Population
With a population of 465,000, Long Beach ranks as the 7th largest city in California and the 36th largest in the United States. It has some of the best shoreline, marinas and beaches in Southern California and a superb climate moderated by pleasant ocean breezes. Long Beach is the home of the Queen Mary, the Aquarium of the Pacific, the Long Beach Grand Prix, America’s cargo gateway to the Pacific Rim through the Port of Long Beach (the Nation’s second busiest container port), one of the world’s most environmentally safe off-shore oil operators and numerous major businesses and commercial enterprises.
Long Beach has also been recognized by USA Today as the most diverse city in the United States – one of the city’s strongest assets. The city’s ethnic breakdown is approximately:
40% Hispanic
29% White
14% Black
13% Asian
4% all other ethnicities
Long Beach is strategically located in the Southern California basin and is less than a 30-minute drive to Los Angeles and Orange County business centers. The city is known for its unique neighborhoods, quality schools, excellent hospitals, and noted arts and cultural resources.
Source: City of Long Beach, www.longbeach.gov
Median Household Income
$52,945 (Source: United States Census Bureau)
Unemployment Rate
10.2%
Source: State of CA Employment Development Dept. Preliminary April 2013
Libraries — 12
Parks — 88 (2,125 total acres)
Beach Acreage — 541 (372 acres of navigable waterways)
Golf Courses — 5
Tennis Courts — 69
Climate
Long Beach receives an average of 345 days of sunshine every year.
• January – March: 46-69û
• April – June: 53-77û
• July – September: 63-84û
• October – December: 51-77û
Source: The Weather Channel
Size & Location
Founded in 1888 and incorporated in 1897, Long Beach is approximately 52 square miles in size, located on the southern coast of Los Angeles County bordering Orange County on San Pedro Bay. The city’s center is 22 miles south of downtown Los Angeles and 90 miles north of San Diego.
Higher Education Opportunities
California State University Long Beach, Long Beach City College, DeVry University, Keller Graduate School of Management, Charter College, American Career College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, National Universtiy, WyoTech Long Beach
Marinas
Long Beach Marina, including the Downtown Shoreline Marina, holds 3,400 slips, making it the largest municipally owned and operated marina system in the country. Alamitos Bay Marina holds 1,991 slips.
Major Highways
• 710 Long Beach Fwy (north/south)
• 405 San Diego Fwy (north/south)
• 605 San Gabriel River Fwy (north/south)
• 110 Harbor Fwy (north/south)
• 105 Century Fwy (east/west)
• Route 1 Pacific Coast Hwy (along coastline)
Light Rail
Metro Blue Line: Long Beach to Los Angeles
Metro Green Line: Northern tip of Redondo Beach to Norwalk
Red Line: Union Station to North Hollywood
Gold Line: Chinatown to Sierra Madre Villa
Transit Service
• Greyhound (long distance service)
• Long Beach Transit
• Los Angeles MTA
• Orange County RTD
• Torrance Transit
Airports
• Long Beach Airport (LGB) – 10 min. from downtown
• Los Angeles Airport (LAX) – 25 min. north (23 miles)
• Orange County John Wayne Airport – 35 min. south (27 miles)
Nearby Attractions/Recreation Areas
Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific, Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, Long Beach Marine Stadium, Carnival Cruise Lines, Catalina Island, Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, Universal Studios Hollywood. Visit the Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau website at www.visitlongbeach.com for all the exciting possibilities in Long Beach.
Nearby Professional Sports Teams
Major League Baseball: Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
National Basketball Association: Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers
National Hockey League: Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks