SALT OF THE EARTH
The first known inhabitants of the area were the Engnovangas Rancheria Indians who regularly trekked three miles to harvest the salt flats, which would occupy roughly 120,000 square yards around Herondo Street and North Harbor Drive (Southern California Edison Plant) if still around today. In 1781, the original Pueblo de Los Angeles was established and a one-lane dirt road was cleared to connect it with the profitable and useful flats. Aviation Blvd. runs almost directly atop the old street.
FROM FARMING TO FUN IN THE SUN
The area was broken into ranchos (land parcels) for migrant workers by the Spanish government in 1784 and then in 1822 the newly established Mexican government sold off said parcels to the highest bidders, one of which was Antonia Ygnacio Avila who
snatched up the 22,500-acre Rancho Sausal Redondo |
— that’s
present day Manhattan Beach to you — in 1837 to raise sheep. The
land changed hands several times over the next six decades and by 1888, when the Santa Fe Railroad laid tracks through MB to transport passengers and cargo between LA and the now-busy Redondo Beach wharf, developers started seeing the scenic spots potential as a vacation destination. Beach cottages sprang up like weeds, especially after the Pacific Railway’s Red Cars started rolling through in 1903 along what is now the beachfront bike path. They were active until 1940.
THE NAME GAME
In the late 1800s, three developers owned large portions of the area. George Peck called his northern section Shore Acres after a Santa Fe junction sign. John Merrill, named the southern section Manhattan after his New York hometown. Frank Daugherty had 20 acres from Marine Ave. to 15th Street and east of Highland Ave. to the railroad tracks. They agreed that the area should be given a single name, but couldn’t settle on one so they left flipped a half dollar. We're assuming you can guess who won.
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