View source for South Bay (Los Angeles County)

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Distinguish | South Bay, San Diego | South Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = South Bay
| native_name              = 
| native_name_lang         = <!-- ISO 639-2 code e.g. "fr" for French. If more than one, use {{lang}} instead -->
| settlement_type          = Region
| image_skyline            = South Bay Los Angeles.png
| image_alt                = 
| image_caption            = The South Bay and surrounding regions in Southern California
| nickname                 = 
| coordinates              = {{coord|33|50|13|N|118|19|05|W||display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = {{nowrap|United States}}
| subdivision_type1        = State
| subdivision_name1        = California
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in California|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles]]
| website                  = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
}}

The '''South Bay''' is a region of the [[Los Angeles metropolitan area]], located in the southwest corner of [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles County]]. The name stems from its [[geographic]] location stretching along the southern shore of [[Santa Monica Bay]]. The South Bay contains sixteen cities plus portions of the City of Los Angeles and [[unincorporated area|unincorporated]] portions of the county. The area is bounded by the Pacific Ocean on the south and west and generally by the City of Los Angeles on the north and east.<ref>[https://southbaycities.org/about/south-bay-demographics/ SouthBayCities.org]</ref>

== Neighborhoods ==
The South Bay includes:<ref>[http://www.chooselacounty.com/images/doingbusiness/la-county-map.jpg Choose LA County]</ref>
*The [[Beach Cities]]
**[[El Segundo, California|El Segundo]]
**[[Hermosa Beach, California|Hermosa Beach]]
**[[Manhattan Beach, California|Manhattan Beach]]
**[[Redondo Beach, California|Redondo Beach]]
**[[Torrance, California|Torrance]]
*The [[Palos Verdes Peninsula]]
**[[Palos Verdes Estates, California|Palos Verdes Estates]]
**[[Rancho Palos Verdes, California|Rancho Palos Verdes]]
**[[Rolling Hills, California|Rolling Hills]]
**[[Rolling Hills Estates, California|Rolling Hills Estates]]
*Neighborhoods of the City of Los Angeles
**[[Harbor City, Los Angeles|Harbor City]]
**[[Harbor Gateway, Los Angeles|Harbor Gateway]]
**[[San Pedro, Los Angeles|San Pedro]]
**[[Westchester, Los Angeles|Westchester]]
**[[Wilmington, Los Angeles|Wilmington]]
*Inland cities of the South Bay
**[[Carson, California|Carson]]
**[[Gardena, California|Gardena]]
**[[Hawthorne, California|Hawthorne]]
**[[Inglewood, California|Inglewood]]
**[[Lawndale, California|Lawndale]]
**[[Lomita, California|Lomita]]
*And unincorporated areas of [[Los Angeles County, California|L.A. County]] including:
**[[Alondra Park, California|Alondra Park/El Camino Village]] 
**[[Del Aire, California|Del Aire/Wiseburn]]
**[[West Rancho Dominguez, California|West Rancho Dominguez]]
**[[Lennox, California|Lennox]]
**[[Palos Verdes Peninsula|Westfield/Academy Hills]]
**[[West Carson, California|West Carson]]
The region is bordered on the north by the [[Westside (Los Angeles County)|Westside]] region of Los Angeles, on the northeast by the [[South Los Angeles]] region and on the east and southeast by the [[Gateway Cities]].

==South Bay Cities Council of Governments==
The South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) is a joint powers authority government agency made of politicians from the sixteen South Bay cities and unincorporated Los Angeles County that share the goal of maximizing the quality of life and productivity of the South Bay region of Los Angeles. The SBCCOG members are Carson, El Segundo, Gardena, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Inglewood, Lawndale, Lomita, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Torrance, the Harbor City/San Pedro/Wilmington communities of the City of Los Angeles and the unincorporated areas of the County of Los Angeles District 2 and 4.

