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Real Estate & Homes in Manhattan Beach - California - Manhattan Beach, California homes and communites Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach History In the mid-19th century, today's Manhattan Beach was included in a 22,500-acre Mexican land grant for an area called Rancho Sausal Redondo. In the early days, the land was used for livestock, citrus crops, and dry farming. The shoreline area consisted of sand dunes, which proved later to be difficult to level for building construction. By the turn of the century, it had changed hands and been sold off in portions to developers. The Santa Fe Railroad built the city’s first rail lines in 1888. The tracks passed through Manhattan Beach en route to Redondo Beach from Los Angeles. The Pacific Railway would lay another track from Santa Monica to Redondo Beach, also passing through Manhattan, about 15 years later. This line remained active until 1940. Development began quickly once the rail lines were established. The three primary landowners were George Peck, John Merrill, and Frank Daugherty. As the story goes, the three men agreed to give one name to the entire area. Manhattan, John Merrill's choice, was selected with a coin toss. The first buildings were tiny beach cottages lacking plumbing and electricity, marketed to the public as vacation properties. When the city was incorporated in 1912, the population was about 600. Almost all of these original cottages were torn down later and replaced with the more expansive, modern homes that now characterize Manhattan Beach. Today's Manhattan Beach Pier was actually the city's second, completed in 1920. The original pier had been destroyed by a storm several years earlier. The second pier, a cement structure, suffered storm damage over the years, as well as repairs and minor additions, which altered its appearance. In the 1990s, the city decided to restore the pier to its original design. In 1995, as the oldest standing cement pier on the Pacific Coastline, it was named a California historic landmark. Activities The pier is also a popular place to enjoy the view or just relax and hang out. The city's inset location along the coastline provides great views from the pier of Palos Verdes to the south and the Santa Monica Bay to the north. Pier fishing is allowed year-round. Just inland from the pier is a nice 'main street' area that features high-end shopping, cafés, and sports grills. More inland, professional space, fine dining, shopping and a large movie theatre characterize the Village area of the city. Residential neighborhoods surround this area, which is located just west of Interstate 405. Schools Public schooling is provided by Manhattan Beach Unified School District. The district operates seven campuses: Grand View Elementary, Meadows Avenue Elementary, Pacific Elementary, Pennekamp Elementary, Robinson Elementary, Manhattan Beach Middle School, and Mira Costa High School. Total enrollment is about 6,500, and the district-wide student-to-teacher ratio is just more than 20. The nearest higher education institutions are Loyola Marymount University, West Los Angeles College, and Los Angeles Southwest College. Beaches Manhattan Beach Fast Facts
Total area*: 3.9 square miles *Information provided by 2000 Census
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