Long Beach, California#Theater

{{For timeline}}

File:Puvunga Indian Village Sites.jpg was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.]]

Indigenous people have lived in coastal Southern California for over 10,000 years, and several successive cultures have inhabited the present-day area of Long Beach. By the 16th-century arrival of Spanish explorers, the dominant group was the Tongva, who had established at least three major settlements within the present-day city. Tevaaxa'anga was an inland settlement near the Los Angeles River, while Ahwaanga and Povuu'nga were coastal villages.{{Cite book | last = McCawley | first = William | title=The First Angelinos: The Gabrielino Indians of Los Angeles | orig-year = 1952 | edition = Paperback | year=1996 | publisher=Malki Museum Press/Ballena Press | isbn=978-0-9651016-0-8}} Povuu'nga was particularly important to the Tongva, not only as a regional trading center and hub for fishermen,{{Cite book |last=Society |first=California Historical |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IIXjAAAAMAAJ |title=California Historical Society Quarterly |date=1966 |publisher=California Historical Society |pages=21–23 |language=en}} but for its deep ceremonial significance, being understood as their place of emergence as a people from which their lives began.{{Cite news |last1=Greene |first1=Sean |last2=Curwen |first2=Thomas |date=May 9, 2019 |title=Mapping the Tongva villages of L.A.'s past |newspaper=LA Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-me-tongva-map/ |access-date=June 19, 2019}}

File:Portrait_of_Don_Juan_Temple,_an_early_owner_of_the_Ranch_Los_Cerritos_in_Long_Beach.jpg purchased Rancho Los Cerritos, covering modern-day Long Beach, in 1843.]]

File:Historic American Buildings Survey, Photographed by Daniel Cathcart, March 8th, 1934. GENERAL VIEW OF NORTH SIDE - Casa de los Cerritos, 4600 American Avenue, Long Beach, Los HABS CAL,19-LONGBN,1-8 (cropped).tif, the oldest building in Long Beach, in a Monterey Colonial style.|172x172px]]

In 1784, the Spanish Empire's King Carlos III granted Rancho Los Nietos to Spanish soldier Manuel Nieto. The Rancho Los Cerritos and Rancho Los Alamitos were divided from this territory. The boundary between the two ranchos ran through the center of Signal Hill on a southwest to northeast diagonal. A portion of western Long Beach was originally part of the Rancho San Pedro. Its boundaries were in dispute for years, due to flooding changing the Los Angeles River boundary between Rancho San Pedro and Rancho Los Nietos.

By 1805, what had been the major Tongva village of Puvunga was thoroughly depleted of villagers, most of whom were brought to Mission San Gabriel for conversion and as a labor force.{{Cite book |last=Guinn |first=James Miller |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xu81AQAAMAAJ |title=History of the State of California and Biographical Record to Oakland and Environs: Also Containing Biographies of Well-known Citizens of the Past and Present |date=1907 |publisher=Historic Record Company |pages=57–59 |language=en |type=Digitized eBook}} Many villagers died at the mission, which had a high rate of death, particularly among children,{{Cite journal |last=Singleton |first=Heather Valdez |date=2004 |title=Surviving Urbanization: The Gabrieleno, 1850–1928 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1409498 |journal=Wíčazo Ša Review |volume=19 |issue=2 |pages=49–59 |doi=10.1353/wic.2004.0026 |jstor=1409498|s2cid=161847670|url-access=subscription }} attributed to many factors like diseases that spread quickly in the close quarters of the mission's walls, as well as torture, malnourishment, and overworking.{{Cite book |last=Pritzker |first=Barry |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/42683042 |title=A Native American encyclopedia : history, culture, and peoples |date=2000 |publisher=Oxford University Press |others=Barry Pritzker |isbn=0-19-513877-5 |location=Oxford |page=114 |oclc=42683042}}

File:Diseño Del Rancho Los Alamitos 1852 Los Cerritos Santa Gertrudis Coyotes Siérritos Bolsas.jpg depicting Ranchos Los Alamitos, Los Cerritos, Santa Gertrudes, Los Coyotes, Las Bolsas, 1852]]

In 1843, Juan Temple bought Rancho Los Cerritos, having arrived in California in 1827 from New England. He built what is now known as the "Los Cerritos Ranch House", a still-standing adobe which is a National Historic Landmark. Temple created a thriving cattle ranch and prospered, becoming the wealthiest man in Los Angeles County. Both Temple and his ranch house played important local roles in the Mexican–American War. On an island in the San Pedro Bay, Mormon pioneers made an abortive attempt to establish a colony (as part of Brigham Young's plan to establish a continuous chain of settlements from the Pacific to Salt Lake).

File:Pine Street, Long Beach (15301961807).jpg at the turn of the century]]

Following the U.S. Conquest of California, Temple had his Rancho Los Cerritos deeded to him by the Public Land Commission. In 1866, Temple sold Rancho Los Cerritos for $20,000 to the Northern California sheep-raising firm of Flint, Bixby & Company, which consisted of brothers Thomas and Benjamin Flint and their cousin Llewellyn Bixby. Two years previous Flint, Bixby & Co had also purchased along with Northern California associate James Irvine, three ranchos which would later become the city that bears Irvine's name. To manage Rancho Los Cerritos, the company selected Llewellyn's brother Jotham Bixby, the "Father of Long Beach". Three years later, Bixby bought into the property and would later form the Bixby Land Company. In the 1870s, as many as 30,000 sheep were kept at the ranch and sheared twice yearly to provide wool for trade. In 1880, Bixby sold {{convert|4,000|acre|km2}} of the Rancho Los Cerritos to William E. Willmore, who subdivided it in hopes of creating a farm community, Willmore City. He failed and was bought out by a Los Angeles syndicate that called itself the "Long Beach Land and Water Company". They changed the name of the community to Long Beach at that time.

File:Long Beach Pier 1905.png

File:Panoramic view of the Long Beach pier, Los Angeles, 1925 (cropped).jpg

The City of Long Beach was officially incorporated in 1897. The town grew as a seaside resort with light agricultural uses.{{cite web|url=http://www.longbeachgrows.org/LongBeachGrows/Long_Beachs_Agricultural_Past.html |title=Long Beach's Agricultural Past: A Brief Summary of Long Beach's Ag History |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515184338/http://www.longbeachgrows.org/LongBeachGrows/Long_Beachs_Agricultural_Past.html |archive-date=May 15, 2011 }} The Pike was the most famous beachside amusement zone on the West Coast from 1902 until 1969; it offered bathers food, games and rides, such at the Sky Wheel dual Ferris wheel and Cyclone Racer roller coaster. Gradually the oil industry, Navy shipyard and facilities and port became the mainstays of the city. In the 1950s it was referred to as "Iowa by the sea", due to a large influx of people from that and other Midwestern states. Huge picnics for migrants from each state were a popular annual event in Long Beach until the 1960s.

Another Bixby cousin, John W. Bixby, was influential in the city. After first working for his cousins at Los Cerritos, J.W. Bixby leased land at Rancho Los Alamitos. He put together a group: banker I.W. Hellman, Llewellyn and Jotham Bixby, and him, to purchase the rancho. In addition to bringing innovative farming methods to the Alamitos (which under Abel Stearns in the late 1850s and early 1860s was once the largest cattle ranch in the US), J.W. Bixby began the development of the oceanfront property near the city's picturesque bluffs. Under the name Alamitos Land Company, J.W. Bixby named the streets and laid out the parks of his new city. This area would include Belmont Heights, Belmont Shore and Naples; it soon became a thriving community of its own. J.W. Bixby died in 1888 of apparent appendicitis. The Rancho Los Alamitos property was split up, with Hellman getting the southern third, Jotham and Llewellyn, the northern third, and J.W. Bixby's widow and heirs keeping the central third. The Alamitos townsite was kept as a separate entity, but at first, it was primarily run by Llewellyn and Jotham Bixby, although I.W, Hellman (who had the largest single share) had a significant veto power, an influence made even stronger as the J.W. Bixby heirs began to side with Hellman more and more.

When Jotham Bixby died in 1916, the remaining {{convert|3,500|acre|km2}} of Rancho Los Cerritos was subdivided into the neighborhoods of Bixby Knolls, California Heights, Los Cerritos, North Long Beach and part of the city of Signal Hill.

Pine Avenue near 4th became the center of a large shopping district. Besides upscale Buffums (1912; expanded 1926),{{cite news |title=New Buffums' Store Opens; 5th Under Way |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56018627/new-buffums-pomona-and-lb-history/ |publisher=Long Beach Independent |date=October 2, 1969 |page=9}} in 1929 alone Barker Brothers, the Hugh A. Marti Co., and Wise Company and Famous department stores built large new stores,{{cite news |title=$7 Million Spent for Building Downtown in 1929 |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-nov-04-1959-4370500/ |access-date=March 19, 2024 |work=Press-Telegram |publisher=Press-Telegram (reprinted in November 4, 1959, edition) |date=December 31, 1929 |location=Long Beach, California |page=33}}{{cite news |title=Long Beach Marks Record-Breaking Era in Construction |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56020026/long-beach-marks-record-breaking-era-in/ |work=Los Angeles Times |date=July 7, 1929}} Walker's (1933), and nearby at American and 5th, Sears (1928) and Montgomery Ward (1929). It would remain popular until suburban malls sprung up starting in the 1950s. (see also: History of Retail in Southern California)

Oil was discovered in 1921 on Signal Hill, which split off as a separately incorporated city shortly afterward. The discovery of the Long Beach Oil Field, brought in by the gusher at the Alamitos oil well#1, made Long Beach a major oil producer; in the 1920s the field was the most productive in the world.Schmitt, R. J., Dugan, J. E., and M. R. Adamson. "Industrial Activity and Its Socioeconomic Impacts:

Oil and Three Coastal California Counties." MMS OCS Study 2002-049. Coastal Research Center, Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California. MMS Cooperative Agreement Number 14-35-01-00-CA-31603. 244 pages; p. 47. In 1932, the even larger Wilmington Oil Field, fourth-largest in the United States, and which is mostly in Long Beach, was developed, contributing to the city's fame in the 1930s as an oil town.{{Cite FTP | title = Oil and Gas Statistics: 2007 Annual Report | date = December 31, 2007 | url = ftp://ftp.consrv.ca.gov/pub/oil/annual_reports/2007/0102stats_07.pdf | server = California Department of Conservation | url-status = dead | access-date = August 25, 2009 }}{{Cite news|url=https://www.kcet.org/shows/city-rising/a-history-of-housing-practices-in-long-beach|title=A History of Housing Practices in Long Beach|date=September 13, 2017|work=KCET|access-date=November 14, 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114060805/https://www.kcet.org/shows/city-rising/a-history-of-housing-practices-in-long-beach|archive-date=November 14, 2018|url-status=live}}

The M6.4 1933 Long Beach earthquake caused significant damage to the city and surrounding areas, killing a total of 120 people. Most of the damage occurred in unreinforced masonry buildings, especially schools. Pacific Bible Seminary (now known as Hope International University) was forced to move classes out of First Christian Church of Long Beach and into a small local home due to damage.{{cite web|url=http://library.hiu.edu/pbs/pbs.htm|title=Pacific Bible Seminary|work=hiu.edu|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331064031/http://library.hiu.edu/pbs/pbs.htm|archive-date=March 31, 2012}}

File:LongBeachFord.jpg's Long Beach Assembly in 1930]]

File:Woman worker in the Douglas Aircraft Company plant1942.jpg plant, Long Beach, 1942. Photo by Alfred T. Palmer.|left]]

File:Douglas Aircraft plant, Long Beach, CA.tiff transport planes being built in the Douglas Aircraft Company plant in Long Beach during World War IIParker, Dana T. Building Victory: Aircraft Manufacturing in the Los Angeles Area in World War II, p. 47, Cypress, CA, 2013. {{ISBN|978-0-9897906-0-4}}.]]

The Ford Motor Company built a factory called Long Beach Assembly at the then address in 1929 as "700 Henry Ford Avenue, Long Beach" where the factory began building the Ford Model A. Production of Ford vehicles continued after the war until 1960, when the plant was closed due to a fire,{{cite web|url=http://fordmotorhistory.com/factories/long_beach/index.php|title=Ford Long Beach Assembly Plant|work=fordmotorhistory.com|access-date=July 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150313131315/http://fordmotorhistory.com/factories/long_beach/index.php|archive-date=March 13, 2015|url-status=live}} and January 1991 when the factory was demolished partially due to air quality remediation efforts. Ford had earlier opened a factory in Los Angeles at 12th Street and Olive, with a later factory built at East Seventh Street and Santa Fe Avenue after 1914.{{Cite web |url=http://cdn.loc.gov/master/pnp/habshaer/ca/ca1600/ca1604/data/ca1604data.pdf |title=page 13 |access-date=August 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904094158/http://cdn.loc.gov/master/pnp/habshaer/ca/ca1600/ca1604/data/ca1604data.pdf |archive-date=September 4, 2015 |url-status=live }}

Come 1938, the creation of Housing Authorities for both the City and County of Los Angeles were complete — and North Long Beach was to be home to the County Authority's first order of business: the Carmelitos Housing Project, Southern California's first affordable housing complex.

Long Beach, as a port city, had a relationship with the U.S. Navy even before the war.{{Cite news |last=Garcia |first=Monique |date=March 2023 |title=East Long Beach's Development During WWII |pages=20 |work=Long Beach 908 |url=https://indd.adobe.com/view/71813aa2-7d42-46c6-a469-7e04844ef781 |access-date=May 6, 2023}} The city was part of the Battle of Los Angeles during World War II when observers for the United States Army Air Forces reported shells being fired from the sea. Anti-aircraft batteries fired into the night sky, although no planes were ever sighted.

Long Beach's population grew substantially during and after the war, with workers being needed for wartime manufacturing and G.I. bill recipients seeking out homes in California. Suburbs were built by the Bixby land companies and others.

Douglas Aircraft Company's largest facility was its Long Beach plant, totaling {{convert|1,422,350|sqft|m2}}. The first plane rolled out the door on December 23, 1941. The plant produced C-47 Skytrain transports, B-17 Flying Fortress bombers, and A-20 Havoc attack bombers simultaneously. Douglas merged with the McDonnell Aircraft Company in 1967 where the Douglas DC-8 and the McDonnell Douglas DC-9 were built. In 1997 McDonnell Douglas merged with Boeing, which made C-17 Globemaster transport planes in Long Beach until the closure of the manufacturing facility in 2015.Herman, Arthur. Freedom's Forge: How American Business Produced Victory in World War II, pp. 202–203, Random House, New York, 2012. {{ISBN|978-1-4000-6964-4}}.Parker, Dana T. Building Victory: Aircraft Manufacturing in the Los Angeles Area in World War II, pp. 35–48, Cypress, CA, 2013. {{ISBN|978-0-9897906-0-4}}.

Long Beach also saw an instance of the Chicano(a) movement in 1968.{{cite web|url= https://www.longbeach.gov/health/healthy-living/office-of-equity/reconciliation/equity-timeline|title= Equity Timeline}}

Long Beach is about {{convert|21|mi|km|0}} south of downtown Los Angeles. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|80.35|sqmi|km2|1}}, of which {{convert|50.70|sqmi|km2|1}} is land and {{convert|29.64|sqmi|km2}} (36.8%) is water. Long Beach completely surrounds the city of Signal Hill.

