History of El Segundo, California in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: October 3, 2025

El Segundo, California, is a city in Los Angeles County situated on Santa Monica Bay. Incorporated in 1917, it had a population of 17,272 in 2020. The city is a major hub for the oil and aerospace industries in Southern California, with a significant portion of its land allocated to industrial and commercial purposes, including a large Chevron oil refinery that occupies over a quarter of the city's total area.

1905: Inglewood Union High School District Opens

In 1905, the Inglewood Union High School District, now known as the CVUHSD, opened, including the Wiseburn district in its territory.

1910: Redondo Township Census

In 1910, the Redondo Township had a population of 5,016.

1911: Standard Oil Purchases Land

In 1911, Standard Oil of California purchased 840 acres of land, leading to El Segundo's naming (Spanish for "the second") as it became the second Standard Oil refinery on the West Coast.

1911: Chevron Refinery Construction

In 1911, the name El Segundo was adopted when Chevron built its second refinery, El Segundo, which is Spanish for "the Second".

1911: El Segundo Herald Established

The El Segundo Herald, the community newspaper for El Segundo, was established in 1911, six years before the city was incorporated.

1912: El Segundo School District Opens

In 1912, the El Segundo School District opened, taking territory from the Wiseburn School District.

January 18, 1917: El Segundo Incorporation

On January 18, 1917, El Segundo was incorporated as a city in Los Angeles County, California.

1917: City Incorporation

In 1917, the city of El Segundo was officially incorporated.

1920: First Census Appearance

El Segundo first appeared as a city in the 1920 U.S. Census as part of the now defunct Redondo Township.

November 22, 1925: El Segundo High School District Formed

On November 22, 1925, the El Segundo High School District was formed, leading to El Segundo's withdrawal from the Inglewood Union district.

1928: Flying Field Lease

In 1928, William Mines leased land for a flying field in El Segundo.

1930: Los Angeles Municipal Airport Opens

In 1930, Los Angeles Municipal Airport, later Los Angeles International Airport, opened north of El Segundo.

1946: Boeing Factory Built by Nash Motors

In 1946, the current Boeing factory, the Boeing Satellite Development Center, was originally built by Nash Motors.

1948: Boeing Factory Opens

In 1948, the Boeing factory, built by Nash Motors, opened.

1955: Hughes Aircraft Buys Building

In 1955, Hughes Aircraft Company purchased a 500,000-square-foot building to build missiles and serve as a test facility.

1979: United Airlines Reservation Center

In 1979, construction was scheduled to begin on the United Airlines Reservation Center, a two-story, $4.5 million facility in the International Center of El Segundo.

1982: Raiders Headquarters in El Segundo

From 1982, the headquarters of the Los Angeles Raiders of the National Football League was located in El Segundo.

1984: Standard Oil Renamed Chevron

In 1984, the Standard Oil Company was renamed Chevron.

1990: Cathay Pacific Move to Los Angeles

In 1990, Cathay Pacific moved its North America headquarters to Greater Los Angeles.

1996: Raiders Headquarters Move

Until 1996, the headquarters of the Los Angeles Raiders of the National Football League was located in El Segundo.

2003: Japan Airlines Moves HQ

Around 2003, Japan Airlines moved its United States headquarters from New York City to El Segundo.

2005: Cathay Pacific Leaves El Segundo

In 2005, Cathay Pacific headquarters, situated in El Segundo, moved.

2009: Artists Discover Smoky Hollow

In 2009, a pair of local artists discovered the Smoky Hollow area, initiating a migration of artists and subsequent discovery by the Tech Industry.

March 26, 2010: Air China Opens North American Headquarters

On Friday, March 26, 2010, Air China opened its North American headquarters in El Segundo, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and festivities.

2010: Median Household Income

According to the 2010 United States census, El Segundo had a median household income of $84,341, with 4.8% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2010: 2010 Census

In 2010, the United States Census recorded El Segundo's population at 16,654.

2010: 2010 United States Census

The 2010 United States census reported that El Segundo had a population of 16,654.

2011: Centennial Anniversary

In 2011, the El Segundo Herald had its centennial anniversary of service to the community.

2011: El Segundo Refinery's Second Century

In 2011, the El Segundo refinery began its second century of operation.

2011: Last California Team to Win

The 2023 win for El Segundo was the first championship for a team from California since 2011.

2012: Neogov Founded

In 2012, human resources software company Neogov was founded in El Segundo.

2013: New Power Plant

In 2013, NRG was expected to bring a new combined cycle power island online, providing power for 240,000 households, and use two generators: a Siemens gas turbine and an additional steam turbine.

2014: Air Quality Study Findings

In 2014, an air quality study found harmful ultrafine particles from takeoffs and landings at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), located to the north of El Segundo, to be of a much greater magnitude than previously thought.

2015: Infineon Acquires International Rectifier

In 2015, Infineon Technologies acquired El Segundo-based company International Rectifier.

May 2018: The El Segundo Scene Begins Printing

In May 2018, a monthly arts and culture publication, The El Segundo Scene, began printing. It is created and run by two El Segundo residents.

2018: Los Angeles Times Moves Newsroom

In 2018, The Los Angeles Times moved its newsroom from downtown Los Angeles to a 4.5-acre campus in El Segundo.

2018: Los Angeles Times Headquartered in El Segundo

Since 2018, The Los Angeles Times has been headquartered in El Segundo.

2020: City's Financial Report

According to the city's 2020–21 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are listed.

2020: 2020 Census

In 2020, the United States Census recorded El Segundo's population at 17,272, which was a 3.7% increase from 2010.

2020: 2020 United States Census

The 2020 United States census reported that El Segundo had a population of 17,272.

2023: El Segundo Little League Wins World Series

In 2023, El Segundo Little League won the world championship of the Little League World Series, defeating Willemstad, Curaçao. Louis Lappe hit a walk-off home run to win the game, 6–5.

2023: Income and Poverty Statistics

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated the median household income in El Segundo was $149,149, the per capita income was $80,399, and about 2.8% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line.