How Surf City USA Became the “Anti-California”
Riding a Wave of Litigation and Conspiracy-Mongering, Huntington Beach Defies the Golden State’s Laws—and Its Diverse Reality
Who says you can’t build anything in California? Huntington Beach is busy constructing a wall of denial around whatever is left of its soul.
The Orange County city has long been associated with the open and outlaw side of California. Named for a railroad robber baron (Henry Huntington), the city grew through oil speculation, aerospace, rapid post-war housing development, and a free-spirited surfing culture inspired by its beautiful beaches.
But in this century, Huntington Beach has achieved a different sort of prominence: As the anti-California, its independent vibe having curdled into …