Long Beach has a climate that can either be described as a hot semi-arid climate or a hot-summer Mediterranean climate. In general, the city features hot summers and mild to warm winters with occasional rainfall. Days in Long Beach are mostly sunny, as in Southern California in general. Temperatures recorded at the weather station at the Long Beach Airport, {{convert|4.0|mi|km}} inland from the ocean, range more greatly than those along the immediate coast. During the summer months, low clouds and fog occur frequently, developing overnight and blanketing the area on many mornings. This fog usually clears by the afternoon, and a westerly sea breeze often develops, keeping temperatures mild. Heat and high humidity can sometimes coincide in summer, which may cause discomfort due to the heat index.{{Cite FTP |url=ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-IV/US/GROUP1/00045115.TXT |title=Weather data |format=PDF |access-date=May 16, 2019 |server=ftp.atdd.noaa.gov |url-status=live }}

According to data analysis provided by the NWS, The annual average temperature of Long Beach is {{Convert|64.9|F|1}}, of which August is the hottest month with an average temperature of {{Convert|74.3|F|1}}, while December is the coldest month with an average temperature of {{Convert|56.7|F|1}}. In terms of temperature, Long Beach and other California cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco have the hottest month of the year usually in August and the coolest month in December. Long Beach has 23 days of afternoon temperatures above {{Convert|90|F|1}} each year, and about two days a year are above {{Convert|100|F|1}}.

File:Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020) - Long Beach Area, CA(ThreadEx).svg

Long Beach's location directly east of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, paired with its south facing coastline, results in the city sometimes experiencing different weather patterns than the Los Angeles metropolitan area coastal communities to the northwest and southeast of Long Beach, which largely have west facing coastlines. The 1200 ft Palos Verdes hills block west to east airflow and a significant amount of the coastal moisture that marks other coastal cities, such as Manhattan Beach, Santa Monica, and Newport Beach.

As in most locations in Southern California, most rainfall in Long Beach occurs during the winter months. Storms can bring heavy rainfall.{{cite web

|url=http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwDI~StnSrch~StnID~20001598

|title=NCDC: Weather Station: Long Beach Daugherty Field

|access-date=January 22, 2009 |url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123170738/http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwDI~StnSrch~StnID~20001598

|archive-date=November 23, 2011 }} The annual precipitation in Long Beach is {{Convert|12.02|in|1}}, of which the precipitation from December to March of the following year accounts for 81% of the whole year. June to September is usually rainless, especially August.

{{Weather box

| location = Long Beach, California (Long Beach Airport), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1958–present

| single line = Yes

| Jan record high F = 93

| Feb record high F = 92

| Mar record high F = 98

| Apr record high F = 105

| May record high F = 104

| Jun record high F = 109

| Jul record high F = 109

| Aug record high F = 105

| Sep record high F = 111

| Oct record high F = 111

| Nov record high F = 101

| Dec record high F = 92

| Jan avg record high F = 83.1

| Feb avg record high F = 82.4

| Mar avg record high F = 84.9

| Apr avg record high F = 89.4

| May avg record high F = 89.4

| Jun avg record high F = 89.4

| Jul avg record high F = 93.0

| Aug avg record high F = 95.9

| Sep avg record high F = 99.7

| Oct avg record high F = 95.5

| Nov avg record high F = 89.4

| Dec avg record high F = 80.1

| year avg record high F = 102.1

| Jan high F = 67.4

| Feb high F = 66.8

| Mar high F = 68.6

| Apr high F = 71.4

| May high F = 73.1

| Jun high F = 76.1

| Jul high F = 81.4

| Aug high F = 83.2

| Sep high F = 82.4

| Oct high F = 77.7

| Nov high F = 72.5

| Dec high F = 66.7

| year high F = 73.9

| Jan mean F = 57.1

| Feb mean F = 57.6

| Mar mean F = 59.9

| Apr mean F = 62.7

| May mean F = 65.5

| Jun mean F = 68.7

| Jul mean F = 73.1

| Aug mean F = 74.3

| Sep mean F = 73.1

| Oct mean F = 68.4

| Nov mean F = 62.0

| Dec mean F = 56.7

| year mean F = 64.9

| Jan low F = 46.9

| Feb low F = 48.4

| Mar low F = 51.2

| Apr low F = 53.9

| May low F = 57.9

| Jun low F = 61.3

| Jul low F = 64.9

| Aug low F = 65.5

| Sep low F = 63.9

| Oct low F = 59.1

| Nov low F = 51.6

| Dec low F = 46.6

| year low F = 55.9

| Jan avg record low F = 38.7

| Feb avg record low F = 40.2

| Mar avg record low F = 43.4

| Apr avg record low F = 47.2

| May avg record low F = 52.6

| Jun avg record low F = 56.8

| Jul avg record low F = 60.7

| Aug avg record low F = 61.2

| Sep avg record low F = 58.3

| Oct avg record low F = 51.8

| Nov avg record low F = 43.2

| Dec avg record low F = 37.9

| year avg record low F = 36.4

| Jan record low F = 25

| Feb record low F = 33

| Mar record low F = 33

| Apr record low F = 38

| May record low F = 40

| Jun record low F = 47

| Jul record low F = 51

| Aug record low F = 55

| Sep record low F = 50

| Oct record low F = 39

| Nov record low F = 34

| Dec record low F = 28

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch = 2.89

| Feb precipitation inch = 3.02

| Mar precipitation inch = 1.65

| Apr precipitation inch = 0.56

| May precipitation inch = 0.26

| Jun precipitation inch = 0.07

| Jul precipitation inch = 0.05

| Aug precipitation inch = 0.01

| Sep precipitation inch = 0.08

| Oct precipitation inch = 0.53

| Nov precipitation inch = 0.75

| Dec precipitation inch = 2.15

| year precipitation inch = 12.02

| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

| Jan precipitation days = 6.0

| Feb precipitation days = 6.5

| Mar precipitation days = 5.5

| Apr precipitation days = 2.9

| May precipitation days = 1.6

| Jun precipitation days = 0.7

| Jul precipitation days = 0.6

| Aug precipitation days = 0.1

| Sep precipitation days = 0.5

| Oct precipitation days = 2.3

| Nov precipitation days = 3.1

| Dec precipitation days = 5.2

| year precipitation days = 35.0

| Jan snow inch =

| Feb snow inch =

| Mar snow inch =

| Apr snow inch =

| May snow inch =

| Jun snow inch =

| Jul snow inch =

| Aug snow inch =

| Sep snow inch =

| Oct snow inch =

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| Dec snow inch =

| year snow inch =

| unit snow days = 0.1 in

| Jan snow days =

| Feb snow days =

| Mar snow days =

| Apr snow days =

| May snow days =

| Jun snow days =

| Jul snow days =

| Aug snow days =

| Sep snow days =

| Oct snow days =

| Nov snow days =

| Dec snow days =

| Jan humidity = 64.7

| Feb humidity = 66.9

| Mar humidity = 67.2

| Apr humidity = 65.4

| May humidity = 68.2

| Jun humidity = 69.6

| Jul humidity = 68.3

| Aug humidity = 68.5

| Sep humidity = 69.2

| Oct humidity = 67.6

| Nov humidity = 67.1

| Dec humidity = 66.2

| year humidity = 67.4

| Jan dew point C = 5.2

| Feb dew point C = 6.6

| Mar dew point C = 7.4

| Apr dew point C = 8.4

| May dew point C = 11.1

| Jun dew point C = 13.1

| Jul dew point C = 15.1

| Aug dew point C = 15.9

| Sep dew point C = 14.9

| Oct dew point C = 11.9

| Nov dew point C = 8.3

| Dec dew point C = 5.6

| source 1 = NOAA (dew points and relative humidity 1961–1990)

{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00023129&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Long Beach Daugherty FLD, CA

|access-date = May 7, 2023

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230704100827/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00023129&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL

|archive-date = July 4, 2023

}}

{{Cite FTP |url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP3/72297.TXT

|server = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|title = WMO Climate Normals for LONG BEACH/WSCMO CA 1961–1990

|access-date = July 4, 2023

}}

| source 2 = National Weather Service

{{cite web

|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=lox

|publisher = National Weather Service

|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Los Angeles

|access-date = May 7, 2023

}}

}}{{Graph:Weather monthly history

| table=ncei.noaa.gov/weather/Long Beach, California.tab

| title=Long Beach monthly weather statistics

}}

{{main|Neighborhoods of Long Beach, California}}

File:LB Neighborhoods.jpg File:Long Beach CA Photo D Ramey Logan.jpg, Shoreline Marina, and the Port of Long Beach, 2010]]Long Beach is composed of many different neighborhoods. Some neighborhoods are named after thoroughfares, while others are named for nearby parks, schools, or city features.

File:LongBeach-oilfield-1920.jpg

Long Beach suffers from some of the worst air pollution in the entire United States.{{cite magazine|url=https://science.time.com/2013/11/05/the-10-most-polluted-cities-in-america/slide/4-los-angeles-long-beach-riverside-ca/|title=#4 (tie): Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside, CA - The 10 Most Polluted Cities in America - TIME.com|magazine=Time|date=November 5, 2013|access-date=February 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301172743/http://science.time.com/2013/11/05/the-10-most-polluted-cities-in-america/slide/4-los-angeles-long-beach-riverside-ca/|archive-date=March 1, 2014|url-status=live}} Most of the city is in proximity to the twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and the prevailing westerly-to-west-south-westerly winds bring a large portion of the twin ports' air pollution directly into Long Beach before dispersing it northward then eastward.{{cite web| url=http://www.lbds.info/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=2437| title=City of Long Beach General plan, Air Quality Element| work=City of Long Beach website| access-date=February 4, 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504051623/http://www.lbds.info/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=2437| archive-date=May 4, 2011| url-status=live}} Heavy pollution sources at the ports include the ships themselves, which burn high-sulfur, high-soot-producing bunker fuel to maintain internal electrical power while docked, as well as heavy diesel pollution from drayage trucks at the ports, and short-haul tractor-trailer trucks ferrying cargo from the ports to inland warehousing, rail yards, and shipping centers. Long-term average levels of toxic air pollutants (and the corresponding carcinogenic risk they create) can be two to three times higher in and around Long Beach, and in downwind areas to the east, than in other parts of the Los Angeles metropolitan area, such as the Westside, San Fernando Valley, or San Gabriel Valley.{{cite web| url=http://www.aqmd.gov/prdas/matesIII/matesIII.html| title=Multiple Airborne Toxics Exposure Study (MATES III)| work=South Coast Air Quality Management District website| access-date=February 4, 2011| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110129223223/http://aqmd.gov/prdas/matesIII/matesIII.html| archive-date=January 29, 2011| df=mdy-all}} While overall regional pollution in the Los Angeles metropolitan area has declined in the last decade, pollution levels remain dangerously high in much of Long Beach due to the port pollution, with diesel exhaust from ships, trains, and trucks as the largest sources.{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-aqmd5jan05,0,1913116.story |title=Cancer risk from toxic air drops by 17% in Southland |author=Janet Wilson, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer |date=January 5, 2008 |work=Los Angeles Times newspaper |publisher=Tribune Company |access-date=March 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811212537/http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-aqmd5jan05,0,1913116.story |archive-date=August 11, 2012 |url-status=live }}File:Birds eye of longbeach shot by Supermillion VIsuals.jpgAdditionally, Long Beach is directly downwind of several of the South Bay oil refineries. Any refinery process or chemical upset that results in the atmospheric release of refinery by-products (commonly sulfur dioxide){{cite web| url=http://www.aqmd.gov/comply/R1118_main.htm| title=SCAQMD Rule 1118| work=SCAQMD website| access-date=March 29, 2012| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505171346/http://aqmd.gov/comply/R1118_main.htm| archive-date=May 5, 2012| df=mdy-all}}{{cite web| url=http://www.aqmd.gov/news1/2004/bs9_03_04.html| title=SCAQMD News: AQMD TO SEEK EMISSION REDUCTIONS FROM REFINERY FLARES| work=SCAQMD website| access-date=March 29, 2012| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012060051/http://www.aqmd.gov/news1/2004/bs9_03_04.html| archive-date=October 12, 2012| df=mdy-all}} will usually impact air quality in Long Beach due to the west-south-westerly prevailing wind.

Similarly, the water quality in the Long Beach portion of San Pedro Bay, which is enclosed by the Federal Breakwater, commonly ranks among the poorest on the entire West Coast during rainy periods. Long Beach beaches average a D or F grade on beach water quality during rainy periods in the Beach Report Card published by Heal the Bay.{{cite web| url=http://brc.healthebay.org/?st=CA&f=1&tabid=2| title=Beach Report Card for California| work=Heal the Bay website| access-date=February 4, 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514225904/http://brc.healthebay.org/?st=CA&f=1&tabid=2| archive-date=May 14, 2011| url-status=live}} However, during dry periods the water may have an A or B rating in the same reports. The Los Angeles River discharges directly into the Long Beach side of San Pedro Bay, meaning a large portion of all the urban runoff from the entire Los Angeles metropolitan area pours directly into the harbor water. This runoff contains most of the debris, garbage, chemical pollutants, and biological pathogens washed into storm drains in every upstream city each time it rains. Because the breakwater prevents tidal flushing and wave action, these pollutants build up in the harbor. The water enclosed by the breakwater, along most of the city's beaches, can be subject to red tides due to this stagnation as well. Because of these factors, the water in Long Beach is sometimes unsafe for swimming, up to weeks each year.

