The City of Redondo Beach was officially incorporated in April of 1892. It is the South Bay’s oldest and largest beach community and the 9th city to be incorporated in Los Angeles County. The city was founded largely on the success of the shipping and lumber industries and operated as a busy port for much of its early years. At the same time, the tourist industry also helped establish early Redondo. Developers Captain J.C. Ainsworth and his business partner, R.R. Thompson established the Redondo Railway Company and the Redondo Hotel Company in 1889. Between the combined successes of the port, the railway and the Hotel Redondo entrepreneurs, visitors, and early property owners laid the ground-work for Redondo Beach to evolve into the thriving community it is today. In 1907, as a publicity stunt, George Freeth was brought over from Hawaii to Redondo Beach to demonstrate surf-board riding and became California’s first surfer. Redondo Beach is hence the birthplace of west coast surfing.
Today the city is clearly separated into two distinct zones; South Redondo Beach and North Redondo Beach. The defining boundary between North and South Redondo lies at 190th St./Anita St. North Redondo’s zip code is 90278 and South Redondo’s is 90277. The award-winning Redondo Beach Unified School District is the largest local school district servicing 13 schools in total within the district. It is bordered by Hermosa Beach to the north, The city of Torrance to the east, and Palos Verdes to the south. A portion of North Redondo beach even borders the city of Manhattan Beach.
As you travel throughout the city, you will notice clusters of themed street names. Each of these clusters reaches to a distinct point in time in the city’s rich history. The “Gem Streets” are named after what once was a popular destination called Moonstone Beach, where deposits of gemstones could be found along the coast. “The Girl Streets” were named after the female descendants of Manual Dominguez, who was the original landholder of what is now Redondo Beach. The oldest portion of North Redondo reflects numerous street names adopted to celebrate the success of American tycoons that lead the Industrial Revolution.
Today, quality of education is one of the largest draws for homeownership throughout the South Bay. Redondo Union High School is the South Bay’s oldest high school, having opened its doors in 1905. Located on appx. 56 acres, it is the second largest campus in California and the third largest in the nation. The school services both North Redondo and South Redondo residents, and it is a qualified “school of choice” for Hermosa Beach residents, as Hermosa Beach does not have a high school within its district. In 2012, locals passed bond Measure Q, which allowed the district to heavily invest in district-wide improvements. After completion of extensive campus renovations, neighbors have jokingly referred to the updated RUHS campus as the “University of South Redondo”. The campus sprawls between Prospect Ave. and Pacific Coast Highway, offering state-of-the-art athletic facilities and a top-notch educational experience.
South Redondo Beach
There are three (and-a-half) real estate MLS sections of South Redondo Beach, with numerous subsections throughout. The “half” comes from the fact that area 128 (Hollywood Riviera) in truth belongs to the City of Torrance, however a Redondo-based post office in this section gives it a 90277 zip code and a “Redondo Beach” address. This is important to note when shopping for homes based on school preferences. Homes within the 128 MLS section actually are zoned to attend schools within the Torrance Unified School District. Due to increasing numbers of families moving to the South Bay for the quality of public school education, the issuing of permits to attend Redondo schools has very recently ceased. There are three elementary schools that service South Redondo. All South Redondo students and a small section of North Redondo called “Golden Hills” attend Parras Middle School. All students within the City of Redondo Beach attend Redondo Union High School. Hermosa Beach residents have the option to attend either RUHS or Mira Costa in Manhattan Beach, as Hermosa Beach does not have a high school within its district.
