Belmont Heights, Long Beach, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Belmont Heights, California
Neighborhood of Long Beach
The Belmont Heights neighborhood of Long Beach, California, looking north.
Country	United States
State	California
County	Los Angeles
City	Long Beach

Belmont Heights is a cool neighborhood in the southeastern part of Long Beach, California. It's right next to the Pacific Ocean! This area is mostly where people live. But it also has a busy shopping and dining street called Broadway.

Belmont Heights shares its borders with other neighborhoods. These include Bluff Park, Bluff Heights, Recreation Park, Belmont Park, and Belmont Shore. Its boundaries are Ocean Boulevard and Livingston Drive to the south. Redondo Avenue is on the west, 7th Street to the north, and Nieto Avenue to the east.

This neighborhood used to be its own city! It was called the City of Belmont Heights. It became a city in 1908. But just one year later, in 1909, it joined Long Beach.

History of Belmont Heights

The Belmont Heights Historic District is a special part of the neighborhood. It includes homes built between 7th Street and 4th Street. Also, between Newport Avenue and Roswell Avenue. Some homes on 4th and 7th streets are also included.

This area was first divided into lots and built up in the early 1900s. The oldest homes you can see today were built in 1905. Many homes here are in the Craftsman bungalow style. These houses are known for their natural materials and handcrafted look.

Out of 304 homes checked, 206 are "contributing" Craftsman bungalows. This means they are good examples of the style. About 125 of these are still in their original condition. Other old styles you might see are Victorian, Mediterranean, and Spanish Colonial Revival. There are also Tudor Revival and Neo-Traditional homes.

The most important time for building these homes was from 1905 to 1939. Building was busiest in 1922. Most of the homes are for one family. Some are duplexes (for two families), and a few are apartment buildings. The district reminds everyone of the old City of Belmont Heights.

Fun Facts About Belmont Heights

• A City for a Year: Belmont Heights was its own city for just one year. It joined Long Beach in 1909. Back then, Long Beach was a "dry town." This meant you couldn't buy alcohol there. So, people who wanted a drink would go to Belmont Heights. They could find taverns there.
• Green Festival Idea: The idea for the Green Long Beach Festival started in Belmont Heights. Several activists met at the Viento y Agua Coffee Shop. They shared ideas there and created the festival.
• Loud Parrots: Belmont Heights is famous for its many feral parrots. You can see and hear these birds near Ocean Boulevard. They live in the palm trees between Redondo Avenue and Livingston Drive. Some people think they are noisy. But most residents have learned to love them as part of the community.

Famous People from Belmont Heights

• Andy Roeser: He used to be the President of the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team. He moved to Belmont Heights because he loved the ocean, restaurants, and shops. He enjoys kite-boarding near Claremont and Ocean.
• Marlin McKeever: He was a great football player. He played for the Los Angeles Rams for 13 years. He was also a two-time All-American at USC. He passed away in 2006.
• Obie Scott Wade: He is an author and screenwriter. His company, ObieCo Entertainment, Inc., is in a special building. It's the Elizabethan Studio, designed by Joseph H. Roberts.

Cool Places to See

• Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier: This is a well-known pier where people can walk, fish, and enjoy the ocean views.
• Eliot Lane: In 2003, people living on Eliot Lane wanted to protect their street's look. They wanted it to be a historic area. Linda Becker Babiak started this effort. Her family owned a "Spanish eclectic" home there since 1925. The homes on Eliot Lane are small, about 600 to 900 square feet. They were all built in 1923 by Boland & Smith. Many are Spanish Revival or Craftsman Bungalow styles. The street was once called "Eliot Court" because it felt like a small, friendly court.
• Brown's Court Apartments: These apartments are at 3615-3623 E. Colorado Street. They were built in 1923 as a Spanish Bungalow Court. They won an award in 2015 for historic preservation.
• Long Beach Green Belt path: This is a nice path where people can walk or bike. It's a green space in the city.

Schools in the Area

The schools listed below are part of the Long Beach Unified School District.

• Elementary Schools
  • John C. Fremont Elementary School, 4000 East 4th Street
  • Lowell Elementary School, 5201 East Broadway
  • Horace Mann Elementary School, 257 Coronado Avenue
• Middle Schools
  • Jefferson Leadership Academies, 750 Euclid Avenue
  • Will Rogers Middle School, 365 Monrovia Avenue
• High School
  • Woodrow Wilson Classical High School, 4400 E. 10th Street

See also

In Spanish: Belmont Heights para niños