Torrance is a US city in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, California. Torrance has 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of beaches in the Pacific Ocean. Torrance has a moderate climate throughout the year with warm temperatures, sea breezes, low humidity, and average rainfall of 12.55 inches per year.
Since its founding in 1921, Torrance has evolved into an estimated population in 2013 of 147,000. This high-tech and light industrial city has 90,000 street trees and 30 city parks. Known for its low crime rate, the city is consistently located among the safest cities in Los Angeles County. Torrance is the birthplace of the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO). In addition, Torrance has the second highest percentage of Japanese ancestors in California (8.9%).
Video Torrance, California
History
Torrance was originally part of the original homeland of the American Tongva for thousands of years. In 1784, the Spanish land grant for Rancho San Pedro, in Las Californias Province over New Spain and covering the current Torrance, was awarded to Juan Jose Dominguez by King Carlos III of the Spanish Empire. It was subsequently split in 1846 with Governor PÃÆ'o Pico giving Rancho de los Palos Verdes to JosÃÆ'Â © Loreto and Juan Capistrano Sepulveda, in the Alta California region of free Mexico.
In the early 1900s, real estate developers Jared Sidney Torrance and other investors saw the value of creating a mixed-housing industry community in southern Los Angeles. They bought a portion of a Spanish land grant and hired landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. to design the planned community. The resulting city was founded in October 1912 and named after Mr. Torrance. The city of Torrance was officially established in May 1921, the townsite was originally constrained by Western Avenue in the east, Del Amo Boulevard to the north, Crenshaw Boulevard to the west, and south by Plaza Del Amo to the east where he met Carson. Street, and by Carson Street to the west where he meets Plaza Del Amo. The first residential street made in Torrance is Gramercy and the second street is Andreo. Many of the houses on this street change 100 years in 2012. Both streets are located in an area called Torrance Old Town. This Torrance section is under review to be classified as a historic district. Several early civil and residential buildings were designed by renowned and innovative Southern California architect Irving Gill, in their distinctive combination with Mission Revival and early Modernist architecture.
Maps Torrance, California
Geography
Torrance is a coastal community in the southwest of Los Angeles County sharing climate and general geographical features into the Greater Los Angeles area. The boundaries are: Redondo Beach Boulevard and the towns of Lawndale and Gardena to the north; Western Avenue and the Los Angeles Harbor Harbor neighborhood to the east; Palos Verdes Hills with Lomita towns, Rolling Hills Estates, and Palos Verdes Estates in the south; and the Pacific Ocean and the city of Redondo Beach to the west.
It is about 20 miles (32 km) southwest of Downtown Los Angeles.
Torrance Beach is located between Redondo Beach and Malaga Cove in Santa Monica Bay. The southern stretch of Torrance Beach, in a bay on the northern tip of the Palos Verdes peninsula, is known locally as Rat Beach.
The urban wetland, Marsh Madrona, is a nature reserve on land once designated for oil production and saved from development, with restoration projects that increase critical habitat for birds, wildlife, and native plants. The Nature Center provides activities, information, and classes for school children and visitors of all ages.
Climate
Torrance has a Mediterranean climate or Subtropical Summer Dry (climate classification KÃÆ'¶ppen Csb on the beach).
The rainy season is November to March, as shown in the adjacent table.
The Los Angeles area is also subject to typical microclimate phenomena. Thus, temperatures may vary as much as 18 °, Â ° F (10 ° C,) between the inland and coastal regions, with a temperature gradient over one degree per mile (1.6 km) from the inland coast. California also has a weather phenomenon called "June Gloom or May Gray," which sometimes brings cloudy or cloudy skies in the morning on the beach, followed by a clear sky during the day during late spring and early summer.
Demographics
2010
The US Census 2010 reported that Torrance had a population of 145,438. Population density was 7,076.1 persons per square mile (2.732.1/km ²). Torrance's race makeup is 74,333 (51.1%) White, 50,240 (34.5%) Asian, 3.955 (2.7%) African American, 554 (0.4%) Native American, 530 (0.4%) The Pacific Islands, 7,808 (5.4%) of the other races, and 8,018 (5.5%) of two or more races. Hispanic or Latino race of any 23,440 people (16.1%), while non-Hispanic whites make up 42.3% of the population.
The Census reported that 144,292 people (99.2% of the population) live in households, 506 (0.3%) live in unembienced groups, and 640 (0.4%) are institutionalized.
