I currently live in Kansas and have a potential job offering in the Long Beach area. I have heard good and bad things about it, but I am wondering if it would be a good place to start and raise a family. Any and all responses would be greatly appriciated. Thanks!
2006-09-02 10:12:48 · 17 answers · asked by Elliot S 1 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Los Angeles
Parts of LB are really nice (on the waterfront, by CSU Long Beach). It has and continues to undergo a very positive re-development. Entire neighborhoods are being given new coats of paint. Still, much of it is "ghetto" and there's a lot of racial tension (usually non-lethal, sometimes otherwise unfortunately). LB also has a long history as a working-class industrial town due to the former military bases and Port of Los Angeles shipping jobs. So too much truck traffic and urban blight remains serious problems.
Comparatively, the crime rate isn't as bad as Compton, East L.A., or South Central L.A. Car theft is the most common crime in LB. There is violence, but it is not as prevalent as rumors suggest.
There might be some disturbances depending on where you live, and caution might be advisable if you walk around at night (probably a good idea to drive instead). But there's no need to be especially paranoid.
Housing is affordable by L.A. County standards. Lots of good restaurants that are reasonably priced. Other costs are pretty much the same as elsewhere in the region (gas is pretty bad).
As for raising a family, it really does depend on what you're looking for in a mate and your values. Reality is you'll meet everyone and everything in metropolitan L.A. -- from completely traditional lifestyles to absolutely alternative ones. For example, LB has a sizable gay and lesbian population, as well as a large population of Buddhists.
If you want a legal system that backs up traditional gender roles, however, you might do better in a different state. In order to accomodate this diversity, California's eternally Democratic legislature (50 years in power and counting) has enacted very liberal laws when it comes to sex, divorce, and abortion. LB, like big-brother Los Angeles itself, tends to back the Dems (and is rewarded with a considerable amount of pork annually).
At any rate, children tend to enjoy the LB area, what with theme parks like Disney/Knotts in nearby Orange County...as well as more educational venues like Aquarium of the Pacific. There's a lot of opportunity for sports and activity on the water.
I've tried to cover the basics here (good and bad) with honesty. I hope this has been helpful to you in coming to a decision.
2006-09-02 16:22:59 · answer #1 · answered by SFdude 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Living In Long Beach Ca
2016-10-07 05:42:00 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Living In Long Beach
2016-12-15 09:56:58 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Long Beach was nicer many years ago. It has changed with some really bad areas existing today. Unless you can afford a better place near Long Beach, like Lakewood ( City next to Long Beach) is a fine and has less crime. There are places like Cypress, Cerritos and if you love the beach and have money to pay good rent Seal Beach or further away Huntington Beach, also a place called Los Alamitos which is really nice. Believe me Long Beach is not Kansas and raising a family in Long Beach I think you would find it very very different.
2006-09-04 05:56:00 · answer #4 · answered by righton 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
Is Long Beach, CA a good place to live?
I currently live in Kansas and have a potential job offering in the Long Beach area. I have heard good and bad things about it, but I am wondering if it would be a good place to start and raise a family. Any and all responses would be greatly appriciated. Thanks!
2015-08-19 02:57:57 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Long Beach is a nice place to live. The cost of living in California in general is much higher than Kansas, but there are lots of things to do in Long Beach, especially for kids.
One downside is that Long Beach has the largest shipping port on the west coast. There are a lot of big trucks on the freeway and traffic in general is bad during rush hour.
Check out the long beach website. They have lots of resources for newcomers.
2006-09-02 13:51:32 · answer #6 · answered by mom_with_twins_in_milpitas 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The LBC? that's the city that Snoop Doggy Dog has in one of his raps.
it has all the makings of a big city in a small area.
there are some really nice areas, but more nasty crime ridden areas.
the beach there sucks...i got tar on my feet once while there. but you can go to nice beaches not too far away.
gangs contol some areas like pit bulls clamping down on a bone, but other areas are very peaceful.
the city as a whole is changing for the better becuase its getting too expensive for low lifes to live there. but they are still the majority at this point in time.
Huntington Beach is much better and close by. if your job is in LB you can commute from HB.
but my problem is this...Californa is getting too crowded. this is the best place in the USA to live and better than most of the world (Cancun is better).
2006-09-03 22:17:14 · answer #7 · answered by viajero_intergalactico 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
We have visited there a few times. The downtown area and beach area is very nice. The Queen Mary is neat to see. We have stayed on it two times. I'd live there if I could. Good Luck.
2006-09-02 15:23:23 · answer #8 · answered by Donna 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No not to raise a family.There are some pretty bad areas, its hit and miss if you dont know what your looking at.
You might consider going farther south and commute a little.
Huntington Beach , might be more affordable and more family oriented.
I would recomend renting when you first come out to see what you like.
2006-09-02 17:10:49 · answer #9 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
long beach is definitely a better place to settle than la with a family. not too crowded crime is isolated to specific areas not like in la random crimes. it's a good entrance in SoCal living. then you could branch out to other cities. i highly recommend it. the prices of housing is reasonable and the services are good.
2006-09-03 07:32:51 · answer #10 · answered by goldengirl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