Description
This collection contains the records of
the Alamitos Land Company of Southern California (in operation from the mid 1880s-2008),
which operated first as a land sale company and later as a property management company,
chiefly for properties in Long Beach and Signal Hill, California. Includes financial
records, legal and land documents, annual reports, correspondence, minutes, project files,
specifications and technical reports, and maps.
Background
Founded by members of the Bixby and Flint families and their business partner, I. W.
Hellman, in 1888, the Alamitos Land Company was first organized as a land sale company
during the real estate boom of Southern California in mid 1880s. The company was engaged in
the subdivision of lands and offering them for sale as town lots, commercial properties, and
farm lands. A large portion of the lands was eventually bought or annexed and is presently
located in the City of Long Beach and the City of Signal Hill. When oil was discovered in
1921 under some of the company's properties, the Alamitos Land Company transformed itself
into a land management company by leasing 240 acres of Signal Hill land to Shell Oil Company
for drilling. As a result, the company added more revenue channels by collecting royalties
from oil drilling and granting oil pipe easements. Subsequently, the company expanded its
business operations into management of agricultural lands and commercial and industrial
buildings. As the amount of oil started to dwindle in the early 1970s, the company turned
some of its former oil drilling sites into a number of residential, commercial, and
industrial projects. The company ceased operation on December 31, 2008.
Extent
300 Linear Feet
(92 boxes, 86 oversize folders, 1 oversize box, 9
volumes)
Restrictions
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from
or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The
responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining
necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
Availability
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at
the Huntington Library for more information.