Torrance, California

Torrance, California is a city in the South Bay region of southwest Los Angeles County. The City of Torrance encompasses approximately 21 square miles (over 13,000 acres) and has a population of about 146,000 residents. Torrance is the 9^th largest city in Los Angeles County by land area and the 8^th most populous city in Los Angeles County. The cities of Hawthorne, Lawndale, and Gardena bound Torrance on the north; the Harbor Gateway neighborhood of the city of Los Angeles to the east; the Palos Verdes Hills with the cities of Lomita, Rolling Hills Estates, and Palos Verdes Estates on the south; and the Pacific Ocean (Torrance has 1.5 miles of shorefront beaches), along with the coastal cities of Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Manhattan Beach to the west.

Founded in 1925, Torrance Memorial Medical Center is now a 443-bed modern facility. Torrance Memorial Medical Center has approximately 2,700 employees and 1,000 physicians and the Torrance Memorial Health System is the largest employer in Torrance. The Emergency Department accommodates approximately 60,000 visits per year. Torrance Memorial Medical Center also offers cardiac rehabilitation services, a transition care unit, a cancer center, surgery, and a stroke center.

Torrance Unified School District consists of over 30 schools. With over 2,500 employees, Torrance Unified School District is the 2^nd largest employer in Torrance. In 1947, Torrance separated from the Los Angeles Unified School District.

The corporate headquarters of Yoshinoya America Inc., which has more than 2,000 Yoshinoya restaurant locations worldwide, is based in Torrance. Yoshinoya is the 5^th largest employer in Torrance with over 1,300 Torrance-based employees.

American Honda Motor Co., Inc., which began sales in the United States in 1959, is based in Torrance. American Honda Motor Co., Inc. is the 6^th largest employer in Torrance with over 1,100 Torrance-based employees.

Torrance Airport -- Zamperini Field is a general aviation airport found in the southern portion of Torrance. Originally founded in 1941 by the federal government as Lomita Flight Strip, a training base for the United States Army Air Corps, the airport is now home to over 500 aircraft. The airport is also home to Robinson Helicopters Company, America’s largest manufacturer of private helicopters. Robinson Helicopters Company is the 7^th largest employer in Torrance with over 900 employees.

The Torrance Refinery dates to 1929 and is now operated by Torrance Refinery Company LLC (PBF Energy). The Torrance Refinery encompasses approximately 700 acres and employs approximately 600 employees. The average wage for these workers is more than double the average wage for California workers. At least 300 contractors also work at the refinery. According to a recent study, every direct refinery job supports approximately 15 indirect jobs. The refinery can produce up to 1.8 billion gallons of gasoline annually. Crude oil is transported to the refinery by pipeline from the Post of Los Angeles and the San Joaquin Valley. The refinery’s operations result in approximately $12 million in property taxes paid to Los Angeles County and $7 million in taxes paid to the City of Torrance. Over 11,000 jobs, $1 billion in wages, and $7 billion in sales are linked to operations at the facility.

One of the largest landmarks in Torrance is the massive Del Amo Fashion Center, which serves as a shopping Mecca for residents throughout the South Bay region. Del Amo Fashion Center is reportedly the sixth largest shopping mall in the United States, and at one time it was considered the largest shopping mall in the United States.

Torrance is home to over 400 eateries.

El Camino College is a community college on a 126-acre campus just outside of Torrance. Annual student enrollment is approximately 30,000. El Camino College offers approximately 119 certificate programs and over 90 degree programs. El Camino College has over 1,300 employees.

The City of Torrance has a Council - Manager form of government. The City Council consists of six Council Members elected to four-year terms who live in specific districts and a mayor who is elected “at-large.” The City Clerk and the City Treasurer are also elected positions. The City Council appoints both the City Manager and the City Attorney. The City Manager carries out the policies of the City Council and oversees the day-to-day operations of the City involving 13 departments. Sales taxes and property taxes are the two largest forms of revenue for the City of Torrance government. Public safety is the largest expense for the City of Torrance government. The City of Torrance has approximately 1,400 employees and is 4^th largest employer in Torrance.

The Torrance Fire Department has over 150 sworn employees and six fire stations.

The Torrance Police Department has approximately 240 sworn employees, a main police station, and a police substation.

Torrance has its own library system with six libraries.

The City of Torrance operates approximately 30 parks encompassing approximately 365 acres, including the 52 acre Columbia Park.

In around 1910 real estate developer Jared Sidney Torrance launched the idea of creating a “Planned Modern Industrial City” and “Workingman’s Paradise,” which he envisioned as a city with a mix of residential and industrial uses. Torrance and his investors purchased approximately 3,500 acres of ranchland. The location was advantageous as it was close to what would become the Port of Los Angeles. In addition, electric trolley car service expanded into the area in 1902 along Railroad (now Hawthorne) Boulevard. In the 1920s oil was discovered in the area resulting in the establishment of the Torrance-Wilmington Oil Field in 1922.

A big surprise to Torrance outsiders – and perhaps many residents – is the approximately 44-acre Madrona Marsh Nature Preserve. It is a large, undisturbed, never-developed seasonal freshwater wetland preserve that is allowed to change according to natural forces with no human interference. Visitors are encouraged to take tours of the marsh but are expected to minimize their impact on the land. The land upon which the preserve is located was used formerly for oil extraction. The preserve is a magnet for migratory birds. The 8,000 square foot Madrona Marsh Nature Center is located across the street from the Preserve and includes a reception area and an exhibit hall.

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