File:LongBeachLongView.jpg

The area has historically included several ecological communities, with coastal scrub dominating.{{cite web | url=http://www.dfg.ca.gov/biogeodata/cwhr/wildlife_habitats.asp | title=Wildlife Habitats | work=California Department of Fish and Game website | access-date=February 24, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080302175730/http://www.dfg.ca.gov/biogeodata/cwhr/wildlife_habitats.asp | archive-date=March 2, 2008 | url-status=live }}

The top five countries of origin for Long Beach's immigrants are Mexico, the Philippines, Cambodia, El Salvador and Vietnam.{{cite web|url=http://www.newamericaneconomy.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/G4G_LongBeach.pdf|title=New Americans in Long Beach}} The most common foreign languages spoken in Long Beach are Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog.{{cite web|url=https://www.longbeach.gov/globalassets/city-manager/media-library/documents/memos-to-the-mayor-tabbed-file-list-folders/2019/march-10--2019---language-access-program-annual-report-and-comprehensive-update#:~:text=Overview%20of%20City%20Demographics&text=After%20English%2C%20the%20most%20commonly,and%20Tagalog%20(13%2C392%20speakers).|title=City of Long Beach}} There is a Mexican American/Chicano community in Long Beach.{{cite web|url= https://csulb-dspace.calstate.edu/handle/10211.3/206687|title= Mexican American/Chicano}} Cambodian people and Filipino Americans also settled in Long Beach.{{cite web|url= https://csulb-dspace.calstate.edu/handle/10211.3/206633|title=Asian American History}} There is a Buddhist community in Long Beach.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-08-23-cb-2990-story.html|title=Modest Buddhist Temple Serves as Heart of Cambodian Community|website=Los Angeles Times |date=August 23, 1987 }} Christianity is the most common religion.{{cite web|url=https://www.bestplaces.net/religion/city/ca/long_beach|title=Long Beach, CA Religion}}

{{US Census population

| 1890 = 564

| 1900 = 2252

| 1910 = 17809

| 1920 = 55593

| 1930 = 142032

| 1940 = 164271

| 1950 = 250767

| 1960 = 334168

| 1970 = 358879

| 1980 = 361498

| 1990 = 429433

| 2000 = 461522

| 2010 = 462257

| 2020 = 466742

| estyear = 2023

| estimate = 458222

| estref = {{Cite web |title=State's population decline slows while housing grows per new state demographic report |url=https://dof.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/352/Forecasting/Demographics/Documents/E-1_2023PressRelease.pdf |website=Department of Finance {{!}} State of California}}

| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426102944/http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|archive-date=April 26, 2015|url-status=live}}
2010–2020

}}

{{As of|2022|pre=the}} American Community Survey estimates, there were {{formatnum:451319}} people and {{formatnum:170965}} households.{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP1Y2022.DP05?g=160XX00US0643000 | title= 2022 American Community Survey 1 Year Estimate: Demographic and Housing Estimates for Long Beach city, CA | access-date = 2024-06-20 | publisher = United States Census Bureau}}{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP1Y2022.DP02?g=160XX00US0643000 | title= 2022 American Community Survey 1 Year Estimate: Selected Social Characteristics in the United States for Long Beach city, CA | access-date = 2024-06-20 | publisher = United States Census Bureau}} The population density was {{convert|8906.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were {{formatnum:181251}} housing units at an average density of {{convert|3576.9|/sqmi|/km2|1}}.{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDT1Y2022.B25001?g=160XX00US0643000 | title= 2022 American Community Survey 1 Year Estimate: Housing Units for Long Beach city, CA | access-date = 2024-06-20 | publisher = United States Census Bureau}}To calculate density we use the land area figure from the places file in {{cite web| url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html | title = The 2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files}} The racial makeup of the city was 34.6% White, 20.1% some other race, 12.5% Asian, 11.8% Black or African American, 1.8% Native American or Alaskan Native, and 1.0% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, with 18.2% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 44.0% of the population.

Of the {{formatnum:170965}} households, 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.9% had seniors 65 years or older living with them, 35.6% were married couples living together, 9.7% were couples cohabitating, 22.3% had a male householder with no partner present, and 32.5% had a female householder with no partner present. The median household size was {{formatnum:2.57}} and the median family size was {{formatnum:3.34}}.

The age distribution was 20.0% under 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 or older. The median age was {{formatnum:36.7}} years.{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST1Y2022.S0101?g=160XX00US0643000 | title= 2022 American Community Survey 1 Year Estimate: Age and Sex for Long Beach city, CA | access-date = 2024-06-20 | publisher = United States Census Bureau}} For every 100 females, there were {{formatnum:97.5}} males.

The median income for a household was ${{formatnum:80493}}, with family households having a median income of ${{formatnum:96970}} and non-family households ${{formatnum:56245}}. The per capita income was ${{formatnum:41896}}.{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST1Y2022.S1902?g=160XX00US0643000 | title= 2022 American Community Survey 1 Year Estimate: Mean Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2022 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) for Long Beach city, CA | access-date = 2024-06-20 | publisher = United States Census Bureau}}{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST1Y2022.S1901?g=160XX00US0643000 | title= 2022 American Community Survey 1 Year Estimate: Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2022 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) for Long Beach city, CA | access-date = 2024-06-20 | publisher = United States Census Bureau}} Out of the {{formatnum:443634}} people with a determined poverty status, 13.8% were below the poverty line. Further, 17.9% of minors and 16.2% of seniors were below the poverty line.{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST1Y2022.S1701?g=160XX00US0643000 | title= 2022 American Community Survey 1 Year Estimate: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months for Long Beach city, CA | access-date = 2024-06-20 | publisher = United States Census Bureau}}

In the survey, residents self-identified with various ethnic ancestries. People of German descent made up 6.0% of the population of the town, followed by English at 5.2%, Irish at 5.0%, Italian at 3.1%, American at 1.8%, Polish at 1.3%, French at 1.1%, Scottish at 1.1%, Sub-Saharan African at 0.8%, Swedish at 0.7%, Greek at 0.6%, Scotch-Irish at 0.6%, Caribbean (excluding Hispanics) at 0.6%, Russian at 0.5%, Dutch at 0.5%, Danish at 0.5%, and Norwegian at 0.5%.

File:Race and ethnicity 2010- Long Beach (5560461606).png

The 2010 United States Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0643000|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715094627/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0643000|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA – Long Beach city|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}} reported that Long Beach had a population of 462,257. The population density was {{convert|9,191.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Long Beach was 213,066 (46.1%) White, 62,603 (13.5%) Black or African American, 3,458 (0.7%) Native American, 59,496 (12.9%) Asian (4.5% Filipino, 3.9% Cambodian, 0.9% Vietnamese, 0.6% Chinese, 0.6% Japanese, 0.4% Indian, 0.4% Korean, 0.2% Thai, 0.1% Laotian, 0.1% Hmong), 5,253 (1.1%) Pacific Islander (0.8% Samoan, 0.1% Guamanian, 0.1% Tongan), 93,930 (20.3%) from other races, and 24,451 (5.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 188,412 persons (40.8%). 32.9% of the city's population was of Mexican heritage."[https://archive.today/20190521214830/https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_DP_DPDP1&prodType=table Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010] ". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 7, 2012. Non-Hispanic Whites were 29.4% of the population in 2010, down from 86.2% in 1970.

The ethnic Cambodian population of approximately 20,000 is the largest outside of Asia.{{Cite book|last=Chan|first=Sucheng|date=September 3, 2015|chapter=Cambodians in the United States: Refugees, Immigrants, American Ethnic Minority|title=Oxford Research Encyclopedia of American History|chapter-url=https://oxfordre.com/americanhistory/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199329175.001.0001/acrefore-9780199329175-e-317|doi=10.1093/acrefore/9780199329175.013.317|isbn=9780199329175}}

The Census reported 453,980 people (98.2% of the population) lived in households, 5,321 (1.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 2,956 (0.6%) were institutionalized.

There were 163,531 households, out of which 58,073 (35.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 61,850 (37.8%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 26,781 (16.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 10,598 (6.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 12,106 (7.4%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 3,277 (2.0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. Of the households, 46,536 (28.5%) were made up of individuals, and 11,775 (7.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78. There were 99,229 families (60.7% of all households); the average family size was 3.52.

The age distribution of the city was as follows: 115,143 people (24.9%) were under the age of 18, 54,163 people (11.7%) aged 18 to 24, 140,910 people (30.5%) aged 25 to 44, 109,206 people (23.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 42,835 people (9.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.

There were 176,032 dwelling units at an average density of {{convert|3,422.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}, of which 67,949 (41.6%) were owner-occupied, and 95,582 (58.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.2%. 195,254 people (42.2% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 258,726 people (56.0%) lived in rental housing units.

During 2009–2013, Long Beach had a median household income of $52,711, with 20.2% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

As of 2014, the population of Long Beach was 473,577.

As of the census{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961227012639/http://www.census.gov/ |archive-date=December 27, 1996 |url-status=live }} of 2000, there were 461,522 people, 163,088 households, and 99,646 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|9,149.8|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|inhabitants |inhabitants}}. There were 171,632 dwelling units at an average density of {{convert|3,402.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 45.2% White, 14.9% Black or African American (U.S. Census), 0.8% Native American, 12.1% Asian, 1.2% Pacific Islander, 20.6% from other races, and 5.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 35.8% of the population.

The city has changed since the 1950s, when its population was predominantly European-American and the city was nicknamed "Iowa by the Sea" or "Iowa under Palm Trees" as it had a slower pace than neighboring Los Angeles. In 1950, whites represented 97.4% of Long Beach's population.{{cite web|title=Historical Census Statistics On Population Totals By Race, 1790 to 1990, and By Hispanic Origin, 1970 to 1990, For Large Cities And Other Urban Places In The United States |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html |access-date=December 24, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812191959/http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html |archive-date=August 12, 2012 }} Since the second half of the 20th century, the city has been a major port of entry for Asian and Latin American immigrants headed to Los Angeles. The Harbor section of downtown Long Beach was once home to people of Dutch, Greek, Italian, Maltese, Portuguese and Spanish ancestry, most of them employed in manufacturing and fish canneries until the 1960s.

According to a report by USA Today in 2000, Long Beach is the most ethnically diverse large city in the United States.{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/22/AR2007012201143_2.html | title=Long Beach Awaits Hate-Crime Verdict | work=Washington Post website | first=Sonya | last=Geis | date=January 23, 2007 | access-date=May 11, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108165441/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/22/AR2007012201143_2.html | archive-date=November 8, 2012 | url-status=live }} It has a relatively high proportion of Pacific Islanders (over 1% as of the 2000 Census), from Samoa and Tonga. Most American Indians, about 0.8% of the city's population, arrived during the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs urban relocation programs in the 1950s.

Long Beach once had a sizable Japanese American population, which largely worked in the fish canneries on Terminal Island and on small truck farms in the area. In 1942, not long after the Attack on Pearl Harbor and subsequent Japanese declaration of war on the United States and the British Empire, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued United States Executive Order 9066 which allowed military commanders to designate areas "from which any or all persons may be excluded". Under this order, all Japanese and Americans of Japanese ancestry were categorically removed from Western coastal regions and sent to internment camps, without regard for due process.[https://oac.cdlib.org/view?docId=kt367n993t&brand=calisphere&doc.view=entire_text Terminal Island Life History Project]

File:Wrigley Long Beach California.jpg neighborhood]]

24,000 Jews live in Long Beach. Jews are concentrated in Rossmor, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, and Lakewood in the Greater Long Beach area.{{cite web|url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/long-beach|title=Long Beach, California}}

As of the 2000 census, there were 163,088 households, out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.2% were married couples living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. Of all households, 29.6% were made up of individuals, and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.55.

In the city, 29.2% of the population was under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,270, and the median income for a family was $40,002. Males had a median income of $36,807 versus $31,975 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,040. About 19.3% of families and 22.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.7% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over. In 2008, the Census Bureau showed the number of people living below the poverty line had dropped to 18.2%.{{cite news | last = Meeks | first = Karen Robes | title = Poverty rate in L.B. falls to 18.2% | work = Long Beach Press-Telegram | date = August 26, 2008 | url = http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_10312127 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081210085521/http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_10312127 | archive-date = December 10, 2008 | url-status = dead }}

The most commonly reported ancestries of Long Beach residents were Mexican (28.1%) and German (5.5%), according to the 2000 census. Mexico (51.0%) and the Philippines (10.3%) were the most common foreign places of birth.{{cite news|url=https://maps.latimes.com/neighborhoods/neighborhood/long-beach/index.html|title=Long Beach Profile – Mapping L.A.|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}

In 2022, the Long Beach's point-in-time Homeless Count counted 3,296 homeless individuals in the city.{{Cite web |title=Homeless Services Update: 2022 Point-in-Time Homeless Count Results |url=https://www.longbeach.gov/globalassets/health/homeless-services-divsion/homeless-count/homeless-services-update---2022-point-in-time-homeless-count-results |access-date=April 14, 2023 |website=City of Long Beach}}

{{Historical populations

|title = Homeless population

|align = none

|cols =

|footnote =

|source = Long Beach Homeless Count

|2015 | 2,345

|2017 | 1,863

|2019 | 1,894

|2020 | 2,034

|2022 | 3,296

}}

{{More citations needed section|date=May 2007}}

The economic base has changed over the years. Oil extraction created a boom and continues to fund portions of the city budget.{{Cite news|last=Pignataro|first=Anthony|date=October 25, 2021|title=Long Beach faces substantial oil abandonment costs in next decade |work=Long Beach Post News|url=https://lbpost.com/news/city-faces-substantial-oil-abandonment-costs-in-next-decade|access-date=October 27, 2021}} Long Beach was a Navy town for many years before the base closed.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-long-beach-mayor-20150402-story.html#page=1|title=Mayor Robert Garcia wants to transform Long Beach into high-tech hub|author=Los Angeles Times|date=April 2, 2015|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=April 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403024747/http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-long-beach-mayor-20150402-story.html#page=1|archive-date=April 3, 2015|url-status=live}} The aerospace industry played an important role. Douglas Aircraft Company (later McDonnell Douglas and now part of Boeing) had plants at the Long Beach Airport where they built aircraft for World War II, and later built DC-8s, DC-9s, DC-10s, and MD-11s. Boeing built the Boeing 717 until 2006 and the C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlifter until 2015, the plants were leased by Mercedes-Benz and Relativity Space.{{cite news|title=Mercedes-Benz marks the start of construction on Long Beach facility|url=https://www.presstelegram.com/2014/06/04/mercedes-benz-marks-start-of-construction-on-long-beach-facility/|publisher=Press Telegram|date=June 4, 2014|access-date=March 20, 2021}}{{cite news|title=Mercedes-Benz Leases Huge Southern California Aircraft Plant |url=http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/11/mercedes-benz-leases-huge-southern-california-aircraft-plant/ |first=Jerry |last=Garrett |work=The New York Times |date=July 11, 2013 |access-date=March 20, 2021}}{{cite news|title=Relativity Space to take over massive former Boeing C-17 site|url=https://lbpost.com/news/relativity-space-to-take-over-massive-former-boeing-c-17-site |first=Brandon |last=Richardson |work=Long Beach Post |date=June 30, 2021 |access-date=August 6, 2021}} Even after greatly reducing the number of local employees in recent years, Boeing is still the largest private employer in the city. Polar Air Cargo, an international cargo airline, was formerly based in Long Beach. TABC, Inc., a part of Toyota, makes a variety of car parts, including steering columns and catalytic converters, in Long Beach.

Epson America, Inc. the U.S. affiliate of Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, is headquartered in Long Beach."[http://www.epson.co.jp/e/company/global_network.htm Epson's Global Network] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091010194753/http://www.epson.co.jp/e/company/global_network.htm |date=October 10, 2009 }}." Seiko Epson. Retrieved on January 13, 2009. Pioneer Electronics, the U.S. affiliate of Japan-based Pioneer Corporation, is also headquartered in Long Beach along with SCAN Health Plan, a non-profit "Medicare Advantage" HMO for seniors. Molina Healthcare, Inc., a Medicaid management healthcare program, is headquartered in Long Beach. The real estate company HCP is based in Long Beach. Jesse James' West Coast Choppers custom motorcycle shop was in Long Beach, and much of the Monster Garage cable TV show was shot in Long Beach. Long Beach Green Business Association is an organization working to create economic growth through the promotion of green business and promoting a buy local program for Long Beach."[http://www.lbgba.org/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226175947/http://www.lbgba.org/|date=February 26, 2012}} The North American subsidiary of video game developer and publisher Spike Chunsoft is headquartered in a building adjacent to the Long Beach Airport.

