Northwest Torrance

Like much of Torrance, Northwest Torrance is yet another conglomeration of 1950’s style Ranch homes. It reminds me of the Valley of my youth, circa 1980. It has that kind of slightly boring middle class feel to it.

Alondra Park is just to north, which means that much of the northern border is a sprawling golf course. El Camino College is also there, though it is not the kind of college that draws students to live close by. Being a community college, it just draws from the nearby populace.

One thing this area definitely does not lack is shopping malls. There are strips malls within its border and the Galleria Shopping mall to the west. (Not to be confused with the famous Sherman Oaks Galleria up in the Valley. This is not the one made famous in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.) In fact, this is a fairly uninspired mall with not much to it. (Unless you think TJ Maxx or Target are amazing stores.)

There are also a number of auto dealerships along the edges of this neighborhood.

On the south of the neighborhood is the behemoth Exxon Mobile Refinery. It stretches across the southern border like a city onto itself. Its proximity is part of what drives would-be residents away.

The 405 cuts diagonally across the neighborhood, packing with commuters twice a day.

North High is the local school. It’s pretty mediocre.

Overall, this is a pretty forgettable neighborhood, with nothing particularly great or terrible about it. If you like a sort of middle class existence of this kind, then you may have found home.