==Major employers==

===Port of Los Angeles===
The [[Port of Los Angeles]], sprawling across the shorelines of [[San Pedro, Los Angeles|San Pedro]] and [[Wilmington, Los Angeles|Wilmington]], is the busiest in the United States. When combined with the [[Port of Long Beach]], it is the fifth-busiest in the world.  Traditionally, most of the populations of Wilmington and San Pedro have worked for the port in some capacity.  It is increasingly the primary driver of the Southern California economy. Industrial growth in the [[Inland Empire]] is almost entirely attributable to increased port traffic since the 1980s. The massive increase in cargo volume has created significant air pollution (especially of [[particulate]] matter in neighboring communities, resulting from the combustion of low-grade marine [[diesel fuel]]).

===Aerospace===
The South Bay is the traditional home of Southern California's [[aerospace]] industry. While considerably shrunken from its [[Cold War]] peak, it still represents a major economic force, employing thousands in high-skill, high-wage engineering positions and generating enormous amounts of tax revenue. [[Northrop Grumman]] has a major facility in El Segundo where the [[F/A-18 Hornet]] fuselage is manufactured, as well as the headquarters of the Space Technology division in [[Redondo Beach, California|Redondo Beach]] and a facility at the [[Hawthorne Municipal Airport (California)|Hawthorne Municipal Airport]]. [[Howmet]] Fastening Systems, a subsidiary of [[Howmet Aerospace]], has their corporate headquarters located in Torrance with manufacturing facilities in both Torrance and Carson. [[Boeing]] and [[Lockheed Martin]] also maintain extensive production facilities throughout the South Bay and [[Raytheon]] maintains a facility in El Segundo. The [[Los Angeles Air Force Base]] and neighboring [[The Aerospace Corporation|Aerospace Corporation]] in [[El Segundo, California|El Segundo]] are a main focus of aerospace research activity and serve as the primary development facilities for military [[satellite]]s and other space programs. [[DirecTV]], a former subsidiary of [[Hughes Aircraft]], is also headquartered in El Segundo for the same reason. [[SpaceX]] is also headquartered in the South Bay in [[Hawthorne, California|Hawthorne]].

===Oil refining===
[[Image:Palos Verdes (aerial view).jpg|thumb|View of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Los Angeles in the distance.]]

Petroleum refining is another important component of the South Bay's economy. Major South Bay refiners include [[Andeavor|Tesoro]] ([[ARCO]] facility in Carson), [[Chevron Corporation|Chevron]] (El Segundo), [[Phillips 66]] (Wilmington), [[PBF Energy]] (Torrance), [[Andeavor|Tesoro]] (Wilmington), and [[Valero Energy Corporation|Valero]] (Wilmington).  These refiners supply a large share of petroleum products for Southern California as well as for [[Nevada]] and [[Arizona]].

===Automotive===
Japanese automobile manufacturer [[Honda]] maintains its North American headquarters in the South Bay, in the city of [[Torrance, California|Torrance]]. ([[Nissan]] was also headquartered in the South Bay until late 2005, but relocated to Tennessee, citing the high cost of running a business in California. [[Toyota]] relocated to [[Plano, Texas]] in 2017 for many of the same reasons.) While these locations are largely the legacy of the region's historical importance as a Japanese-American population center, it has proven fortunate for two reasons; first, it enables closer oversight of vehicle import operations at the nearby ports; and second, it gives them proximity to the [[Import scene|automobile customization culture]] that is prominent in nearby [[South Los Angeles]]. [[Tesla Motors|Tesla]] is stationed near the headquarters of [[SpaceX]] in [[Hawthorne, California|Hawthorne]].

==Higher education==

* [[Loyola Marymount University]]
* [[California State University, Dominguez Hills]]
* [[El Camino College]]
* [[Los Angeles Harbor College]]
* [[UCLA]] South Bay
* [[Southern California Regional Occupational Center]]
* [[University of West Los Angeles]]
* [[Otis College of Art and Design]]

==Transportation==
The [[Harbor Freeway|Harbor]] ([[Interstate 110 and State Route 110 (California)|I-110]]), [[Interstate 405 (California)|San Diego]] ([[Interstate 405 (California)|I-405]]), [[Gardena Freeway|Gardena]] ([[California State Route 91|SR 91]]), and [[Century Freeway|Century]] ([[Interstate 105 (California)|I-105]]) Freeways provide the region with its principal transportation links.