There were 56,001 households, of which 18,558 (33.1%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 29,754 (53.1%) were married couples living together, 6,148 (11.0% ) has a husbandless female household today, 2,510 (4.5%) have male households without a wife. There are 2,152 (3.8%) unmarried partnerships, and 309 (0.6%) married couples or married couples. 14,472 households (25.8%) were made up of individuals and 5,611 (10.0%) had someone living alone 65 or older. The average household size is 2.58. There were 38,412 families (68.6% of all households); the average family size is 3.14.
The population was spread with 31,831 people (21.9%) under the age of 18, 10,875 people (7.5%) aged 18 to 24, 38,296 (26.3%) aged 25 to 44, 42,710 (29.4%) aged 45 to 64 years. , and 21,726 people (14.9%) aged 65 years or older. The median age was 41.3 years. For every 100 females, there are 94.7 males. For every 100 women age 18 and over, there are 91.8 men.
There were 58,377 houses with an average density of 2,840.3 per square mile (1,096.6/km²), of which 31,621 (56.5%) were occupied owners, and 24,380 (43.5%) were occupied by tenants. Homeowner vacancy rate is 0.8%; rental vacancy rate is 5.3%. 85,308 people (58.7% of the population) live in housing units occupied by owners and 58,984 people (40.6%) live in rental housing units.
During 2009-2013, Torrance had an average household income of $ 77,061, with 7.4% of the population living below the federal poverty line.
2000
In the 2000 census, there were 137,946 people, 54,542 households, and 36,270 families living in the city. Population density was 6,715.7 souls per square mile (2.593.1/km²). There are 55,967 housing units with an average density of 2,724.7 per square mile (1,052.0/km²). City racial makeup is 59.2% White, 28.6% Asian, 2.2% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.4% Pacific Island, 4.6% of other races, and 4 , 7% of two or more races. 12.8% of the population is Hispanic or Latino from any race.
There were 54,542 households where 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 10.3% had non-husbands female households, and 33.5% were not family. 27.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.1% have someone living alone 65 or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city, the population is spread by 23.0% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% years or more. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females, there are 94.7 males. For every 100 women age 18 and over, there are 91.5 men.
The average income for households in cities in 2008 was $ 79,312, and the average income for families was $ 98,473. Men have an average income of $ 50,606 compared to $ 36,334 for women. The per capita income for the city is $ 39,118. Approximately 4.7% of families and 5.4% of the population are below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under the age of 18 and 7.4% of those aged 65 years or older.
Japanese
In 2014, Torrance City has the second largest concentration of Japanese ethnic population in every US city, after Honolulu. The city has the headquarters of Japanese car makers and other Japanese corporate offices. Because of this many Japanese restaurants and other Japanese cultural offerings are in town, and Willy Blackmore from L.A. Weekly writes that Torrance "is basically Japan's 48th prefecture". A Mitsuwa supermarket, a Japanese school, and Japanese banks serve the community.
In the pre-World War II period the South Bay region was one of the few areas that allowed non-US citizens to acquire property, so the Japanese presence came. According to John Kaji, a Torrance resident who was quoted on Public Radio International who was the son of the first accountant based in America, the presence of a Japanese company in Torrance, starting with Toyota, attracted many ethnic Japanese. Toyota moved its operations to the Torrance campus in 1982 due to its proximity to Long Beach Port and Los Angeles International Airport, and followed by many other Japanese companies. In 2014 Toyota announces the move to US headquarters to Plano, Texas.
Korean
In 1992 about 60% of the Korean population in the South Bay region lived in Torrance and Gardena. In 1990, 5,888 ethnic Koreans lived in Torrance, an increase of 256% from the 1980 figure of 1,652 ethnic Koreans.
Economy
Torrance is the headquarters of Japanese American automaker Honda Motor Company in the US. Robinson Helicopters is designed and built in Torrance as well as the Garrett Honeywell turbocharger, which is used in car engines around the world. Alcoa Fastening Systems (now known as Arconic) is headquartered in Torrance, producing aerospace fasteners. Pacific Sales, Pelican Products, and Rapiscan Systems are among other companies based in Torrance.
According to the Main Entrepreneurs in California in 2012, the 10 largest employers (and number of employees) of the city are:
Del Amo Fashion Center, with an area of ​​2.5 million square feet (232,000 m²), is one of the five largest malls in the United States by a retractable area. The mall is currently created when the Del Amo Center, built in 1958, joined Del Amo Fashion Square, built in 1972. After being opposite Carson Street, the giant expansion of the mall that included Carson Street joined the two centers in 1982, making it the largest mall in the world at that time. In 2005, the eastern end of the original mall north of Carson Street was destroyed to pave the way for a new open-air shopping center, opened in mid-September 2006. This was followed in 2015 by the opening of the expanded northern Wing Mode. , with Nordstrom as an anchor mall and equipped by luxury retailers like Kate Spade, Hugo Boss, Uniqlo, Michael Kors, and Ben Bridge.
