Cities such as this don't just appear -- yet, comparatively speaking, the history of Manhattan Beach covers a relatively short span. In its earliest days, Manhattan Beach was part of the ten-mile ocean frontage of Rancho Sausal Redondo, which means "Round Clump of Willows." Advertising shows that Peck always called his properties “North Manhattan Beach” or “Peck’s Manhattan Beach Tract.”

In 1901, John Merrill and company bought the property previously intended to be Potencia Beach, and declared intentions to build a new resort town called Manhattan Beach (after a successful and exclusive beach hotel resort on Coney island in New York).

The first downtown building was built by Merrill around 1901, a small frame building later used for city offices. The official date of incorporation was December 7, 1912. [The date filed with the Secretary of State]. Planks were laid in the sand on Manhattan Avenue for vehicles and along the Strand and side streets for pedestrians.

The first pier had been built with iron pilings in 1897 or 1898 by the Los Angeles Ocean Power Company at the foot of Center Street. The pier supported a wave motor to generate power for the Strand lighting system. It has been found that part of the mechanism was at the end of the pier, and the power house was up on shore. A 30’ portion at the end of the pier with some of the machinery was lost in the ocean during a storm in 1899.

The next pier was built on the same site and extended about 922 feet into the ocean. Engineer A.L. Harris developed the concept of the circular end for less exposure and damage to the pilings by the waves. The pier was completed and dedicated on July 5, 1920, less the Roundhouse, which was completed in 1922.

After World War II a large influx of people came as a result of the desirability of the area for year-round living. Servicemen visiting during the war returned to live here. The development of the defense industry brought many people to the South Bay to reside and work. Much of the land east of Sepulveda was developed to house the influx of people.

For more information on the history of Manhattan Beach, contact the Manhattan Beach Historical Society.