The [[Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority|Los Angeles MTA]]'s [[A Line (Los Angeles Metro)|A Line]] (opened in 1990 as the Blue Line) is a [[light rail]] line running between [[Downtown Los Angeles]] and Downtown [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]]. It was the first of the MTA's modern rail lines since the 1961 demise of the [[Pacific Electric Railway]]'s Red Car system. The [[C Line (Los Angeles Metro)|C Line]] (opened in 1995 as the Green Line, together with the [[Glenn Anderson Freeway]]), a freeway-median light rail line, also serves the South Bay. It runs between [[Redondo Beach, California|Redondo Beach]] and [[Norwalk, California|Norwalk]] in the median of the [[Century Freeway]] ([[Interstate 105 (California)|Interstate 105]]), providing indirect access to LAX via a shuttle bus and future automated people mover. The [[K Line (Los Angeles Metro)|K Line]] opened from [[Expo/Crenshaw station]] to [[Westchester/Veterans station]], and became fully operational to [[Redondo Beach station]] in 2025.

Several ports and [[harbors]] in the South Bay provide access to [[Santa Catalina Island, California|Santa Catalina Island]], a popular resort. In addition, [[Los Angeles International Airport|LAX]] borders El Segundo to the north in the neighborhood of [[Westchester, Los Angeles]]. The area is also home to two public airports; [[Zamperini Field]] in [[Torrance, California|Torrance]] and [[Hawthorne Municipal Airport (California)|Hawthorne Municipal Airport]] in [[Hawthorne, California|Hawthorne]].

==Media==
In addition to the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', the South Bay cities are served by daily papers, the ''[[Daily Breeze]]'', the weeklies ''[[Beach Reporter|The Beach Reporter]],'' ''[[Easy Reader|The Easy Reader]] and [https://www.southbaycommunitynews.com/ South Bay Community News]'', a bi-monthly real estate magazine, ''South Bay DIGS'' and lifestyle publication 'Southbay Magazine'. The [[National Football League]] has its West Coast headquarters and production facility for [[NFL Network]], [[NFL RedZone]] and the NFL.com app in [[Inglewood, California|Inglewood]].

==Music==
The South Bay has a rich history in music, and has produced a number of significant rock bands, like Hawthorne natives [[The Beach Boys]] in the early 1960s, and continuing particularly in [[punk rock|punk music]]. Other notable South Bay-based artists include:

{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[98 Mute]] (Hermosa Beach)
* [[Ab-Soul]] (Carson)
(Ambrosia) Torrance
* [[Ash Riser]] (Redondo Beach)
* [[Big Syke]] (Inglewood)
* [[Bishop Lamont]] (Carson)
* [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]] (Hermosa Beach)
* [[Blu (rapper)|Blu]] (San Pedro)
* [[Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E.]] (Carson)
* [[Brandy Norwood|Brandy]] (Carson)
* [[By All Means]] (Torrance)
* [[Cali Swag District]] (Inglewood)
* [[Circle Jerks]] (Hermosa Beach)
* [[Cuco (musician)|Cuco]] (Hawthorne)
* [[Custom Made (hip hop group)|Custom Made]] (Hawthorne, Inglewood, Redondo Beach)
* [[Darlene Love]] (Hawthorne)
* [[Descendents (band)|Descendents]] (Manhattan Beach)
* [[James Newton Howard]] (Torrance)
* [[Omarion]] (Inglewood)
* [[Ras Kass]] (Carson)
* [[KeyKool]] (Torrance)
* [[Kurupt]] (Hawthorne)
* [[Left Alone]] (Wilmington)
* [[Joyce Manor]] (Torrance)
* [[Mack 10]] (Inglewood)
* [[Miguel (singer)|Miguel]] (San Pedro)
* [[Minutemen (band)|Minutemen]] (San Pedro)
* [[Pennywise (band)|Pennywise]] (Hermosa Beach)
* [[Pigeon John]] (Hawthorne)
* [[Ray-J]] (Carson)
* [[Redd Kross]] (Hawthorne)
* [[Rotting Out]] (San Pedro)
* [[Seahaven (band)|Seahaven]] (Torrance)
* [[Shannon Lay]] (Redondo Beach)
* [[Slip Capone]] (Hawthorne)
* [[Smut Peddlers]] (Redondo Beach)
* [[The Thirsty Crows]] (Redondo Beach)
* [[Tokimonsta]] (Torrance)
* [[Tom Smothers]] (Redondo Beach)
* [[Tyga]] (Gardena)
* [[Tyler The Creator]] (Hawthorne)
* [[The Last (band)|The Last]] (Hermosa Beach)
{{div col end}}

