athletic facilities.
Lomita: Stretching from the shoreline south of Redondo, inland to the east, the city of Torrance, and its smaller neighbor, the city of Lomita, share slightly warmer days than the beach cities, yet all of the benefits of the being within the coastal breeze zone. Excellent schools, civic, cultural, and sporting facilities are enjoyed by Torrance residents, as well as a wonderfully redeveloped Old Town area.
The Los Angeles Harbor Cities: The Los Angeles Harbor area has grown tremendously over the past twenty years. Once small towns, San Pedro, Wilmington, Harbor City, and Carson have all grown up along with the harbor. Petroleum refineries, light industry, and of course, the shipping, receiving, and transport of goods from and to domestic and overseas markets, form the economic base of these cities. Each of the harbor area cities has a truly international flavor, great “old” neighborhoods, as well as newly-developed, upscale residential and commercial areas.
Gardena, Lawndale, Hawthorne and Inglewood: These South Bay cities are inland from the west- and south-facing communities. Gardena has a long history as an agricultural community was derived from Japanese-American owned truck farms and vast strawberry fields dating back to pre-WWII days. Still preserving its Asian farming roots, Gardena now encompasses a mix of old and new, east meets California west.
Lawndale, Hawthorne, and Inglewood lie just east and north of north Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, and the Los Angeles International Airport. Currently undergoing significant redevelopment, their proximity to the Beach Cities, yet substantially more affordable housing market, makes them an increasingly popular inland destination.
The South Bay, with Los Angeles International Airport at the north and the Port of Los Angeles to the south, with the sun setting over the beautiful Pacific Ocean to the west, is a prime area for real estate investment and a wonderful place to call home!
**Websites referenced for provided information: www.southbayaor.com, en.wikipedia.org.
