Huntington Beach is a seaside city in Orange County, California. The area was used as a Spanish cattle route for the main industry of nearby Rancho Los Nietos, and, after the United States' conquest of California, the area became known as "Pacific City" and developed into a tourist destination. Railroad magnate Henry E. Huntington sponsored the city, which later renamed itself to "Huntington Beach" in his honor. In 1904, the original Huntington Beach Pier was built, and Huntington Beach was incorporated on 17 February 1909. It was primarily agricultural in its early years, but the discovery of oil led to a boom in the area's development. It became known for its 9.5-mile stretch of sandy beach, its beach culture, and its excellent surfing opportunities, and it was nicknamed "Surf City" as a result. In 2018, Huntington Beach had a population of 200,641 people.
