History

Torrance History at a Glance

In 1910, Los Angeles was mired in labor troubles and with that, industrialist Jared Sidney Torrance set out to create “a workingman’s paradise;” a new model residential/industrial city halfway between LA and the San Pedro Harbor. Torrance then persuaded major industrial firms and a railroad to relocate to the city, and world-famous landscape architects Olmsted and Olmsted (Frank Lloyd Wright, Jr. also pitched in with landscaping) along with modernist architect Irving J. Gill teamed up to design the city’s look (a blend of Mission Revival and early Modernist architecture) featuring the distinctive depot and railroad bridge. Torrance was officially incorporated as a city in 1921.

Today, even though Torrance is located in one of the most densely urbanized zones in the world, the city owns the distinction as one of the safest cities in Los Angeles County and still remains true to its earthy industrialist roots and vision as a balanced city. Well-crafted, diverse and with a relaxed yet innovative spirit all its own, Torrance is a refreshingly unique destination in the Southern California landscape.

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