LONG BEACH, a city of Los Angeles county, California, U.S.A., on San Pedro bay, 20 m. S. of Los Angeles; a recreation resort and an important industrial and commercial centre. It is served by the Pacific Electric, the Southern Pacific and the Union Pacific railways, and has a well equipped municipal airport of ac., 42 m. from the business district. The land area is 28.8 sq. miles. The population was 2,252 in 1900 and 542,032 in 1930.
In front of the city lies Catalina island, which protects it from the cold winds and violent storms. To the north and west rise the Palos Verdes hills. A wide beach, over 7 m. long, is considered the best on the coast for all-the-year bathing. The fine har bour, with a depth of 4o ft. and 17 sq.m. of anchorage. connects through the Cerritos channel with the Los Angeles harbour, form ing a great commercial gateway, in the development of which the Federal Government and the two municipalities are co-operat• ing. Within the city and its environs is the Signal Hill oil-field
(6,5oo ac.), producing an average of 115,000 bbl. daily. The city owns about of the field, and its annual receipts from royalties are about $1,000,000. An abundant supply of natural gas is available (Ioo,000,000 cu. ft. per day). The manufacturing establishments, which include large steel works, a Ford assembling plant and extensive canneries, had an output in 1925 valued at $25,862,553. Bank clearings in 1927 amounted to $369,056,936, and the assessed valuation of property was $182,052,673.
Long Beach began as a fishing village and a seaside resort. about 1890. It was incorporated as a city in 1897, and has a com mission-manager form of government.