The Long Beach Accelerator was founded in 2019 as a public-private partnership between the city of Long Beach, Sunstone Management, and California State University, Long Beach, with the aim of growing the presence of diverse technology entrepreneurs in the city.{{Cite web |title=About the LBA |url=https://www.lbaccelerator.org/about-the-lba/ |access-date=August 5, 2022 |website=Long Beach Accelerator |language=en-US}}

Trade valued annually at more than $140 billion moves through Long Beach, making it the second busiest seaport in the United States. The Port supports more than 30,000 jobs in Long Beach, 316,000 jobs throughout Southern California and 1.4 million jobs throughout the United States. It generates about $16 billion in annual trade-related wages statewide.[http://www.polb.com/about/default.asp Port of Long Beach – About Us] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311192647/http://www.polb.com/about/default.asp |date=March 11, 2012 }}. Polb.com. Retrieved on July 29, 2013.

Los Altos Center is the only mall anchored by major department stores within city limits, while Lakewood Center mall is adjacent to Long Beach. Until the 1950s, Long Beach was the major retail hub between Los Angeles and Santa Ana. Buffum's, Walker's and Robert's all had their flagship stores in the city.[https://www.newspapers.com/image/19087405/ "Economic health of downtown", Independent Press-Telegram (Long Beach, California) 21 Apr 1974, p.10] Later the Long Beach Plaza and Marina Pacifica malls were built, since repurposed as retail power centers. The largest shopping center within the city is the Long Beach Towne Center, a power center opened in 1999 on the site of the Long Beach Naval Hospital. The Pike Outlets and 2nd & PCH are new retail centers.

File:Downtown Long Beach.jpg

The Long Beach Museum of Art, sited in the historic Elizabeth Milbank Anderson residence, is owned by the City of Long Beach, and operated by the Long Beach Museum of Art Foundation. Long Beach also features the Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA), founded in 1996 by Dr. Robert Gumbiner. It is the only museum in the western United States that exclusively features modern and contemporary Latin American art.

Long Beach's newest museum is The Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum (PieAM). This museum was a project of Robert Gumbiner at the time of his death.{{cite news|last=Nelson|first=Valerie J.|title=Robert Gumbiner dies at 85; HMO pioneer founded Museum of Latin American Art|url=https://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-gumbiner23-2009jan23,0,3395363.story|access-date=January 1, 2012|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=January 23, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329061322/http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-gumbiner23-2009jan23,0,3395363.story|archive-date=March 29, 2012|url-status=live}} The museum opened October 15, 2010.

In 1965, Long Beach State hosted the first International Sculpture Symposium to be held in the United States and the first at a college or university. Six sculptors from around the world and two from the United States created many of the monumental sculptures seen on the campus. There are now over 20 sculptures on the campus.

Long Beach is known for its street art. Some of the murals were created in conjunction with the city's Mural and Cultural Arts Program, but many others were not.{{cite web|url=http://www.longbeach.gov/park/facilities/neighorhood_mural_program.asp |title=Neighborhood Mural Program |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080522203203/http://www.longbeach.gov/park/facilities/neighorhood_mural_program.asp |archive-date=May 22, 2008 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.lamurals.org/MuralAreaIndexes/LongBeachIndex/MuralsLB.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907232345/http://www.lamurals.org/MuralAreaIndexes/LongBeachIndex/MuralsLB.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 7, 2012 |title=Long Beach Mural Index |access-date=December 10, 2005 }}

On the exterior of the Long Beach Sports Arena is one of the artist Wyland's Whaling Walls. At {{convert|116,000|ft2|m2|abbr=off}}, it is the world's largest mural (according to the Guinness Book of Records).

Adjacent to the Museums of Latin American Art (MOLAA) and the Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum (PieAM), in Gumbiner Park, stands the Long Beach High Five, created by sculptor Jorge Mujica. This interactive aluminium sculpture is intended to engage the public.{{Cite web |last=Morris |first=Asia |date=2019-05-31 |title=New sculpture in Gumbiner Park a 'High Five' to Long Beach |url=https://lbpost.com/hi-lo/art/new-sculpture-in-gumbiner-park-a-high-five-to-long-beach/ |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=the Hi-lo |language=en-US}}

Shops and galleries in the East Village Arts District, in downtown Long Beach hold their monthly art openings and artists exhibit in street galleries on the second Saturday of the month during the Artwalk.

Long Beach has a percent for art program administered through the Arts Council of Long Beach and the Redevelopment Agency which ensures new private developments contribute to the arts fund or commission artworks for their new projects.{{cite web|url=http://www.artspca.org/public_art/ |title=Arts Council for Long Beach |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714021134/http://www.artspca.org/public_art/ |archive-date=July 14, 2014 }}

The Bob Cole Conservatory of Music, the recently renamed school of music at CSULB, presents a wide variety of classical, jazz, and world music concerts each year. The Conservatory is part of CSULB's renowned College of the Arts.

The Long Beach Symphony plays numerous classical and pop music concerts throughout the year. The symphony plays at the Terrace Theater in the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center.{{cite web | url=http://www.lbso.org/ | title=Long Beach Symphony Orchestra | access-date=August 12, 2004 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040730222731/http://www.lbso.org/ | archive-date=July 30, 2004 | url-status=live }}

Long Beach Opera, founded in 1979, is the oldest professional opera company serving the Los Angeles and Orange County regions. It presents performances of standard and non-standard opera repertoire at various locations, including the Terrace Theater and Center Theater of the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center at CSULB.{{cite web | url=http://www.longbeachopera.org | title=Opera Long Beach | access-date=May 9, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417142847/https://www.longbeachopera.org/ | archive-date=April 17, 2020 | url-status=live }}

Long Beach Community Concert Association{{cite web|title=Long Beach Community Concert Association |url=http://lbcca.org/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722174255/http://lbcca.org/ |archive-date=July 22, 2015 }} is a volunteer organization that provides musical entertainment appealing to seniors and others, four Sunday afternoons a year at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center{{cite web |url=http://www.carpenterarts.org/residentcompanies.html |title=Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center |publisher=Carpenterarts.org |access-date=July 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510100321/http://www.carpenterarts.org/residentcompanies.html |archive-date=May 10, 2011 |url-status=live }} at CSULB. LBCCA also has an outreach program taking musical entertainment to senior care and senior housing facilities around the greater Long Beach area.

KJAZZ 88.1 FM (KKJZ) broadcasts from California State University, Long Beach. The station originally featured jazz and blues music exclusively but now plays a broader range of music including Rhythm and Blues (R&b). KKJZ can also be listened to over the Internet.{{cite web|url=https://kkjz.org/|title=KJazz 88.1 – America's Jazz and Blues Station|website=kkjz.org|access-date=May 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190516194829/https://kkjz.org/|archive-date=May 16, 2019|url-status=live}} Kbeach is the student owned and operated web-only radio at CSULB.{{cite web |url=http://kbeach.org |title=Kbeach website |publisher=Kbeach.org |access-date=July 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208210321/http://www.kbeach.org/ |archive-date=February 8, 2011 |url-status=live }}

Long Beach City College operates two internet student-run radio stations, KCTY FM{{cite web |url=http://www.kcty.org |title=KCTY website |publisher=Kcty.org |access-date=July 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100903212328/http://kcty.org/ |archive-date=September 3, 2010 |url-status=live }} and KLBC AM.

Long Beach is the host to a number of long-running music festivals. They include the Bob Marley Reggae Festival (February), the Cajun & Zydeco Festival (May), the El Dia De San Juan Puerto Rican Festival (Salsa music, June) the Aloha Concert Jam (Hawaiian music, June), the Long Beach Jazz Festival (August), the Long Beach Blues Festival (September, since 1980), and the Brazilian Street Carnaval (Brazilian music, September).

The Long Beach Municipal Band, founded in 1909, is the longest running, municipally supported band in the country. In 2005, the band played 24 concerts in various parks around Long Beach.{{cite web|url=http://longbeach.gov/park/recreation-programs/programs-and-classes/live-outdoor-bands/|title=Live Outdoor Bands|work=longbeach.gov|access-date=June 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150609095335/http://www.longbeach.gov/Park/Recreation-Programs/Programs-and-Classes/Live-Outdoor-Bands/|archive-date=June 9, 2015|url-status=live}}

Huntington Beach-based Heavy Metal band Avenged Sevenfold performed their 'Live in the LBC' show on April 10, 2008, closing out the Taste of Chaos tour for the year. This show was recorded and has become one of the 2000s' most iconic live metal albums.

Long Beach is also the point of origin for bands and musicians such as Daz Dillinger, the Pussycat Dolls, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Jenni Rivera, T.S.O.L., Frank Ocean, Sublime, Snoop Dogg, Tha Mexakinz, Nate Dogg, Warren G, Tha Dogg Pound, Knoc-Turn'al, the Long Beach Dub Allstars, Avi Buffalo, Crystal Antlers, the Emperors, the Pyramids, Crooked I, Stick to Your Guns, War and Vince Staples.

File:Long Beach, CA at night.jpg at dusk]]

Long Beach has several resident professional and semi-professional theater companies. Musical Theatre West, one of the largest regional theatrical producers in Southern California, performs at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center on the campus of CSU Long Beach. International City Theatre produces plays and musicals at the Beverly O'Neill Theatre (part of the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center). The Long Beach Playhouse, in continuous operation for over 75 years, has shows running 50 weeks out of the year on two stages.{{cite news|title=Long Beach Playhouse's The Twentieth-Century Way Brings the City's Rainbow History Back Home|newspaper=OC Weekly|first=Joel|last=Beers|date=August 9, 2018|access-date=November 20, 2018|url=https://ocweekly.com/long-beach-playhouses-the-twentieth-century-way-brings-the-citys-rainbow-history-back-home/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121022120/https://ocweekly.com/long-beach-playhouses-the-twentieth-century-way-brings-the-citys-rainbow-history-back-home/|archive-date=November 21, 2018|url-status=live}} Long Beach Shakespeare Company for over 20 years has provided free outdoor Shakespeare Festivals in the Summer.

Additionally, Long Beach is home to a number of smaller and "black-box" theaters, including the Alive Theatre,{{cite web |url=http://www.alivetheatre.org |title=Alive Theatre Long Beach, CA |publisher=Alivetheatre.org |access-date=July 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110428123336/http://www.alivetheatre.org/ |archive-date=April 28, 2011 |url-status=live }} the Garage Theatre{{cite web|url=http://www.thegaragetheatre.org|title=THE GARAGE THEATRE|work=thegaragetheatre.org|access-date=May 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318180034/http://www.thegaragetheatre.org/|archive-date=March 18, 2020|url-status=live}} and California Repertory Company (part of the graduate theater program at CSULB) that performs at the Royal Theater aboard the Queen Mary in downtown Long Beach.{{cite web|url=http://www.calrep.org |title=California Repertory Company Long Beach California Theatre, Southern California Performing Arts |publisher=Calrep.org |access-date=July 2, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100713201001/http://www.calrep.org/ |archive-date=July 13, 2010 }} Numerous tours and other stage events come through Long Beach, particularly at the Terrace Theater and the Carpenter Center, and both CSU Long Beach and Long Beach City College maintain active theater departments.

The Art Theatre on the 4th Street Corridor is one of few remaining historic movie theaters of its era in Southern California.

File:Long beach boys.jpg

In October, Long Beach State hosts the CSULB Wide Screen Film Festival, at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center. The festival started in 1992 as a showcase for movies shot in the widescreen format, but has since been transformed into an artist-in-residence event. A major video and film artist (such as former CSULB student Steven Spielberg) screens and discusses their own work as well as the ten productions that most influenced their cinematic vision.{{cite web|url=http://www.widescreenfilmfestival.org/ |title=Wide Screen Film Festival website |publisher=Widescreenfilmfestival.org |date=September 25, 2005 |access-date=July 2, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090101071919/http://www.widescreenfilmfestival.org/ |archive-date=January 1, 2009 }}

The "Naples Island Christmas Parade" has been held since 1946, and passes through the canals of Naples and around Alamitos Bay past Belmont Shore. The "Parade of A Thousand Lights" is in the Shoreline Village area (near downtown Long Beach and the {{RMS|Queen Mary}}).[http://www.naplesca.org/local/home/events/christmas/history.html History] of the Naples Island Christmas boat parade{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} There is also a Christmas boat parade in the nearby Port of Los Angeles/San Pedro area, and another in the Huntington Harbour community of nearby Huntington Beach.

The Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride Parade and Festival has been held in May or June since 1984. It is the second largest event in Long Beach, attracting over 125,000 participants over the two-day celebration. It is the third largest Gay Pride Parade in the United States.{{cite web |url=http://www.longbeachpride.com/ |title=Long Beach Gay Pride Parade website |publisher=Longbeachpride.com |date=November 24, 1998 |access-date=July 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100709044402/http://www.longbeachpride.com/ |archive-date=July 9, 2010 |url-status=live }}

The Long Beach Sea Festival is held during the summer months (June through August). It features events centered on the ocean and the beach. These events include beach volleyball, movies on the beach, and a tiki festival.{{cite web |url=http://www.longbeachseafestival.com/index.php |title=Long Beach Sea Festival web site |publisher=Longbeachseafestival.com |access-date=July 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100731035756/http://www.longbeachseafestival.com/index.php |archive-date=July 31, 2010 |url-status=usurped }}

File:RMS Queen Mary at Long Beach.jpg

The {{RMS|Queen Mary}} is a 1936 Art Deco ocean liner permanently docked at Long Beach.{{cite web |last1=Smillie |first1=Liam |title=Glasgow 850: 6 of the most famous ships built on the River Clyde and their place in history |url=https://www.glasgowworld.com/retro/glasgow-850-6-of-the-best-most-historically-influential-ships-built-on-the-river-clyde-4938862 |website=Glasgow World |access-date=25 January 2025}} It was purchased by the city in 1967 for conversion to a hotel and maritime museum.{{Cite web |last=Robinson |first=Alicia |date=2023-10-05 |title=Long Beach drops out of bankruptcy case against former Queen Mary operator |url=https://lbpost.com/news/queen-mary-bankruptcy-long-beach-drops-out/ |access-date=2024-05-16 |website=Long Beach Post News |language=en-US}}

The nonprofit Aquarium of the Pacific is on a {{convert|5|acre|m2|adj=on}} site on Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach, across the water from the Long Beach Convention Center, Shoreline Village, and the Queen Mary Hotel and Attraction.

