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Huntington Beach, California
is located along the Southern California coast in Orange County, 35 miles south of Los Angeles and 90 miles north of San Diego. The city was originally founded in the late 1800s, but in 1901, two investors visited the area and recognized its’ potential as a west coast resort area rivaling Atlantic City, New Jersey. They acquired 1,500 acres of land for $100,000 and began dividing the area around Main Street into lots. They named their new development “Pacific City.” In 1920, oil was discovered and the small village quickly grew into a full-fledged boomtown. The opening of the Pacific Coast Highway in 1925 opened up access to the 8-½ miles of then virgin beach and the beginnings of “Surf City” had begun. By the 50s and 60s, Huntington Beach was the fastest growing city in the nation. Huntington Beach today has a population of nearly 200,000 residents and is known worldwide for its' surfing. It’s also among the nation's safest cities - often ranked among the Top Ten Safest Cities by City Crime Rankings. The city itself covers 28 square miles of land, 26 square miles of water, and is one of the 20 largest cities in California. With miles of gorgeous, uninterrupted beach, the city is popular with visitors whose numbers reach over 14 million people, with the greatest attendance during summer, special events and weekends. The pier is one of Huntington Beach’s focal points and is the longest and highest recreational pier in California. After being destroyed by storms several times, today’s pier was reconstructed in 1990 to replicate the original 1914 concrete pier, complete with arched bents. The pier was built to withstand wave impact and also earthquakes, and thousands of visitors stroll along the pier each year and enjoy eating at the restaurant located at the end of the pier. The city’s park system also includes 58 public parks, riding stables, three miles of equestrian trails, two golf courses, 72 tennis courts, a marina and a protected wildlife preserve.
The quality of life in Huntington Beach is exceptional. The Huntington Beach Art Center and the Huntington Beach Playhouse provide a wide variety of fine arts, and the excellent library system and numerous museums provide a strong cultural foundation. The educational system, with five city high schools and 35 elementary schools, is excellent. In addition, Golden West College; Orange Coast College; the University of California, Irvine; and California State Universities at Long Beach and Fullerton are located nearby. The city's average family household income is $101,000, the highest in the nation based on the top 100 largest cities in the country. The median age of city residents is 37 years old, and the average price for a home in Huntington Beach exceeds $400,000. The city of Huntington Beach has easy access to Long Beach and all of Orange County, as well as all of the Los Angeles and San Diego attractions, including Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, Catalina Island and the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific.
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