More about Manhattan Beach California

12. Manhattan Beach: Manhattan Beach is home to an estimated 33,852 residents and according to the latest Fortune Magazine ranking it is the most expensive coastal town to live in in America. The city’s origins can be traced back to 1863 when Scottish immigrant, Sir Robert Burnett, purchased two land grants, Rancho Sausal Redondo and Rancho Aguaje de a Centinela. In 1973, Burnett leased the land to Canadian, Daniel Freeman who moved to the area with his wife an children and began growing crops. Freeman officially bought the ranch from Burnett in 1885 for $140,000. Developer George Beck also owned a large portion of the land in the north section of the city and in 1902, the suburb which would eventually become the city was named “Manhattan” after Beck;s home town. Each year the city hosts the Beach volleyball tournament known as The Manhattan Beach Open. The tournament has been referred to as the Wimbledon of Beach Volleyball. The tournament began in 1906 and winners are awarded a bronze plaque of the city’s pier “Beach Volleyball Walk of Fame.” The city is home to the Strand path and bikeway; it runs along the beach and is popular for roller blading, biking, skateboarding and jogging. there are several volleyball nets set up along the beaches, and many people come to swim, body board and surf. Along with the pleasant beaches and activities, Manhattan Beach is visited for its nice Mediterranean climate. The city enjoys an average of 263 sunny days a year and only about 35 days with a measurable amount of precipitation. The city is also served by more than one newspaper. The have one daily newspaper called the Daily Breeze, and three weekly papers, the Beach Reporter, the Easy Reader and the Manhattan Beach Sun.