City, Los Angeles County
© McCormack's Guides
Zip Code: 90704
Santa Catalina Island, usually called Catalina, is
located about 22 miles out to sea, southwest of Long Beach. It has a small city
called Avalon, 3,532 residents. Median age of Avalon residents is 34. Under 18
years, 27 percent. Over 55 years, 21 percent. www.mccormacks.com
Avalon
is a pretty town with a large harbor that attracts many tourists and boaters.
The city has beaches, hotels, bed-and-breakfast inns, condominiums, shops and
places to rent boats, bicycles and equipment to enjoy the island and the waters
offshore (snorkeling, etc.).
Trails
meander around the island, which has interesting flora and fauna, over 100
species of birds, and a botanical garden. Great sport fishing. On summer
weekends, the population sometimes rises to 10,000. Ferries, pleasure boats and
planes connect Catalina Island with the mainland.
In
2002, Richard Van Pham, 62, set sail from Long Beach to Catalina and ran into
strong winds. Four months and 2,500 miles later, he was picked by a Navy ship
off the coast of Costa Rica. “I am very, very happy,” he said when rescued.
Education
is provided by the Long Beach Unified School District. Avalon School has a rare
configuration: It
goes from kindergarten to the 12th grade; enrolls about 740. Scores land
generally in the 40th to 60th percentile. Long Beach district passed a bond to
renovate its schools. See Schools.
About
45 percent of Avalon's housing stock, or 850 units, was built before World War
II. Since then, the city has added 100-300 units a decade. Many of the units
are rentals. Avalon has adopted a policy of slow and controlled growth. www.mccormacks.com
The
state in 2008 counted 1,937 housing units: 502 single homes, 490 single
attached, 936 multiples, 9 mobiles.
Zero
homicides in 2005, one in 2004, zero between 1994 and 2003, with the exception
of 2001, one homicide. See Crime.
About
85 percent of Santa Catalina Island has been placed in a nature conservancy. If
you want a home where the buffalo roam, Santa Catalina can oblige. It has a
small herd. Also has deer, foxes and wild pigs.
The
sales tax for Los Angeles County is 8.25 cents per dollar spent. In Avalon it
is 8.75 cents. The city tacked on a half-cent to pay for local projects. In the
nature of the town’s business, most of the extra revenue will come from
tourists.
For
orientation on cities, towns and neighborhoods of Los Angeles County, see County Overview.
Visitors
Bureau: (310) 510-7649. www.mccormacks.com
Community
web site: www.ecatalina.com