File:Belmont Fishing Pier (191455031).jpeg, and the Shoreline Pedestrian Bikepath and Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier]]

Lions Lighthouse is a decorative lighthouse built by the Lions Club to advertise their services for the blind. It is popular for scenic viewing.{{cite news |last1=Burch |first1=Wendy |title=Fireworks return to Long Beach waterfront after COVID-19 hiatus |url=https://ktla.com/morning-news/fireworks-return-to-long-beach-waterfront-after-covid-19-hiatus/ |access-date=August 11, 2021 |work=KTLA |date=June 27, 2021}}

File:The Big Figs (133107707).jpeg]]

Rancho Los Alamitos is a {{convert|7.5|acre|m2|adj=on}} historical site owned by the City of Long Beach and is near the Long Beach campus of the California State University system. The site includes five agricultural buildings, including a working blacksmith's shop, {{convert|4|acre|m2}} of gardens, and an adobe ranch house dating from around 1800. The Rancho is within a gated community; visitors must pass through security gates to get to it.{{cite web | url=http://longbeach.gov/park/park-and-facilities/directory/rancho-los-alamitos/ | title=Rancho Los Alamitos Historic Site | access-date=June 3, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904094158/http://longbeach.gov/park/park-and-facilities/directory/rancho-los-alamitos/ | archive-date=September 4, 2015 | url-status=live }}

Rancho Los Cerritos is a {{convert|4.7|acre|m2|adj=on}} historical site owned by Long Beach in the Bixby Knolls area near the Virginia Country Club. The adobe buildings date from the 1880s. The site also includes a California history research library.{{cite web | url=http://longbeach.gov/park/park-and-facilities/directory/rancho-los-cerritos/ | title=Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site | access-date=June 3, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904094158/http://longbeach.gov/park/park-and-facilities/directory/rancho-los-cerritos/ | archive-date=September 4, 2015 | url-status=live }}

File:Belmont Heights Long Beach California.jpg neighborhood]]

Bembridge House, a Queen Anne Victorian house, is open for tours. Long Beach is also home to the Skinny House.{{cite web |url=http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2812727-skinny_house_los_angeles-i |title=Yahoo Travel Guide |publisher=Travel.yahoo.com |access-date=July 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100718094325/http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2812727-skinny_house_los_angeles-i |archive-date=July 18, 2010 |url-status=live }}{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-oct-29-me-63028-story.html | date=October 29, 2001 | access-date=July 2, 2010 | first=Daren | last=Briscoe | work=Los Angeles Times | title=The Skinny on Thin House | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110105065444/http://articles.latimes.com/2001/oct/29/local/me-63028 | archive-date=January 5, 2011 | url-status=live }}

File:Japanese garden moon bridge.jpg]]

The Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden is on the campus of California State University, Long Beach.

Long Beach offers singing gondolier trips through the canals of Naples.Roraback, K. (October 18, 1986) Los Angeles Times [https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/58061441.html?dids=58061441:58061441&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Oct+18%2C+1986&author=DICK+RORABACK&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Gondola+Getaway+Is+Romantic%2C+Authentic-and+Freeway+Close&pqatl=google Gondola Getaway Is Romantic, Authentic—and Freeway Close] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107080647/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/58061441.html?dids=58061441:58061441&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Oct+18%2C+1986&author=DICK+RORABACK&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Gondola+Getaway+Is+Romantic%2C+Authentic-and+Freeway+Close&pqatl=google |date=November 7, 2012 }} Section: VW-View-LS-Life & Style; Page 1.Segura, Joe. (January 28, 2006) Long Beach Press-Telegram [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LB&p_theme=lb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10F7CF95C4139440&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Gondolas get away to downtown L.B.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809033928/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LB&p_theme=lb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10F7CF95C4139440&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |date=August 9, 2011 }} Section: Beachweek; Page 5.

Long Beach led Southern California in parks access, size and spending, ranking 16th among a survey of 75 large U.S. cities, with Los Angeles and Anaheim tied for 51st and Santa Ana 69th, according to a study released by a national conservation group.{{cite news|url=http://www.presstelegram.com//lifestyle/20150519/survey-of-best-cities-for-parks-lists-long-beach-ahead-of-los-angeles-anaheim|title=Survey of best cities for parks lists Long Beach ahead of Los Angeles, Anaheim|work=Press Telegram|date=May 20, 2015|access-date=May 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522183429/http://www.presstelegram.com/lifestyle/20150519/survey-of-best-cities-for-parks-lists-long-beach-ahead-of-los-angeles-anaheim|archive-date=May 22, 2015|url-status=live}} The Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine received a Gold Medal award from the National Recreation and Park Association in 2002, 2003, and 2004, recognizing the Department's "outstanding management practices and programs". The department manages 92 parks covering over {{convert|3,100|acre|km2}} throughout the city. The department also operates four public swimming pools, and four launch ramps for boaters to access the Pacific Ocean.

File:A Squirrel On The Path (143026077).jpeg]]

The {{convert|815|acre|km2}} El Dorado Regional Park, which features fishing lakes, an archery range, youth campground, bike trails, and picnic areas. The {{convert|102.5|acre|km2|1|adj=on}} El Dorado Nature Center is part of the El Dorado Regional Park. The center features lakes, a stream, and trails, with meadows and forested areas. After an original hands-off approach, the center has begun to actively introduce indigenous species.{{cite web | url=http://longbeach.gov/Park/Park-and-Facilities/Parks-Centers-Pier/El-Dorado-Nature-Center/ | title=El Dorado Nature Center | work=City of Long Beach website | access-date=February 24, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080223081256/http://www.longbeach.gov/park/facilities/parks/el_dorado_nature_center.asp |archive-date = February 23, 2008}}

Willow Springs Park was founded as a part of the Willow Springs Wetlands Restoration Project which opened in October 2017. The project restored 11 acres of a 48-acre degraded oil well site into wetlands. These highlight the pivotal role the ecosystem played in the City of Long Beach's establishment in the late 1800s and helps preserve the site's history and unique topography. It is now at about 16 acres restored and, in August 2024, it began the process of being dedicated as an open space by the city council, which will make it the largest green space in Central Long Beach once done.{{cite web | url=https://lbwatchdog.com/long-beach-will-permanently-dedicate-willow-springs-park-as-open-space/ | title=Long Beach will permanently dedicate Willow Springs Park as open space | date=August 14, 2024 }} It is run in collaboration with the city's office of Climate Action and Sustainability which was established in 2008 to support and advance environmental stewardship and equity in the City of Long Beach.{{cite web | url=https://www.longbeach.gov/sustainability/about-us/about-climate-action/ | title=About Climate Action }}{{cite web | url=https://www.longbeach.gov/park/park-and-facilities/directory/willow-springs-park---longview-point/ | title=Willow Springs Park - Longview Point }}

The Long Beach Green Belt path is a section of the old Pacific Electric right-of-way, restored by community activists as native habitat. The right-of-way was cleared of nonnatives, planted with indigenous plants, and made accessible with foot and bike paths. It supports approximately 40 species of California native plants as well as urban wildlife. The city and its residents have initiatives underway to revegetate the Long Beach stretch of the Los Angeles River with indigenous plants.{{cite news |title=RiverLink |url=https://www.longbeach.gov/mayor/news/riverlink/ |work=www.longbeach.gov |date=August 11, 2015 |language=en}}

File:Golden Shore Marine Biological Reserve, Long Beach, CA.jpg

The Los Cerritos Wetlands Study Group, state government agencies, and grassroots groups are collaborating on a plan to preserve Long Beach's last remaining wetlands.[https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=33.7565,-118.104&ie=UTF8&ll=33.756886,-118.103993&spn=0.008385,0.014462&t=h&z=16&iwloc=addr Overhead view of ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111023724/https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=33.7565,-118.104&ie=UTF8&ll=33.756886,-118.103993&spn=0.008385,0.014462&t=h&z=16&iwloc=addr |date=January 11, 2014 }}Los Cerritos Wetlands. Long Beach is the first city in California to join the 'EcoZone' Program, intended to measurably improve environmental conditions through public-private partnerships. Other places in Long Beach to see natural areas include Bluff Park (coastal bluffs), Colorado Lagoon, the Golden Shore Marine Biological Reserve, the Jack Dunster Marine Reserve, Shoreline Park, and DeForest Park.

The Municipal Fly Casting PoolGrobaty, Tim. (July 22, 2002) Long Beach Press-Telegram [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LB&p_theme=lb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F4F4C1DE3C55E76&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D What's Up: Forever Fun in the Sun.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809033945/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LB&p_theme=lb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F4F4C1DE3C55E76&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D |date=August 9, 2011 }} Section: Local news; Page A3. at Recreation Park{{cite web |url=https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=33.77667,+-118.13386&ie=UTF8&ll=33.776719,-118.133859&spn=0.001048,0.001808&t=h&z=19&iwloc=addr |title=Municipal Fly Casting Pool overhead view |publisher=Google Maps |date=January 1, 1970 |access-date=July 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111012952/https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=33.77667,+-118.13386&ie=UTF8&ll=33.776719,-118.133859&spn=0.001048,0.001808&t=h&z=19&iwloc=addr |archive-date=January 11, 2014 |url-status=live }} in East Long Beach is a 260-by-135-foot clear water, fishless pond built and operated since 1925 by the Long Beach Casting Club as only one of two Southern California city operated casting ponds (the other being in Pasadena).Russell, Kelle. (February 5, 1993) Long Beach Press-Telegram [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LB&p_theme=lb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAE8EB38CA11232&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D Getting Hooked on Fly-Fishing.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809033937/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LB&p_theme=lb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAE8EB38CA11232&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D |date=August 9, 2011 }} Section: Local news; Page D3. Described recently as a serene pond "surrounded by a seemingly endless stretch of green grass against a backdrop of mountains and palm trees", several movie stars from the 1940s were taught to fly cast at the pond, including Robert Taylor, Clark Gable, Jimmy Durante, and Barbara Stanwyck.Welsh, Jed. (August 23, 2001) Long Beach Press-Telegram [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LB&p_theme=lb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EE1DDD54C021F56&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D Experts to Teach Fly Casting.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809034019/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LB&p_theme=lb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EE1DDD54C021F56&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D |date=August 9, 2011 }} Section: Sports; Page B7. In 1932, the fly fishing clubhouse adjacent to the fly fishing pond was used for the Summer Olympic Games and housed military personnel during World War II.Gewirtz, Jason. (July 27, 2000) Long Beach Press-Telegram [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LB&p_theme=lb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAE8B449BB9C3B8&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D City Council Eases Off Certain Restrictions on Skateboarding.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514033434/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LB&p_theme=lb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAE8B449BB9C3B8&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D |date=May 14, 2011 }} Section: Local news; p. A3.

Rosie's Dog Beach in Belmont Shore is the only legal off-leash beach area for dogs in Los Angeles County.{{cite web |url=http://longbeach.gov/Park/Park-and-Facilities/Directory/Rosies-Dog-Beach/ |title=Rosies Dog Beach |publisher=Longbeach.gov |access-date=May 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512042935/http://longbeach.gov/Park/Park-and-Facilities/Directory/Rosies-Dog-Beach/ |archive-date=May 12, 2019 |url-status=live }} This {{convert|3|acre|m2|adj=on}} area is situated between Roycroft and Argonne Avenues.

File:LBGP05.jpg, showing turn 10 and the Long Beach skyline]]

{{Main|Grand Prix of Long Beach}}

The Grand Prix of Long Beach in April is the single largest event in Long Beach. It started in 1975 as a Formula 5000 race on the streets of downtown, and became a Formula One race, the United States Grand Prix West, the following year. From 1984 to 2008 it was a Champ Car event, and is now an IndyCar race. During the same weekend as the Grand Prix, there is also an IMSA SportsCar Championship race, a Formula D round and the Pirelli World Challenge.

The Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame is on South Pine Avenue in front of the Long Beach Convention Center adjacent to the Long Beach Grand Prix circuit. The Walk of Fame was created in 2006 to honor key contributors to motorsports and annually inducts new members in conjunction with the Long Beach Grand Prix. A {{convert|22|in|mm|adj=on}} bronze medallion is placed in the sidewalk for each new inductee. The medallion includes a rendition of the racer's car and lists top achievements in motor sports.

The Long Beach Marathon is run every year in October throughout the City of Long Beach. The annual event includes a variety of races including a Kids Fun Run, a Bike Tour, 5K, Half Marathon and Full Marathon. All races begin and end around the Shoreline Village area of downtown Long Beach. 25,000 runners and cyclists participated in the 2013 festivities drawing nearly 50,000 people attending the event overall.{{cite web|url=http://runlongbeach.com/history-of-the-marathon/|title=Run Long Beach – History Of The Marathon|work=runlongbeach.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101012807/http://runlongbeach.com/history-of-the-marathon/|archive-date=January 1, 2014|date=April 25, 2017}} The full marathon is a fast Boston qualifying course passing through sandy beaches, Belmont Shore, and the Cal State Long Beach campus.{{cite web|url=http://runlongbeach.com|title=Run Long Beach – Long Beach International City Bank Marathon – October 12, 2014|work=runlongbeach.com|date=April 25, 2017|access-date=March 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101021733/http://runlongbeach.com/|archive-date=January 1, 2014|url-status=live}}

The Long Beach State Dirtbags baseball team has been playing since 1954. They play at Blair Field, across the street from Wilson High School. They are called the Dirtbags by many fans and is the team's official nickname.

Long Beach was the home of the American Basketball League team Long Beach Chiefs during the 1962/1963 season. They played in the newly opened Long Beach Arena.

The minor league American Basketball Association team, the Long Beach Jam, played in the Walter Pyramid (a pyramid-shaped gym) on the Long Beach State campus) from 2003 to 2005.

The Southern California Summer Pro League is a showcase for current and prospective NBA basketball players, including recent draft picks, NBA players working on their skills and conditioning, and international professionals hoping to become NBA players. The league plays in the Pyramid-on the Long Beach State campus during July.

The Long Beach Blue Waves of The Basketball League (TBL) have played at Santiago High School since 2022.

File:Marine Stadium Long Beach California.jpg, created to host the rowing events for the 1932 Summer Olympics]]

Since its inception in August 1964, the Congressional Cup has grown into one of the major international sailing events. Now held in April, it is the only grade 1 match race regatta held in the United States. The one-on-one race format is the same as the America's Cup, and many of the winners of the Congressional Cup have gone on to win the America's Cup as well.

