PROFILE AND STATISTICS

Redondo Beach is a city in Los Angeles County, California. The population of this beach city was 66,748 at the 2010 census. The City is located in the South Bay region of the greater Los Angeles area and is one of the three beach cities, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. There are five districts, each represented by one Council Member.

The City's primary attraction is its municipal pier, which is claimed to be one of the longest piers in North America. Its nicknames are the "Endless Pier" and "Horseshoe Pier", and it is popular with both tourists and fishermen. The pier's length is possible only because of its unusual shape (it does not go straight out to sea, but goes out diagonally and then returns to shore). The Redondo Beach Pier started as a reinforced concrete structure in 1914, then was replaced in 1928 with a timber pier. In 1988, the pier was severely battered by storms and later that year burned to the waterline. The pier's modern reinforced concrete version was completed in 1996.

The City's territory has an unusual shape because it controls a long block of land dividing the two other beach cities (Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach) from the inland city of Torrance. Redondo Beach has taken a leadership role in the area of transportation by establishing the Beach Cities Transit system. The system has expanded due to the collaborative efforts of all the beach cities providing north-south service from Redondo Beach Riviera Village to the LAX City Bus Center, east-west service to Torrance and connecting regionally to the western terminus of the Metro Rail Green Line.

Before 1784, Native Americans occupied the Redondo area. They lived off the sea and used the salt flats located where the AES Corporation power plant is today. This Native American land became Rancho San Pedro in 1784 when the California government made it part of a large land grant to the Juan Jose Dominguez family.

In 1890, the Hotel Redondo opened. The City was becoming “The Place” for tourists. Railroads and steamships brought people by the thousands, not to mention freight loads of oil and lumber. At this time, Redondo was the first port of Los Angeles County. Steamers from the Pacific Steamship Company stopped at Redondo four times a week, at one of its three piers, as part of regular runs between San Francisco and San Diego. The Redondo Railway Company and the Santa Fe Railroad left Los Angeles daily for Redondo at regular intervals. Eventually the City was served by Henry Huntington’s Big Red Electric Cars.

On April 18, 1892, Redondo voters adopted cityhood by a vote of 177-10. The first City Hall was built in 1908 at Benita and Emerald Street.

Big time gambling, complete with mobsters and shooting incidents, found its way to Redondo during the Depression. Chip games, bingo parlors, and a casino were run in full view of the law between 1936 and 1940. For a fare of 25 cents, a water-taxi would transport a visitor to the gambling ship Rex which operated three miles off shore.

Redondo’s population boomed in the ‘50s and ‘60s. In 1890, the population was 668; in 1940 it was 13,092; and in 1965 it was 54,772. Today, Redondo citizens number a little over 68,000. Still known as a tourist and resort town, Redondo can boast of piers with fishing and amusements, a Saltwater Lagoon reminiscent of the old plunge, many fine food restaurants and hotels, and a beautiful harbor. But Redondo today is not all fun and games. Some of the best and most innovative schools in the State are located in Redondo. Small and large businesses flourish, and City services are on a par with or exceed those of any other South Bay city.

Redondo Beach is the focus of many who want to be in the sun and near the ocean. Although an affluent and vibrant community in its own right, much of the Redondo Beach lifestyle is a blend of its neighborhoods, activities and people of the three beach cities of Southern California's South Bay. Like its sister cities of Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach, Redondo's key lifestyle draw is the vast beach that links these three cities.

Evidence of the Southern California beach lifestyle abounds: athletic, tanned people enjoying the nearly 300 unbroken days a year of sunshine lounging on the beach, eating in the restaurants, shopping at the mall or playing in the parks.

A wide sand beach starts below the bluffs of Palos Verdes in the south and carries north to the Redondo Pier. A paved path, called The Strand runs from South Redondo north to Santa Monica. A typical day on this path will see thousands of people on foot, bicycle, skateboard, rollerblade, wheelchair and stroller enjoying the sun and surf. The continuous path is broken only by the massive Redondo Beach King Harbor Marina and Pier complex, where it veers away from water and onto dedicated lanes of surface streets for about a mile before again turning to the ocean in Hermosa Beach. Continuing north from Manhattan Beach, this path stretches well into Marina Del Rey and beyond with few breaks.

Surfing is a key element of the South Bay lifestyle year-round; it is common to see locals catching waves on both Christmas and New Year's Day. Powerful winter storms in the Pacific Ocean can turn typically placid and rolling South Bay waves into large and occasionally dangerous monsters...a natural draw for the local surfing population. Local wave heights in December 2005 were some of the largest on record and, in some instances, were reported to top 15 to 20 feet.

Beach volleyball is another important aspect of Redondo Beach's lifestyle. The wide and flat sand beaches provide the perfect venue for the sport and permanent poles and nets are placed and maintained by the City year-round. Professional tournaments managed by the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) take place in neighboring Hermosa and Manhattan Beach. Redondo Beach is home to Gold Medalist Kerri Walsh and AVP Pro Casey Jennings.

In recent years, Redondo Beach has grown in popularity to filming production. The Pirates of the Caribbean 3 production chose Redondo Beach to shoot many scenes. In 2006 "Medium" crews were shooting at a local coffee shop. Fox's "The OC" filmed at Redondo Union High School and local parks. Rob Schnider's "The Hot Chick" (2002) has a memorable scene when Rob falls down a long row of benches at Redondo High's football field.

Redondo Beach is often divided into two logical North/South areas with 190th Street as its boundary line. South Redondo plays host to the pier and marina/harbor complex; life on the ocean side of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) can be frenetic with restaurants and boating activities keeping people active and engaged at all times. Inland of PCH is largely residential.

