Tucked into the northern half of Long Beach, Bixby Knolls is one of the city’s most established and characterful neighborhoods: tree-lined streets, historic estates, a thriving Atlantic Avenue dining scene, and a genuine sense of community that keeps residents here for decades. For condo and townhome buyers, it offers something the coastal neighborhoods rarely can: larger floor plans, quiet residential streets, and the kind of attached-garage townhomes that are notoriously hard to find elsewhere in Long Beach.
This guide covers the neighborhood end to end: where Bixby Knolls begins and ends, a little of its history, what life here is actually like, and a complete rundown of the condo and townhome communities you’ll want to know. When you’re ready to see what’s available, request our Bixby Knolls Hot List or call us at 562-989-7111.
Table of Contents
- Where Is Bixby Knolls? Boundaries & Map
- A Brief History of Bixby Knolls
- Living in Bixby Knolls: Lifestyle, Dining & Things to Do
- Condos & Townhomes in Bixby Knolls
- Common Questions
- Find Your Bixby Knolls Condo or Townhome
Where Is Bixby Knolls? Boundaries & Map
If you’re coming south from Los Angeles on the 405, Bixby Knolls is one of the first Long Beach neighborhoods you can explore. Take the Atlantic Avenue or Long Beach Boulevard exit and head north slightly into the heart of it. Those two streets, Atlantic Avenue and Long Beach Boulevard, are the main north-south arteries running through the neighborhood and the spine of its commercial district.
The City of Long Beach defines the core of Bixby Knolls fairly tightly:
- North: San Antonio Drive
- South: 37th Street
- West: Long Beach Boulevard
- East: Atlantic Avenue
In everyday use, though, most locals describe Bixby Knolls more broadly: roughly bounded by the 405 Freeway (or Wardlow Road) to the south, Del Amo Boulevard to the north, and the Los Angeles River and the Lakewood city line to the west. The neighborhood adjoins North Long Beach to the north, California Heights to the southeast, and Wrigley to the southwest, and it wraps in the prestigious Los Cerritos-Virginia Country Club area along with the Rancho Los Cerritos historic site.
| Map: An interactive Google Map centered on Bixby Knolls is embedded on the live page (see the HTML deliverable). It’s set to the neighborhood so buyers can orient themselves to Atlantic Avenue, the Virginia Country Club, and the condo streets described below. |
A Brief History of Bixby Knolls
Bixby Knolls takes its name from Jotham Bixby, who acquired the Rancho Los Cerritos land grant in the 1860s. The Bixby family name still turns up around the neighborhood, including on Jotham Place. The area’s deepest roots reach back even further, to the Los Cerritos Ranch House built in 1844 during California’s Mexican era, which the Bixby family owned for generations and which survives today as the Rancho Los Cerritos historic site.
In 1890, Jotham’s nephew George Bixby built a mansion near what is now the Virginia Country Club, an area that still holds some of the largest and most exclusive estates in the city. For the early part of the 20th century the land was largely rural, home to ranchers and a great many sheep. The shift toward the neighborhood we know today accelerated in 1929, when the Long Beach Press-Telegram announced plans for a 120-acre residential development east of Atlantic Avenue, billed as the project that would be to Long Beach what the Wilshire district was to Los Angeles. Most of the area’s distinctive homes were custom-built between 1920 and 1940.
Together with neighboring California Heights, Bixby Knolls forms what residents call “Uptown Long Beach.” Through the 1940s and ’50s it was the city’s premier shopping-and-dining destination; as regional malls drew shoppers away in later decades the corridor quieted, but a community-driven revival led by the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association, anchored by events like the monthly First Fridays, has made Atlantic Avenue lively once again.
Living in Bixby Knolls: Lifestyle, Dining & Things to Do
Part of what makes Bixby Knolls so livable is that everyday life happens close to home. The Atlantic Avenue corridor, roughly from San Antonio Drive down toward the 405, is dense with independent restaurants, coffee houses, art galleries, antique shops, and neighborhood staples like Trader Joe’s and Starbucks, with more tucked along the surrounding streets.
