Henry Taboada 1999 est. One World Trade Center, Suite 350, Long Beach, Calif. 90831-0350 1. Long Beach is the fifth-largest city in California and is situated on San Pedro Bay, south of Los Angeles, in Los Angeles County. The town was laid out and settled in 1881 by developer W. E. Willmore, who sold lots in the site as a seaside resort community called Willmore City. The city was incorporated in 1888 and reincorporated in 1897.
Long Beach is a major industrial port.
Tourism is also important to the economy. The Aquarium of the Pacific opened on June 20, 1998. Minor industries include transportation, communication and utilities, wholesale trade, finance, insurance, and real estate. Long Beach's economy has been adversely affected by cutbacks in the defense and aircraft production industries.