The Leeway Sailing and Aquatics Center on Alamitos Bay in Belmont Shore is a youth sailing program founded in 1929.{{cite web|url=http://longbeach.gov/park/recreation-programs/aquatics/leeway-sailing-and-aquatics-center/|title=Leeway Sailing & Aquatics Center|publisher=City of Long Beach, CA|access-date=April 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150609122914/http://www.longbeach.gov/Park/Recreation-Programs/Aquatics/Leeway-Sailing-and-Aquatics-Center/|archive-date=June 9, 2015|url-status=live}}

In July, there is the annual Catalina Ski Race, which starts from Long Beach Harbor and goes to Catalina Island and back to complete a {{convert|100|km|mi|0|sp=us|adj=on}} circuit. This race has been held annually since 1948 and features skiers from up to seventy teams from around the world.[http://www.catalinaskirace.net/forms/CSR_PressRelease.pdf Goldfinger Racing in conjunction with Phase One Productions presents the 2nd Annual Jumboscreen/DVD production and the FIRST EVER LIVE internet broadcast of THE 59TH ANNUAL CATALINA WATER SKI RACE] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405053020/http://www.catalinaskirace.net/forms/CSR_PressRelease.pdf |date=April 5, 2012 }}[http://www.visitlongbeach.com/calendar/index.cfm?eventid=2162 65TH ANNUAL CATALINA SKI RACE] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140629030911/http://www.visitlongbeach.com/calendar/index.cfm?eventid=2162 |date=June 29, 2014 }} visitlongbeach.com. Retrieved July 22, 2012

File:Long Beach from across the surf, showing the Hotel Bixby under construction in the distance at right, ca.1906 (CHS-2803).jpg

Although California's surfing scene is said to have gotten its start in Long Beach when in 1911 two surfers returned from Hawaii and the city hosted the first National Surfing and Paddleboard Championships in 1938, surfing is now uncommon in Long Beach due to a {{convert|2.2|mi|km|adj=on}} long breakwater built in 1949 to protect the United States Pacific Fleet. The breakwater reduces "mighty waves to mere lake-like lapping along the city's beaches". The fleet left in the 1990s, and now some residents are calling for it to be lowered or eliminated and the city has commissioned a $100,000 study for this purpose.{{cite news |last=Schoch |first=Deborah |title=Long Beach at sea over breakwater removal plan |newspaper=The Los Angeles Times |date=June 30, 2008 |url=https://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-breakwater30-2008jun30,0,3801152.story |access-date=July 1, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080701155434/http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-breakwater30-2008jun30,0,3801152.story |archive-date=July 1, 2008 |url-status=live }} In November 2019, the study concluded that any changes to the breakwater would be far too costly and could have potential impacts on the port of Long Beach, the port of Los Angeles, the oil islands, U.S. Naval Operations, Shoreline Marina, and the Peninsula.{{Cite web|title=After years of study, Army Corps determines the breakwater must stay • Long Beach Post News|url=https://lbpost.com/news/army-corps-breakwater-study|access-date=July 14, 2021|website=lbpost.com|date=November 26, 2019 }}

The Belmont Shore rugby team plays in the US Rugby Super League. They have been in seven league finals, and have been champions three times.[https://www.belmontshorerfc.com/ Belmont Shore Rugby Club]

Long Beach State's team mascot are the Beach.{{cite web|title=Long Beach State Athletics – Official website of the 49ers|url=http://longbeachstate.cstv.com/index-main.html#00|access-date=January 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202083306/http://longbeachstate.cstv.com/index-main.html#00|archive-date=February 2, 2009|url-status=dead}} The school has participated in national championships in women's volleyball (5), men's volleyball (1), track and field (1), men's tennis (1; Division II), swimming (1; Division II), women's badminton (2), and women's field hockey (1). The school also has regularly appeared in NCAA tournaments in men's baseball, men's softball, men's basketball, women's basketball, men's golf, women's tennis, men's water polo, and women's water polo.[http://www.longbeachstate.com/history/champteams.html http://www.longbeachstate.com/history/champteams.html] longbeachstate.com {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213085547/http://www.longbeachstate.com/history/champteams.html |date=February 13, 2008 }} Their cheer team were national champions in 2003, 2004 and 2006.[http://www.beachpride.com/modules.php?name=Cheer_Team http://www.beachpride.com/modules.php?name=Cheer_Team] beachpride.com {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017055857/http://www.beachpride.com/modules.php?name=Cheer_Team |date=October 17, 2013 }} The D1 roller hockey team were the 2011 national champions after defeating Lindenwood University.

File:Veterans Memorial Stadium (Long Beach).jpg, home to the Long Beach City College football team]]

The other collegiate sports team in the city is that of Long Beach City College. The school has appeared in national championships in men's gymnastics (6), football (5), women's soccer (3), and men's doubles and singles tennis (1 each). They have also had state championships in numerous sports, including 2006–7 championships in men's and women's water polo.{{cite journal|title=Championship history|url=http://www.lbccvikings.com/athletics/champions/championships|journal=Long Beach City College Athletics|access-date=April 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417193947/http://www.lbccvikings.com/athletics/champions/championships|archive-date=April 17, 2012|url-status=live}}

The archery field in El Dorado Regional Park was the site for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics archery competition.[http://longbeach.gov/park/business-operations/about/ http://longbeach.gov/park/business-operations/about/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150609022128/http://www.longbeach.gov/Park/Business-Operations/About/ |date=June 9, 2015 }} longbeach.gov

CSU Long Beach has one of the few remaining university varsity archery teams in California.

Multiple sports will be held in Long Beach during the 2028 Summer Olympics, including BMX racing, water polo, triathlon, open water swimming, sailing, rowing, canoeing and handball.{{cite web |url=http://la24-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/pdf/LA2024-canditature-part2_english.pdf |title=Stage 2 funding brochure |website=la24-prod.s3.amazonaws.com |access-date=May 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012093308/http://la24-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/pdf/LA2024-canditature-part2_english.pdf |archive-date=October 12, 2016 |url-status=dead }}

{{See also|Government of Los Angeles County}}

{{See also|Long Beach City Council}}

File:Long Beach Civic Center.jpg{{cite web |title=Long Beach Civic Center City Hall and Port Headquarters |url=https://www.som.com/projects/long-beach-city-hall-and-port-headquarters/ |website=SOM}} and completed in 2019{{cite web |title=Civic Center Grand Opening |url=https://longbeach.gov/pages/city-news/civic-center-grand-opening/ |website=longbeach.gov |publisher=City of Long Beach |language=en}}]]

Long Beach is a California charter city using the mayor–council form of government. It is governed by nine City Council members, who are elected by district, and the Mayor, who is elected at-large since a citywide initiative passed in 1988. The City Attorney, City Auditor, and City Prosecutor are also elected positions. The city is supported by a budget of $2.3 billion, and has more than 5,500 employees.{{cite web | url=http://www.longbeach.gov | title=City of Long Beach Web Site | access-date=December 10, 2005 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051210194951/http://www.longbeach.gov/ | archive-date=December 10, 2005 | url-status=live }} Long Beach was first incorporated in 1888 with 59 buildings and a new school. Nine years later, dissatisfaction with prohibition and high taxes led to an abortive and short-lived disincorporation. Before the year 1897 was out, the citizens voted to reincorporate, and the 1897 date of incorporation is shown on the city seal.

Long Beach is a full-service city that provides nearly all of its own municipal services, in contrast with a contract city. City hall provides a full range of traditional municipal services through the various departments that make up its staff of civil servants. In addition to its own police and fire departments, Long Beach provides:

• Municipal water supply and sewer service through the Long Beach Water Department, which has a water treatment plant within the city and an extensive reclaimed water system for parks and other landscaping{{cite web |title=Recycled Water Filling Stations |url=https://lbwater.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/LBWDRecycledWaterFillingStations.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018202718/https://lbwater.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/LBWDRecycledWaterFillingStations.pdf |archive-date=October 18, 2021 |url-status=live |website=Long Beach Water Department |date=January 4, 2017}}
• A Gas & Oil Department, which manages consumer natural gas service and infrastructure, as well as crude oil extraction subsidence control{{cite web |url=http://www.longbeach.gov/lbgo/ |title=Long Beach Gas & Oil |access-date=June 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527214847/http://www.longbeach.gov/lbgo/ |archive-date=May 27, 2014 |url-status=live }}
• Health services through the Long Beach Health & Human Services Department, which handles both environmental health (such as restaurant/food inspection) and public health services. This is one of the only four municipal health departments in California (the other three being Berkeley, Pasadena, and Vernon)
• Sanitation and recycling services through the Environmental Services Bureau in the Public Works Department{{cite web|url=http://www.longbeach-recycles.org/home/index.htm|title=Long Beach Environmental Services Bureau|website=Long Beach Environmental Services Bureau|access-date=June 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140618164853/http://longbeach-recycles.org/home/index.htm|archive-date=June 18, 2014|url-status=live}}
• Animal control service that, in addition to serving Long Beach, serves nearby cities including Signal Hill and Seal Beach
• A City Auditor
• A City Prosecutor

Long Beach held its elections for City Council on April (primary) and June (runoff) until the 2018 election. Starting with the 2020 election, primary election is being held in March and runoff election is being held in November.

The major exception to the full range of municipal services is electricity, which is provided by Southern California Edison.

In the California State Senate, Long Beach is represented by Democrat Lena Gonzalez who represents the 33rd district.{{cite web

|url = https://sd33.senate.ca.gov/district

|title = California Senate District 33}} In the California State Assembly, it is split between the 65th district, represented by Democrat Mike Gipson, and the 69th district represented by Democrat Josh Lowenthal.{{cite web

|url = https://ceo.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/State-Assembly.pdf

|title = Delegates representing Los Angeles County in the State Assembly

|publisher = County of Los Angeles

}}

In the United States House of Representatives, Long Beach is split between California's 42nd congressional district (Rep. Robert Garcia) and 44th district (Rep. Nanette Barragán).

According to the California Secretary of State, as of October 19, 2020, Long Beach has 279,735 registered voters. Of those, 147,276 (52.65%) are registered Democrats, 47,615 (17.02%) are registered Republicans, and 66,857 (23.90%) have declined to state a political party/are independents.{{cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/ror/15day-gen-2020/politicalsub.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126112521/https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/ror/15day-gen-2020/politicalsub.pdf |archive-date=November 26, 2020 |url-status=live|title=CA Secretary of State – Report of Registration – October 19, 2020|website=ca.gov|access-date=February 8, 2021}}

{{Main|Long Beach Police Department (California)}}

The Long Beach Police Department provides law enforcement for the City of Long Beach.

On March 18, 2008, Long Beach became the first city in California to heavily restrict residency and visitation rights for California registered sex offenders. Triggered by a local protest of a multi-apartment dwelling which tenanted several paroled registered sex offenders, and fueled by local radio hosts John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou of KFI's John and Ken show, city council members voted 7–0 to enact 18 ordinances, of which the most restrictive prohibits residency by all registered sex offenders, whether they are on parole or not, within {{convert|2000|ft|m}} of any child care center, public or private school, or park. Google Maps measurements indicate the total exclusion area encompasses over 96% of the area of Long Beach that is zoned for residential use. Registered sex offenders residing within the exclusion zone were given until September 2008 to vacate the restricted area. Once this happens, no sex offender will legally be able to live in the vast majority of Long Beach. While several other ordinances restrict the number of registered sex offenders who may reside in an apartment complex, there are no apartment complexes within city limits that are outside of the exclusion zone. In addition, the ordinances prohibit all registered sex offenders from using any park, beach, or facility that caters to children, such as amusement parks and restaurants with children's playgrounds, or even travel within {{convert|500|ft|m}} of such places.{{cite web | url=http://www.lbreport.com/news/mar08/sexord2.htm | title=LBReport.com | work=Council Approves LB Muni Code Amendments Adding Sex Offender Residency/Loitering Restrictions | access-date=March 13, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081019080019/http://www.lbreport.com/news/mar08/sexord2.htm | archive-date=October 19, 2008 | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_8620321 | title=Long Beach Press-Telegram, March 19, 2008 | work=Long Beach passes sex offender rules | access-date=March 20, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210085018/http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_8620321 | archive-date=December 10, 2008 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}{{cite web | url=http://municipalcodes.lexisnexis.com/codes/longbeach/ | title=Long Beach Municipal Code Update (PDF) | work=Ordinance No. ORD-08-0004 | access-date=April 22, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201215327/http://municipalcodes.lexisnexis.com/codes/longbeach/ | archive-date=December 1, 2008 | url-status=live }}

{{see also|Fireboats of Long Beach, California}}

The Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD), ISO Class 1, provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the City of Long Beach.{{cite web|url=http://www.longbeach.gov/fire/|title=Fire|work=longbeach.gov|access-date=December 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219002740/http://www.longbeach.gov/fire/|archive-date=December 19, 2013|url-status=live}} The Long Beach Fire Department operates out of 23 Fire Stations throughout the city.{{cite web|url=http://longbeach.gov/fire/organization-chart/|title=organization chart|work=longbeach.gov|access-date=June 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150719174449/http://www.longbeach.gov/fire/organization-chart/|archive-date=July 19, 2015|url-status=live}}

In addition to serving {{convert|55|sqmi}} with over 500,000 residents, the department's Marine Safety Division patrols the waterways and beach front areas.

The Marine Safety Division is responsible for the operation and management of the marine safety and lifeguard division as well as the safe and lawful use of the {{convert|9|mi|km}} of beaches, {{convert|5300|acres}} of oceanfront property, waterways and marinas.{{cite web|title=Marine Safety Division|url=http://longbeach.gov/fire/operations/marine-safety/|website=Long Beach Fire Department|access-date=February 16, 2015}} This includes the Port of Long Beach and Alamitos Bay. The division staffs 9 facilities year round, with an additional 41 stations during the summer{{cite web|title=2012 Info|url=http://admin.longbeach.gov/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=36863|website=Long Beach Fire Department|access-date=February 16, 2015}}{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Additionally the division has at its disposal 6 rescue boats, 7 beach patrols and a dive rescue unit. In 2012, lifeguards and other members of the marine safety division responded to 17,867 calls for service.

The American Lifeguard Association has been offering lifeguard courses for over 30 years.{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=David |title=American Lifeguard Association {{!}} Lifeguard Training Certification, Classes |url=https://americanlifeguard.com/ |access-date=2024-08-13 |website=americanlifeguard.com |language=en-US}}

{{Main|Government of Los Angeles County}}

• The Los Angeles Superior Court, which covers all of Los Angeles County, operates the Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse in downtown Long Beach.{{cite web |title=Courthouses in Los Angeles County – Contacts and Locations – LA Court |url=http://www.lacourt.org/courthouse/info/lb |website=www.lacourt.org |access-date=June 17, 2020}} It is one of the 50 courthouses in the county.
• The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Torrance Health Center in Harbor Gateway, Los Angeles, near Torrance and serving Long Beach."[http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/phn/docs/HealthCenter/torrance.pdf Torrance Health Center] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201202645/http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/phn/docs/HealthCenter/torrance.pdf |date=February 1, 2015 }}." Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Retrieved on March 18, 2010.

File:U.S. Post Office (Long Beach Main).jpg]]

• The Glenn M. Anderson Long Beach Federal Building in downtown Long Beach at 501 West Ocean Blvd., houses offices for NOAA and other federal agencies, although NOAA plans to shift leadership of the Fisheries office to the Pacific Northwest and shrink this office through attrition.
• The Long Beach Main Post Office of the U.S. Postal Service serves as the main postal facility for Long Beach."[https://archive.today/20120716014234/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/45932?p=1&s=CA&service_name=post_office&z=Long+Beach Post Office Location – LONG BEACH]." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on September 23, 2009.
• The Long Beach Naval Shipyard was established in 1943 and closed in 1997, employing over 16,000 people at its peak in 1945.

File:Long Beach Naval Shipyard aerial view in October 1993.JPEG, and Essex in 1993. In the background is the original Gerald Desmond Bridge.]]

• VA Long Beach Healthcare System including the Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center and Cabrillo VA Clinic{{cite web |title=Locations VA Long Beach health care |url=https://www.va.gov/long-beach-health-care/locations/ |website=Veterans Affairs |language=en}}

Long Beach Unified School District serves most of the City of Long Beach.{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06037_los_angeles/DC20SD_C06037.pdf|title=2020 Census – School District Reference Map: Los Angeles County, CA|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|pages=10, 12 (PDF pp. 11, 13/19)|access-date=November 23, 2023}}

LBUSD high schools in the Long Beach city limits:

• Cabrillo High School
• Ernest McBride High School
• Jordan High School
• Long Beach Polytechnic High School
• Millikan High School
• Renaissance High School for the Arts
• Richard D. Browning High School
• Sato Academy of Mathematics and Science
• Will J. Reid High School
• Wilson High School

Other school districts that serve sections of Long Beach include:

• ABC Unified School District
• Paramount Unified School District
• Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)
• Rancho Dominguez Preparatory School, an LAUSD facility, is in the Long Beach city limits{{cite web|url=https://dominguezps.lausd.org/|title=Home|publisher=Rancho Dominguez Preparatory School|access-date=November 23, 2023|quote=4110 Santa Fe Ave Long Beach, CA 90810}}

{{Main|List of private schools in Long Beach, California}}

File:Walter Pyramid.jpg at California State University, Long Beach]]

Long Beach, California has two public institutions dedicated to higher education: California State University, Long Beach and Long Beach City College.

