From Phineas Banning’s estate to modern-day urban life in Wilmington
A community with roots that stretch back hundreds of years, Wilmington today is a well-known Los Angeles neighborhood offering established housing and urban convenience on the border with Long Beach. Wilmington’s modern history began with a 75,000-acre land grant by the Spanish government in 1784. The community grew steadily into the 19th century and developed into a charming small town thanks to the influx of traffic from business at the nearby harbor. Businessman Phineas Banning purchased the land in 1858, naming it for his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware. Banning built a home in Wilmington that was the center of social activity for the growing community. That estate still stands today as a national historical landmark and local museum. In 1932, an oil field was discovered nearby. Along with the Port of Long Beach, the Wilmington Oil Field is a source of employment for many who live in the area. It has, however, become a cause of environmental concern and the focal point of investigations into the health issues of nearby residents.
Wilmington housing includes cozy stucco homes and larger builds
Much of the neighborhood’s housing consists of established homes built during a California construction boom from the 1930s into the 1950s. Spanish-style architecture is common among the cozy traditional homes that line the neighborhood streets. Along with the iconic stucco facades and terra cotta roofs of the Spanish style, the peak-heavy designs of the Tudor style add to Wilmington’s architectural diversity. Contemporary homes include larger multi-level dwellings, often designed with the Spanish motif. Home prices typically range from the low $500,000s to the low $800,000s.
LAPD and EMS magnet programs and a highly rated elementary school
Wilmington is home to several public schools, allowing students to attend kindergarten through 12th grade without leaving the neighborhood. Wilmington Park is the highest rated of its six elementary schools. Older students can attend Wilmington Middle School and Phineas Banning Senior High School, whose magnet programs include an LAPD Junior Police Academy and Firefighter/Emergency Medical Services classes.
Wilmington parks host events, fitness classes and farmers markets
While the waterfront surrounding the neighborhood is a hub of commercial activity, the area also provides great views of the ships coming and going. Long Beach Harbor is a major stop for Pacific cruise lines, and it is home to the Queen Mary, the British cruise liner that has become an iconic Southern California attraction since it retired from transatlantic travel in 1967. Wilmington Waterfront Park is the neighborhood’s largest recreational venue. The industrial-area riverwalk features a distinctive bridge and includes play areas and community event space. Construction of the Wilmington Waterfront Promenade project was due to be completed in late 2023. In addition to the promenade, the 9 acres of development will include a public dock and pier, play areas, walking and bike paths, parking, a reconfigured Water Street and reconstruction of the seawall.
Adjacent to the park is the Wilmington Recreation Center, which hosts classes, camps and community events and provides an array of facilities tailored to fitness and sports. Wilmington Town Square Park is an urban gathering place in the heart of the neighborhood’s historic district near the Banning and Drum Barracks museums. Central to the square is an open plaza that accommodates rotating community programming such as a weekly farmers’ market, dance and yoga classes, holiday events and summer movie nights. The design of the square, which was arrived at through a series of bilingual workshops, is intended to reflect and celebrate the community’s roots. Other points of interest include East Wilmington Greenbelt Park, which includes fitness and play areas and features an outdoor futsal court, and Heart of the Harbor Community Farm, a 55,000-square-foot space that seeks to empower residents through gardening and volunteerism.
Maya and other popular eateries offer Latin American cuisine
Retail options are spread throughout the neighborhood. Northgate Market anchors the Wilmington Plaza Shopping Center along the Pacific Coast Highway corridor, while Food 4 Less is a convenient option along the equally buzzy Anaheim Street corridor, and several independent grocers specializing in Latin fare also can be found. Dining options are even more prevalent and diverse. Among the local favorites is Maya, a highly rated Mexican eatery known for its breakfast dishes.
PCH links residents to Long Beach, Torrance and the waterfront
The Pacific Coast Highway connects to State Road 47, which bisects the community and provides direct travel to and from jobs in the oilfield and along the waterfront. Public transportation is readily available, as convenient bus stops dot the neighborhood. The PCH also connects to Interstate 110 on the neighborhood’s west side, providing easy access to work commutes in nearby communities such as Torrance. On the east side, the PCH intersects with Interstate 710, which residents can use to access the waterfront and attractions in downtown Long Beach.
![Michael Rutt]()
Photography Contributed By
Michael Rutt
