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Manhattan Beach, California
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Manhattan Beach is a city located in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, USA. The population was 33,852 at the 2000 census. The city is on the Pacific Ocean coast, to the south of El Segundo, and to the north of Hermosa Beach. To the east are the cities of Hawthorne and Redondo Beach. It is one of the three Beach Cities in the South Bay.
History
Early history
The early history of Manhattan Beach is explained on the website of the Manhattan Beach Historical Society. [6]
Early development
The municipal pier in downtown Manhattan Beach on a typical fall afternoon.
In 1863, a Scottish immigrant, Sir Robert Burnett, purchased Rancho Sausal Redondo and Rancho Aguaje De Centinela from Avila's heirs for $33,000. Ten years later in 1873, Burnett leased the ranch to a Canadian, Daniel Freeman, and returned to Scotland. Freeman moved his wife and three children onto the ranch and started growing various crops. On May 4, 1885 Freeman bought the ranch from Burnett for $140,000.
George H. Peck owned a lot of the land that became part of the north section of Manhattan Beach.
Geography
Manhattan Beach is located at 33°53′20″N, 118°24′19″W (33.888980, -118.405357)[7].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.8 km² (10.4 mi²). 10.2 km² (3.9 mi²) of it is land and 16.7 km² (6.4 mi²) of it (62.07%) is water. ] Manhattan Beach features 2.1 miles (3.4 km) of ocean frontage, 40 acres (162,000 m²) of recreational beach, and a total of 59 acres (239,000 m²) of parkland in 10 parks, 1 municipal golf course, and 1 parkway, the Valley/Ardmore "Greenbelt" [2].
Residents divide the city into several distinct neighborhoods, including the Village, Sand Section, Hill Section, Tree Section, Gas Lamp Section, Manhattan Heights, East Manhattan Beach, Liberty Village, and North Manhattan Beach (formally known as El Porto until December 2007). The Hill Section is a higher priced locale where many of the residences are remodeled and situated on steep hills to afford panoramic ocean and Los Angeles views. The nearby Sand Section is notable for its dense development and higher rate of condominiums and multi-family properties. Most commercial activity whose clientèle are beach-oriented position their establishments here, sometimes within meters of private homes. One of its most highly trafficked streets, The Strand, features high-end Oceanfront properties. Desired by families for its close knit structure and with a substantially healthy financial background, the Tree Section is essentially a smaller Hill Section, minus the hills, of course, and with slightly smaller lots.
Liberty Village is located at the north-easternmost section of Manhattan Beach. It is characterized by World War II era housing that originally serviced the employees of the then dominant local defense contractors such as Lockheed, Northrop and Hughes. Since it is considered to be among the most desirable cities in Los Angeles, and the city zoning provides for relatively lenient dwelling-to-land coverage, much of Manhattan Beach's housing stock has been remodeled from small single family houses into larger houses ranging to 4,000 square feet (400 m2) on lots approximating 5,000 square feet (500 m2).
Demographics
As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 33,854 people, 14,474 households, and 8,394 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,325.8/km² (8,606.7/mi²). There were 15,034 housing units at an average density of 1,477.0/km² (3,822.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.99% White, 0.61% African American, 0.21% Native American, 6.04% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 1.23% from other races, and 2.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.19% of the population.
There were 14,474 households out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.0% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 37.5% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 101.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $100,750, and the median income for a family was $122,686.36. Males had a median income of $84,256 versus $54,142 for females. The per capita income for the city was $61,136. About 2.0% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.
In February 2006 sales of Manhattan Beach homes produced a median price of $1,925,000 [3]. In its Best Places to Live 2005 feature, Money Magazine ranked Manhattan Beach the 4th most expensive town in America [4]. Additionally, in 2005 it ranked 2nd in California for the number of million-dollar homes sold [5]. Forbes has also ranked the local ZIP code 90266 as the 29th most expensive ZIP code. ŭ
Politics
Local Government
The City of Manhattan Beach is governed by a five-member City Council. City Council Members are elected every four years. The office of the Mayor of Manhattan Beach rotates every nine months among the members of the City Council, so that each City Council Member serves one term as Mayor. [9]
State Government
The residents of the City of Manhattan Beach are represented in state legislature by both a California State Senator and a California State Assemblyman.
In the California State Senate, Manhattan Beach is located in the 28th District. The current State Senator from the District is Democrat Jenny Oropeza.
In the California State Assembly, Manhattan Beach is located in 53rd District. The current State Assemblyman from the District is Democrat Ted Lieu.
Federal Government
The residents of the City of Manhattan Beach are represented in Unisted States Congress by the two United States Senators and one United States Representative.
In the United States Senate, Manhattan Beach is represented by the Senators who are elected at large in the State of California. The current United States Senators from California are Democrat Dianne Feinstein and Democrat Barbara Boxer.
In the United States House of Representatives, Manhattan Beach is located in California's 36th congressional district. The current United States Representative is Democrat Jane Harman.
Political Registration
As of 2002, 46% of Manhattan Beach residents were registered Republicans and 35% were registered Democrats. [6]
According to the Cook Partisan Voting Index, the 36th Congressional District, which includes Manhattan Beach, has a Partisan Voting Index of D+11 [10].
Education
Primary and secondary schools
Public schools
| School |
2006 API Score |
| Grand View Elementary |
954 |
| Meadows Elementary |
947 |
| Pacific Elementary |
971 |
| Pennekamp Elementary |
963 |
| Robinson Elementary |
970 |
| Manhattan Beach Middle |
923 |
| Mira Costa High School |
852 |
Public education in Manhattan Beach is provided by the Manhattan Beach Unified School District, which oversees 5 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school. The district is also assisted by non-profit organizations the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation and a Parent-Teacher Association for each school.
