The city is a maritime center of the United States. The Port of Long Beach is the United States’ second busiest container port and one of the world’s largest shipping ports. The city also maintains a large oil industry with wells located both underground and offshore. Manufacturing sectors include those in aircraft, car parts, electronic and audiovisual equipment, and home furnishings. Downtown Long Beach is located approximately 22 miles (35 km) south of Downtown Los Angeles, though the two cities border each other for several miles on Long Beach’s southwestern portion. Long Beach borders Orange County on its southeast edge.
In 2008, the Long Beach, California, City Council approved a locally originated movement to designate the city as the “Aquatic Capital of America.” According to the non-profit Aquatic Capital of America Foundation, Long Beach has a temperate year-round climate, ideal off-shore sailing waters, protected Marine Stadium competition zone, and a diverse population filled with active athletes and beachgoers. Long Beach has produced an incredible list of Olympians, world champions, and world record holders in aquatics ranging from diving, swimming and water polo indoors, to rowing and sailing outdoors. Long Beach is also the home of one of the world’s greatest female athletes, beach volleyball’s Misty May-Treanor, a three-time Olympic gold medalist.
In addition, The Port of Long Beach, is one of America’s premier seaports and a trailblazer in goods movement and environmental stewardship. Trade valued annually at more than $140 billion moves through Long Beach, making it the second-busiest seaport in the United States. A major economic force, the Port supports more than 30,000 jobs in Long Beach, 316,000 jobs throughout Southern California and 1.4 million jobs throughout the United States. It generates about $16 billion in annual trade-related wages statewide.
