Seal Beach, California
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Seal Beach is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 24,157. The City was incorporated on 25 October, 1915.
Seal Beach is located in the western-most corner of Orange County. To the northwest just across the county line into Los Angeles County is the city of Long Beach. To the southwest are the communities of Surfside and Huntington Harbour, which are both part of Huntington Beach. To the east are the cities of Westminster and Garden Grove. To the north is the unincorporated community of Rossmoor and the city of Los Alamitos.
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Seal Beach includes the Leisure World retirement gated community with roughly 9,000 residents. This was the first major planned retirement community of its type in the US. The small gated community of Surfside Colony is also part of Seal Beach.
The Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station was originally developed during World War II for loading, unloading, and storing of ammunition for the Pacific Fleet, and especially those US Navy warships home-ported in Long Beach. With closure of the Long Beach Naval Shipyard, the Weapons Station has become more involved in the research and development of missiles, torpedoes and conventional ammunition. Although the US Navy declines to comment on the issue, the common rumor is that nuclear weapons are among the munitions stored in the bunkers on the base.
The Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge is located on part of the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station. Much of the refuge's 911 acres are the remnant of the saltwater marsh in the Anaheim Bay estuary (the rest of the marsh became the bayside community of Huntington Harbor, which is part of Huntington Beach). Three endangered species, the light-footed clapper rail, the California least tern, and the Belding's savanna sparrow, can be found nesting in the refuge. With the loss and degradation of coastal wetlands in California, the remaining habitat, including the Bolsa Chica Lagoon in Huntington Beach and Upper Newport Bay in Newport Beach has become much more important for migrating and wintering shorebirds, waterfowl, and seabirds. Although the refuge is a great place for birdwatching, because it is part of the weapons station access is limited and usually restricted to once-a-month tours.
Things to Do
The Lions Club Pancake Breakfast in April, and their Fish Fry (started in 1943) in July are two of the biggest events in Seal Beach. There has been a Rough Water Swim the same weekend as the Fish Fry since the 60's. There is also a Classic Car Show in April, a Sand Castle Festival and a Kite Festival in September, and a Christmas Parade in December.
On Electric Avenue where the railroad tracks used to run, there is the Red Car Museum which features a restored Pacific Electric Railway Red Car. The Red Car trolley tracks used to go as far south as Newport Beach. After going North into Long Beach you could take the Red Cars through much of Los Angeles County.
Recreation
The second longest pier in California is located in Seal Beach and is used for fishing and sightseeing. There is also a restaurant at the end of the pier.
Surfing locations in Seal Beach include the Seal Beach pier and "Stingray Bay" (the surfer's nickname for the mouth of the San Gabriel River—the stingrays are attracted by the heated water from several nearby powerplants). Classic longboards builders in the area include Harbour Surfboards (http://www.harboursurfshop.com/) in Seal Beach and Bruce Jones Surfboards (http://www.brucejones.com/) in Sunset Beach. The classic surf trunks of Kanvas by Katin (http://www.kanvasbykatin.com/) in nearby Sunset Beach are world famous.
The USA Water Polo National Aquatic Center, where the men's and women's US Olympic water polo teams (http://www.usawaterpolo.org) train, is located on the US Military Joint Forces Training Base (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/los-alamitos.htm) in Los Alamitos, adjacent to Seal Beach. The facility is also used for major water polo tournaments, swim classes and swim teams.
Business and Employment
The major employer in Seal Beach is the Boeing Company, employing roughly 2,000 people. Their facility was original built to manufacturer the second stage of the Saturn V rocket for NASA's Apollo manned space flight missions to the Moon and for the Skylab program. Boeing Homeland Security & Services (airport security, etc.) is based in Seal Beach and Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems (satellite systems and classified programs) is headquartered in Seal Beach, Calif. Boeing is the world's largest satellite manufacturer.
Geography
Seal Beach is located at 33°45'33" North, 118°4'57" West (33.759283, -118.082396)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 34.2 km² (13.2 mi²). 29.8 km² (11.5 mi²) of it is land and 4.5 km² (1.7 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 13.01% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 24,157 people, 13,048 households, and 5,884 families residing in the city. The population density is 810.3/km² (2,099.5/mi²). There are 14,267 housing units at an average density of 478.6/km² (1,240.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 88.91% White, 1.44% African American, 0.30% Native American, 5.74% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 1.28% from other races, and 2.16% from two or more races. 6.43% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 13,048 households out of which 13.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.2% are married couples living together, 5.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 54.9% are non-families. 48.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 34.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 1.83 and the average family size is 2.65.
In the city the population is spread out with 13.3% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 37.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 54 years. For every 100 females there are 78.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 75.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $42,079, and the median income for a family is $72,071. Males have a median income of $61,654 versus $41,615 for females. The per capita income for the city is $34,589. 5.5% of the population and 3.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 6.2% of those under the age of 18 and 5.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Trivia
The short-lived afternoon television soap opera, " Sunset Beach", was named after the Sunset Beach community (part of Huntington Beach) just south of Seal Beach.
Moses parted the "Red Sea" for Cecil B. DeMille's 1923 version of "The Ten Commandments" on the flat seashore of Seal Beach (Cecil B. DeMille's 1956 epic color version with Charlton Heston as Moses has no connection to Seal Beach).
External links
- City of Seal Beach Official Website (http://ci.seal-beach.ca.us/)
- Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge (http://www.sbeach.navy.mil/Programs/Environmental/Refuge.htm)
- CHECKLIST OF BIRDS - Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge (https://www.denix.osd.mil/denix/Public/ES-Programs/Conservation/Bird-Checklist/Seal/seal.html)
- Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station (http://www.sbeach.navy.mil/)
- Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/seal_beach.htm) at globalsecurity.org (http://www.globalsecurity.org)
- Leisure World Seal Beach (http://www.lwsb.com/)
- Seal Beach Lions Club (http://www.sealbeachlions.com/)