City, Los Angeles County
© McCormack's Guides
Zip Code: 90245
Located south of L.A. International Airport. El Segundo in name and situation turns some people off but once you get beyond this, you’ll find a charming little city. School scores high, crime low. Population 17,002. www.mccormacks.com
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El Segundo translates to “The Second.” In this instance the second Standard Oil Refinery, built in 1917. Standard, now Chevron, remains a big presence, controlling on the south side about half of El Segundo.
Down through the years, a small community covering 550 acres grew up between the refinery and the airport and because the town had a strong tax base and corporate sponsors it did an excellent job of installing parks and amenities.
Median age of residents is 36. Under 18 years, 34 percent. Over 55 years, 17 percent. Lot of kids.
El Segundo has a library, a teen center, a seniors center, a swimming pool, a driving range, a golf course (nine holes) and about a half-dozen parks, including a dog park, off leash. The city offers many activities for children, teens and adults. Beach promenade at the ocean, popular with hikers and joggers. It runs for miles along the shore and extends into other towns. Surfing, sun bathing, volleyball, ocean swimming.
News sources put the number of summer visitors to the town beach at 100,000 per month. In the other seasons, even though the weather is often balmy, visitors drop sharply because the water is cold. www.mccormacks.com
Secluded, intimate town, close to everything, but buffered by the airport and the major industries (Boeing, Raytheon, Mattel), seemingly stuck off by itself. It’s on the Pacific and has a short drive to some of the finest beaches in L.A. County.
Several large hotels are located on the east side; they help fund the town's amusements and upkeep.
El Segundo district includes two elementaries, one middle, and one high. Scores in 80th and 90th percentiles. Indicates strong support for education. $24 million bond passed in 1997 to renovate schools. In 2001, another bond was passed to build science center and finish work on high school. Some kids attend Wiseburn elementary district, which has scores in the 60th-80th percentile. One parochial school. See Schools.
Zero homicides from 2005 to 2001, one in 2000, zero between 1999 and 1995. For previous years are 1, 1, 0, 1, 2. City has own police department. See Crime.
About 12 percent of town was built before 1940; about 38 percent between 1940 and 1960, and 31 percent between 1960 and 1980. Since 1980, El Segundo has constructed about 1,300 units. The great majority of the single homes have two or three bedrooms. www.mccormacks.com
About two dozen homes are positioned along the beach bluffs to command views of the ocean. The rest of the town is built along gently sloping land away from the beach. In overall appearance, well kept but not opulent.
State in 2008 counted 7,357 housing units: 3,145 single homes, 426 single attached, 3,775 multiples (many of them hotel rooms), 11 mobiles.
Almost all the residential housing is located west of Sepulveda Boulevard, one of two north-south arterials running through the town. The other is Aviation Boulevard.
Brief commutes because many residents work at the airport or in local businesses. For longer commutes, short drives to Highway 105 and Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway). About 20 miles to downtown L.A. www.mccormacks.com
Check out the plane noise and possible odors from sewage plant near airport.
Chamber of commerce: (310) 322-1220.
• No smoking on city beaches.
• County and city government control beach and small parcel of land near airport. Another dog park on the beach may be installed in this area but the idea has its opponents. Also proposed for this section, near the sewage-treatment plant, an aquatic center for kids and teens.
For orientation on cities, towns and neighborhoods of Los Angeles County, see County Overview.
City web site: www.elsegundo.org
