Redondo Beach, CA

Redondo Beach, California

Introduction to Redondo Beach, California

The California city of Redondo Beach is located in the coastal edge of Los Angeles County, about 22 miles from downtown Los Angeles and only seven miles south of Los Angeles International Airport. Known as one of the nation's premiere surfing cities, Redondo Beach is one of the three Beach Cities of Southern California's South Bay (the others being Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach). Neighboring cities further inland include Torrance (to the east) and Gardena (to the northeast).

Once part of the huge 43,000-acre Dominguez Rancho, Redondo Beach became a community shortly after the land was purchased by a development company in 1885. Incorporated as a city in 1892, Redondo Beach quickly became a prime tourist destination boosted by the opening in 1890 of the luxurious Hotel Redondo. As the first port of Los Angeles County, Redondo Beach was visited regularly by steamers from the Pacific Steamship Company which were soon joined by regular rail traffic from the Redondo Railway Company and the Santa Fe Railroad. The early part of the 20th century saw a slow decline in Redondo’s popularity caused by the opening and growing prominence of the San Pedro Harbor. During the Depression years, big time gambling accompanied by associated mobsters and shooting incidents, found its way to the city in the form of gambling ships, casinos, and bingo parlors. By mid-century, prosperity returned and the city experienced a huge population boom in the 1950s and '60s. Redondo Beach today is still known as a tourist and resort town, but the city also boasts some of the state's best and most innovative schools as well as a presence of flourishing businesses, both large and small.

Redondo Beach Attractions

Known as the birthplace of modern surfing, Redondo Beach is home to the George Freeth Memorial. The Memorial honors Freeth, the young Hawaiian-Irish athlete hired in 1907 by land baron Henry Huntington to demonstrate the ancient Hawaiian art of surfing for the entertainment of Redondo Beach visitors. George exhibited his surfing prowess daily, and in later years entered swimming, diving and water polo competitions before becoming Southern California's first official lifeguard. Freeth later went on to organize and train professional lifeguards and won a Carnegie and a Congressional medal for saving the lives of a boat of stranded fishermen in Santa Monica Bay. Other historic sites include the Old Historic Pier, which also serves as a popular destination for sport fishing, dining, shopping and entertainment; the Redondo Beach Historical Museum, which houses local artifacts, photos and memorabilia chronicling the city's rich history as both a port of call and popular seaside resort; and Historic Riviera Village. Performing arts in the city can be found at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, a 1,457-seat venue which is home to the Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities, the largest producing musical theatre company in Southern California.

High Points

Redondo Beach strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in California):

Category	Trophy
Well-Paid Single Men (vs. Peers)	Top 1%
Well-Paid Single Women (vs. Peers)	Top 2%
Median Family Income (vs. Peers)	Top 11%
College Educated Adults (vs. Peers)	Top 11%

Comparative Profile of Redondo Beach, CA

Comparing Redondo Beach to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in California (State):

Ratings range from (lowest) to (highest).

The People

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Well-Paid Single Men
Well-Paid Single Women
Male Share of the Population
Racial Diversity
Age of the Population
Senior Citizens
Children Under 5 Years Old
Female Share of the Population

Families

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Portion of People Married
Average Household Size

Wealth

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
College Educated Adults
Median Family Income
People in Middle Class or Better
People Above Poverty

Commute & Sprawl

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Working at Home
Walking and Biking to Work
Public Transportation Use
Short Commute Times

Housing

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
People Living Alone
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals
Seasonal and Vacation Housing
Housing Recently Built
Affordability of Property Taxes
Affordability of Rents

Crime

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Low Property Crime
Low Violent Crime

Redondo Beach Almanac

Redondo Beach Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

• Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
• Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

Redondo Beach Public Libraries

More Information for Librarians

Redondo Beach Population (2000)

(From 2000 Census, as reported by individuals)

Political Contributions (2004)

Money donated by Redondo Beach residents to parties and candidates for the 2004 elections.

by Political Party

by Presidential Candidate

Nearby Cities and Towns

Starbucks in Redondo Beach

Redondo Beach High Schools (2004)

REDONDO HIGH
631 VINCENT PARK
310-798-8665
Serves 2,203 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 23

REDONDO SHORES HIGH (CONT.)
1000 DEL AMO ST.
310-798-8690
A Non-traditional School
Serves 242 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 31

Redondo Beach Colleges

Click school name for a detailed profile.

Gates College

(List of All California Colleges)

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