Laguna Beach, California

Known as Lagonas, Canada de las Lagunas (Canyon of the Lakes) and, eventually, Laguna Beach, fresh water lagoons decorate this small community at the southern end of Orange County, California.

Not known for any particular industry, Laguna Beach is renowned for having one of California's largest artist colonies and for its popular beaches.

Laguna's reputation for attracting artists was established at the turn of the first century by watercolorist Norman St. Clair, who travelled to the area to paint local landscapes. Familiar with the area as a vacation destination, St. Clair was interested in depicting the its sprawling beaches, rolling hills and rugged canyons. When he returned to San Francisco with a collection of work from the area, friends were so impressed by his images that they immediately visited the region themselves.

With a permanent population of only 23,727, the impact of this movement can be seen in the more than 75 galleries present in today's Laguna Beach. In a similar vain, annual events including the Festival of Arts, Sawdust Art Festival, Art-A-Fair and the Pageant of the Masters celebrate the region's artistic history. Artist-designed benches decorate the city streets.

Over the years, the creative culture of Laguna Beach has also attracted the likes of many notable personalities to the area, including Bette Davis, Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin, John Steinbeck, Timothy Leary and Tennessee Williams. The area's artistic outlook has also manifested itself in a number of progressive local environmental issues, including the habitat preservation of Laguna Greenbelt, the James Dilley Preserve, and the Crystal Cove State Park.

Occupying only 9.1 square miles (23 square kilometers), Laguna Beach runs along seven miles (11 kilometers) of coastline and is approximately 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Los Angeles. As a prime beach destination, approximately three million tourists flock to the area each year. Historically, Laguna's beaches have been dotted with row upon row of bathing tents. Today, while most visitors stay at local resorts, the beaches of Laguna are still a popular attraction. In the winter months, tourists and residents alike watch the migration of gray whales along local shores.

With the Pacific Ocean on one side and steep cliffs on the other, the climate in Laguna Beach is both moderate and isolated in comparison to other nearby communities. The average annual rainfall for the city is 12.89 inches, with summer temperatures ranging 69 to 77F (20 to 25C) and winter temperatures 43 to 66F (6 to 19C).

While a local sign in downtown Laguna reads "This gate hangs well and hinders none, refresh and rest, then travel on", everyone is welcome to permanently reside in this beautiful seaside community.

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