<P> Huntington Beach (locally initialized "HB") is known for its long 9.5 - mile (15.3 km) stretch of sandy beach, mild climate, excellent surfing, and beach culture . The ocean waves are enhanced by a natural effect caused by the edge - diffraction of open ocean swells around Santa Catalina Island . Swells generated predominantly from the North Pacific in winter and from a combination of Southern Hemisphere storms and hurricanes in the summer focus on Huntington Beach, creating consistent surf all year long, hence the nickname "Surf City". </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section needs additional citations for verification . (January 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section needs additional citations for verification . (January 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> <P> The area was originally occupied by the Tongva people . European settlement can be traced to a Spanish soldier, Manuel Nieto, who in 1784 received a Spanish land grant of 300,000 acres (1,200 km), Rancho Los Nietos, as a reward for his military service and to encourage settlement in Alta California . Nieto's western area was reduced in 1790 because of a dispute with the Mission San Gabriel, but he retained thousands of acres stretching from the hills north of Whittier, Fullerton and Brea, south to the Pacific Ocean, and from today's Los Angeles River on the west, to the Santa Ana River on the east . </P>

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