LONG BEACH HISTORY • 1784 to 1988
From its settlement as part of a massive Spanish land grant to celebrating its Centennial
1784:
The area that is now Long Beach was first settled as part of a massive Spanish land grant to soldier Manuel Nieto, encompassing the historic 28,000-acre Rancho Los Alamitos and its sister rancho, 27,000-acre Rancho Los Cerritos.
1866:
Rancho Los Cerritos was sold to Lewellyn Bixby and then managed by his brother Jotham. The Bixby family soon became prominent ranchers and developers of Long Beach.
1882:
Long Beach, originally planned as Willmore City by developer William Willmore, began forming along the coast.
1885:
Competition between the new Santa Fe Railroad and older southern Pacific Railroad attracted hordes of visitors to Long Beach and created a real estate boom.
1888:
Original residents of the foiled Willmore City renamed their town Long Beach, after its long, wide beaches, and the city became incorporated.
1902:
The introduction of the Pacific Electric trolley caused the city to grow both as a resort and commercial center.
1902:
From 1902 to 1910 Long Beach was the fastest growing city in the United States.
1911:
The Port of Long Beach was established.
1921:
Oil was discovered on Signal Hill and Long Beach flourished with a million-dollar-per-month building boom downtown.
1933:
Long Beach was struck by a major earthquake. Downtown Long Beach was rebuilt in Art Deco style.
1941:
The U.S. Naval Shipyard dry dock built to service the largest naval ships.
1947:
The first and only flight of Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose, the world's largest airplane, took off over Long Beach Harbor.
1949:
California State University Long Beach was founded.
1962:
The Long Beach Arena opens.
1967:
The city of Long Beach purchased Cunard's former luxury cruise liner, the Queen Mary, to be docked in Long Beach Harbor as a major tourism attraction and hotel.
1975:
The city embarked on a 25-year multi-billon dollar redevelopment program.
1975:
The first Long Beach Grand Prix auto race takes place on downtown streets.
1978:
The Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center opened, adjacent to the Long Beach Arena. The complex includes the Terrace Theater, Center Theater, 14 meeting rooms and 88,000 square feet of exhibit hall space.
1982:
Shoreline Village, the Downtown Shoreline Marina and Shoreline Park opened.
1983:
The Spruce Goose was moved from its hidden hangar to be exhibited in the world's largest geodesic dome adjacent to the Queen Mary.
1984:
Long Beach was the site for four Olympic events during the Los Angeles Olympics--yachting, volleyball, fencing and archery.
