History of Huntington Beach 

The birth of Huntington Beach occurred more than 100 years ago. Originally a 30,000-acre Spanish land grant, in 1904, the town was named Huntington Beach in honor of oil tycoon Henry E. Huntington, who sponsored the extension of the Pacific Electric Railway to the seaside village. Huntington Beach remained a quiet seaside town until the famous oil boom in the 1920s. 

While vacationing in Hawaii in 1907, Huntington witnessed native Hawaiian George Freeth, now known as the Father of Modern Surfing, surfing and commissioned him to ride Huntington Beach. Freeth gave the first surfing demonstration in town, appropriately on the same day the new concrete pier opened in 1914. 

The Huntington Beach Pier was first built in 1904, rebuilt in 1914, 1940, 1988 and finally extended to its currently length in 1992, and itremains the focal point of the city's Main Street pocket. 

During the 1960s, Huntington Beach earned the nickname "Surf City" when the popular duo Jan and Dean released their hit song of the same name. Today, Huntington Beach earns its name Surf City USA®, which became official in the 1991. 

Discover more of Huntington Beach's rich history below.