Catalina Island Fast Facts

OWNERSHIP - First American owner, Thomas Robbins. acquired in 1846 by land grant from Pio Pico, the last Mexican governor of California. Changed hands several times before most of it was acquired by the Banning brothers who incorporated Santa Catalina Island Company in 1894. Present ownership of that company, a Delaware corporation, stems from stock purchases made by Wm. Wrigley Jr. in 1919, through which he acquired majority interest in the company. (There is no connection between the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, manufacturers of chewing gum, and the Santa Catalina Island Company.) In 1975, the Santa Catalina Island Conservancy, a non-profit operating foundation, acquired title to approximately 42,139 acres of Catalina, now owns about 88% of the island's 76 square miles.

CITY OF AVALON - Avalon, a general law city, was incorporated in 1913. Population about 3,200, although summer and weekend population rises to over 10,000. Area, about 802 acres, or slightly over one square mile. Approximately 30% of the land area in Avalon is independently owned. The other 70% is owned by the Santa Catalina Island Company. Private property may be purchased from individual owners.

GOVERNMENT AND UTILITIES - The City of Avalon is governed by a 5-member City Council, including Mayor. Also has a City Manager. It is in Los Angeles County. Police protection by contract with Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Schools (Grade K through 12) are part of the Long Beach Unified School District. Fire protection in Avalon, by 8-man paid Fire Department, supplemented by 24 volunteers, outside of Avalon, Los Angeles County Fire Department. Los Angeles County Center in Avalon houses the Sheriff's Department, Library, Health Nurse, and Justice Court. Avalon has a 12-bed municipal hospital with an adjoining medical clinic. Electricity, water and gas for Catalina are supplied by Southern California Edison Company. Telephone service is by SBC with microwave service between Catalina and the mainland.

CATALINA "FIRSTS" - Pigeons were used to carry messages between Catalina and the mainland from the 1850's to as late as 1899. World's first commercial wireless telegraph station built in Catalina in 1902, and was the news source for Avalon's newspaper, The Wireless. First commercial radio telephone system installed at Pebbly Beach in 1919. First American-made submarine cables in the U.S., two of them between Avalon and the mainland laid in 1923. First civilian use of microwave system (a World War II secret development), the Catalina microwave station installed in May 1946. First cross-channel airplane flight, by Glenn L. Martin, 1912. First commercial aviation service between Catalina and mainland (by amphibian airplane), 1919. First helicopter service between Catalina and mainland, 1977. First side-wheeler boat service to Catalina, 1880. First cross-channel steamer service, 1888. First cross-channel swim, the Wrigley Ocean Marathon, in 1927. First successful glass bottom boat was launched in Catalina in 1896. First sightseeing boat to be equipped with searchlight equipment was in Catalina in 1911. Catalina Island Golf Course was first golf course in Southern California, built in 1892. Avalon is the first city in California empowered by the State Legislature to control the number, size, speed and noise of vehicles operating within the city limits.

YACHTING - Catalina is the only offshore rendezvous for Southern California yachtsmen. Moorings, supplies and services for yachtsmen are available in Avalon (check with Harbor Master) and at Two Harbors (contact Catalina Harbor Department). Avalon Harbor is a no discharge area and moorings are on a first-come, first-serve basis. There are approximately 400 moorings at Avalon, approximately 720 moorings elsewhere in Catalina, including 249 at Isthmus Cove.

MINING - In 1863 and 1864, gold and silver prospectors stampeded to Catalina and, under the mistaken impression they were on public lands, staked out "claims", but they were forced off the island when the U.S. (Union) Army occupied Catalina during the Civil War. However, mining was resumed on an organized basis from time to time thereafter. In the 1920's, a mine in the Black Jack area and another in the Pebbly Beach area were developed and successfully extracted silver, zinc and lead until a reduction in the exchange value of these metals made operations unprofitable and the mines were closed.

EL RANCHO ESCONDIDO – Recently renovated, El Rancho Escondido is a working ranch in Catalina's interior where horses are raised and trained. Some of America's finest Arabians are from this ranch, as proved by the many awards and ribbons to be seen on display in the tack room. Daily horse shows for passengers on the Inland Motor Tour.

ANIMALS - Catalina is home to an interesting variety of animals, and is the only one of the Channel Islands with rattlesnake or native quail. The island has its own subspecies of ground squirrel and its own subspecies of the Channel Island fox, beautiful and lacking shyness. Catalina's native species form part of a special and interesting ecosystem. Since its discovery by the Spaniards, many animals have been introduced to Catalina, including pig, goat, deer, and the American Bison. Fourteen buffalo (Bison) were brought to Catalina in 1924, used in the filming of "The Vanishing American" in 1925, and then were left here. In 1934, eleven additional buffalo were purchased to supplement the herd, which by then had increased to nineteen. Today there are approximately 200 buffalo roaming Catalina.

BIRDS - More than 100 species or varieties of birds make Catalina their permanent or transitory home. They include the Catalina Quail, Laphortyx californica catalenesis, a separate and distinct subspecies that grows larger than the mainland quail. Other Catalina birds include ravens, mocking birds, shrikes, burrowing owls, red-tailed hawks, peregrine falcons, turkey and Bald Eagles. Through a joint project of the Catalina Conservancy and the Institute for Wildlife Studies, the magnificent Bald Eagle again soars above Catalina. The island is also home to pelicans, cormorants and is a nesting site for western gulls.

