Harbor City

About Harbor City

The community of Harbor City is a diverse neighborhood in the south Los Angeles metro area. It's a popular neighborhood because it's less 15 minutes away from the coastline and beach areas, and has plenty of convenient amenities nearby.

In the mid–20th century, a strong economic base and cosmopolitan lifestyle were causing Los Angeles to expand rapidly. However, because of earthquake risks, the city couldn't grow upward. Instead, it had to take every available piece of land for miles outward. One such area was Harbor City, which was added to Los Angeles during its acquisition of the port cities of San Pedro and Wilmington.

The History of Harbor City

Like many parts of Southern California, the land where Harbor City now stands was first home to Native Americans. The Tongva-Gabrieliño Native Americans inhabited the Los Angeles Basin for thousands of years, first encountering Europeans in the 1540s. One of their major settlements, Shwaanga, was situated near present-day Harbor City. Because of its convenient location, the area later served as a departure point for the rancherias of the Channel Islands.

In later years, the land was included in the Rancho San Pedro grant given to Juan Jose Dominguez in 1784. After the end of the Mexican-American War, many portions of the land were acquired by American settlers. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, in a quest to acquire two port towns, Los Angeles annexed the portion of the land that's now Harbor City.

Living in Harbor City

One of the highlights of Harbor City is its diverse community, which enhances its arts, culture, music and food scenes. You'll find family-owned businesses dotting the neighborhood, many of which sell a wide variety of wares from many cultures.

A popular spot in Harbor City is Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park. The park features children's playgrounds, barbecue pits, picnic areas, hiking trails and nature observation areas, in addition to a lake and lighted sports fields. Harbor City Park is another local favorite and is the site of the Harbor City Recreation Area. At the rec center, you can take advantage of lighted sports fields and courts, a children's play area and community rooms. Senior citizens can enjoy special programs and facilities at the senior center at Harbor Park.

Of course, one of the biggest benefits to living in Harbor City is having the entire L.A. metro area within close proximity. There are many entertainment venues, shopping centers and restaurants within driving distance, as well as museums, parks and historic landmarks.

Harbor City Schools

Los Angeles Unified School District manages the public schools of Harbor City. There are also a few private schools in the area. Harbor City is home to Los Angeles Harbor College, a community college for residents in the South Bay region of Los Angeles. The college offers both transfer and occupational training programs.

Resources for Moving to Harbor City

Here are a few useful resources to help you plan your move to Harbor City:

• Utilities: Harbor City shares utilities providers with most of the Los Angeles area. Major providers in the region include the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Southern California Edison and Southern California Gas.
• Garbage and Recycling: Most residential areas in Harbor City receive some level of trash collection, whether it's curbside collection or a multi-family dumpster system.
• Transportation: The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) operates a large public transportation network across the city, including bus, subway and light rail lines. Using public transit can be a good way to avoid the notorious L.A. traffic.

Harbor City Housing

Although Harbor City is considered a part of Los Angeles, its homes tend to be less expensive than the L.A. average. You can find single-family homes, townhouses and apartments both for sale and for rent, so it shouldn't be too difficult to find something that fits your wants and needs. Keep in mind that Harbor City has a fairly small geographical footprint, so the market can be limited at times.