History of The The South Bay
History of the South Bay of Los Angeles Through 1900
BY BRUCE AND MAUREEN MEGOWAN Native Indians While first described in 1542 by Portuguese Explorer Juan Cabrillo, for almost three centuries the Palos Verdes Peninsula remained undisturbed and the exclusive domain of the local Indians, whose artifacts are still being unearthed. The most recent Native Americans to live in Palos Verdes were members of the …
History of Palos Verdes Estates
BY BRUCE AND MAUREEN MEGOWAN The History of Palos Verdes Estates is fascinating and is the story of one of the first master planned communities in the United States. Early Farming at the turn of the Century In 1894, Harry Phillips Sr. built and occupied the first permanent residence on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, a …
History of Rancho Palos Verdes
BY BRUCE AND MAUREEN MEGOWAN The City of Rancho Palos Verdes History is an amazing story of grand visions of development with its founding based on preserving the natural beauty of the incredible Palos Verdes Peninsula. Frank Vanderlip Acquisition Early in 1913, George Bixby decided to sell approx. 16,000 acres of the Rancho de los …
History of Rolling Hills Estates and Rolling Hills
BY BRUCE AND MAUREEN MEGOWAN Both Rolling Hills and Rolling Hills Estates history have wonderful stories to tell. They were part of the original Rancho San Pedro and the Rancho de los Palos Verdes (See the History of the South Bay for a discussion of the original Indian inhabitants of the Palos Verdes Peninsula and …
History of Manhattan Beach
BY BRUCE AND MAUREEN MEGOWAN In its earliest days, Manhattan Beach was part of the original Spanish land grant for “Rancho Sausal Redondo” (“Ranch of the Round Clump of Willows“) in 1822, a rancho with a land mass of nearly 25,000 acres which extended from the areas as far north of what is now Playa …
History of Hermosa Beach
BY BRUCE AND MAUREEN MEGOWAN In its earliest days, Hermosa Beach was part of the original Spanish land grant for “Rancho Sausal Redondo” (“Ranch of the Round Clump of Willows“) in 1822, a rancho with a land mass of nearly 25,000 acres which extended from the areas as far north of what is now Playa …
History of Redondo Beach
BY BRUCE AND MAUREEN MEGOWAN In 1854, a natural salt lake located between Pacific and Francesca Avenues,at the northern end ofRedondo Beach–just outside of Hermosa Beach, known as the “Old Salt Lake“. was sold to Henry Allenson and William Johnson. This sale precipitated the establishment of Pacific Salt Works, which extracted and sold salt and …
History of El Segundo
BY BRUCE AND MAUREEN MEGOWAN Prior to El Segundo’s incorporation in 1917, this area was part of the original Spanish land grant for “Rancho Sausal Redondo” (“Ranch of the Round Clump of Willows“) in 1822, a rancho with a land mass of nearly 25,000 acres which extended from the areas as far north of what …
History of Torrance
BY BRUCE AND MAUREEN MEGOWAN Torrance was founded on May 31, 1911 by Jared Sidney Torrance and Associates by the purchase of 2,791 acres of land from the Dominguez Estate Company for $976,850. Susana Dominguez del Amo sold an additional 730 acres to Torrance for $350 per acre. This land was originally a small part …
History of San Pedro
BY BRUCE AND MAUREEN MEGOWAN Portuguese explorer, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, while sailing under the flag of Spain, was the first European to set eyes upon the barren hills and plains of what was to be Rancho San Pedro. On October 8, 1542 he sailed into San Pedro Bay. There, he noticed several wild fires burning …
History of Lomita
BY BRUCE AND MAUREEN MEGOWAN The earliest known inhabitants of the area now part of the City of Lomita were the Gabrielino Indians in a village they called Suangna, or “Place of the Rushes”, near what is now the intersection of 230th Street and Utility Way in Carson. This land was originally a small part …
Palos Verdes History Secrets and Little Known Facts
The History of the Palos Verdes Peninsula has a number of secrets and interesting facts that only those that have lived here for many years have learned. Here are a few of my favorites: 1. UCLA as well as Cal State Dominquez were both almost located in Rancho Palos Verdes: A section of 1,000 acres …