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Alamitos Land Company Papers
mssAlamitosLandCompanypapers  
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Collection Overview
 
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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.