FISH - The game fish of Catalina include the marlin and broadbill swordfish, tuna, yellowtail, albacore, white sea bass, barracuda, mackerel and bonito. Other Catalina fish include black sea bass, opaleye, halfmoon, Garibaldi, kelp bass, kelp perch, kelpfish, sheepshead, California moray, grouper, red snapper, sand dabs, sole, halibut, whitefish, sculpin, flying fish and shark.

FLORA - There are some 396 species of plant life native to Santa Catalina Island. Eight are endemic or native only to Catalina. In addition to the Catalina Ironwood (Lyonothamnus floribundus floribundus) and St. Catherine's Lace (Erigonum giganteum giganteum), these include Catalina Mahogany (Cerocarpus traskiae), Wild Tomato (Solanum wallacei wallacei), Catalina manzanita (Arctostaphylos catalinae), Catalina Bedstraw (Galium catalinense), Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon traskiae traskiae), and Live Forever (Dudleya hassei). Other trees and plants native to Catalina include Catalina Cherry, Island Oak, Toyon, California Lilac (2 species), Island Bush Poppy, Mariposa Lily, Blue Dicks, Shooting Star and Island Poppy. Plants introduced over the years that thrive in Catalina include many species of Eucalyptus, Palm, various conifers, Cacti, Geranium and several beautiful forms of Bougainvillaea. Catalina marine plants include Giant Bladder Kelp, Southern Sea Palm, Sea Heather (Sargassum), and several varieties of colorful Algae.

CAMPING - Avalon: Hermit Gulch Campground located on Avalon Canyon Road, accommodates 200 people. This trailhead campground provides BBQ pits (no wood fires), picnic tables, and indoor hot showers. Handicapped accessible. Rental tepees and equipment available. Small general store. Ranger on site 24 hours a day. Reservations: (310) 510-TENT, (310) 510-8368. Tram service in summer from downtown Avalon. Catalina Island: Catalina campsites are at Black Jack, Little Harbor, Two Harbors and Parson's Landing. Two Harbors campground, the west end trailhead campground ¼ mile from the village of Two Harbors, has 51 campsites, including tent cabins, tepees, BBQ Catalina Island Fact Sheet continued and picnic tables. Call or write Catalina Island Camping, P.O. Box 5044 - Two Harbors, Avalon, CA 90704, (310) 510-2800. Camping by permit only and advance reservations are required.

HIKING - For safety and maximum enjoyment, hiking into the interior requires a hiking permit (no fee), which may be obtained at the Catalina Island Conservancy's Visitor Office at 125 Claressa Avenue, Avalon.

SANTA CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY - The Santa Catalina Island Conservancy is a non-profit operating foundation, organized in 1972, for the purpose of restoring and protecting Catalina's significant ecological areas for the benefit of generations to come. In 1975, the Santa Catalina Island Conservancy acquired title to 42,139 acres and other assets, and now owns about 86% of Catalina, including virtually all the coastline. The Santa Catalina Island Conservancy has the sole responsibility for restoring and preserving its lands in a natural state. To help it meet these substantial financial responsibilities, the Conservancy welcomes contributions and solicits your membership. All contributions and membership fees paid to the Conservancy are deductible under the Federal Internal Revenue Code, and are used to help preserve most of Catalina in its natural state for conservation and recreation purposes.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY - In 1974, in a significant gesture to help create the Conservancy area, an easement agreement was signed with Los Angeles County, giving the County the right to share the use of 41,000 acres of Catalina's interior and much of its coastline for park, conservation and recreation uses for a period of 50 years. Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation designed a 3000-square foot interpretive center, which is located in Avalon Canyon, just below the Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Garden. The primary purpose of this center is to give background on the County's involvement with Catalina Island. The center consists of displays showing the history of the Easement Agreement with the Conservancy, a large topographical relief map of Catalina Island and various other displays on the flora and fauna of the area.  

GEOGRAPHY - From the mainland (San Pedro breakwater) to Avalon is 21.8 miles; to Two Harbors is 19.7 miles. Catalina's "Airport-In-The-Sky" is approximately 37 miles SSW of Los Angeles International Airport. Distance from Avalon to Two Harbors is 13.4 miles by boat, 23 miles by road. Length of island, 21 miles. Width, 8 miles at its widest point (Long Point) and 1/2 mile at Two Harbors at the Isthmus. Its perimeter, 54 miles, encompasses approximately 47,884 acres or about 76 square miles. Highest elevations: Mt. Orizaba (2,069 feet) and Mount Black Jack (2,006 feet). Deepest water between Catalina and the mainland, approximately 3,000 feet or more than 1/2 mile. Temperature and rainfall vary in different parts of Catalina but U.S. Weather Bureau records have general application to the entire island. Based on these records: Sunny or partly sunny days average of 267 per year. June through October, average Avalon high temperature is 76.1 degrees; average low is 58.4 degrees. November through May, average high is 63.2 degrees; average low is 49.4 degrees. Rainfall averages approximately 14 inches per year, nearly all of it occurring between mid-October and mid-April. Generally speaking, the daytime temperature rarely goes above 80 degrees in the summer, below 50 degrees in the winter. Water temperature ranges from 64 to 73 degrees in the summer and 54 to 59 degrees in winter.