1784Military
In 1784, the Spanish Crown deeded Rancho San Pedro, a tract of over 75,000 acres (300 km2), to soldier Juan José Domínguez.
1863History
In 1863, a Scottish immigrant, Sir Robert Burnett, purchased Rancho Sausal Redondo and Rancho Aguaje de la Centinela from Avila's heirs for $33,000.
1873History
Ten years later in 1873, Burnett leased the ranch to a Canadian, Daniel Freeman (not the American of the same name, who was the first to file a claim under the Homestead Act of ...
1885History
On May 4, 1885, Freeman bought the ranch from Burnett for $140,000.
1888Architecture
At some point after this the location was informally called "Shore Acres." Shortly thereafter, in 1888 the area's first freight and passenger railroad tracks were built by the S...
1902Military
Around 1902, the beach suburb was named "Manhattan" after developer Stewart Merrill's home, the New York City borough of Manhattan.
1912Government
In 1912, incorporation of the City of Manhattan Beach won a vote held on November 26 and took effect on December 7.
1913Education
Residents of Manhattan Beach were in the Wiseburn School District until 1913, when the Manhattan Beach elementary school district formed.
1920History
== Demographics ==
Manhattan Beach first appeared as a city in the 1920 U.S.
1924Architecture
In 1924, the city used eminent domain to seize the land from the Black property owners under the pretense of building a park.
1938Architecture
From 1938 to 1989, it more than doubled in width when large quantities of sand were placed on beaches to the north during construction of the Hyperion Treatment Plant, Marina de...
1950Education
Residents attended Redondo Union High School until 1950, when Mira Costa High School opened.
1955History
One of 78 California Health Districts, it was created in 1955 as South Bay Hospital which no longer exists and took on its current name in 1993.
1983Education
The McMartin preschool trials, an example of day care sex abuse hysteria, started with investigations of a Manhattan Beach preschool in 1983.
1987History
The trials ran from 1987 to 1990 and resulted in no convictions.
1988History
Tequila Sunrise (1988) Mel Gibson's character lives on the beach near the pier.
1991History
Point Break (1991) In the movie, Keanu Reeves buys his surfboard from a shop located on the Manhattan Beach pier.
1993Education
Residents were within, in addition to the elementary district, the South Bay Union High School District until 1993, when the latter dissolved.
1995Culture
Indictment: The McMartin Trial (1995) Closing scene filmed on Manhattan Beach Pier.
1996History
Jerry Maguire (1996) In the movie, Dorothy's (Renée Zellweger) house is in the Gas Lamp Section on 23rd Street.
2000History
According to Mapping L.A., German and English were the most common ancestries in 2000.
2001History
George Jung of Blow (2001) film.
2002Architecture
Beach Cities Health District is now focused on real estate development and opened AdventurePlex, a Manhattan Beach fitness center for kids and their families, in 2002.
2004History
Starsky and Hutch (2004) In the movie, Starsky (Ben Stiller), can be seen stretching under the pier.
2007Infrastructure
== In popular culture ==
Filming locations
1408 (2007) John Cusack's character surfs in El Porto waves.
2008History
Size and appearance restrictions were enacted by the Manhattan Beach City Council to preserve the appearance of the beachfront community after three lots were joined to create a...
2010History
Since 2010, new property developments in Manhattan Beach cannot exceed two lot parcels.
2011Education
Manhattan Beach Media Campus has production for movies and entertainment including the Marvel Studios motion pictures Thor (2011) and Iron Man 2 (2010) and both sequels to James...
2012History
2012 (2009) Cracks appear down the middle of 45th Street.
2013Infrastructure
In 2013, the Dataquick study reported that more homes exceeding $1 million were sold in Manhattan Beach than any other city in California.
2014Culture
The current median residential home price is $2.2 million according to a November 23, 2014, Los Angeles Times article, and land values in Manhattan Beach rank among the highest ...
2015Architecture
The new $19 million, 20,000 square foot, two-story facility featuring a glass exterior was completed in 2015.
2017Military
A small skate park was added to Marine Avenue Park in 2017 after a 16-year battle over its location.
2021Government
In 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation authorizing the transferring of the property to descendants of the family.
2023History
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $193,904, and the per capita income was $113,441.
2024Infrastructure
== Economy ==
According to the city's 2024 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:
Residential prices in Manhattan Beach are among the highest...