Jared Sidney Torrance
Encyclopedia
Jared Sidney Torrance was an American
real estate developer
, best known as the founder of Torrance
in southwest Los Angeles County
, California
.
in 1853, and moved to Southern California
in approximately 1887 to settle initially in Pasadena
where he worked in real estate. Among other notable transactions, he briefly owned the Mount Lowe Railway
, above Pasadena in the San Gabriel Mountains
, at the turn of the century.
-residential
community south of Los Angeles. They purchased part of the Spanish land grant
Rancho San Pedro
and hired nationally renowned landscape architect
Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr.
to design a new planned community
, with the architect Irving Gill
designing the principle buildings. The resulting city, Torrance, California
, was founded in 1911 and named after Jared Torrance.
In 1920 Jared Torrance formed the Torrance Hospital Association, but he died before a hospital could be constructed in the new city. His widow Helena Childs Torrance followed through on Jared Torrance's vision, and in 1925 the Jared Sidney Torrance Memorial Hospital was opened. It is now named the Torrance Memorial Medical Center
.
and did extensive research on his family roots. He wrote a book entitled The Descendants of Lewis Hart and Anne Elliott http://www.worldvitalrecords.com/indexinfo.aspx?ix=Godfrey_LewisHart1923 which was published posthumously by his wife in 1923.
Jared Sidney Torrance died in 1921.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
real estate developer
Real estate development
Real estate development, or Property Development, is a multifaceted business, encompassing activities that range from the renovation and re-lease of existing buildings to the purchase of raw land and the sale of improved land or parcels to others...
, best known as the founder of Torrance
Torrance, California
Torrance is a city incorporated in 1921 and located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. Torrance has of shore-front beaches on the Pacific Ocean, quieter and less well-known by tourists than others on the Santa Monica Bay, such as those of neighboring...
in southwest Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Southern California
Jared Torrance was born in Gowanda, New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1853, and moved to Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
in approximately 1887 to settle initially in Pasadena
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
where he worked in real estate. Among other notable transactions, he briefly owned the Mount Lowe Railway
Mount Lowe Railway
The Mount Lowe Railway was the third in a series of scenic mountain railroads in America created as a tourist attraction on Echo Mountain and Mount Lowe, north of Los Angeles, California. The railway, originally incorporated by Professor Thaddeus S. C. Lowe as the Pasadena & Mt. Wilson Railroad Co...
, above Pasadena in the San Gabriel Mountains
San Gabriel Mountains
The San Gabriel Mountains Range is located in northern Los Angeles County and western San Bernardino County, California, United States. The mountain range lies between the Los Angeles Basin and the Mojave Desert, with Interstate 5 to the west and Interstate 15 to the east...
, at the turn of the century.
Torrance, California
In the early 1900s Jared Torrance and other investors saw the value of creating a mixed industrialIndustry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
-residential
Residential area
A residential area is a land use in which housing predominates, as opposed to industrial and commercial areas.Housing may vary significantly between, and through, residential areas. These include single family housing, multi-family residential, or mobile homes. Zoning for residential use may permit...
community south of Los Angeles. They purchased part of the Spanish land grant
Ranchos of California
The Spanish, and later the Méxican government encouraged settlement of territory now known as California by the establishment of large land grants called ranchos, from which the English ranch is derived. Devoted to raising cattle and sheep, the owners of the ranchos attempted to pattern themselves...
Rancho San Pedro
Rancho San Pedro
Rancho San Pedro was one of the first California land grants, and the first to win a patent from the United States. The land grant was validated by the Mexican government at in 1828, and a US patent validating was issued in 1858...
and hired nationally renowned landscape architect
Landscape architect
A landscape architect is a person involved in the planning, design and sometimes direction of a landscape, garden, or distinct space. The professional practice is known as landscape architecture....
Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr.
Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr.
Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. was an American landscape architect best known for his wildlife conservation efforts. He had a lifetime commitment to national parks, and worked on projects in Acadia, the Everglades and Yosemite National Park. Olmsted Point in Yosemite and Olmsted Island at Great Falls...
to design a new planned community
Planned community
A planned community, or planned city, is any community that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are less frequent in planned communities since...
, with the architect Irving Gill
Irving Gill
Irving John Gill , American architect, is considered a pioneer of the modern movement in architecture. He designed several buildings considered examples of San Diego's best architecture.-Biography:...
designing the principle buildings. The resulting city, Torrance, California
Torrance, California
Torrance is a city incorporated in 1921 and located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. Torrance has of shore-front beaches on the Pacific Ocean, quieter and less well-known by tourists than others on the Santa Monica Bay, such as those of neighboring...
, was founded in 1911 and named after Jared Torrance.
In 1920 Jared Torrance formed the Torrance Hospital Association, but he died before a hospital could be constructed in the new city. His widow Helena Childs Torrance followed through on Jared Torrance's vision, and in 1925 the Jared Sidney Torrance Memorial Hospital was opened. It is now named the Torrance Memorial Medical Center
Torrance Memorial Medical Center
Torrance Memorial Medical Center is a private community hospital located in Torrance, California.Torrance Memorial was founded by the estate of Mateo Morales and Sidney Torrance in 1925, and merged with the smaller Riviera Community Hospital in 1967...
.
Genealogist
Torrance was also an amateur genealogistGenealogy
Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
and did extensive research on his family roots. He wrote a book entitled The Descendants of Lewis Hart and Anne Elliott http://www.worldvitalrecords.com/indexinfo.aspx?ix=Godfrey_LewisHart1923 which was published posthumously by his wife in 1923.
Jared Sidney Torrance died in 1921.