As a major oil-producing region, Torrance was once filled with thousands of oil wells and oil mining. Although the oil well is not as common as it once was, the ExxonMobil refinery at the northern end of the city is responsible for much of the supply of Southern California gasoline. Torrance is also an important hub and Pacific Electric Railway store site.
Torrance has a public aviation airport, originally named only "Torrance Airport" and has since renamed Zamperini Field after the local track star, World War II hero and Torrance High Louis Zamperini graduate. The airport handles about 175,000 take-offs and annual landings (473 per day), down from a 1978 record of 428,000 operations. Airport noise reduction is a major local issue. In 2007, the Museum of Western Flight moved to Zamperini Field.
Torrance is also home to a major bakery facility for King's Hawaiian, Hawaii's dominant bakery brand in North America. Young Optics, the 10 largest corporations in Torrance, are credited with creating the first invisible or "invisible" bifocal, a precursor to all progressive lenses.
In addition to the presence of large companies, there is a strong small business community in the city. According to the Fundera 2016 study, Torrance was ranked the 3rd best city in California for a small business.
Mitsuwa Marketplace Headquarters and Nijiya Market is located in Torrance,
Foreign company operations
All Nippon Airways operates its headquarters in the United States, a customer relations and service office, in Torrance.
Toyota opened its first overseas office in Hollywood in 1957, and sold 257 cars in the US. The company moved Toyota Motor Sales USA operations to Torrance in 1982, due to easy access to LAX port and airport facilities. In 2013, sales reached 2.2 million vehicles in the US. By 2014, the company announced it will move its 3,000 white-collar employees to Plano, Texas, near Dallas, to get closer to American factories. Many other Japanese companies follow Toyota to Los Angeles, because of its location and its reputation as a national trend-setter.
The Los Angeles South Bay area, in 2014, has the largest concentration of Japanese companies in the United States.
Art and culture
The Armed Forces Day Parade at Torrance, first produced in 1960, is the longest military parade sponsored by a city. It is held annually on Armed Forces Day, and flows on Torrance Boulevard. This parade features military vehicles, school bands, and prominent community members.
The Torrance Cultural Arts Center hosts cultural events throughout the year. In partnership with the City of Torrance, the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation (TOCA) provides a variety of cultural, educational, and entertainment experiences. Additional performances are provided by the Torrance Performing Arts Consortium, including Aerospace Players, Torrance Art Museum, Los Cancioneros Master Chorale, South Bay Ballet, South Bay Conservatory, and The Torrance Symphony.
In the 2010 Rose Parade, City of Torrance entries won the Lathrop K. Leishman trophy upon the Garden of Dreams float, rated "Most Beautiful Non-Commercial" float. In 2011, Torrance won the Tournament Volunteers' Cup for best flower theme designs under 35 feet in length. In 2012, city entries won the Governor's Cup for the best depiction of life in California. In 2015, an entry honoring Rose Parade Grand Marshal Louis Zamperini won the Theme trophy for excellence in presenting the parade theme. In 2016, City of Torrance float won the Princess trophy for the most beautiful float 35 feet down.
Historic Buildings
This Torrance Landmark is in the List of National Historic Places:
- Main Building (Torrance High School) - Mediterranean Awakening Architecture, 1917 and 1921
- The Original Science Building - The Current Economic Home Building (Torrance High School)
- Auditorium (Torrance High School) - Streamline Moderne, 1938
- Torrance Elementary School - The Current College Pavilion - The Mediterranean Awakening
- Pacific Electric Railroad Bridge - designed by Irving Gill, 1913
Parks and recreation
City Park
The Torrance City Park Department directs and maintains thirty Torrance City Parks. They include:
- Wilson Park - a 44 acre park (0.18 km 2 ) has picnic and sports facilities, including gymnasium, skate park and roller-hockey arena. Wilson Park also hosts the Torrance Farmers Market.
- The Southern California Live Steamers Miniature Railroad is located in the southeast corner of Charles H. Wilson Park. A free train ride on a miniature live steam train is actually provided on the first Sunday and the third Saturday of every month and the 4th of July. SCLS was one of the first live vapor clubs in California that began in 1946 with original members such as Walt Disney, Olie Johnston, and Ward Kimball, all of Disney's fame. The club moved to Torrance in 1986 after leaving the Lomita Train Museum property.
- Madrona Marsh Wildlife Preserve & amp; Nature Center - Southern rare Southern California wetland habitat with higher indigenous peoples, wildlife and birdwatching, and a natural center with natural park classes.
