In 1866 the 7,500 acre Rancho Los Cerritos sold for $20,000 and was managed by a Mr. Jotham Bixby. Mr. Bixby was destinaed to be known as the "Father of Long Beach". Rancho Los Cerritos was later divided with 4,000 acres being sold. After a failed attempt by the purchaser ( Mr. William E. Willmore) to create a thriving farming community, he sold it to the "Long Beach Land and Water Company." They changed the name of the fledgling community to "Long Beach", which was incorporated as a city in 1888.

When Bixby died in 1916 the remaining 3,500 acres of Rancho Los Cerritos was subdivided into the neighborhoods of Bixby Knolls, California Heights, North Long Beach and part of the city of Signal Hill.

The town grew as a seaside resort and maintained one of the West coast's most famous beachside amusement parks until the 1960's. The Port of Long Beach is among the busiest and largest sea ports in the world and second busiest in the United States.

The R.M.S. Queen Mary which is said to be haunted, has been located in Long Beach since her retirement in 1967 and now serves as a tourist attraction and hotel.