The neighborhood packs in a genuine range of attractions. First Fridays brings live music, shopping, and street booths to Atlantic Avenue each month. Rancho Los Cerritos offers a nearly 180-year-old historic site with a window into the area’s ranching past. Virginia Country Club anchors the prestigious Los Cerritos area. Los Cerritos Park is one of the finer parks in the city, with tennis courts, picnic areas, and playgrounds. Along Atlantic Avenue you’ll also find the Historical Society of Long Beach and the Helen Borgers Theater, home to the Long Beach Shakespeare Company.
Families also gravitate to the area for its schools. Bixby Knolls is served by the Long Beach Unified School District, with options including Longfellow, Los Cerritos, and Burroughs elementary schools and Hughes Middle School, plus private choices such as St. Barnabas. And for commuters, quick access to the 405 and 710 freeways connects the neighborhood to the wider Los Angeles and Orange County region while keeping it a quiet, residential pocket a few miles north of downtown.
Condos & Townhomes in Bixby Knolls
While Bixby Knolls is best known for its single-family homes, it also offers a tightly curated set of condo and townhome communities, and they have a character all their own. Compared with condos closer to the ocean, Bixby Knolls homes tend to offer larger square footage, and the area is one of the few places in Long Beach where you can find townhomes and condos with garages. Most were built in the 1970s, which means functional, livable floor plans and secured parking.
Inventory is concentrated on just a handful of streets: Country Club Drive, Virginia Road, Elm Avenue, Orange Avenue, and California Avenue, which actually simplifies the search. Turnover tends to be low, so the smartest approach is to know the buildings in advance and watch for openings.
Before you start, three quick questions go a long way toward narrowing the field:
- Do you need a garage, or will secured/assigned parking work?
- Do you require in-unit laundry, or will community laundry do?
- Are a pool and spa essential amenities for you?
For a deeper framework, see our guide to the questions that help you find the right Long Beach condo. And here’s how the main Bixby Knolls communities compare at a glance:
| Community | Address | Units | Beds / Baths | Approx. Size |
| Country Club Gardens | 3661 Country Club Dr. | 73 | 2 BR / 2 BA (townhome) | ~1,200+ sq ft |
| Bixby Terrace | 3511 Elm Ave. | 42 | 2 BR / 2 BA | 1,260+ sq ft |
| Bixby Heights | 4170 Elm Ave. | 56 | 2 BR / 2 BA | ~1,200 sq ft |
| Virginia Village | 3933-3939 Virginia Rd. | 50 | 2 BR / 2 BA | 1,400+ sq ft |
| Elmwood Villas | 3510 Elm Ave. | 32 | 1 BR & 2 BR | Varies |
| The Knolls | 4505 California Ave. | 52 | 2 BR / 2 BA | 1,100 – 1,300 sq ft |
| Bixby Villa | 4595 California Ave. | 39 | 1 BR & 2 BR | 700 – 1,000+ sq ft |
Figures reflect typical configurations; confirm specifics for any individual home. Square footage and unit counts vary by source and over time.
Country Club Gardens, 3661 Country Club Dr.
The crown jewel of the area’s townhome stock. Built in 1975 on the prestigious Country Club Drive, this gated community of 73 townhome-style homes pairs two famously hard-to-find features, genuine townhome floor plans and an attached garage, with vaulted ceilings, a wood-burning fireplace, private patios, and a community pool and spa. Read the full Country Club Gardens guide.
Bixby Terrace, 3511 Elm Ave.
A 42-unit community known for large bedrooms and generous, time-tested floor plans. Two-bed, two-bath homes run north of 1,260 square feet, with amenities including a pool and spa. Explore Bixby Terrace.
Bixby Heights, 4170 Elm Ave.
One of several condo developments on desirable Elm Avenue, Bixby Heights is a mid-sized, 56-unit building with expansive two-bed, two-bath floor plans approaching 1,200 square feet. Turnover is low, so availability is worth tracking. Explore Bixby Heights.
