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Real Estate Appraisers and Appraisals In
Orange County, City of Seal Beach
Seal Beach is located
in the westernmost corner of Orange County. This was the first major planned
retirement community of its type in the U.S. The small gated community of
Surfside Colony southwest of the Weapons Station is also part of Seal Beach.
The United States Navy's Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach was originally
developed during World War II for loading, unloading, and storing of ammunition
for the Pacific Fleet, and especially those US Navy warships home-ported in
Long Beach. With closure of the Long Beach Naval Shipyard, the Weapons Station
has become more involved in the research and development of missiles, torpedoes
and conventional ammunition. Although the US Navy declines to comment on the
issue, the common rumor is that nuclear weapons have been among the munitions
stored in the bunkers on the base. The Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge is
located on part of the Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach. Much of the refuge's
911 acres is the remnant of the saltwater marsh in the Anaheim Bay estuary (the
rest of the marsh became the bayside community of Huntington Harbour, which is
part of Huntington Beach). Three endangered species, the light-footed Clapper
Rail, the California Least Tern, and the Belding's Savannah Sparrow, can be
found nesting in the refuge. With the loss and degradation of coastal wetlands
in California, the remaining habitat, including the Bolsa Chica Lagoon in
Huntington Beach and Upper Newport Bay in Newport Beach, has become much more
important for migrating and wintering shorebirds, waterfowl, and seabirds.
Although the refuge is a great place for birdwatching, because it is part of
the weapons station, access is limited and usually restricted to once-a-month
tours.The second-longest pier in California is located in Seal Beach and is
used for fishing and sightseeing. There is also a restaurant (Ruby's) at the
end of the pier. The pier has periodically suffered severe damage due to storms
and other mishaps, requiring extensive reconstruction. A plaque at the pier's
entrance memorializes Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works, 1938,
Project No. Calif. 1723-F, a rebuilding necessitated by storms in 1935. Another
plaque honors the individuals, businesses, and groups who helped rebuild the
pier after a storm on March 2, 1983, tore away several sections. Most prominent
was a "Save the Pier" group formed in response to an initial vote by
the City Council not to repair the pier. The ensuing outcry of dismay among
residents caused the City Council to reverse its stance while claiming the city
lacked the necessary funds. Residents mobilized and eventually raised $2.3
million from private and public donors to rebuild the pier. Surfing locations
in Seal Beach include the Seal Beach pier and "Stingray Bay," or Ray
Bay because the heated water from several upstream powerplants attracts
stingrays. Classic longboards builders in the area include Harbour Surfboards
in Seal Beach and Bruce Jones Surfboards in Sunset Beach. The classic surf
trunks of Kanvas by Katin in nearby Sunset Beach are world famous.The major
employer in Seal Beach is the Boeing Company, employing roughly 2,000 people.
Their facility was originally built to manufacturer the second stage of the
Saturn V rocket for NASA's Apollo manned space flight missions to the Moon and for
the Skylab program. Boeing Homeland Security & Services (airport security,
etc.) is based in Seal Beach and Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems
(satellite systems and classified programs) is headquartered in Seal Beach.
Boeing is the world's largest satellite manufacturer. |
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