If you’re driving down the Pacific Coast Highway and suddenly smell a mix of salty ocean air and industrial grit, you’ve probably hit El Segundo. It’s a weird, charming little pocket of Southern California. People always ask: what county is el segundo ca in, usually while they're stuck in traffic near LAX or trying to figure out why their GPS says they're in Los Angeles but the street signs feel like a 1950s sitcom.
El Segundo is in Los Angeles County.
Specifically, it’s tucked into the South Bay region. It sits right between Manhattan Beach to the south and the massive sprawl of Los Angeles International Airport to the north. It’s a small town. Like, really small for LA standards. Only about 17,000 people live here, yet it houses some of the biggest corporations on the planet.
Why Everyone Forgets the County
Honestly, it’s easy to get confused because El Segundo is basically an island surrounded by "The City." You have the airport on one side, the Chevron refinery on the other, and the ocean at its back. Because it’s so close to LAX, many travelers just assume it’s a neighborhood of the city of Los Angeles.
It isn't.
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El Segundo is its own incorporated city with its own police force, fire department, and—most importantly for the locals—its own school district. While it is firmly part of Los Angeles County, it operates with a fiercely independent "Mayberry by the Sea" vibe that makes it feel worlds away from the chaos of downtown LA.
The Story Behind the Name
The name "El Segundo" literally means "The Second" in Spanish. You’d think there’d be some deep, poetic meaning behind it, but it’s actually pretty corporate. Back in 1911, Standard Oil (which you now know as Chevron) built its second big refinery on the West Coast right here. The first was up north in Richmond.
Richard Hanna, an executive at the company, had a wife who reportedly suggested the name. She just looked at the massive industrial site and said, "This is the second one." And so, El Segundo was born.
The city was officially incorporated on January 18, 1917. Since then, it has transformed from a "tent city" for refinery workers into the "Aerospace Capital of the World." If you look at the tail of a plane or a satellite in the sky, there is a very high chance part of it was designed or built right here in Los Angeles County.
A City of Contrasts
You’ve got to see this place to understand how strange the geography is. On one street, you have Main Street, which looks like a movie set. It has cute cafes like Blue Butterfly Coffee and old-school spots like the Old Town Music Hall. Then, you drive two minutes east and you’re staring at the massive, high-tech headquarters of Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, or Mattel.
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- Business Powerhouse: El Segundo has more Fortune 500 companies per capita than almost anywhere else.
- Sports Hub: The Los Angeles Lakers and the LA Kings practice here. The Los Angeles Chargers just built a massive new headquarters here, too.
- The Beach: El Segundo Beach is surprisingly quiet compared to its neighbors. It’s mostly known for the giant "bubble" of the Hyperion water treatment plant and the Scattergood Power Plant. It’s not the most scenic "natural" beach, but the bike path is world-class.
Living in Los Angeles County’s Best Kept Secret
If you’re looking at what county is el segundo ca in because you’re thinking of moving here, be prepared for the price tag. The median home value is north of $1.5 million. It’s expensive.
Most residents are "white-collar" workers. We’re talking engineers, aerospace scientists, and tech professionals. According to recent census data, over 62% of adults in the city have a Bachelor’s degree or higher. It’s a brainy town.
But despite the high-income stats, people still walk around in flip-flops. It’s a beach town at heart. You’ll see people grabbing a beer at El Segundo Brewing Company or taking their kids to Hilltop Park to watch the planes take off from LAX. It’s a very specific lifestyle that you won't find in the rest of Los Angeles County.
How to Get Around
Since it’s in LA County, you’re connected to the massive grid.
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- The 105 Freeway: This starts (or ends) right at the north border of the city.
- Pacific Coast Highway (PCH): This is the main artery running north-south through the commercial district.
- The Metro C Line (Green): There are several stations in El Segundo that can get you toward Norwalk or connect you to the rest of the rail system.
Actionable Takeaways for Visitors
If you're visiting El Segundo for the first time, don't just stay in your hotel near the airport.
- Check out the Zimmerman Automobile Driving Museum. They have an incredible collection of vintage cars, and sometimes they actually take you for a ride in them on Sundays.
- Eat at Jame. It’s an upscale Italian spot on Main Street that people drive from all over the county to visit.
- Watch the sunset at Clutter’s Park. It’s a small strip of grass on a hill overlooking the LAX runways. It’s arguably the best spot in the world for plane spotting.
El Segundo is a unique piece of the California puzzle. It’s industrial, it’s coastal, and it’s undeniably part of the grit and glamour that makes Los Angeles County so fascinating. Whether you're there for a business meeting at Boeing or a surf session at the jetty, just remember: you're in the "Second" city, but for many who live there, it’s second to none.
To make the most of your trip, download the LA Metro app for easy transit navigation and check the local city calendar at elsegundo.org for Main Street events like the weekly Farmer's Market held every Thursday.