- Columbia Park - a large urban recreational park features picnic areas, field sports facilities, walking trails, jogging tracks, and competitive cross country runs of horse racing. The forest of sakura trees, part of the Living Tree Dedication program, is at Columbia Park.
- Torrance Smart Gardening Center - Columbia Park has a Community Park that provides crop beds and "community" for residents. It is one of twelve Garden Centers operated by areas around the region. Columbia Park also serves as home to the Home Garden Learning Center, and is a backyard composting demonstration center provided by Los Angeles County.
- Park Tribute Living Garden Program - The Torrance Living Dedicated Tree Program Program is coordinated and by the city, so families, individuals and groups can sponsor new tree plantings in the park to honor a person or commemorate the event with the respect of the Dedicated Tree life.
- Torrance Beach Park, and beaches along Pacific Coast Torrance, known as "RAT Beach".
- The Marvin Braude Bike Trail, a paved bike trail that runs mostly along the Pacific Ocean coastline in Los Angeles County, ends there.
Government and infrastructure
Local government
The city of Torrance is a charter city. The original city charter was elected and ratified by eligible voters in the elections held on August 20, 1946, and submitted to the Secretary of State on 7 January 1947. The selected elected officers of the city were mayors, six members of the City Council, five members of the Education Council, the City Clerk and Treasurer of the City.
Using the council-manager form of government, the City Council, as an elected body, adopts legislation, establishes policies, issues prosecutions, and determines city budgets. The City Council appoints City Manager and City Counsel. The city has 13 appointed councils and commissions that advise the council on matters of local concern, such as city airports, art, parks and libraries.
The city government is supported by a general fund budget of about $ 160 million. According to the 2007-08 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city's various funds have $ 193 million in Revenue, $ 167 million in expenditure, $ 179 million in total assets, $ 56 million in total liabilities, and $ 140 million in cash in investments.
Postal services
The United States Postal Service operates the Torrance Post Office at 2510 Monterey Street, Marcelina Post Office at 1433 Marcelina Avenue, Walteria Post Office at 4216 Pacific Coast Highway, North Torrance Post Office at 18080 Crenshaw Boulevard and Del Amo Post Office at 291 Del Amo Fashion Square. Postal code 90277, 90501, 90503, 90504, 90505.
Health Care
There are two major hospitals in Torrance: Torrance Memorial Medical Center and Little Company of Mary Hospital. The third hospital, the Health Care Center of the Los Angeles County Health Department, UCLA Medical Center, is located outside the city limits (in unrelated West Carson).
The Los Angeles County Health Services Department operates the Torrance Health Center at Harbor Gateway, Los Angeles.
Emergency services
Fire
- Torrance Fire Department seven Machine Companies, five Paramedical Rescue teams, and two Trucking Companies. The department operates six Fire Stations providing fire and EMS coverage for City and Mutual Assistance to surrounding communities. The Torrance Memorial Medical Center, the Little Company of Mary Hospital, the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, the Kaiser Hospital-South Bay, and the Memorial Hospital of Gardena received hospitals for residents in Torrance calling 911 for medical help. This department is the 1st Class Fire Department, the Chief Fire Officer is Martin Serna. Ambulance transportation is provided through McCormick Ambulance.
Police
- The Torrance Police Department provides 24-hour law enforcement coverage to the city. The department is divided into four main divisions, each with its own subdivisions. The department has one main station located at the Civic Center near City Hall. It's home office administration, city jail, and public security delivery center. This department works with other local law enforcement agencies for SWAT training and operations. The police chief is Eve R. Irvine.
- Torrance operates its own 911 shipping center located at the police station, and is responsible for all 911 calls from Torrance. The communications center answers emergency and non-emergency calls as well as requests for assistance other than shipments for both Fire and Police Offices.
Public library
The city of Torrance operates a major library facility (named after former mayor Katy Geissert) in the city of Civic Center, plus five branches in locations across the city.
Transportation
Highways and highways in the region include I-110, I-405, SR 91, SR 107, and SR 1. The city is serviced by Torrance Transit, LACMTA Metro bus, and LADOT.
Zamperini Field (IATA: TOA ICAO: KTOA) is a public aviation airport. The commercial airline service is 15 minutes away at Los Angeles International Airport and Long Beach Airport. Railway transportation includes those carrying Union Pacific and BNSF along the Harbor Subdivision line.
State and federal representations
In the California State Senate, Torrance is divided between the Senate District to 26, represented by Democrat Ben Allen, and the 35th Senate District, represented by Democrat Steven Bradford. In the California State Assembly, in the 66th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Al Muratsuchi.
