Long Beach is a city situated in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 39th-largest city in the nation and the sixth-largest in California. As of January 1, 2009, its estimated population was 492,682. In addition, Long Beach is the second largest city within the Los Angeles metropolitan area and a principal city of the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside combined statistical area.

The city is a dominant maritime center of the United States and was recently named "Aquatic Capital of the Nation." It wields substantial influence critical to the global economy. The Port of Long Beach is the United States' second busiest container port and one of the world's largest shipping ports. The city also has a large oil industry with oil being found both underground and offshore. Manufacturers include aircraft, car parts, electronic and audiovisual equipment, and home furnishings. It is also home to headquarters for corporations including Epson America, Molina Healthcare, and SCAN Health Plan. Long Beach has grown with the development of high-technology and aerospace industries in the area.