Our rural past -- farming in Torrance

By Russ Parsons You would hardly know it today, when South Bay towns like Torrance and Gardena seem composed of little but suburbs and strip malls, but it wasn't so long ago that this broad, flat plain included some of the choicest agricultural land in California. Beginning in the 1880s (even before if you count the cattle-running ranchos) and continuing until as recently as the 1950s, there were thriving farms producing strawberries, beans, sugar beets and dairy cattle, among many others. Torrance author Judith Gerber beautifully captures this history in her new book "Farming in Torrance and the South Bay," part of the wildly popular "Images of America" series run by Arcadia Publishing. Read more >>>

Comments

[Steven]

Love your blog! I grew up in Manhattan Beach during the 40' and 50's and as a 7 year old, I had a paying job; feeding the neighbors pig for 25 cents a week. That was the same year that our second grade class took a field trip to the small commercial dairy in Manhattan Beach. I have a feeling that the city fathers have ordinances in place now that would prohibit dairies and hogs...

[Sam Flowers]

Arcadia Pub. has produced these books for many museums, authors and organizations. They are great, I have several on subjects that interest me and am always looking for others. A great service to historical interested people.