[1] The neighborhood's boundaries are West Sepulveda Boulevard on the north, Western Avenue and the Harbor Freeway (following the city line with Los Angeles County) on the east, West Anaheim Street and Palos Verdes Drive on the south and the boundary with Lomita and Torrance on the west[2][3] A total of 23,561 people lived in Harbor City's 2.58 square miles, according to the 2000 U.S. census—about 9,127 people per square mile, an average population density compared to the city as a whole.

Mexico and Korea were the most common places of birth for the 36.2% of the residents who were born abroad, considered an average percentage of foreign-born when compared with the city and the county as a whole.

Shwaanga, a very large Tongva settlement in the Harbor area, was also a departure point for rancherias on the Channel Islands.

The Tongva lived in a virtual paradise for thousands of years, with good weather, an abundance of food and water, and plenty of resources.

In 1542, the Spanish arrived in the Catalina (Pimu’nga) and San Pedro (Chaawenga, Palos Verdes-Chowiinga) harbor areas.

Harbor City was originally part of the Rancho San Pedro, granted by the Spanish Empire in 1784 by King Carlos III to Juan Jose Dominguez.

By around the start of the 20th century, city leaders had decided that it would be in the best interests of Angeles if the port and harbor areas were directly annexed.