In the United States House of Representatives, Torrance is divided between California's 33rd congress district, represented by Democrat Ted Lieu, and California's 43rd congress district, represented by Democrat Maxine Waters.
Education
Primary and secondary schools
Public schools
Torrance Unified School District (TUSD) was established in 1947 and united in 1948. The district consists of Torrance City, bordering the Palos Verdes Peninsula to the south, the cities of Redondo Beach and Gardena to the north, the City of Los Angeles (Harbor Gateway) at east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The district jurisdiction covers about 21 square miles (54 km 2 ), and operates 17 elementary schools, eight secondary schools, five secondary schools (one of which is a secondary school), three adult education centers, and a development center child.
The five sub-district schools of the Torrance District Delegation are:
- Torrance High School
- High School North
- South SMA
- West SMA
- Kurt Shery High School (continued)
The Eight Schools of the Eight School District District are:
- Calle Mayor Middle School
- Casimir Secondary School
- Bert Lynn Middle School
- Hull Secondary School
- Jefferson Secondary School
- Madrona Middle School
- Magruder Middle School
- Richardson Secondary School
Elementary School 17 of 17 The Torrance United Elementary School is:
- Hickory Elementary School
- John Adams Elementary School
- Torrance Elementary School
- Howard Wooden Elementary School
- Anza Primary School
- Arlington Primary School
- Arnold Elementary School
- Carr's Elementary School
- Yukon Elementary School
- Walterian Elementary School
- Riviera Primary School
- The Elementary School Tower
- Fern's Primary School
- Edison Elementary School
- Lincoln Elementary School
- Seaside Elementary School
- Victor Elementary School
The district area has created Southern California Regional Occupational Centers (SCROC) to teach technical classes to their students and local adults. TUSD is a participant feeder district of the California Academy of Mathematics and Science or CAMS, a high school of mathematics and science, run by the Long Beach Unified School District.
Private school
Three private high schools are also located in Torrance:
- Ambassador High School
- Bishop Montgomery High School (managed by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles)
- Pacific Lutheran High School
Eight private primary/secondary schools in Torrance: Ascension Lutheran School, Lutheran Riviera Hall School, Riviera Methodist School, Junior South Bay Academy, Catholic School of the Nativity, First Lutheran School, St. Catholic School James and St. Catherine Laboure Catholic School.
In 1980 LycÃÆ' Â © e FranÃÆ'§ais de Los Angeles purchased a 6.2 hectare (2.5 acre) Parkway Park property, located on the Hollywood Riviera section of Torrance, from TUSD. This property is a Torrance Lycee campus, and by February 1990 the campus had 100 students. In November 1989, Lycee sold the property for $ 2.65 million to Manhattan Holding Co. and is scheduled to transfer his students to his campuses in West Los Angeles. In February 1990 neighbors from the campus site asked Torrance City not to change the zoning of this property. Lycee stated that the campus was closed due to low registration.
At one time, Coastal Christian Schools (now Valor Christian Academy) run a high school campus in Torrance.
Colleges and universities
Torrance is in the El Camino Community College District, although the El Camino College campus is outside the city limits in the unincorporated Village of El Camino. El Camino College was founded in 1947, and the campus includes 126 acres. In 2011, colleges enrolled more than 25,000 students each semester.
Other education
In 1980 Asahi Gakuen, a weekend Japanese language institution, began renting space at South Torrance High School. School continues to use the school for Torrance Campus (?????? T? Ransu-k? ).
Media
The Los Angeles Times is a metropolitan regional newspaper.
The Daily Breeze, a 70,000-daily newspaper, was published in Torrance. It serves the cities of South Bay in Los Angeles County. The slogan is "LAX to LA Harbor". Herald Publications, the media group started the Torrance Tribune , the community newspaper, which started in November 2010, has a distribution of 15,000 newspapers to home and single family businesses in Torrance City, only.
Torrance CitiCABLE, shown on KNET 25.2, Spectrum 3, Frontier FiOS 31 is a government access channel. Programming includes news, sports, entertainment, information, public affairs, city council meetings.
Famous people
Twin Cities
In 1973, Torrance established a sister-city relationship with Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan, as part of the Sister Cities International program. Since then, Torrance residents regularly engage in cultural exchange with Kashiwa through the guidance of the Torrance Sister City Association, which facilitates the Japanese cultural festival, the annual student exchange program, and contact between officials of both cities. SMA North is the official high school of Kashiwa High School.
See also
References
External links
- Official website
- Find Torrance, Official Visitors Bureau for Torrance, California
- City-Data.com: Torrance information page
- Torrance City in the Wayback Machine (archived October 31, 1996)
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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