History Of The City Of Torrance California

 

City of Torrance California History

Torrance is a lively city that boasts 30 parks and the second-highest percentage of residents with Japanese ancestry. Torrance was incorporated in 1921, making it one of Los Angeles County’s oldest cities. It has consistently ranked among the safest places to live!

Early History

The Spanish Crown deeded Rancho San Pedro (including today’s Torrance) in 1784. This tract of land is over 75,000 acres (300 km2) in what was then named the Province of Las Californias. Owned by soldier Juan José Domínguez and divided into two parcels – one would become Los Palos Verdes or “Green Trees” when Governor Pio Pico granted it to Jose Loreto and Juan Capistrano Sepulveda in 1846 during Mexico’s short-lived time as an independent nation.

How Was Torrance Named?

In the early 1900s, real estate developer Jared Sidney Torrance and other investors saw that building a mixed industrial-residential community south of Los Angeles would be profitable. They purchased part of an old Spanish land grant and hired landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., son of America’s first landscaper to design this planned town with over 2 million square feet. The townsite was initially bounded by Western Avenue on the east, Del Amo Boulevard on the north, Crenshaw Boulevard once it is south of Plaza Del Amo and Carson Street when west of Plaza Del Amo. The city was founded in 1912 as La Palma de la Mancha Estates by Mr. Torrance, but it wasn’t until 1921 when they were incorporated under the current name.

The First Residential Street

When the first residential avenue was built in Torrance, it became known as Gramercy. The second one to be constructed is Andreo Avenue. These two streets are located near each other and together they make up a section of Old Town Torrance that will soon become nationally recognized for its historical buildings designed by renowned Southern California architect Irving Gill who combined Mission Revival architecture with early Modernist designs.

Torrance California Geography

The city of Torrance is an ocean-side community with a coastal climate and geographical features found throughout the greater Los Angeles area. The boundaries are Redondo Beach Boulevard, Lawndale, Gardena to the north; Western Avenue in LA’s Harbor Gateway neighborhood eastwardly; Palos Verdes Hills southwards towards Lomita (and rolling hills) then within Malibu at Rolling Hill Estates where it finally reaches Palos Verdes Estates before reaching its final destination by way of Carson City on the west coast near Santa Monica Bay. This vast coastline can be seen from miles away whether you’re driving down Pacific Coast Highway or simply passing through neighboring cities like Hermosa Beach.

Torrance Climate

Torrance, California is known for its warm-summer Mediterranean climate. The rainy season lasts from November to March with summers tending to be hot and humid due in part to Torrance’s proximity the coast of Los Angeles. However, a microclimate causes temperatures inland can differ up 18 degrees Fahrenheit from coastal regions; an average gradient of one degree per mile away form the shoreline occurs naturally here as well – which means that June Gloom or May Gray may strike anywhere at any given time!

Population

The 2010 United States Census reports that Torrance had a population of 145,438. The population density was 7076 people per square mile (2,732/km²). The racial makeup of Torrance is 74333 Whites (51%), 50240 Asians (34.5%), 3995 African Americans(2.75%) and 554 American Indians (.4%). Hispanic or Latino comprise 23440 persons while non-Hispanic whites form 42%of the total citizens in this census report with 144292 residing here.(99%and 2 % living respectively.) The 2010 United States Census reported that there were 145,438 residents in Torrance as well as an average population density number which reads at 2700 people per sq mi.

Torrance Economy

Torrance is home to many companies that produce automotive parts including a headquarters for Honda, as well as helicopters. There are also over three dozen other diverse industries based in Torrance from fishing equipment manufacturers and even aerospace fasteners. The Del Amo Fashion Center is one of the largest malls in the U.S.A. at 2.5 million square feet (232,000 m2). It was built when two separate centers merged together to create a new mega-mall that held this title for over twenty years before being surpassed by other shopping facilities. Built in 1958 on opposite sides of Carson Street with an expansion spanning Carson Street during construction from 1982 onward, it remained one of America’s most popular destinations until 2005 where its east end north of Carson street was demolished to make way for a brand new open air shopping center which opened 2006.

Torrance was once the home to thousands of oil wells and derricks that dotted this major region. Though they’re not as common now, much of Southern California’s gasoline supply comes from PBF Energy Torrance Refinery in North end while it also served an important hub for Pacific Electric Railway with shops located throughout the city.

Torrance has one of the busiest airports in Southern California, and is famous for local track star Louis Zamperini. The airport handles more than 175,000 operations per year (473 a day), but this number used to be much higher with 428,000 takeoffs and landings back in 1974! There are many noise abatement issues; however it’s been successful because Western Museum of Flight moved there after its original location closed down.

Information about Torrance CA Schools.

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