Southern California: Small-town vibe in city with beachfront and easy access to Hollywood Often compared to the fictional Mayberry, Torrance features wide city streets, unique architecture and is often used as a location in TV and film. Kim Pemberton Jun 8, 2024 4:30 AM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Previous Next 1 / 1 While many of the historical buildings in Old Torrance are over 100 years old, some are from the Art Deco era, including the Torrance Historical Society Museum, with exhibits telling the history of this southern California town. KIM PEMBERTON Advertisement Expand Listen to this article 00:07:56 “Downtown Torrance makes you feel like you’re walking down Mayberry,” Torrance Bakery owner Kirk Rossberg tells me at his popular, family-owned shop in the heart of the historic downtown district, known as Old Torrance.
Just 30 minutes from LAX Airport, Torrance is nothing you’d expect of a southern California city so near to the sprawling, bustling city of Los Angeles, and the fourth largest city in Los Angeles County. I have to agree with Rossberg, Torrance and, in particular Old Torrance, has a small town aura like Mayberry from the 1960s sitcom The Andy Griffith Show . Like the fictional Mayberry, Old Torrance has wide city streets dotted with well-kept homes, many with American flags waving out front, and most of its downtown businesses are situated in old buildings, here since its founding in 1912.
