Avalon, California
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| City of Avalon | |||
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| Coordinates: 33°20′27″N 118°19′40″W / 33.34083°N 118.32778°WCoordinates: 33°20′27″N 118°19′40″W / 33.34083°N 118.32778°W | |||
| Country | United States | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| State | California | ||
| County | Los Angeles | ||
| Incorporated (city) | 1913-06-26 [1] | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Bob Kennedy [2] | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 3.15 sq mi (8.15 km2) | ||
| - Land | 2.81 sq mi (7.28 km2) | ||
| - Water | 0.33 sq mi (0.87 km2) 10.63% | ||
| Elevation | 30 ft (9 m) | ||
| Population (2000)[3] | |||
| - Total | 3,127 | ||
| - Density | 1,112.4/sq mi (429.5/km2) | ||
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) | ||
| ZIP Code | 90704 [4] | ||
| Area code(s) | 310 | ||
| FIPS code | 06-03274 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 1660283 | ||
| Website | cityofavalon.com | ||
Avalon, or Avalon Bay, is the only city on Santa Catalina Island. Besides Avalon, the only other center of population on the island is the small unincorporated town of Two Harbors. Avalon's ZIP code is 90704 and it is in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2000 census[update], the city population was 3,127, with another 195 close outside of the city limits. The population is now estimated to be over 3,500. The default for wired phone numbers in the Avalon central office is (310) 510-XXXX. Although ten-digit dialing is required, it is still common for local residents to relate only the last four digits of a phone number in conversation.
The older parts of the town nearer the shoreline are dominated by small houses and two and three-story buildings in various traditional architectural styles. There are also several large apartment complexes nestled in the hills away from the shoreline, so that they are not obvious in most postcard photos of Avalon.
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[edit] About Avalon
Avalon is a rural waterfront town with the usual tourist-oriented businesses and services lining the coastline. Apart from the town itself, primary attractions include various trails into the hills surrounding the town, and the Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Garden just outside of town in the hills to the southwest.
Avalon was founded in 1887 by George Shatto and named by his mother-in-law after the legendary island of Arthurian legend
During World War II, Catalina Island was closed to tourists and used by the military. The United States Maritime Service established a training station in Avalon. The United States Coast Guard and the Office of Strategic Services also had facilities on the island.[5]
[edit] Geography
Avalon is located at 33°20′27″N 118°19′40″W / 33.34083°N 118.32778°W (33.340941, -118.327821).[6] Due to its location on Catalina Island, it is the southern-most city in Los Angeles County.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.2 km2 (3 sq mi). 7.3 km2 (2.8 mi2) of it is land and 0.9 km2 (0.3 mi2) of it (10.48%) is water.
Avalon has a very mild subtropical climate with warm temperatures year-round.
[edit] Transportation
[edit] Intercity
The city is served by several high-speed passenger boats with regular daily service to Newport Beach, San Pedro, Long Beach, Marina del Rey, and Dana Point. Catalina Airport (FAA Identifier: AVX), also known as Airport-in-the-Sky, is located at (NAD83 rounded from FAA-provided coordinates): 33°24′17″N 118°24′59″W / 33.40472°N 118.41639°W, 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Avalon. Fixed-wing flights pay a $25 landing fee as of Jan. 1 2009. Several helicopter companies serve the city.
