El Segundo

 
Located south of the Los Angeles International Airport. El Segundo in name and situation turns some people off but once you get beyond this, you'll find a charming little city.

The population is 16,864. It's name means "the second". In this instance the second Standard Oil Refinery, built in 1917. Standard, now Chevron, remains a big presence, controlling on the south side about half of El Segundo. Down through the years, a small community covering about 550 acres grew up between the refinery and the airport and, because the town had a strong tax base and corporate sponsors, it did an excellent job of installing parks and amenities.

El Segundo has a library, recently renovated, a seniors' center, a swimming pool, a driving range, a golf course and about half/dozen parks. The city recreational department offers many activities for children, teens and adults. Secluded, intimate town, close to everything, but buffered by the airport and the major industries, seemingly stuck off by it self. It's on the Pacific and has a short drive to some of the finest beached in L.A. County.

El Segundo has its own school district, including one elementary, one middle and one high school. Scores generally run from the 80th to 90th percentile. This indicates strong support for education. A $24 million bond passes in 1997 to renovate their schools. Center Elementary, in 2000, was split into Center Street Elementary and Richmond Street Elementary schools. The town also has a parochial school.

There were zero homicides between 1995 and 1999. Counts for previous years are 1, 1, 0, 1, 2. This city has its own police department.

About 25 percent of the town's housing was built before 1950. About 40 percent was built between 1950 and 1970 and the rest over the last 30 years. The great majority of the single homes have two and three bedrooms. About two dozen homes are positioned along the beach bluff's to command views of the ocean. The rest of the town is built along gently sloping land away from the beach. The state in 2000 counted 7,362 housing units, 293 single attached, 3,887 multiples (many of them hotel rooms), one mobile. In the 1990's, El Segundo's population increased by 1,5000 people and its housing stock by 175 units.

It has a short commute for many because the town is surronded by and includes job producing offices and industries. It also has several major hotels.

For commuters going to downtown L.A., the drive is about 20 miles. Check out the plane noise. The Chamber of Commerce number is 310-322-1220.

El Segundo Links

El Segundo City Guide 
El Segundo Unified Schood District: