Huntington Beach occupies the central stretch of Orange County's Pacific coastline, between Seal Beach to the northwest and Newport Beach to the southeast, and lies about 35 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is one of Orange County's largest cities, with roughly 199,000 residents, and it has long marketed itself—and been recognized—as "Surf City USA." That identity is rooted in genuine history: in 1907, the city's developers brought Hawaiian surfer George Freeth, considered a pioneer of modern surfing, to demonstrate the sport off its beaches, and surfing has defined the community ever since. The city began as Pacific City and was renamed in 1903 for Henry E. Huntington, the railroad and real estate figure who shaped much of early Southern California. A dramatic oil boom in the 1920s transformed the quiet seaside town, and the industry left a lasting imprint—the local high school teams are even known as the Oilers. Oil production, aerospace manufacturing, and later a diversified economy carried the city through the 20th century, though today tourism, hospitality, and the broader Orange County economy dominate. Huntington Beach's defining assets are its wide, sandy beaches, the landmark pier that extends into the Pacific, and the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, a roughly 1,300-acre coastal wetland with miles of trails and nearly 200 bird species along the Pacific Flyway. Huntington Harbour, a network of waterfront channels and marinas, adds a boating-oriented residential dimension in the northwest part of the city. The city combines a surf-town, outdoor lifestyle with the conveniences of a large suburb. Its downtown dining and shopping district, craft breweries, and major surf competitions draw visitors, while its schools, parks, and freeway access make it a practical home base for families and commuters across the Los Angeles–Orange County region.