Bordering North/South Redondo at the Marina is a massive power plant which has been the source of substantial political debate in the City over the last decade, largely centered over what to do with the land once the plant becomes inactive. This power plant sports a 586ft. x 95ft. whale mural by world-famous artist Wyland titled "Gray Whale Migration".

North Redondo begins north of 190th Street. As a result of Redondo Beach's geography, North Redondo is primarily an inland experience as the beachfronts form most of Hermosa Beach and part of Manhattan Beach. While primarily residential, North Redondo contains some of the City's major industry and commercial space, including the inland aerospace and engineering firms that are part of Southern California's long space legacy. It is also home to the South Bay Galleria shopping center and a revitalized Artesia Boulevard. North Redondo is the home of the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, one of the South Bay's premier cultural facilities. North Redondo is home to nearly two-thirds of the children in Redondo Beach.

Many original homes still stand in Redondo Beach neighborhoods, although there continues to be active redevelopment of multi-family properties and new single-family residences. The newer construction leans towards a more modern style of architecture, likely a reflection of the tastes of affluent buyers that have chosen to make Redondo Beach their home. Zoning has allowed for a mix of developments, providing a varied array of housing options for those wanting to live in our City. The City also boasts an Historic Preservation Program, which preserves homes of certain time periods and styles that still stand as a prime example of the City’s rich history and heritage.  

A revitalized downtown area affectionately termed "Riviera Village" (named after the Hollywood Riviera, the area it is located in) provides locals an opportunity to eat, shop and commune in a quiet atmosphere. Since 2004 several new or newly renovated restaurants have made a positive impact on local options for an on-the-town experience. Downtown also supports a number of independent boutiques and shops specializing in clothing and fashion, as well as at least three wine-tasting galleries. This downtown area is in South Redondo, west of PCH between Avenue I and Palos Verde Blvd.

The marina, harbor and pier complexes are large, planned centers of activity that host restaurants, bars, smaller shops and an arcade. The pier is a common spot for anglers to cast for a local catch; many residents of inland Los Angeles drive to Redondo Beach to take advantage of the long and unique shape of this pier. The City continues to consider options for this area.

According to HdL Coren & Cone, the median real estate prices increased from $610,000 to $1,030,000 between 2011 and 2019. This median sales price is $231,000 higher than the peak price experienced in 2005 at $799,000. Those properties within a short walking distance of the ocean and those with direct, unhindered views have the highest sales price.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the City has a total area of 6.21 mi² (16.08 km²), 6.20 mi² (16.054 km²) of it is land and 0.01 mi² (0.026 km²) of it is water.

As of the census of 2010, there were 66,748 people, 29,011 households, and 16,229 families residing in the City. The population density for the land area was 10,768.7/mi² (compared to 239.1/mi² for the State of California). The racial makeup of the City was 74.6% White, 2.8% African American, 0.4% Native American, 12.0% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 4.1% from other races, and 5.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.2% of the population.

Of the 29,011 households, 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.1% were non-families, 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the City, the population was spread out with 19.3% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 34.7% from 25 to 44, 29.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.3 years. For every 100 females there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.2 males.

The median income for a household (in years 2006-2010) in the City was $91,737, and the per capita money income in past 12 months in 2010 dollars (in years 2006-2010) $50,291. About 5.5% of families (with 13.7% of Californians) are below the poverty level.

Redondo Beach is served by the Redondo Beach Unified School District. Redondo Beach's primary high school is currently the Redondo Union High School. Aviation High School was active from 1957-1982.

ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

The same elements that affect the Los Angeles County will impact Redondo Beach, generally increasing revenue for the City. Because of the stability of the housing market in the beach area and the benefit from a forecasted 3.5% overall statewide increase in home values coupled with an expected continuation of the housing sales increase, property tax, which depends on property values, will continue to increase. The increase in personal income paired with higher employment will push up consumer spending with a resulting increase in sales tax. As with the state in general and prior to the pandemic, tourism was expected to decrease slightly. The pandemic has not yet impacted home values, but housing sales and tourism have decreased significantly.

▪ Redondo Beach is the destination of the road-tripping family in the 2006 movie Little Miss Sunshine.

▪ The popular television show The O.C. used the beach and pier when shooting on location.

▪ Disney's "Even Stevens filmed mall episodes at Redondo Beach's South Bay Galleria. They also used Aviation High School’s track field for its outside gym scenes.

▪ The eponymous race in The Cannonball Run ended in Redondo Beach.

▪ Redondo Beach is mentioned in the song "Surfin' USA" by The Beach Boys.

▪ Redondo Beach is home of the fictional Bird of Paradise Motel in the film The Two Jakes.

▪ Redondo Beach is the birthplace of Jack Black (actor).

▪ Three seasons of the television series Riptide were filmed in King Harbor.

▪ The AES Power Plant was the filming location of Brittany Spears' music video "Crazy", as well as the hit FOX action drama 24, starring Kiefer Sutherland. Also the first "Batman" movie was filmed at the same location.

▪ Chuck Norris opened a Martial Arts studio in Redondo Beach before his career in acting.

▪ Redondo Beach is the subject of a particularly memorable Patti Smith song, covered by Morrissey in 2004 and released as a single in 2005.

▪ The well-known hardcore punk band Black Flag is from Redondo Beach.

▪ The well-known contemporary artist Allan McCollum grew up in Redondo Beach.

▪ Charles Lindbergh attended Redondo Union High School.

▪ Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End with Johnny Depp was filmed off the coast of Redondo Beach.

http://www.redondo.org/in_the_city/history/default.asp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redondo_Beach,_California

http://laedc.org/

http://journal.firsttuesday.us/los-angeles-housing-indicators-2/29229/