Black Flag guitarist [[Greg Ginn]]'s [[SST Records|SST]] record label, a seminal [[alternative rock]] label of the 1980s, maintained its headquarters in Lawndale.

==Sports and entertainment==
The South Bay is host to many professional sports teams and entertainment venues. The [[Los Angeles Rams]] and [[Los Angeles Chargers]] of the [[National Football League]] play at [[SoFi Stadium]] in [[Inglewood, California|Inglewood]]. The [[Los Angeles Clippers]] of the [[National Basketball Association]] play at [[Intuit Dome]], which is also in Inglewood, while the [[LA Galaxy]] of [[Major League Soccer]] play their home games at [[Dignity Health Sports Park]] in [[Carson, California|Carson]]. 

Various entertainment venues are located in the South Bay, including [[SoFi Stadium]], [[Kia Forum]], and [[YouTube Theater]] in [[Inglewood, California|Inglewood]], [[Dignity Health Sports Park]] in [[Carson, California|Carson]], and [[Toyota Sports Center]] in [[El Segundo, California|El Segundo]]. Three casinos also operate in the South Bay; the [[Hollywood Park Casino]] in Inglewood and the [[Normandie Casino]] and [[Hustler Casino]] in [[Gardena, California|Gardena]].

==See also==
{{Portal|Greater Los Angeles| Los Angeles|California}}
* [[South Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)|South Bay (Bay Area)]]
* [[Juan Maria Sepulveda]], former owner of this area

'''Other regions of Los Angeles County'''
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Angeles National Forest]]
* [[Antelope Valley, California|Antelope Valley]]
* [[East Los Angeles (region)|Eastside]]
* [[Los Angeles Harbor Region|Harbor]]
* [[Northeast Los Angeles]]
* Northwest County
* [[Pomona Valley]]
* [[San Fernando Valley]]
* [[San Gabriel Valley]]
* [[South Bay, Los Angeles|South Bay]]
* [[Santa Monica Mountains]]
* [[South Los Angeles]]
* [[Gateway Cities|Southeast County]]
* [[Verdugos]]
* [[Westside (Los Angeles County)|Westside]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|South Bay (Los Angeles County)|South Bay}}
{{commonscat|South Bay}}
* [http://www.ci.carson.ca.us/ City of Carson]
* [http://www.elsegundo.org/ City of El Segundo]
* [http://www.cityofgardena.org/ City of Gardena]
* [http://www.cityofhawthorne.org/ City of Hawthorne]
* [http://www.hermosabeach.gov/ City of Hermosa Beach]
* [http://www.cityofinglewood.org/ City of Inglewood]
* [http://www.lawndalecity.org/ City of Lawndale]
* [http://www.lomitacity.com/ City of Lomita]
* [http://www.manhattanbeach.gov/ City of Manhattan Beach]
* [http://www.pvestates.org/ City of Palos Verdes Estates]
* [http://www.rpvca.gov/ City of Rancho Palos Verdes]
* [http://www.redondo.org/ City of Redondo Beach]
* [http://www.rolling-hills.org/ City of Rolling Hills]
* [http://www.ci.rolling-hills-estates.ca.us/ City of Rolling Hills Estates]
* [http://www.torranceca.gov/ City of Torrance]
* [http://www.southbaycities.org/ South Bay Cities Council of Governments]

{{Greater Los Angeles Area}}
{{California}}

[[Category:South Bay, Los Angeles| ]]
[[Category:Los Angeles County, California, regions]]
[[Category:Regions of California]]