Did you know El Segundo means “the second” in Spanish? It got this name in 1911. Standard Oil built its second California refinery here. Let’s dive into the story of El Segundo.
El Segundo started as part of Rancho Sausal Redondo. This vast land stretched from Playa Del Rey to Redondo Beach. Antonio Ygnacio Avila owned it first. Later, Sir Robert Burnett, a Scottish baronet, bought it.
In 1911, Standard Oil purchased 840 acres. This area became the site for their second refinery. Thus, El Segundo was named “the second”. The first refinery was in Point Richmond.
The El Segundo refinery began operations quickly. It opened just five and a half months after the land purchase. This refinery significantly shaped the town’s identity.
El Segundo officially became a city in 1917. For a while, it was mainly a one-industry town. The Standard Oil Company later became Chevron in 1984. The El Segundo refinery celebrated its centennial in 2011.
The Douglas Aircraft Company had a major plant here. During World War II, it built SBD Dauntless dive bombers. These planes were famous in the Battle of Midway. Today, Northrop Grumman operates the aircraft plant.
In 2009, artists discovered the Smoky Hollow area. They moved here due to rising costs in Venice Beach and Culver City. Soon after, the tech industry also found Smoky Hollow.
El Segundo’s geography is unique. Los Angeles International Airport marks its northern border. Manhattan Beach is to the south. The Pacific Ocean lies to the west. Aviation Boulevard roughly marks the eastern edge.
The city covers about 5.5 square miles. Over 99% of this area is land. The beachfront once had industrial wharves for oil tankers. It was heavily polluted. The Hyperion wastewater treatment plant’s expansion helped clean up the beach in the 1980s.
El Segundo has a diverse population. The 2020 census counted 17,272 residents. The city has a rich history and a vibrant community.
El Segundo is known as “The Aerospace Capital of the World”. Many aerospace companies have facilities here. Boeing, RTX Corporation, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman are among the largest. The Aerospace Corporation and Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings are headquartered here.
The Los Angeles Air Force Base and the Space and Missile Systems Center are also located in El Segundo. These facilities contribute significantly to the city’s economy.
Several major companies have headquarters in El Segundo. These include Mattel, AT&T Entertainment Hub, and Big 5 Sporting Goods. The Los Angeles Times moved its newsroom to El Segundo in 2018.
El Segundo offers various parks and recreation facilities. There is a beach and two public pools. Campus El Segundo Athletic Fields provides turf fields for public use.
In 2023, El Segundo Little League won the Little League World Series. This victory marked the first championship for a California team since 2011. Louis Lappe hit a walk-off home run.
El Segundo continues to evolve. It balances its industrial significance with community charm. From its origins as an oil refinery site to its current status as an aerospace hub, El Segundo remains a dynamic city. It is indeed “second to none” in its unique blend of history and progress.