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Welcome to Santa Monica
Santa Monica may arguably be the most well-known beach community in the country. Set along three miles of Pacific Ocean beachfront, it features one of the most pleasant climates you'll find anywhere. Often featured in t.v. shows and movies, Santa Monica will have you out enjoying its over 300 days of sunshine per year.
A lot gets packed into this city of a little over eight square miles. Its school system, the Santa Monica - Malibu Unified School District, is one of the best in California. You'll also find state-of-the-art health and medical centers, and the city's own police and fire departments. Of course, the film and entertainment industries are big here, as is the information technology industry. And if you need access to downtown L.A., it's only about 20 minutes away.
Like many of Santa Monica's residents, you'll want to get outdoors and enjoy the sun. From beach volleyball, to biking, roller-blading, and jogging along the incredibly popular 22-mile long beach bike path, sunny Santa Monica encourages an active, outdoor lifestyle.
Santa Monica is also one of the few places in the L.A. area where you can park your car and walk to just about anything you need. Come sample from among Santa Monica's 400 restaurants, all within walking distance of one another. Traffic is light, so you can walk just about anywhere within Santa Monica. Enjoy the street performers, festivals, fairs, arts and crafts shows, and exhibitions. Other popular attractions are the weekly farmers markets held on the city streets. And where else but the heart of the film industry will you find multiple movie theaters?
And if that wasn't enough, Santa Monica is located at the heart of Greater Los Angeles. It is only 10 miles from the world-class Getty Museum, 13 miles from downtown L.A., 45 miles from Disneyland, and 8 miles from the L.A.X. airport (though Santa Monica even has its own airport).
History
When Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo discovered California in 1452, he only glanced the way of Santa Monica and briefly dropped anchor near its shore. It wasn't until May, 1769, that Spanish soldiers named the City after St. Monica, for the day they were celebrating. In 1828, Don Francisco Sepulveda was granted land by the King of Spain, which included what is now Santa Monica.
Col. Robert S. Baker, who originally thought the area would make a good sheep ranch, purchased the land in the early 1870's from the Sepulveda heirs. On July 10, 1870, millionaire gold-and-silver miner Senator John P. Jones partnered with Baker to have the Los Angeles County Recorders office officially record the site of Santa Monica. Days later, the two men auctioned the land as lots ranging in price from $75 to $500 each. Within a year, Santa Monica was home to 1000 residents, a school district, church, library, bath house, hotel and a local newspaper.
Santa Monica was founded in 1875 on the site of the land grant of Don Francisco Sepulveda. The city incorporated in 1886, just as the Southern Pacific Railroad was finding it's way up the coast to the mouth of Potrero Canyon. In 1892, the Port of Los Angeles was built at Potrero Canyon, but when the federal government passed the site over as the new deep-water harbor, Santa Monica lost it's status as a primary Southern California seaport.
Baker and Jones held onto their dream to keep Santa Monica alive, even though drought, fire, the depression and a series of other disappointments. They were successful, and by 1900, more than 5000 people were settled in Santa Monica. In 1906, the city government consisted of a Common Council, with seven members from seven separate wards. By 1914, a commission form of government was adopted.
Waterfront activities got a big push in 1917 when the State of California granted the tidelands to Santa Monica. In the 1920's, the Donald Douglas military manufacturing company built four World-Cruisers that left Clover Field - now the site of the Santa Monica Airport - for the first successful flight around the world. One year later, Donald Douglas moved the company to Clover Field.
A building boom in the 1930's was responsible for helping to double Santa Monica's population. After World War II, the charter and council-manager form of government was put into effect. For 20 years after, residential and commercial development flourished and by the fall of 1965, the Santa Monica Mall was completed. In 1966, the Santa Monica Freeway officially opened to traffic.
Industry
Santa Monica industry is a primary local market with a focus to remain a powerful force in the local and global marketplace. While visitors to sun-filled Santa Monica may never see the city at work behind the palm trees and away from the beach, millions of dollars are generated through manufacturing facilities, computer companies, movie and music production and distribution houses, and others involved in an ever-growing industry. Santa Monica's economic picture is in sharp focus as the wheels of business continue to turn. Strong leaders have been born through industry, and future corporate industry leaders will guide the city through technological change and into the new millennium. As industry remains a stronghold in the community, it provides supporting business services with work, and gives entrepreneurs the chance to provide new businesses to sustain change and keep pace with technology. Santa Monicans don't have to commute to work. They can stay close to home and have more time to enjoy their lifestyles.
Health Industry
Saint John's Hospital & Health Center and Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center head up one of the most prestigious health care communities in the world. These hospitals not only provide treatment, they educate consumers, perform clinical studies and carry on research in the areas of health and preventative medicine. These hospitals are not only counted on by Santa Monica residents, their services are sought after throughout the world. Local medical centers and clinics are home to exceptional physicians, specialty doctors and surgeons. Holistic practitioners and science-based medicine, alike, are at home in the Santa Monica area, providing a wide range of traditional and alternative treatment and prevention programs.
Shopping
Santa Monica shoppers will always find exactly what they want and what they need. Residents, neighbors, and visitors from all over the world, shop in Santa Monica. This city has an unbelievable number of shops and stores that consistently draw people back for more. Santa Monica Place is the city's only indoor mall, and it is anchored by large department stores. Enjoy open-air hometown shopping along Montana Avenue where specialty boutiques are spread along 10 city blocks. Main Street is home to quality designer stores and well known restaurants. Bayside District and the Third Street Promenade have many galleries, movie theaters, specialty stores and excellent restaurants. The Central Business District, Ocean Avenue and the Wilshire Boulevard are also known for their variety of stores and fine dining.
Dining
In Santa Monica, great restaurants are found at nearly every street corner. Residents rarely leave town to dine out, and many people drive from nearby cities and faraway places to taste the flavor that local chefs prepare. The Santa Monica restaurant industry is both innovative and traditional. Variety is not only the spice of life, it is the key to this town's fame for fine dining. Exciting menus are filled with flavors exclusive to the west coast, and tastes from all over the world are introduced in Santa Monica. Diners may plan long evenings in a private dining room, or enjoy a meal in a crowded outdoor cafe.
Accommodations
Luxury, quality, service, and variety best describes the hotel industry in Santa Monica. Every hotel in Santa Monica is unique. Some are beautifully refurbished apartments across from the beach. Others are new, with built in luxury and elegance. Nowhere else are there more spectacular ocean views than from Santa Monica hotel rooms and suites. Business travelers love to visit and stay in Santa Monica hotels. Conferences and meeting of every size draw business people from around the state and around the world. Guests in Santa Monica hotels return frequently. They stay in tastefully decorated rooms while they vacation, shop and dine in and around the city.
Film and Entertainment Industries
Located at the heart of the entertainment and film industries, Santa Monica offers numerous entertainment possibilities. Celebrities, directors, and others from the area's film industry are moving from Beverly Hills and other upscale L.A. Westside addresses as Hollywood turns its eye toward Santa Monica.
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