Avalon, California

Infobox Settlement
official_name = City of Avalon
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seal_size = 92px
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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Avalon in California


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = California
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Los Angeles
subdivision_type3 =
subdivision_name3 =
subdivision_type4 =
subdivision_name4 =
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Bob Kennedy [cite web | url = http://www.cityofavalon.com/content/2517/2520/default.aspx | title = City of Avalon, CA - City Council | accessdate = 2007-01-17]
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established_title3 = Incorporated (city)
established_date3 = 1913-06-26 [cite web | url = http://www.cacities.org/resource_files/20457.IncorpDateLO.doc | title = Incorporation Dates of California Cities | accessdate = 2007-01-18]
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 8.15
area_total_sq_mi = 3.15
area_land_km2 = 7.28
area_land_sq_mi = 2.81
area_water_km2 = 0.87
area_water_sq_mi = 0.33
area_water_percent = 10.63
area_urban_km2 =
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area_metro_km2 =
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population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes = [cite web | url = 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 | title = Avalon city, California - Fact Sheet - American FactFinder | accessdate = 2007-01-17]
population_note =
settlement_type = City
population_total = 3,127
population_density_km2 = 429.5
population_density_sq_mi = 1112.4
population_metro =
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timezone = PST
utc_offset = -8
timezone_DST = PDT
utc_offset_DST = -7
latd = 33 |latm = 20 |lats = 27 |latNS = N
longd = 118 |longm = 19 |longs = 40 |longEW = W
elevation_m = 9
elevation_ft = 30
postal_code_type = ZIP Code
postal_code = 90704 [cite web | url = http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/zcl_1_results.jsp?visited=1&pagenumber=0&state=ca&city=Avalon | title = USPS - ZIP Code Lookup - Find a ZIP+ 4 Code By City Results | accessdate = 2007-01-17]
area_code = 310
website = [http://www.cityofavalon.com/ http://www.cityofavalon.com/]
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 06-03274
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1660283
footnotes =

Avalon, or Avalon Bay, is the only city on Santa Catalina Island. Besides Avalon, the only other center of population is the small unincorporated town of Two Harbors on the island. Its ZIP code is 90704 and it is in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2000 census, 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, however, beginning on August 26, 2006, many of the phone numbers were transferred to the newly created 424 area code.

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.

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.

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. [ [http://www.catalinamuseum.org/history.html Catalina Island Museum] ]

Geography

Avalon is located at coor dms|33|20|27|N|118|19|40|W|city (33.340941, -118.327821)GR|1. 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 (3.2 mi²). 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.

Transportation

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): coor dms|33|24|17|N|118|24|59|W, convert|7|mi|km northwest of Avalon. Fixed-wing flights other than emergency landings require prior arrangements. Several helicopter companies serve the city.

Intracity

The main method of transportation in Avalon is by small gasoline-powered motorcars similar to golf carts. For purposes of vehicle registration, Catalina Island is divided into two parts: Avalon and everywhere else. It is very difficult to get a permit to have a full sized vehicle in Avalon. The city has its own strict permit program with which local vehicle owners must comply, in addition with the usual requirements imposed by the statewide Department of Motor Vehicles.

Visitors can walk, rent a bicycle, rent a cart, ride a shuttle bus, or hire one of several private taxis.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 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.

Politics

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 Betty Karnette. Federally, Avalon is located in California's 46th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R +6 [cite web | title = Will Gerrymandered Districts Stem the Wave of Voter Unrest? | publisher = Campaign Legal Center Blog | url=http://www.clcblog.org/blog_item-85.html | accessdate = 2008-02-10] and is represented by Republican Dana Rohrabacher.

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 [http://www.lbusd.k12.ca.us/avalon/avalon.htm] . LBUSD also has a one-room school, Two Harbors Elementary School, at Two Harbors in unincorporated Los Angeles County.

Public Safety

Avalon is served by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department(a few deputies are stationed on the island), and has its own volunteer fire department for incidents within the city limits, while the Los Angeles County Fire Department serves the rest of the island.

2007 fire

A fire broke out on May 10 2007 in the hills north and west of Avalon.Sahagun, L. and S. Quinones. 2007. [http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-me-catalina11may11,1,682119.story?coll=la-headlines-frontpage Catalina fire lays siege to Avalon: Hundreds of residents and tourists are forced to flee the island] . "Los Angeles Times." 11 May.] At least three structures burned, and convert|4750|acre|km2|1 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. (See http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070513/ap_on_re_us/wildfires_52)

ee also

*Avalon Theater (Catalina)

External links

* [http://www.smalltownpapers.com/listCAT.htm The Catalina Islander - Local newspaper]
* [http://www.cityofavalon.com Official City of Avalon Website]
* [http://www.lacdcs.com/station-end-page-18.html LA County Disaster Communications Service ( DCS ) Avalon Sheriff Station]
*

References