Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach was a  Tongva village before becoming a rancho land concession. In the late 1800s it started to develop as migration to the West increased.  The city to attract tourist, courted the Pacific Electric railroad ceded much power to railroad magnate Henry E. Huntington.  Incorporated in 1909, its original developer was the Huntington Beach Company, a development firm owned by Henry Huntington.  The Huntington Beach Company is now wholly owned by the Chevron Corporation and is still a major land-owner and predominate owner of mineral rights in the area.

The original pier was built in 1904.  After a storm it was rebuilt in 1914. In 1931, the pier was extended by 500 feet. Another storm in 1988 damaged the pier with reconstruction complete in 1992.  The pier is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

The city’s moniker of Surf City, USA began in 1925 when Duke Kahanamoku brought surfing to Huntington Beach and the Southern California shores.  The first surf shop opened in 1953, Gordie’s Surf Boards. Then the city held the first US surfing championships six years later.

In the 1960s, Huntington Harbour was constructed in former Sunset Bay Estuary wetlands. The harbor has five man-made islands and five beaches with shallow shores perfect for families and kids to play.

Huntington Beach hosts more events than any of the other Orange County beach towns.  This is largely due to the great venue the city and state parks provide.  The events range from air shows to surfing competitions and fun runs to music festivals. Here are some of the bigger events that take place throughout the year.

• Farmers Markets: part of Surf City Nights, every Tuesday on Main Street from 5-9pm  
• Surf City USA Marathon & Half Marathon: January
• Jack’s Surfboards Pro: April, top surfers compete to qualify for the World Surfing League
• Taste of Huntington Beach: April
• Cherry Blossom Festival: April
• Sunset Beach Art Festival: May,  held for over 50 years on Mother’s Weekend. Features over 150 artists and crafts people along with live entertainment.
• Kowabunga Van Car Show: May, vintage VW Buses
• Pro Beach Volleyball: May, Huntington Beach Open is a mainstay on the AVP schedule.
• Bolsa Chica’s Earth Day Festival: May
• Concours d’Elegance: June, vintage car show
• Pier Swim: June, half mile swim around the Huntington Beach Pier
• US Open of Surfing: August, world’s largest action sports festival featuring the best in surfing, skateboarding, and BMX.
• Pacific Airshow: September, taking place since 2016, it’s considered one of the top airshows in the US.
• Oktoberfest: September – November, in Old World Village (Bavarian styled outdoor mall) this tradition has been going on since 1977.
• German Unity Day: October 6th, Old World Village
• St. Martin’s Lantern Fest & Parade: November, Old World Village 
• Cruise of Lights: December, homes, docks, decks, and boats are decorated with boat tours through the waterways of Huntington Harbour

• Huntington Beach Pier: measuring 1,850 feet long, the pier serves as a central point for the city. The breathtaking views both on the pier and of the pier will surely have this iconic structure serving as a feature in your photographic memory book.
• International Surfing Museum
• Huntington Harbour: built in the 1960s, this is a labyrinth of channels around five man-made islands.  Its calm waters serve as a perfect place to enjoy stand-up paddle boarding or kayaking. There are also kid friendly beaches and plenty of place to eat and drink.
• Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve: the largest saltwater marsh in Southern California, the reserve features 1,400 acres of fresh and saltwater wetlands habitat, a boardwalk, and five miles of trails. A great place to visit for birders, hikers, runners, and nature lovers. 
• Newland House Museum: built in 1898, it’s the city’s oldest residence left.  Now well preserved thanks to the Huntington Beach Historical Society, it provides a glimpse of what life was like at the turn of the twentieth century and historical facts about the city.
• Huntington Beach Art Center
• Huntington Central Park: large park with paved trails, playgrounds and a dog park, as well as summertime shows.
• Surf City USA Barrel Trail
• Old World Village: Outdoor shopping and dining complex with quaint, European-style buildings & cobblestone streets.  

• The official car of Huntington Beach is the Woody.
• The Huntington Beach Pier is the 5th longest pier in California.
• There are 9.3 miles of ocean facing beaches.
• Its sister city in Australia, Manly Beach, is the host of the Hurley Australian Open of Surfing.
• Huntington Beach’s Dog Beach is the only beach in Orange County you can let your dog off leash.
• Huntington Central Park is the largest municipal park in Orange County.
• Named official hometown of the US Olympic Surf Team.
• The main thoroughfare of Huntington Beach, Beach Boulevard, was originally a cattle route for the main industry of the Rancho.
• Had more than one name over the years including Shell Beach, the town of Smeltzer, Gospel Swamp for the revival meetings that were held in the marshland), Fairview, and then Pacific City. Finally Huntington Beach when it was incorporated in 1909.

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