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Torrance was founded in 1912 by Jared Sidney Torrance and Associates by the purchase of 2,791 acres of land from the Dominguez Estate Company.
This land was originally a small part of the Spanish land grant called Rancho San Pedro, given to Juan Jose Dominguez in 1784. At its inception, this planned industrial town provided housing for 500 people. The city was incorporated in 1921, and had a population of about 1,800 residents.
The original Torrance city charter was voted on and ratified by a vote of the people on August 20, 1946, and filed with the California Secretary of State on January 7, 1947. The discovery of oil, a second planned industrial expansion, and land annexations marked early development and paved the way for Torrance to become one of the largest cities on Los Angeles County today with a population of about 136,700.
*pictures were donated by the Torrance Historical Society.
- Torrance Theater, 1920's
- Cabrillo Street (Northbound), 1920's
- Carson Street, 1920's
- Harry E. Paige Grocery, 1917. It was in the El Prado Apts and it was one of the 1st grocers in the city. It is now a Methodist Church.
- Corner of Del Amo and Hawthorne Blvd., 1920's.
- Sartori Street, 1920's
- The Depot and Apartments in 1913.
- Western Avenue (Northbound),1922.
- Fiesta on Cabrillo St., 1920's
- Van Ness Ave., Llewellyn Steel and Park Terrace in front, 1914
- Sartori Street, 1950's.
 
- Banning Residence - built in 1864; The building has been described as "the finest extant example of Greek revival style in Southern California. 401 East "M" Street, Wilmington (310) 548-7777
- Centinela Adobe - Birthplace of Inglewood. The oldest house in Centinela Valley. Built in 1834 by Ignacio Machado, it has been owned by a Civil War General, a Scottish Baronet and Daniel Freeman, founder of Inglewood, whose land office was relocated to the property. 7634 Midfield Ave., Westchester 90045, 310-676-4363
- Dominguez Rancho Adobe - The Rancho San Pedro, which came to be known as the Dominguez Ranch, began as a generous gift of 75,000 acres of land to a Spanish soldier in 1784. The soldier's name was Juan Jose Dominguez. Forty three years later, in 1827, his nephew, Manuel Dominguez, built this adobe home for his new bride.
- Drum Barracks - Drum Barracks is the only major Civil War landmark in California; it served as the focal point of Union army activity in the Southwest between 1862 and 1866.
- El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Park - consists of 44 acres, bounded by Alameda, Arcadia, Spring, and Macy Streets; it contains a number of historical landmarks, (213) 628-1274
- Fort MacArthur Military Museum - dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the history of Fort MacArthur, a U.S. Army post which guarded the Los Angeles harbor from 1914 to 1974. 3601 S. Gaffey Street, San Pedro (310) 548-7705
- Hermosa Beach Historical Museum - preserving and chronicling the history of Hermosa Beach.
- Indian Village (Watson Industrial Center)
- Lomita Railroad Museum - built in 1966; much research and study was given to depot structures before the final home the Museum was chosen. Mrs. Lewis chose to copy the Boston & Maine's Greenwood Station at Wakefield, Massachusetts, which was built before the turn of the century. 2137 West 250th Street, Lomita, (310) 326-6255
- Los Angeles Maritime Museum - Berth 84, San Pedro, (310) 548-7618
- Manhattan Beach Historical Museum - preserving and chronicling the history of Manhattan Beach.
- Muller House Museum - Originally located on 19th Street, this two-story Colonial Revival house was built in 1899 by a local shipbuilder. 1542 S. Beacon Street, San Pedro, (310) 831-1778
- Point Fermin Lighthouse - Built in 1874 with lumber from California redwoods and a Fresnel Lens brought around Cape Horn by sailing ships. S. Gaffey St. at 807 Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro 90731
- Point Vicente Lighthouse & Interpretive Center - Situated on eight acres, this historic lighthouse was erected in 1926, in response to a petition from ship's masters who deplored this disastrous stretch of costal waters. 31501 Palos Verdes Dr W, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275-5369
- Puvunga Indian Village Sites - (c. 1805) A former Gabrielino Indian village site and religious center. E Bixby Hill Rd & E 7th St, Long Beach.
- Rancho de los Palos Verdes - Jose Dolores Sepulveda Homesite Est. 1818; At the foot of Palos Verdes Hills on or at the end Madison Street (at Rolling Hills Road) in the Walteria section of Torrance.
- Red Cars of Los Angeles - They reached their peak in popularity in the 1920s, then slowly fell victim to Angelenos' love of their automobiles.
- Redondo Beach Historical Museum - A circa 1890's Queen Anne cottage housing the City's Historical Museum, which has an extensive collection of Redondo Beach memorabilia, information and artifacts, located at Dominguez Park on Flagler Lane Between 190th Street and Beryl Street in Redondo Beach.
- SS Lane Victory Memorial Museum - Berth 94, San Pedro (310) 519-9545
- Transportation Mural & Centinela Springs - Centinela Park, near swimming pool, corner of Stepney and Park, Inglewood.
- Western Museum of Flight - Air Museum - founded in 1981 when a group of volunteers restored a rare World War II era Northrop N-3PB seaplane. located at historic "Jack Northrop Field - Hawthorne Municipal Airport", 120th Street and Prairie Avenue in the city of Hawthorne.
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