Founded in 1949, California State University, Long Beach is a comprehensive public university in the tree-filled Los Altos neighborhood. Long Beach State is three miles away from the Pacific Ocean and is known for their resources of the arts, such as the Carpenter Performing Arts Center.{{cite web|title=Profile of California State University, Long Beach|url=https://www2.calstate.edu/attend/campuses/long-beach/Pages/default.aspx|publisher=California State University|access-date=August 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807023849/https://www2.calstate.edu/attend/campuses/long-beach/Pages/default.aspx|archive-date=August 7, 2017|url-status=live}}

Long Beach City College is a community college established in 1927. LBCC is composed of two separate campuses; the Liberal Arts Campus is on the residential area of Lakewood Village, while the Pacific Coast Campus is adjacent to the Eastside neighborhood.{{cite web|title=Facts at Long Beach City College|url=http://www.lbcc.edu/PresidentsOffice/documents/08-31-16_Collegefacts.pdf|publisher=Long Beach City College|access-date=August 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807021619/http://www.lbcc.edu/PresidentsOffice/documents/08-31-16_Collegefacts.pdf|archive-date=August 7, 2017|url-status=dead}}

Additionally, Pacific Coast University, a private non-profit law school, is located in Long Beach.

File:POLB.jpg

As of 2005, the Port of Long Beach was the second busiest{{cite web|url=http://www.aapa-ports.org/files/Statistics/2005_NORTH_AMERICAN_CONTAINER_TRAFFIC.pdf |title=2005 North American Contain Traffic |work=AAPA website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090920142823/http://www.aapa-ports.org/files/Statistics/2005_NORTH_AMERICAN_CONTAINER_TRAFFIC.pdf |archive-date=September 20, 2009 }} seaport in the United States and the tenth busiest in the world,{{cite web|url=https://www.longbeach.gov/lgb/news/10-3-23-lgb-recognized-among-top-ten-airports-by-conde-nast-traveler-magazine-for-second-consecutive-year/|title=LGB Recognized Among Top Ten Airports by Condé Nast Traveler Magazine for Second Consecutive Year}} shipping some 66 million metric tons of cargo worth $95 billion in 2001. The port serves shipping between the United States and the Pacific Rim. The combined operations of the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles are the busiest in the US.

Rail shipping is provided by Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway, which carry about half of the trans-shipments from the port. Long Beach has contributed to the Alameda Corridor project to increase the capacity of the rail lines, roads, and highways connecting the port to the Los Angeles rail hub. The project, completed in 2002, created a trench {{convert|20|mi|km|0}} long and {{convert|33|ft|m|0}} deep in order to eliminate 200 grade crossings and cost about US$2.4 billion.

;Long Beach Cruise Terminal

File:Queen Mary Dome (3298007004).jpg

Operated by Carnival Corporation, the Long Beach Cruise Terminal is the year-round home of three cruise ships carrying over 600,000 passengers annually. Passengers are processed in the domed structure that housed the Spruce Goose.Meeks, Karen Robes (June 13, 2014). [http://www.presstelegram.com/business/20140613/carnival-cruise-lines-expands-services-in-long-beach Carnival Cruise Lines expands services in Long Beach.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117231839/http://www.presstelegram.com/business/20140613/carnival-cruise-lines-expands-services-in-long-beach |date=January 17, 2016 }} Long Beach Press-Telegram. Retrieved January 5, 2016.sanpedro.com. [http://www.sanpedro.com/spcom/crusshp2.htm Cruise Ships—Long Beach, CA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117155539/http://www.sanpedro.com/spcom/crusshp2.htm |date=January 17, 2016 }}. Retrieved January 5, 2016.

;Catalina Landing

Catalina Express operates scheduled trips from the Catalina Landing.{{cite web |title=The Catalina Landing |url=https://catalinaexpress.com/port-long-beach/long-beach-port.html |website=catalinaexpress.com |language=en}}

;Bus and coach services

File:The Passport (Free Bus).JPG

Long Beach Transit provides local public transportation services within Long Beach, Lakewood, and Signal Hill.{{cite web | url=http://www.lbtransit.com/Schedules/pdf/map_system.pdf | title=Long Beach Transit System Map | work=Long Beach Transit website | access-date=December 16, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404002848/http://www.lbtransit.com/Schedules/pdf/map_system.pdf | archive-date=April 4, 2018 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }} Long Beach Transit regularly operates 38 bus routes.{{cite web | url=http://www.lbtransit.com/Services/ | title=Long Beach Transit Services | work=Long Beach Transit website | access-date=December 16, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180521135400/http://www.lbtransit.com/Services/ | archive-date=May 21, 2018 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }} Most regular service bus routes begin or end at the Long Beach Transit Mall in downtown Long Beach.

Long Beach Transit also operates the Passport shuttle within downtown Long Beach. The free shuttle carries passengers to the Aquarium of the Pacific, Pine Avenue, Shoreline Village, the Long Beach Convention Center, the {{RMS|Queen Mary||2}}, Catalina Landing, various hotels, and other points of interest.{{cite web | url=http://www.lbtransit.com/Services/Passport.aspx | title=Long Beach Transit Passport | work=Long Beach Transit website | access-date=December 16, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729050216/http://www.lbtransit.com/Services/Passport.aspx | archive-date=July 29, 2018 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }} During the summer, Long Beach Transit operates the AquaLink, a {{convert|68|ft|m|adj=on}} catamaran that carries passengers between the downtown Long Beach waterfront and the Alamitos Bay Landing.{{cite web | url=http://www.lbtransit.com/Services/Aqualink.aspx | title=Long Beach Transit AquaLink | work=Long Beach Transit website | access-date=February 15, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216220714/http://lbtransit.com/Services/Aqualink.aspx | archive-date=December 16, 2010 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }} In addition, during the summer, a 49-passenger water taxis called the AquaBus is provided. With $1 fares, the AquaBus serves six different locations within the downtown Long Beach waterfront.{{cite web | url=http://www.lbtransit.com/Services/Aquabus.aspx | title=Long Beach Transit AquaBus | work=Long Beach Transit website | access-date=February 15, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216221209/http://lbtransit.com/Services/AquaBus.aspx | archive-date=December 16, 2010 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}

Several transit operators offer services from the Long Beach Transit Mall. Torrance Transit offers bus service to the South Bay. The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) offers bus service to San Pedro. LA Metro operates other regional bus lines. Orange County Transportation Authority offers limited bus service to Orange County. Route 1, from Long Beach to San Clemente is the longest bus route in the OCTA system.{{cite web | url=http://www.octa.net/ | title=Orange County Transportation Authority | work=Orange County Transportation Authority website | access-date=February 15, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970501224434/http://www.octa.net/ | archive-date=May 1, 1997 | url-status=live }} Amtrak Thruway offers bus shuttles starting in San Pedro, with stops at the {{RMS|Queen Mary||2}} and downtown Long Beach, that then goes to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, and ends in Bakersfield. Greyhound Lines operates the Long Beach Station in Long Beach.{{cite web |url=http://locations.greyhound.com/bus-stations/us/california/long-beach/bus-station-891979 |title=Long Beach Greyhound Station |work=Greyhound Lines website |access-date=January 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118143756/http://locations.greyhound.com/bus-stations/us/california/long-beach/bus-station-891979 |archive-date=January 18, 2017 |url-status=live }} A FlyAway bus route to LAX began service on December 30, 2015.{{cite news|title=FlyAway bus service to LAX expands to Long Beach|url=http://www.presstelegram.com/general-news/20151230/flyaway-bus-service-to-lax-expands-to-long-beach|access-date=January 5, 2016|work=Press-Telegram|agency=City News Service|date=December 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101202543/http://www.presstelegram.com/general-news/20151230/flyaway-bus-service-to-lax-expands-to-long-beach|archive-date=January 1, 2016|url-status=live}}

;Light rail

File:Long Beach Transit Gallery (formerly the Long Beach Transit Mall).jpg (the service was renamed to the A Line in 2019, while the station was renamed from its original name of Transit Mall Station in July 2013).]]

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) operates the Metro A Line, a light rail service that runs between the Downtown Long Beach Station (known as the Transit Mall Station until July 2013) and the APU/Citrus College station in Azusa (extension to Pomona–North Metrolink station in 2025) via Los Angeles Union Station and Del Mar station in Pasadena. From the 7th Street/Metro Center Station, passengers can make connections to Hollywood, Universal Studios, and other points of interest along the Los Angeles Metro Rail subway (B and D lines) network. From Union Station in downtown L.A., transit users can access the regional Metrolink rail system to access a vast area of urban Southern California, and connect to nationwide Amtrak trains as well. The Metro A Line also offers connections to the Metro E Line at the 7th Street/Metro Center Station, Pico Station, Grand Avenue Arts/Bunker Hill station, Historic Broadway station, and Little Tokyo/Arts District station with service to Santa Monica and East Los Angeles. In addition, at Willowbrook Station, passengers can transfer to the Metro C Line with service to Redondo Beach, Norwalk, and LAX via an additional shuttle connection. The Metro A Line Maintenance Shops are also in Long Beach just south of the Del Amo Blue Line station.{{cite web | url=http://www.metro.net/ | title=LA Metro Home | publisher=Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority website | access-date=February 15, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216025847/http://www.metro.net/ | archive-date=February 16, 2011 | url-status=live }}

Historically, the city was served by Pacific Electric trains, including the Long Beach Line and several local streetcars.

;Taxicabs

Taxicabs in Long Beach serve the tourism and convention industry and local services such as for elderly and disabled residents. Yellow Long Beach is the city's only licensed taxi franchise, with 199 taxicabs in service.{{cite news|last1=Bradley|first1=Eric|title=Long Beach relaxes restrictions on taxi company, allowing it to compete with ride-sharing rivals|url=http://www.presstelegram.com/business/20150512/long-beach-relaxes-restrictions-on-taxi-company-allowing-it-to-compete-with-ride-sharing-rivals|access-date=January 5, 2016|work=Press-Telegram|date=May 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102042321/http://www.presstelegram.com/business/20150512/long-beach-relaxes-restrictions-on-taxi-company-allowing-it-to-compete-with-ride-sharing-rivals|archive-date=January 2, 2016|url-status=live}} Long Beach was the nation's first large city to relax restrictions on cabs by allowing them to offer variable, discounted fares, free rides and other price promotions to lure customers while keeping maximum fares in place. Many other cities have responded to Uber and Lyft by increasing regulation of these new competitors.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-long-beach-uber-20150514-story.html|title=Long Beach allows taxis to lower fares as they compete with Uber, Lyft|work=Los Angeles Times|date=May 14, 2015|first=Laura J.|last=Nelson|access-date=April 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115173550/https://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-long-beach-uber-20150514-story.html|archive-date=January 15, 2020|url-status=live}}

{{Main|Long Beach Airport}}

File:Home Sweet Home (3158132532).jpg and Timber Mountain in the background]]

Long Beach Airport serves the Long Beach, South Bay and northern Orange County areas. It was also the site of a major Boeing (formerly Douglas, then McDonnell Douglas) aircraft production facility, which is the city's largest non-government employer. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the nearest airport with international service. John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana is another alternative to the airport. However, its only international services are to Canada and Mexico. Other airports with scheduled service are Bob Hope Airport in Burbank and Ontario International Airport in Ontario.

Several freeways run through Long Beach, connecting it with the Greater Los Angeles area and Orange County areas. The San Diego Freeway (I-405) bisects the northern and southern portions of the city and takes commuters northwest or southeast to the Golden State/Santa Ana Freeways (I-5). The San Diego Freeway also provides regional access to Long Beach Airport, which is on the north side of the freeway near Signal Hill. The Long Beach Freeway (I-710) runs north–south on the city's western border, with its southern terminus adjacent to the Port of Long Beach on Terminal Island at the intersection of the Terminal Island Freeway (SR 103) and State Route 47. The Long Beach Freeway is the major spur route serving Long Beach from downtown Los Angeles, with its northern terminus near downtown Los Angeles in Alhambra. Along with the Harbor Freeway (I-110) to the west, the Long Beach Freeway is one of the major routes for trucks transporting goods from the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles to railyards and distribution centers in downtown Los Angeles and the Inland Empire. The southern end of the Long Beach Freeway joins Long Beach with Terminal Island via the Gerald Desmond Bridge.

Southeast Long Beach is served by the San Gabriel River Freeway (I-605), which joins the San Diego Freeway at the Long Beach/Los Alamitos border. The Artesia Freeway (SR 91) runs east–west near the northern border of Long Beach. The western portion of the Garden Grove Freeway (SR 22) provides a spur off of the San Diego and 605 Freeways to 7th Street in southeast Long Beach for access to the VA Long Beach Healthcare System, California State University, Long Beach, and the Alamitos Bay.

Pacific Coast Highway (SR 1) takes an east to southwest route through the southern portion of Long Beach. Its intersection with Lakewood Boulevard (SR 19) and Los Coyotes Diagonal is the Los Alamitos Traffic Circle.

The city of Long Beach has five major Class 1 bike paths (separate off-road bike paths) within its boundaries, encompassing over {{convert|60|mi|km}}. The city also has many Class 2 (painted lanes on roadway) and Class 3 paths (connecting bike routes with shared use of road with cars).{{cite news |title=Here's How Long Beach Is Becoming a Top Open-Water Swimming Destination |work=Route Fifty |publisher=Atlantic Media |first=Dave |last=Nyczepir |date=July 13, 2016 |access-date=July 14, 2016 |url=http://www.routefifty.com/2016/07/long-beach-swimability/129887/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160726160735/http://www.routefifty.com/2016/07/long-beach-swimability/129887/ |archive-date=July 26, 2016 |url-status=live }}

A 2019 study by Walk Score ranked Long Beach the tenth most walkable of over 100 cities around the world.{{cite web |url=http://www.walkscore.com/rankings/cities/ |title=2011 City and Neighborhood Rankings |publisher=Walk Score |year=2011 |access-date=August 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120919182522/http://www.walkscore.com/rankings/cities/ |archive-date=September 19, 2012 |url-status=live }}

According to the 2016 American Community Survey, 73.6 percent of working residents of Long Beach commuted by driving alone, 10.2 percent carpooled, 6.2 percent used public transportation, and 3.4 percent walked. About 2 percent commuted by all other means of transportation, including taxi, bicycle, and motorcycle. About 4.6 worked at home.{{cite web|publisher=Census Reporter|title=Means of Transportation to Work by Age|access-date=May 6, 2018|url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B08101&geo_ids=16000US0643000&primary_geo_id=16000US0643000}}

In 2015, 10.4 percent of city of Long Beach households were without a car, which decreased slightly to 10.0 percent in 2016. The national average was 8.7 percent in 2016. Long Beach averaged 1.69 cars per household in 2016, compared to a national average of 1.8 per household.{{cite journal|title=Car Ownership in U.S. Cities Data and Map|journal=Governing|url=http://www.governing.com/gov-data/car-ownership-numbers-of-vehicles-by-city-map.html|access-date=May 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511162014/http://www.governing.com/gov-data/car-ownership-numbers-of-vehicles-by-city-map.html|archive-date=May 11, 2018|url-status=dead}}

Long Beach's daily newspaper is the Long Beach Press-Telegram, which is distributed throughout most of the Gateway Cities and South Bay areas of southwest Los Angeles County. The Press-Telegram is owned by Digital First Media and is part of the Los Angeles Newspaper Group, which has several newspapers in the Southern California area which share resources and reporters.

