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| "The Radish Capital of the
World" |
Long Beach's
early economy was largely agriculture-based. Logging initially drove the
local economy, but when the area's virgin yellow pine forests became
depleted, row crops were planted on the newly cleared land.
A productive truck
farming town in the early 20th century, citizens of Long Beach
proclaimed the city to be the "Radish Capital of the World." The city
was especially known for its cultivation of the Long Red radish variety,
a favorite beer hall staple in the northern US at the time. In 1921, a
bumper crop resulted in the shipment of over 300 train loads of Long
Beach's Long Red radishes to northern states.
Eventually, the Long
Red radishes for which Long Beach was known fell into disfavor, and the
rise of the common button radish caused a dramatic decline in the
cultivation of this crop in the area. |
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Hurricane Katrina |
The impact of Hurricane Katrina on
the Long Beach shoreline. |
Nineteen days following the city's
centennial, Hurricane Katrina struck the city on August 29,
2005, destroying more than 90% of all buildings along the Gulf
of Mexico. Many Long Beach residents were left without homes or
those that took on much water and or wind damage.
Hurricane Katrina damaged over 40
Mississippi libraries, heavily damaging the Long Beach Public
Library.
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The City of
Long Beach, California, held a fund raiser to help its eponymous
relative. The City of Peoria, Arizona adopted Long Beach and
provided both public and private resources. This resulted in a
close relationship between the two communities. |
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