Torrance

Torrance, city in Los Angeles County, southwestern California, on the Pacific Ocean. The city is located south of downtown Los Angeles and west of Long Beach. Torrance is a residential, retail, and light industrial center, and several large corporate headquarters and a community college are in the city. In addition, Torrance is home to the Torrance Cultural Arts Center, the Torrance Historical Society Museum, and Madrona Marsh, a freshwater nature preserve. Annual events include the Daily Breeze International Festival, held in the summer.

Torrance was founded in 1912 as a planned industrial and residential community by real estate developer Jared S. Torrance, for whom it is named. The discovery of petroleum in the early part of the 20th century spurred industrial growth, and the city incorporated in 1921.

Torrance covers a land area of 53 sq km (21 sq mi), with a mean elevation of 26 m (84 ft). According to the 2000 census, whites are 59.2 percent of the population, Asians 28.6 percent, blacks 2.2 percent, Native Americans 0.4 percent, and Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders 0.3 percent. The remainder are of mixed heritage or did not report race. Hispanics, who may be of any race, are 12.8 percent of the people. Population 129,881 (1980); 133,107 (1990); 137,946 (2000); 142,350 (2006).