Santa Monica, California, is a coastal city in Los Angeles County, renowned for its beaches, climate, and vibrant economy. It serves as a popular resort destination and a hub for various industries, including media, entertainment, and technology [1].

According to www.iAsk.Ai - Ask AI: Santa Monica is located in Los Angeles County, California, along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast [1].

The city's history dates back to the 1839 grant of Rancho San Vicente y Santa Mónica to the Sepúlveda family. It was officially founded in 1875 by John P. Jones and Robert Baker, incorporating as a city in 1886 [1]. The name "Santa Monica" is believed to have originated either from Saint Monica's feast day or from Juan Crespí's observation of springs reminiscent of Saint Monica's tears [1]. The Tongva people are indigenous to the Santa Monica area, with the village of Comicranga established there [1].

Santa Monica boasts a diverse economy, hosting the headquarters of major companies such as Skydance Media, Hulu, Activision Blizzard, Universal Music Group, Starz Entertainment, Lionsgate, Illumination, and The Recording Academy [1]. It is also a significant location for the video game industry, with studios like Naughty Dog, Santa Monica Studio, and Cloud Imperium Games based there [1]. The city is part of "Silicon Beach," a region known for its numerous venture capital-funded startup companies [1].

The city's climate is characterized as a coastal Mediterranean climate, enjoying an average of 310 days of sunshine annually [1]. While morning fog, locally known as "May Gray," "June Gloom," and "Fogust," is common during late spring and early summer, the strong sun typically burns it off by noon [1]. Santa Monica generally experiences cooler temperatures than inland areas during summer days and warmer temperatures during winter nights due to ocean breezes, which also help mitigate smog [1].

Santa Monica is committed to environmental sustainability. It adopted a comprehensive sustainability plan in 1994, focusing on waste reduction and water conservation [1]. The city's public works vehicles, including most of its municipal bus system (Big Blue Bus), run on alternative fuels, sourcing natural gas from renewable biogas [1] [12]. In 2019, Santa Monica switched to 100% renewably sourced energy through the Clean Power Alliance [1]. The city also has an urban runoff facility (SMURFF) that treats millions of gallons of water for reuse and aims for 100% water independence [1]. Its green building code ensures new constructions meet LEED Silver standards [1].

Key attractions include the Santa Monica Pier, a historic landmark with Pacific Park's Ferris wheel, and the Third Street Promenade, a pedestrian-only shopping and entertainment district [1] [7] [8]. Other notable cultural venues include the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, McCabe's Guitar Shop, and Bergamot Station, an art gallery compound [1]. The city also hosts the annual Santa Monica Film Festival [1].

Public education in Santa Monica is provided by the Santa Monica–Malibu Unified School District, which includes elementary, middle, and high schools [1]. Santa Monica College, a community college founded in 1929, enrolls 30,000 students annually, with many transferring to the University of California system [1] [3]. The Frederick S. Pardee RAND Graduate School, associated with the RAND Corporation, is also located in the city [1].

Transportation in Santa Monica is diverse, with a strong emphasis on sustainability. The city has a bike action plan and a bicycle sharing system [1]. The Marvin Braude Bike Trail traverses the city, and Santa Monica has received the Bicycle Friendly Community Award [1]. Major highways, including I-10 and State Route 2, begin in Santa Monica [1]. The city's Big Blue Bus system serves West Los Angeles and UCLA, and the Metro Expo Line connects Santa Monica to Downtown Los Angeles [1]. The Santa Monica Airport is a general aviation airport, and the city is dependent on the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles for international cargo [1].

Santa Monica has been a popular setting for numerous films and television shows, including Rocky III, Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Baywatch, and NCIS: Los Angeles [1]. It has also inspired literary works, such as Raymond Chandler's "Bay City" in his Philip Marlowe novels, and is referenced in various songs [1].

The city has two major hospitals: Saint John's Health Center and Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center [1]. Law enforcement is provided by the Santa Monica Police Department, and emergency medical services are handled by the Santa Monica Fire Department and McCormick Ambulance Services [1].

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