Torrance Information

Torrance

One of the many Torrance parks

Torrance is a city incorporated in 1921 and located in the South Bay (southwestern) region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. Torrance has 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of shore-front beaches on the Pacific Ocean, quieter and less well-known by tourists than others on the Santa Monica Bay, such as those of neighboring Redondo Beach and Manhattan Beach. Torrance enjoys a moderate year-round climate with warm temperatures, sea breezes, low humidity and an average rainfall of 12.55 inches per year.

The Torrance population was 149,111 as of the 2009 California Population Estimate, the eighth largest city in Los Angeles County, and the 35th largest in the state of California. The city has become headquarters for such major employers as Honda, Toyota, Epson and Kubota. It is centrally located and only 11 miles south of Los Angeles Airport (LAX). This residential and light-high-tech industries city has 90,000 street trees and 30 city parks.

Local residents have a number of outdoor activities to choose from. The city has 20 parks and a recreation department program with planned activities for young and old. The newly opened Wilson Park Sports Center at Wilson Park (see jpeg photo) has two full-size basketball courts and a 2,760 square foot room for dance, fencing and kendo classes.

Torrance is the headquarters of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy and the birthplace of the AYSO – American Youth Soccer Organization.

Torrance is a coastal community in southwestern Los Angeles County, sharing the climate and geographical features common to the Greater Los Angeles area. Its boundaries are: Redondo Beach Boulevard and the cities of Lawndale and Gardena to the north; Western Avenue and the Harbor Gateway neighborhood of Los Angeles to the east; the Palos Verdes Hills with the cities of Lomita, Rolling Hills Estates and Palos Verdes Estates on the south; and the Pacific Ocean and city of Redondo Beach to the west.

Public facilities at the 1.5-mile lifeguard-patrolled beach attract sunbathers and surfers almost all year. Torrance Beach lies between Redondo Beach and Malaga Cove on the Santa Monica Bay. The region shared by Torrance and Redondo Beaches are often called "Rat beach" (short for "Right After Torrance" Beach or "Redondo and Torrance Beach").

One of the country's few urban wetlands, the Madrona Marsh, is found in Torrance to explore. It is a nature preserve, on land once set for oil production and saved development, with restoration projects enhancing the vital habitat for birds, wildlife, and native plants. A Nature center provides activities, information, and classes for school children and visitors of all ages.

The Torrance Cultural Arts Center offers a wide range of artistic events including opera, ballet, concerts and theatrical productions. Check out the happenings at the James Armstrong Theater - http://www.torranceca.gov/9028.htm

Other annual events include the Torrance Armed Forces Day Parade, traditionally one of the nation's largest and the city's entry in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Pageant. Both events bring together citizens and business leaders for the year-long planning and production process.

In 1973, Torrance established a sister-city relationship with Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan, as part of the Sister Cities International program. Since then, citizens of Torrance have regularly engaged in cultural exchange with Kashiwa through the guidance of the Torrance Sister City Association, which facilitates a Japanese cultural festival, a yearly student exchange program, and contact between officials of the two cities. North High is the official sister high school of Kashiwa Municipal High.

The Torrance Unified School District is noted for academic excellence and students routinely score significantly above the national average. The School District has been recognized for its innovative programs and many of the individual schools are included on the "Annual List of California Exemplary Schools" and have won the coveted "California Distinguished School Award." There are 17 elementary schools, 8 middle schools, 4 high schools (North High, South High, Torrance High, West High), and one special education facility. The city is served by a number of private schools and by El Camino Community College . To check out specific school information, go to www.tusd.org  

Torrance neighborhoods are expansive; with the Four High Schools, creating a boundary for the neighborhoods. North Torrance, Old Torrance, Southeast Torrance East, Southeast Torrance West, Central Torrance, West Torrance, Southwood Tract, South Torrance (Walteria, Country Hills, Seaside Ranchos) and Hollywood Riviera, with homes built since the early 1900’s and many tracts built in the 1950’s.

LOOK Magazine named Torrance "An All American City". Torrance has developed a strategic plan to guide itself in the 21st Century

Back to Top >

Lomita

Lomita Clock

Taking its name from the Spanish word for "little hill", Lomita was founded in 1907, when it was primarily an agricultural area and a popular home for retiring sea captains fro nearby San Pedro. Lomita is primarily a residential community supported by retail businesses and professional offices. The family-oriented lifestyle is very important in Lomita.

Back to Top >

Hawthorne

Named after author Nathaniel Hawthorn, the city was founded in 1905 and incorporated in 1922. It maintains its own fire department, water department, library, and municipal airport. It's parks and recreation department is very active, sponsoring year round activities for young people at its eight neighborhood parks.

Lawndale

Lawndale is located very near the South Bay beaches, LAX, high-tech and aerospace employment, and by virtue of the region's freeway system, residents are convenient to most any Southern California employment opportunity. Lawndale is a small town and an older, family-oriented community. Just ten minutes from the beaches, Lawndale's climate is usually cool and relatively smog-free.

Check out these links for more information:

Request my Free Torrance Relocation Package. It's packed full of useful and important information about the Torrance, California area. Don't move here without it! Remember: I'll send it to you for free and without obligation. Just fill out the form and I will send it right out...