Huntington Beach, one of the fastest growing cites in the nation during the 1960s, has slowed down quite a bit since it was transformed from a rough and tumble oil town into the third largest city in Orange County.

The community was founded in 1901 as Pacific City on the site of a former Spanish land-grant ranch. In 1904, the townspeople changed the name to honor Pasadena developer Henry Huntington, who made the small city a stop on his Pacific Electric "Red Car" Railway line.

The city's first boom occurred after Standard Oil Co. began drilling for oil in 1920, and a forest of derricks lining the beaches led to the nickname "Oil City."

Huntington Beach probably is best known for its nine miles of sandy beaches stretching along the Pacific Coast Highway. An annual surfing contest, the OP Pro, attracts some of the top surfers from around the world.

New homes, parks and shopping centers are in the works for the near future.

Police, fire, ambulance/paramedics: Dial 911

Police Department:
phone 714-960-8843
Fire Department:
phone 714-536-5411

Anaheim General Hospital
Phone: 714-827-6700
3350 West Ball Rd. Anaheim, 92804
Anaheim Memorial Hospital
714-774-1450
1111 W. La Palma Avenue, Anaheim, 92801 z
Western Medical - Anaheim
1025 South Anaheim Boulevard Anaheim, 92805
714-533-6220

Huntington Beach Park Information
Number of parks in city: 37
Park information: phone 714-960-8847

Branch libraries:
Branch libraries:

Huntington Beach Public Library
Central Library 7111 Talbert Ave. 842-4481
Banning Branch 9281 Banning Ave. 375-5005
Helen Murphy Branch 15882 Graham St. 375-5006
Main Street Branch 525 Main St. 375-5071
Oak View Branch 17251 Oak Lane 375-5068
Special collections: Orange County Geneology collection, business, legal reference, sight-saver large print.
Number of branch libraires: 5

Post Office locations:
316 Olive Ave.
9151 Atlanta Ave.
6771 Warner Ave.

Cable TV:
Time Warner Communications, phone 714-898-3800
Gas:
The Gas Co., phone 800-427-2200
Electricity:
Southern California Edison, phone 800-655-4555
Telephone service:
Verizon, phone 800-483-4000
Trash collection:
Rainbow Disposal, phone 714-847-5818
Water:
City of Huntington Beach, phone 714-536-5919