On September 30, 1933, the Press-Telegram published what David Dayen called "One of the more influential letters to the editor in American history": Francis Townsend's letter outlining the Townsend Plan, a proposal that sparked a national campaign which influenced the establishment of the Roosevelt administration's Social Security system.{{cite news |url=https://psmag.com/social-justice/frustrated-blogger-made-expanding-social-security-respectable-idea-67226 |title=How a Frustrated Blogger Made Expanding Social Security a Respectable Idea |first=David |last=Dayen |date=October 29, 2013 |work=Pacific Standard |access-date=January 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170524200926/https://psmag.com/social-justice/frustrated-blogger-made-expanding-social-security-respectable-idea-67226 |archive-date=May 24, 2017 |url-status=live }}

California State University, Long Beach also has a student newspaper published four times a week during the fall and spring semesters, the Daily Forty-Niner.

The Gazette newspapers called The Grunion Gazette, The Downtown Gazette, and The Uptown Gazette are free, weekly newspapers that focus on various parts of the city. The Gazettes were sold to MediaNews (now Digital First Media), owner of the Press-Telegram, in 2004.{{cite web |url=http://www.gazettes.com/contact_us/about_us/ |title=About Us |website=Gazettes |access-date=January 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124012233/http://www.gazettes.com/contact_us/about_us/ |archive-date=January 24, 2016 |url-status=live }}

Palacio Magazine (formerly Palacio de Long Beach) is a free quarterly,{{cite web|url=http://palaciomagazine.com/about/|title=About Us – Palacio Magazine|access-date=January 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104201638/http://palaciomagazine.com/about/|archive-date=January 4, 2016|url-status=live}} bilingual magazine which runs stories focusing on community, education, art, health and wellness side by side in English and Spanish.{{cite news|url=http://lbpost.com/news/2000006185-palacio-de-long-beach-relaunches-as-palacio-magazine|title=Bi-Lingual Publication Palacio de Long Beach Relaunches as Digital-Focused Palacio Magazine|first=Asia|last=Morris|date=May 26, 2015|work=Long Beach Post|access-date=January 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101104213/http://lbpost.com/news/2000006185-palacio-de-long-beach-relaunches-as-palacio-magazine|archive-date=January 1, 2016|url-status=dead}}

Although not based in Long Beach, the alternative weeklies OC Weekly and LA Weekly are distributed widely in Long Beach. Starting in 2007, Long Beach was served by its own The District Weekly, an alternative weekly that covered news, the arts, restaurants, and the local music scene. The District Weekly ceased publication in March 2010, citing lack of advertiser support.

In 2013 Freedom Communications, owner of the Orange County Register, launched a five-day daily newspaper, the Long Beach Register, aimed at competing with the Press-Telegram.{{cite news|url=http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Despite-Odds-Calif-City-Becomes-2-Newspaper-Town-220104281.html?_osource=SocialFlowTwt_LABrand|title=Despite Odds, Calif. City Becomes Two-Newspaper Town|work=NBC Southern California|first=Justin|last=Pritchard|date=August 18, 2013|access-date=January 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927100320/http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Despite-Odds-Calif-City-Becomes-2-Newspaper-Town-220104281.html?_osource=SocialFlowTwt_LABrand|archive-date=September 27, 2013|url-status=live}} In September 2014, the Long Beach Register was reduced to Sundays only, and was distributed as an insert in the Orange County Register. In August of the same year, just sixteen months after its much-publicized launch, Freedom Communications announced it would cease publication of the Long Beach Register completely,{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-long-beach-register-stops-publishing-20141228-story.html | first1=Stuart | last1=Pfeifer | first2=Andrew | last2=Khouri | work=Los Angeles Times | title=Long Beach Register stops publishing | date=December 28, 2014 | access-date=January 5, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712060827/http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-long-beach-register-stops-publishing-20141228-story.html | archive-date=July 12, 2018 | url-status=live }} citing lack of reader and advertiser interest.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2014/12/long_beach_register_ends_12-28-14.php|title=Long Beach Register, Like Los Angeles Register, is Now a Collector's Item|first=Matt|last=Coker|date=December 29, 2014|work=Navel Gazing|access-date=November 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016150045/http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2014/12/long_beach_register_ends_12-28-14.php|archive-date=October 16, 2015|url-status=dead}}

Long Beach is part of the Los Angeles DMA radio and television markets. Although a few radio stations have had studios in Long Beach over the years, including the 1980s alternative music and later hard rock station KNAC, the only remaining radio stations in Long Beach are the jazz and blues station KKJZ on the Cal State Long Beach campus, and the Christian radio broadcaster KFRN. The most recent radio station to grace the Long Beach airways is public radio station KLBP, 99.1, a low-power station, which started broadcasting in December 2018.

Long Beach has a number of online news outlets, including the Long Beach Post,{{Cite web |url=https://lbpost.com/about-us/ |title=About us • Long Beach Post |access-date=December 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200121173107/https://lbpost.com/about-us/ |archive-date=January 21, 2020 |url-status=live }} Long Beach Local News,{{Cite web |url=https://longbeachlocalnews.com/ |title=Long Beach Local News: Latest Breaking News, Video |access-date=December 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924200204/https://longbeachlocalnews.com/ |archive-date=September 24, 2019 |url-status=live }} The Modern Times of Long Beach,{{Cite web |url=https://www.moderntimeslb.com/ |title=News | the Modern Times of Long Beach |access-date=December 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220213719/https://www.moderntimeslb.com/ |archive-date=December 20, 2019 |url-status=live }} FORTHE,{{Cite web |url=https://forthe.org/ |title=Home - FORTHE |access-date=December 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408002441/https://forthe.org/ |archive-date=April 8, 2020 |url-status=live }} and LBReport.com.{{cite web |title=LBReport.com: News, Politics, Opinion, Community, Serving Long Beach, California|url=https://www.lbreport.com/index.htm |website=www.lbreport.com |publisher=Bill Pearl}}{{cite news |last1=Saltzgaver |first1=Harry |title=Journalism Scholarship Honoring Bill Pearl Launched at Long Beach State |url=https://www.presstelegram.com/2021/02/25/journalism-scholarship-honoring-bill-pearl-launched-at-long-beach-state/ |work=Press Telegram |date=February 26, 2021}}

{{See also|Los_Cerritos,_Long_Beach,_California#Movies_and_television|label 1=Los Cerritos in movies and television|The_Pike#In_film_and_television|label 2=The Pike in film and television|Long_Beach_Polytechnic_High_School#Filming_location|label 3=Polytechnic High School as a filming location}}

Balboa Amusement Producing Company, also known as Balboa Studios, was at Sixth Street and Alamitos Avenue; they used {{convert|11|acre|m2|-3}} on Signal Hill for outdoor locations. Silent film stars who lived in Long Beach included Fatty Arbuckle and Theda Bara. The 1917 film Cleopatra, starring Theda Bara, was shot at the Dominguez Slough just west of Long Beach, and Moses parted the Red Sea for Cecil B. DeMille's 1923 version of The Ten Commandments on the flat seashore of Seal Beach, southeast of Long Beach. Long Beach was the famous location of Paramount newsreel footage of the 1933 Long Beach earthquake, out-takes from the W.C. Fields 1933 featurette International House was possibly the first earthquake to be captured in action on film.

Because of its proximity to LA-area studios and its variety of locations, today Long Beach is regularly used for movies, television shows, and advertisements. The city has filled in for locations across the nation and around the globe.{{cite web | url=http://www.filmlongbeach.com/ | title=City of Long Beach Special Events | access-date=June 18, 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060615041335/http://www.filmlongbeach.com/ | archive-date=June 15, 2006 | url-status=live }} One advantage for Long Beach is that the video and film industry uses a zone that extends {{convert|30|mi|km|0}} from Beverly Blvd. and La Cienega Blvd. in the West Hollywood area. It is cheaper to shoot within that zone, so Long Beach and other South Bay cities often stand in for areas of Orange County (such as for The O.C. TV show{{cite web|url=http://www.seeing-stars.com/OC/ByLocation.shtml |title=The O.C. Filming Locations |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630234804/http://www.seeing-stars.com/OC/ByLocation.shtml |archive-date=June 30, 2012 }}) because almost all of Orange County is outside of the zone.

One of the most famous Long Beach film locations is the home of Ferris Bueller in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Though the film was set in the North Shore suburbs of Chicago the house is at 4160 Country Club Dr.{{Cite news|last=Grobaty|first=Tim|date=January 25, 2021|title=Country Club Drive is Long Beach's Hollywood boulevard|url=https://lbpost.com/news/place/real-estate/country-club-drive-is-long-beachs-hollywood-boulevard/amp/|access-date=January 26, 2021|work=Long Beach Post News}}

Long Beach Polytechnic High School has played host to numerous films, featuring its outdoor grounds in movies such as Coach Carter, among others. Robert A. Millikan High School has also lent its classrooms and hallways to films such as American Pie, among others. Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo High School has been a very popular place to shoot movies as well, with 2–4 films shot per year, and is being used to shoot 20th Century Fox's musical comedy-drama, Glee. St. Anthony High School's, Jack Errion Memorial Gymnasium has also been featured in a few movies and television shows, including Sunset Park, American Wedding, Coach Carter and Joan of Arcadia. Long Beach Woodrow Wilson High School was used to shoot Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel and has been used for commercials for Nike and Adidas, particularly one with Los Angeles Sparks basketball star Candace Parker. The film Freedom Writers, although not shot there, was based on Long Beach Woodrow Wilson High School.

Other locations in Long Beach have been used frequently as well. An episode of The Lone Wolf, "The Long Beach Story",{{cite web |title=The Long Beach Story (a.k.a. The Smuggling Story) |website=IMDb |date=April 9, 1954 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1036177/ |access-date=June 20, 2020}} features the Wilton Hotel. Shoreline Drive visually approximates a freeway but is a municipal roadway and permits are accepted for its closure for shooting video and film – it has become a frequent movie and television freeway stand-in. Many car chase and crash scenes have been shot on stretches of road near the Long Beach harbor and along the city's Shoreline Drive. Among these are the 1963 movie It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World and numerous episodes of the 1970s TV drama CHiPs (as well as the 2017 film CHiPs). Long Beach's downtown neighborhood has stood in for various urban areas in a variety of movies. Gone in 60 Seconds (1974 film), Gone in 60 Seconds (2000 film), and Speed{{cite web | url=http://www.seeing-stars.com/Locations/Speed3.shtml | title=Speed Filming Locations | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012164558/http://www.seeing-stars.com/Locations/Speed3.shtml | archive-date=October 12, 2008 | df=mdy-all }} were shot in Long Beach. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was also shot in Long Beach as was Big Momma's House 2. CSI: Miami, Dexter, and Jane the Virgin, although set in Miami, Florida, regularly get shot in Long Beach. Much of Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny was shot in Long Beach. Although there was a chase scene downtown, most of Tenacious D was shot at Alex's Bar at 2913 E. Anaheim St., a punk rock/alternative rock venue. Most of the viral hit Mega Shark Versus Giant Octopus was also shot by the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier and Alamitos Energy Center in Long Beach.

The Long Beach Terrace Theatre has also been used for various commercials, an episode of Glee, as well as the film Last Action Hero. Several scenes from this David Spade comedy, Lost & Found, were shot around the Belmont Park area. The final scene from the Jim Carrey comedy remake Fun with Dick and Jane features Long Beach's scenic E. Ocean Blvd. route. La La Land features both a Long Beach apartment house and bar.{{cite news |title=Long Beach LA LA LAND Filming Locations |url=https://www.gazettes.com/entertainment/long-beach-la-la-land-filming-locations/youtube_0e862fbe-fb94-11e6-a85e-2bf1f308c4d4.html}}

The Long Beach Naval Station and Naval Shipyard were featured in episodes of Visiting... with Huell Howser.{{cite web |title=Long Beach Naval Shipyard- Visiting (314) – Huell Howser Archives at Chapman University |date=October 24, 1995 |url=https://blogs.chapman.edu/huell-howser-archives/1995/10/24/long-beach-naval-shipyard-visiting-314/}}{{cite web |title=Long Beach Naval Station – Visiting (421) – Huell Howser Archives at Chapman University |date=December 12, 2016 |url=https://blogs.chapman.edu/huell-howser-archives/2016/12/12/long-beach-naval-station-421/}}{{cite web |title=Long Beach Naval Station- Visiting (425) – Huell Howser Archives at Chapman University |date=October 28, 1996 |url=https://blogs.chapman.edu/huell-howser-archives/1996/10/28/long-beach-naval-station-visiting-425/}} The Pike{{cite web |title=Long Beach Pike – Visiting (917) – Huell Howser Archives at Chapman University |date=December 7, 2016 |url=https://blogs.chapman.edu/huell-howser-archives/2016/12/07/long-beach-pike-visiting-917/}} and SoundWalk art show{{cite web |title=Soundwalk – Visiting (1612) – Huell Howser Archives at Chapman University |date=December 6, 2016 |url=https://blogs.chapman.edu/huell-howser-archives/2016/12/06/soundwalk-visiting-1612/}} have also been featured.

The city was used as a filming location for the MSNBC reality television series To Catch a Predator.{{Cite web |title=Scary chats and a repeat 'predator' |website=NBC News |date=January 31, 2007 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna16895737 |access-date=August 3, 2023}}

{{Main|List of people from Long Beach, California}}

Long Beach's sister cities are:{{cite web |title=Home|url=https://www.sistercitiesoflongbeach.org/|publisher=Sister Cities of Long Beach, California|access-date=January 10, 2024}}

• {{flagicon|KEN}} Mombasa, Kenya
• {{flagicon|KHM}} Phnom Penh, Cambodia
• {{flagicon|CHN}} Qingdao, China
• {{flagicon|RUS}} Sochi, Russia
• {{flagicon|TWN}} Taoyuan, Taiwan
• {{flagicon|JPN}} Yokkaichi, Japan

Long Beach's friendship cities are:

• {{flagicon|PHL}} Bacolod, Philippines

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• 1939 California tropical storm
• Lakewood Boulevard (State Route 19)
• Largest cities in Southern California
• List of City of Long Beach historic landmarks
• Long Beach Public Library
• Silverado Park, Long Beach, California
• List of U.S. cities with large Hispanic populations
• List of U.S. cities with large Cambodian-American populations
• USS Long Beach, 3 ships

{{reflist}}

{{See also|Timeline of Long Beach, California#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Long Beach, California}}

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