Long Beach CA Moving Companies

Long Beach, California

Situated in beautiful Southern California, Long Beach offers five and a half miles of coastline, an airport servicing national flights, the world’s largest municipally owned marina, a superb aquarium and a professional ice hockey team. The fifth largest city in California, Long Beach is also home to the busiest port in the country, the Port of Los Angeles. When moving to Long Beach, take a drive along Ocean Avenue, Long Beach’s main drag, and experience what 345 days of sunshine a year can do for you.

History:
The city’s original inhabitants were the Tongva people; however, the Spanish claimed the area in 1542. In 1784, the King of Spain gave 300,000 acres of land to soldier Manuel Nieto. This section of land, Rancho Los Cerritos, was later sold to John Temple of Massachusetts in 1843. Temple created a flourishing cattle ranch in the city, making a fortune selling meat to gold miners in the north. When the cattle industry began to experience troubles, sheep ranching became popular until the 1870s when the city of Long Beach was formed. Long Beach was incorporated in 1888 and named for its long, wide beaches. In the early twentieth century, the city became renowned as a seaside resort; and became home to “The Pike,” one of the west coast's most famous beachside amusement parks. The Navy came to town, the oil industry grew and the port soon flourished. In 1947, Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose, the world's largest airplane, made its one and only flight in Long Beach Harbor. The city was also a hub of the early silent film industry, becoming home to Balboa Amusement Producing Company and to silent movie stars Fatty Arbuckle and Theda Bara.

Economy:
Long Beach is a major industrial port, ranked second busiest in the U.S. and 10th busiest in the world. In addition to international trade through the port, high technology has also been an important to the local economy. Major technology and aerospace corporations such Gulfstream and Raytheon have large facilities in Long Beach, and Boeing continues to be the top employer with over 17,000 employees. The City of Long Beach largest employers include the Long Beach Unified School District, Boeing, the City of Long Beach, California State University – Long Beach, and Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. The local, state or federal government employs about 15 percent of the employed civilian population; however less than one percent of the local population working for the government in the agriculture, forestry, fishing and mining industries. The top commercial businesses in Long Beach are Boeing, Gulfstream Aerospace, Verizon and The Bragg Companies. Several local hospitals are also major employers, including Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Pacific Hospital of Long Beach. Tourism has played a major part of the Long Beach’s economy for many years. The city enjoys a hard-working Convention and Visitor Bureau and through their efforts, and the efforts of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the Queen Mary and the Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach attracts more than five million visitors annually..

Tourism:
From the historic Queen Mary and spectacular Aquarium of the Pacific to stirring Broadway shows, live music venues and hundreds of elite dining destinations, there is plenty of fun to be had in Long Beach. Located a short distance from Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood and everything Southern California has to offer, Long Beach is the perfect destination for family exploration. Or, catch a musical at the waterside Long Beach Performing Arts Center, home to the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra and the Long Beach Opera. Next, enjoy ocean views atop the Long Beach Museum of Art, housed in a historic Craftsman mansion and featuring an celebrated museum café and gift shop. Then, check out the legendary Queen Mary. Book the Behind the Scenes Guided Tour of the historic ocean liner and World War II troopship, and see restored areas that have been concealed since the vessels final voyage in 1967. The city’s night scene is like no other: filled with dazzling salsa, jazz, classic rock n’ roll and some of the leading alternative acts. From Latin clubs to jazz and cigar lounges, Long Beach is the perfect place to light up the night.

Colleges/Universities:

• California State University - Long Beach
• Long Beach City College
• Brooks College
• Compton Community College
• Los Angeles Harbor College

Interesting Facts:

• Long Beach averages 345 days of sunshine each year.
• The Queen Mary has been docked in Long Beach Harbor since 1967.
• Long Beach Arena is the site of the world’s largest mural, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. The Wyland Whaling Wall covers the cylindrical structure and is 116,000 square feet.