El Segundo, CA Properties | Metro Realty Advisors

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El Segundo is a city in Los Angeles County, California, on Santa Monica Bay in the South Bay region, bounded by Westchester to the north, Del Aire and Hawthorne to the east, Manhattan Beach to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Incorporated in 1917, the city takes its name from the Spanish for "the second," referring to the Standard Oil refinery built here in 1911, the company's second in California. That refinery, now operated by Chevron, remains a defining feature and occupies more than a quarter of the city's land. After World War II, El Segundo became a center of the aerospace and defense industry. Pioneers such as North American Aviation, Douglas Aircraft, and Hughes Aircraft established operations here, followed by Los Angeles Air Force Base and The Aerospace Corporation, and the city has long carried the nickname "Aerospace Capital of the World." Today that aerospace and technology corridor, together with the refinery and other commercial and industrial uses, anchors a substantial employment base that sits alongside the city's quiet residential neighborhoods. The residential side of El Segundo is notably walkable and small-town in feel. Wide, tree-lined streets hold a mix of single-family homes, and Main Street's compact downtown offers independent shops, cafes, and restaurants. The city's location immediately south of Los Angeles International Airport makes it convenient for the aviation and aerospace workforce, while Metro rail service reaches the city and links it to the wider Los Angeles region. El Segundo Beach, along the city's western edge, and nearby Dockweiler State Beach provide a modest stretch of oceanfront between Manhattan Beach and Playa del Rey. El Segundo appeals to aerospace and technology professionals, airport-area workers, and families seeking a tight-knit South Bay community with strong local schools and beach proximity. Its identity balances an industrial and defense heritage with the everyday rhythms of a walkable, family-oriented coastal town.

Population 17,272

County Los Angeles County

Active Listings 65

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is El Segundo in?

El Segundo is in Los Angeles County, California, on Santa Monica Bay in the South Bay region. It is bordered by Westchester to the north, Del Aire and Hawthorne to the east, Manhattan Beach to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

Why is El Segundo called the second?

El Segundo means the second in Spanish. The city was named for the Standard Oil refinery built here in 1911, which was the company's second refinery in California. That refinery, now operated by Chevron, still occupies more than a quarter of the city's land.

What school district serves El Segundo?

El Segundo is served by the El Segundo Unified School District, which operates the city's elementary, middle, and high schools, including El Segundo High School. The district is small and locally focused, with boundaries closely aligned to the city.

How far is El Segundo from LAX?

El Segundo sits immediately south of Los Angeles International Airport, which lies just across the city's northern boundary. The proximity makes the city a convenient base for aviation, aerospace, and technology workers, with freeway and rail connections nearby.

What is El Segundo known for?

El Segundo is known as a center of the aerospace and defense industry, sometimes called the Aerospace Capital of the World. North American Aviation, Douglas Aircraft, and Hughes Aircraft established operations here after World War II, followed by Los Angeles Air Force Base and The Aerospace Corporation, alongside the Chevron refinery.

Does El Segundo have a beach?

Yes. El Segundo Beach runs along the city's western edge between Manhattan Beach and Playa del Rey, offering swimming, surfing, kayaking, and paddleboarding. Dockweiler State Beach extends the shoreline north toward LAX.

City Guide

About El Segundo

Real Estate & Housing

El Segundo's housing stock is predominantly single-family and modestly scaled, with wide, tree-lined streets and a distinctly suburban feel despite the city's coastal location. The residential areas sit on the western side of town, separated from the aerospace, commercial, and refinery districts to the east. Many homes date from the mid-twentieth century, giving the city an established, low-turnover character, though renovations and some newer construction have updated the inventory. The compact footprint and limited land available for housing keep the residential character stable, and the city's walkable downtown is a defining amenity.

Neighborhoods

El Segundo's residential neighborhoods cluster on the western side of the city, between the aerospace and industrial corridor and the ocean. The area around Main Street forms the walkable downtown, with older, tree-lined blocks of single-family homes radiating outward. The city is bordered by Manhattan Beach to the south and the Del Aire and Westchester areas to the east and north, and its own El Segundo Beach and nearby Dockweiler State Beach anchor the oceanfront. The commercial and aerospace district along the eastern edge is largely non-residential.

Lifestyle in El Segundo

El Segundo offers a small-town, coastal lifestyle unusual for the Los Angeles region. Main Street's downtown is walkable and locally oriented, with independent restaurants, cafes, and shops, and the city's recreation department runs classes, events, and community programs. The beach is a short walk or bike ride from most neighborhoods, and the city's family-friendly, low-key atmosphere contrasts with the bustle of nearby LAX and the larger South Bay cities. Residents benefit from strong local schools and easy access to Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, and the rest of the South Bay.

Schools & Education

Public education in El Segundo is provided by the El Segundo Unified School District, which operates the city's elementary, middle, and high schools, including El Segundo High School. The district is small and locally focused, serving the city's compact student population, and is regarded for its strong academics and community ties. Because the district's boundaries align closely with the city, families generally attend schools close to home, and the district draws on the city's substantial commercial and aerospace tax base to support its facilities.

Getting Around

El Segundo sits immediately south of Los Angeles International Airport, making it one of the region's most aviation- and transit-connected cities. Metro rail service reaches the city, with a station over El Segundo Boulevard, and connects toward LAX and the wider Los Angeles rail network, while LAX itself lies just to the north. Major freeways, including the 105 and 405, run nearby, and Pacific Coast Highway provides a coastal route to the neighboring beach cities. The city's proximity to the airport and its aerospace and technology employers makes it a practical base for a largely professional workforce.

Parks & Recreation

El Segundo Beach, on the city's western edge between Manhattan Beach and Playa del Rey, offers a quiet stretch of sand for swimming, surfing, kayaking, and paddleboarding, and the adjacent Dockweiler State Beach extends the shoreline north toward LAX. Recreation Park and the city's recreation and parks department provide sports fields, playgrounds, classes, and community events. The neighboring beach cities of Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach, with their piers, promenades, and surf culture, are minutes away, and the city's walkable downtown and bikeable streets make outdoor activity part of daily life.

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