Torrance is a city incorporated in 1921 and located in the South Bay (southwestern) region of Los Angeles County. Torrance has 1.5 miles of shore-front beaches on the Pacific Ocean, quieter and less well-known by tourists than others on the Santa Monica Bay, such as those of neighboring Redondo Beach and Manhattan Beach.
Torrance has transformed itself from a small industrial community to a retail, financial and corporate center that provides a positive climate for business. The city has become headquarters for major employers such as Honda, Toyota, Epson and Kubota. Hughes Aircraft based its decision to maintain its Electron Dynamics Division in Torrance on the cooperative efforts of the public and private sectors. The City of Torrance responds to the needs of the retail community by facilitating business permits and other administrative matters.
The Torrance Library system is a source of pride. Six public libraries fill the needs of both the residential and the business communities. They provide materials and services in a variety of formats, many of which can be accessed by modem from an office or a home computer.
Torrance schools are noted for their academic excellence. Elementary, middle school and high school students routinely score significantly above the national median in tests. The Torrance Unified School District has been recognized for its innovative programs and its schools are included on the annual list of California Exemplary Schools. Vocational and technical training for high school students and adults is available at S.C.R.O.C. and the Torrance Adult Education program offers hundreds of classes each year. The El Camino Community College campus houses an art gallery, a planetarium, a theater and the 2,000 seat Marsee Auditorium. Its South Bay Center for the Arts provides much of the Torrance cultural life and its Small Business Development Center offers information, referrals, and one-on-one business counseling to entrepreneurs and small business owners-free of charge.
State-of-the-art medical facilities offer health education programs including CPR and first aid to the community. The Volunteer Center in Downtown Torrance matches people who want to help with people who need help.
The city of Torrance has 24 parks, including the 44-acre Wilson Park and the 52-acre Columbia Park one golf course a swimming pool and numerous public tennis courts. In all, Torrance has 300 acres of parkland or about 2 acres for every 1000 residents.
One of Torrance's special recreational features is its outstanding beach with facilities for swimming, surfing and volleyball. It is the site of the annual Daily Breeze International Surf Festival which attracts thousands each summer. Torrance also hosts the nation's largest and longest running Armed Forces Day Observance each May, the annual Mobil 10k run each spring and the Torrance Beach Cities Team Triathlon in September.
Housing
Estimated median house or condo value in 2009: $619,300
Mean prices in 2009: All housing units: $685,560; Detached houses: $731,581; Townhouses or other attached units: $580,661; In 2-unit structures: $783,863; In 3-to-4-unit structures: $552,518; In 5-or-more-unit structures: $448,315; Mobile homes: $116,264
Demographics
Population in July 2009: 140,317. Torrance covers 20.5 square miles. It sits at an elevation of 84 feet above sea level. Area code 310.
Weather
Torrance, CA climate is mild during summer when temperatures tend to be in the 60's and cool during winter when temperatures tend to be in the 50's.
The warmest month of the year is August with an average maximum temperature of 78.70 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is December with an average minimum temperature of 46.00 degrees Fahrenheit.
Temperature variations between night and day tend to be fairly limited during summer with a difference that can reach 17 degrees Fahrenheit, and moderate during winter with an average difference of 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
The annual average precipitation at Torrance is 14.79 Inches. Rainfall in is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is January with an average rainfall of 3.60 Inches.
Information provided by idcide.com and city data.com