[edit] Intracity
The main method of transportation in Avalon is by small gasoline or electric powered motorcars referred to as "Autoettes." These include numerous golf carts and similarly sized vehicles. Most vehicles under 53" wide and 120" long may qualify as an autoette. Any resident may acquire an autoette permit with the restriction of one permit per household. It is very difficult to get a permit to have a full-size vehicle in Avalon. As of 2009 there were approximately 2500 individuals on the waiting list with a wait time of 18 years. The permit is issued to the individual as opposed to a specific vehicle, is surrendered when residency on the island ends, and is not transferable except through petition before the city council. For purposes of vehicle registration, Catalina Island is divided into two classifications: within Avalon and "Interior" (areas outside the city limits). The city has its own strict permit program with which local vehicle owners must comply, in addition to the usual requirements imposed by the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
Visitors can walk, rent a bicycle, rent a cart, ride a shuttle bus, or hire one of several private taxis.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 3,127 people, 1,158 households, and 719 families residing in the city. The population density was 429.7/km2 (1,112.4/mi2). There were 1,839 housing units at an average density of 252.7/km2 (654.2/mi2). The racial makeup of the city was 71.63% White, 0.74% Black 1.02% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.22% Pacific Islander, 20.37% from other races, and 5.40% from two or more races. 45.95% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 1,158 households out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.9% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.38.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.3% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 99.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,327, and the median income for a family was $46,406. Males had a median income of $30,789 versus $24,643 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,032. About 9.2% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.5% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government and infrastructure
Avalon is served by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (a few deputies are stationed on the island with additional units brought from the mainland on an as needed and seasonal basis) and has its own full-time and volunteer fire departments for incidents within the city limits, while the Los Angeles County Fire Department serves the rest of the island.[citation needed]
In the state legislature Avalon is located in the 27th Senate District, represented by Democrat Alan Lowenthal, and in the 54th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Bonnie Lowenthal. Federally, Avalon is located in California's 46th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R +6[8] and is represented by Republican Dana Rohrabacher.
The United States Postal Service Avalon Post Office is located at 118 Metropole Street.[9]
[edit] Education
Children in Avalon attend schools in the Long Beach Unified School District.
Avalon is served by the K–12 Avalon Schools, which is divided into elementary, junior high, and high schools, but with a single principal.[10] LBUSD also has a one-room school, Two Harbors Elementary School, at Two Harbors in unincorporated Los Angeles County.
[edit] 2007 fire
A fire broke out on May 10, 2007 in the hills north and west of Avalon.[11] At least three structures burned including one residence, and 4,750 acres (19.2 km2) of the Island were burned. Avalon City Councilman Scott Nelson said: "We've lost five or six small businesses in Falls Canyon and a construction company building in Birdpark Canyon."
Nelson said about 100 firefighters were battling the blaze and that another 200 new recruits, arriving by hovercraft and Marine helicopters, were bedding down at the airport to work the day shift in the morning. Catalina Express was also running extra boats through the night to take people off the island. 700 evacuees were reportedly at the Cesar E. Chavez center in Long Beach.
According to Associated Press, the blaze was started by contractors cutting steel wire with a torch for day-time only AM radio station, KBRT.[12]
On February 4, 2009, Gary Dennis Hunt, 51, of Indiana pleaded no contest in Long Beach Superior Court to a charge of recklessly starting a brush fire in relation to the wildfire. Hunt agreed to pay at least $5 million in restitution, but the full amount he will pay would be decided at a later hearing. Sentencing was set for May 28, 2009 where he was expected to be sentenced to three years imprisonment.[13]
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Catalina Island |
- Avalon's official website
- The Catalina Islander - Local newspaper
- LA County Disaster Communications Service ( DCS ) Avalon Sheriff Station
- Avalon travel guide from Wikitravel
[edit] References
- ^ "Incorporation Dates of California Cities". http://www.cacities.org/resource_files/20457.IncorpDateLO.doc. Retrieved on 2007-01-18.
- ^ "City of Avalon, CA - City Council". http://www.cityofavalon.com/content/2517/2520/default.aspx. Retrieved on 2007-01-17.
- ^ "Avalon city, California - Fact Sheet - American FactFinder". http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=&_geoContext=&_street=&_county=&_cityTown=Avalon&_state=04000US06&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010. Retrieved on 2007-01-17.
- ^ "USPS - ZIP Code Lookup - Find a ZIP+ 4 Code By City Results". http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/zcl_1_results.jsp?visited=1&pagenumber=0&state=ca&city=Avalon. Retrieved on 2007-01-17.
- ^ Catalina Island Museum
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Will Gerrymandered Districts Stem the Wave of Voter Unrest?". Campaign Legal Center Blog. http://www.clcblog.org/blog_item-85.html. Retrieved on 2008-02-10.
- ^ "Post Office Location - AVALON." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on December 9, 2008.
- ^ Avalon schools
- ^ Sahagun, L. and S. Quinones. 2007. Catalina fire lays siege to Avalon: Hundreds of residents and tourists are forced to flee the island. Los Angeles Times. 11 May.
- ^ http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070513/ap_on_re_us/wildfires_52
- ^ http://www.insidesocal.com/crime&courts/2009/02/plea-deal-reached-in-santa-cat.html