The district as a whole received a score of 906 on the 2006 California Academic Performance Index, making it California's 5th best performing district. [7] Each individual school also ranks at the top of its respective category [8]:
Under policy of the Manhattan Beach Unified School District, residents who live in northern Redondo Beach may not attend schools within the MBUSD. As of Fall 2006, North Redondo Beach residents living in the 90278 zip code will be allowed to attend Mira Costa. [9]
See also: McMartin preschool trial, Aviation High School (1957-1982).
Private schools
American Martyrs School is located in Manhattan Beach.
Media
In addition to the Los Angeles Times, Manhattan Beach is served by local daily the Daily Breeze and local weeklies the Beach Reporter and the Easy Reader.
Trivia
The MB 6 man around noon on the first day of the tournament.
A typical Manhattan Beach late-Fall sunset, near Rosecrans Avenue terminus.
- Scenes from the 1983 Taylor Hackford film Against All Odds were filmed along the boardwalk and beach.
- Filming Location for Weeds.
- Quentin Tarantino worked at a video rental store in Manhattan Beach before becoming a director.
- Establishing shots of the tv show Hannah Montana are filmed at Mira Costa High School.
- The Harvey Wallbanger Cocktail was invented in the 1960s in El Porto at the current location of Sharkeez bar and grill.
- Film location of Starsky and Hutch (2004). In the movie, Starsky (Ben Stiller), can be seen stretching under the pier.
- Film location of Jerry Maguire (1996). In the movie, Dorothy's (Rene Zellwegger) house is in the Tree Section.
- Film location of Tequila Sunrise (1988). Mel Gibson's character lives on the beach near the pier.
- The name of present day Manhattan Beach was decided by a coin-flip in 1902 between George Peck (who branded his property Manhattan after his hometown in New York) and John Merrell (who named his property Shore Acres)
- Manhattan Beach has been nicknamed the "Pearl of the South Bay" for its beauty and desirability. The city motto, though seldom referenced, is "Progressius, Progressius, Progressius."
- Much of the sand on Waikīkī Beach was purchased by developers from Hawaiʻi in the late 1920s, who negotiated a deal with the Kuhn Brothers Construction Company to ship the city's sand across the Pacific from Manhattan Beach to Waikiki Beach for over 10 years.[11] The only remaining sand that resembles Manhattan Beach's original landscape can be found at Sand Dune Park.
- Home to the filming of some of The CW/Ex-UPN series Veronica Mars
- Home to the filming of such fictional shows as the Fox Network series The O.C. and the CBS series CSI:Miami
- Film and real life location of George Jung of Blow fame.
- Was home to the Metlox Pottery company, and now has a shopping and restaurant plaza built on the old factory site.
- The AVP tournament in Manhattan Beach is known as "The Wimbledon of Beach Volleyball." The names of the tournament champions are inscribed in plaques along Manhattan Beach Pier. This event usually takes place in August and is aired on NBC.
- Mentioned in the Beach Boys' song "Surfin' USA."
Notable residents: past and present
Present
Business
Entertainment industry
- Jeremy Buttke: Creator, The 10 Minute Climax and award winner for Smack That
- Brad Bird: Creator, The Incredibles and Oscar winner for Ratatouille
- Leland Chapman: Part time resident and student of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in Hermosa Beach, CA, son of famed bounty hunter and sex icon Duane "Dog" Chapman better known as "Dog the Bounty Hunter"
- Phil Morris: Actor, best known for his role as Jackie Chiles from Seinfield.
- Dave Coulier: Uncle Joey in TV's Full House.
- Johnny Depp: Actor,Chocolat, Blow, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
- Don Dokken: Founder and lead singer of 80's Heavy metal band Dokken.
- Jane Elliot: Actress, General Hospital and Days of Our Lives
- Bill Engvall: Comedian with the Blue Collar Comedy group
- Matthew Fox: Actor Lost and Party of Five.
- C. Thomas Howell: Ponyboy Curtis in The Outsiders (film)
- Rachel Hunter: Supermodel and "Stacey's Mom" in Fountains of Wayne Video.
- Neal Israel: Director of Surf Ninjas and nationally ranked falconer.
- Kevin James: Actor on the sitcom King of Queens
- Wally Kurth: Actor, General Hospital and Days of Our Lives
- Jim Lindberg: Singer of the South Bay Punk Rock Band Pennywise.
- Ben McKenzie: Actor, The O.C.
- Terence Michael: Producer: Eric Schaeffer movies, Reality TV shows Shooting Sizemore
- Mike Mignola: Creator of Hellboy [10]
- Marisa Miller: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition cover page model.
- Kevin Nealon: Actor/Comedian from Saturday Night Live fame
- Ryan Newman: Actor in the movie Zoom starring Tim Allen.
- Liz Phair: Singer/songwriter and guitarist
- Teri Polo: Actress, Pam in Meet the Parents
- Tara Reid: Actress
- J. D. Roth: Host of the Reality TV show Endurance
- Pat Sajak: Wheel of Fortune host.
- Max Thieriot: Actor, The Pacifier
- Owen Wilson: Actor, Wedding Crashers, Behind Enemy Lines
Journalists and Writers
NBA
NFL
MLB
MLS
NHL
Other athletes
Past
Gallery
Manhattan Beach Pier looking toward the south.
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The large, sandy beach in Manhattan Beach, as seen facing south, with the pier and the Palos Verdes Peninsula in the background.
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Manhattan Beach Pier at sunset.
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Big waves of December 2005 flooding the El Porto Bathrooms.
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References
External links
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