Manhattan Beach, California

   Please take a walk with me in my lovely city by the sea......

Manhattan Beach is located on the Pacific Ocean about 3.5 miles south of Los Angeles International Airport.

Manhattan Beach was incorporated on  December 7, 1912 after some whispers in the ears of the husbands of the ladies of the Neptunian Woman's club.  These special women also started the first library and the first school in our city.  The current Pier was completed in 1920 and is  the oldest cement pier on the west coast. 

In the beginning the city consisted of a few small beach cottages on huge sand dunes that dotted the landscape.  There was no Strand walkway along the beach.  The Santa Fe Railroad ran along the coast through Manhattan  to the Wharf in Redondo at about where the Strand is today. The higher part of the Strand that runs through Manhattan Beach owes much  to the sand dunes that used to make up the beach front and the old Railroad tracks.  Manhattan Beach had so much sand  from the dunes that in the 1920's Kuhn Bros. construction and the territory of Hawaii made a deal where the sand from Manhattan Beach was shipped to Waikiki. 

In Polliwog Park  one of the original homes, built in  1905, has been preserved.  The home is open on weekends and is staffed by a member of the historical society.   More information on the history on Manhattan Beach can be found at  the Historical Society site.

Manhattan Beach is ideally located.  We are close to Santa Monica on the Westside, Century City financial offices and about 20 miles from downtown Los Angeles.  The 405, 105 and 91 Freeways are just minutes from Manhattan Beach.

The city is 3.88 miles square with 2.1 miles of coastline.  Approximately half of the city land is devoted to residential use. The 2000 census put the population close to 34,000.  Our population is a diverse mixture.  We have new people moving to our town each day and older residents who have lived here all their lives.   We have the downtown area with casual beach shops, restaurants and the new Metlox Center. The Manhattan Mall shopping center with theatres and major chain stores is located on Sepulveda.  Along Rosecrans Ave there are restaurants,offices, stores and a new Shopping center at the corner of Rosecrans and Sepulveda.  Technically all building on the north side of Rosecrans is in El Segundo. 

Manhattan Beach Schools are some of the best in California.  The high test scores have brought many families to our community.  We have five elementary schools, one Intermediate School and one High School.   We are proud of our students and teachers and their consistent high levels of scholarship.

Manhattan Beach is the most expensive of the Beach Cities that make up our South Bay Community.   There is almost no vacant land left in the city.  Most new homes are built on property where an older home was torn down.  The city is made up of 5 neighborhoods:

The Sand Section (MLS area 142)  Search for Homes and townhomes/condos

This includes El Porto and runs south to Hermosa Bbeach and is west of Valley drive

The Tree Section ( MLS area 143) Search for homes and townhomes/condos

The Tree section is south of Rosecrans to Manhattan Beach Blvd and is east of Valley Drive and west of Sepulveda

The Hill Section (MLS area 144) Search for homes and townhomes/condos

The Hill Section is west of Sepulveda, South of Manhattan Beach Blvd, North of Longfellow and east of Valley Drive

Manhattan Village (MLS area 145) Search for homes and townhomes/condos

This is the gated housing area between Marine and Rosecrans behind the Manhattan Beach Mall

Manhattan Heights (MLS area 146)  Search for homes and townhomes/condos

Manhattan Heights is  south of Marine, north of Manhattan Beach Blvd, east of Sepulveda and west of Aviation

Mira Costa (MLS area 147)  Search for homes and townhomes/condos

Mira Costa is south of Manhattan Beach Blvd., north of Artesia, west of Sepulveda and west of Aviation.

The value of many older and smaller homes in Manhattan Beach is in the land.  Manhattan Beach is built out with almost no vacant land available for new homes.  There is often not much difference in value between a tear down home and an entry level home because of the lack of land.   Most homes in the sand section near the water are on small lots usually 30x90 .  In the tree section the lots vary in size from 40x 135  to 40x112 and  the average size which is 40x116.  In East Manhattan Beach   most of the lots are 50x150 .. in Manhattan Heights there are a number of lots that are 50x 100.. Most of these are east of Redondo Ave in the Liberty Village neighborhood.  Condos and townhomes are more affordable then single family homes due to the high cost of land in our city.

Our lifestyle is Beach Casual.  Many of the things residents enjoy have to do with our close proximity to the ocean.  Walking downtown and strolling along the Strand is a favorite week end activity.  Surfing is a passion for young and old.  Riding the waves is still a great sport no matter what your age.  Volleyball is played along the beach from El Segundo to South Redondo.  The Hometown Fair is in October and starts with a 10K race that runs through the city. The Fair is adult and kid friendly. If you stroll through the Fair you  eventually will  everyone you know.  The Marine Lab at the end of the Pier offers residents and visitors a chance to become familiar with the various life forms that populate our oceans.   The Manhattan Beach Mall on Sepulveda  has  a number restaurants, shops, Macys, Ralphs Supermarket and CVS Drug store.  

School District

The  public schools in Manhattan Beach are some of the best in the state. There are 5 elementary schools, 1 intermediate and 1 high school in Manhattan Beach.  Test scores are are consistently high and most of our graduates go to a University or College.  

Library

The library is conveniently located in downtown Manhattan Beach next to City Hall and the Fire Department in the Civic Center.  The library is scheduled to be upgraded as soon as funds become available.  The Neptunian Woman's Club has taken on the task of raising funds for the renovation of the library.

City of Manhattan Beach
MEETINGS:
City Council: First and third Tuesday at 6:30 PM
Planning Commission: Second and fourth Wednesday at 6:30 PM
Parks and Recreation: fourth Thursday at 6:30 PM
Cultural Arts Commission: Second Tuesday at 6:00PM Library Commission: Second Monday at 6:30 PM
Parking and Public Improvement: Fourth Thursday at 6:30 PM