Virginia Village, 3933-3939 Virginia Rd.
Built in 1974, this 50-unit building is prized for its size: many homes are two-bed, two-bath with over 1,400 square feet. Thanks to the great location, a number of owners have upgraded their kitchens with granite counters and maple cabinetry. Low turnover makes the Hot List especially useful here.
Elmwood Villas, 3510 Elm Ave.
Often the most affordable entry point in all of Bixby Knolls. Elmwood Villas is a 32-unit complex that received a substantial facelift in the early 2000s; it offers secured parking, balconies on many units, and high vaulted ceilings in the top-floor homes, with floor plans ranging from one-bedroom models to larger two-bedroom layouts. Easy access to shopping and the freeway is a bonus.
The Knolls, 4505 California Ave.
A quiet 52-unit community near the corner of San Antonio and California Avenue, built in 1974. Floor plans are large for Long Beach, exclusively two-bed, two-bath homes ranging from just over 1,100 to more than 1,300 square feet, and a central courtyard gives the complex an open, airy feel. Many homes enjoy balconies off the living room and bedrooms.
Bixby Villa, 4595 California Ave.
Built in 1972, Bixby Villa offers secured underground parking and community laundry on each floor. One-bed, one-bath homes range from just over 700 to more than 800 square feet, while the two-bed, two-bath models can exceed 1,000 square feet. Units on the north and east sides enjoy pleasant tree and skyline views from their balconies.
Common Questions
Where is Bixby Knolls located?
Bixby Knolls sits in the northern half of Long Beach. The city’s core boundaries are San Antonio Drive (north), 37th Street (south), Long Beach Boulevard (west), and Atlantic Avenue (east), while the neighborhood is more commonly described as reaching from the 405 Freeway up to Del Amo Boulevard, bordered on the west by the Los Angeles River and the Lakewood city line. Atlantic Avenue and Long Beach Boulevard are the main arteries.
How did Bixby Knolls get its name?
It’s named for Jotham Bixby, who acquired the Rancho Los Cerritos land grant in the 1860s. The Bixby family’s 1844 Los Cerritos Ranch House still stands as a historic site, and George Bixby’s 1890 mansion near today’s Virginia Country Club helped shape the area’s estate character.
What kinds of condos and townhomes are in Bixby Knolls?
Mostly 1970s-era communities with functional floor plans, secured parking, and, compared with coastal Long Beach, larger square footage. Options range from affordable one-bedroom condos to spacious 1,400-plus square-foot two-bedroom homes and rare townhomes with attached garages.
Can I find a condo with a garage in Bixby Knolls?
Yes, and that’s part of the appeal. Garages and townhome-style layouts are hard to find elsewhere in Long Beach, but Country Club Drive in particular offers townhomes with attached or direct-access garages. Country Club Gardens is the best-known example.
Which is the most affordable condo complex in Bixby Knolls?
Elmwood Villas on Elm Avenue is frequently the most affordable community in the neighborhood, with floor plans ranging from one-bedroom to larger two-bedroom layouts.
Are Bixby Knolls condos larger than condos near the beach?
Generally, yes. Bixby Knolls condos tend to offer more square footage than comparably priced condos closer to the ocean. Two-bedroom homes above 1,200 or even 1,400 square feet are common in several buildings here.
What is there to do in Bixby Knolls?
The Atlantic Avenue corridor is full of restaurants, coffee houses, galleries, and shops, and the monthly First Fridays event is a neighborhood highlight. Nearby you’ll also find Rancho Los Cerritos, the Virginia Country Club, Los Cerritos Park, and the Historical Society of Long Beach.
How do I find out which Bixby Knolls condos are for sale?
Because turnover is low, advance notice matters. Request our Bixby Knolls Hot List or call 562-989-7111, and we’ll keep you informed about what’s available and coming to market, often before it reaches the major portals.
Related Pages
- Country Club Gardens (Bixby Knolls)
- Bixby Terrace Condos
- Bixby Heights Condos
- Questions to Help You Find the Right Long Beach Condo
- Search the Free Long Beach MLS