Located on the coast five miles southeast of downtown Long Beach, near the present mouth of San Gabriel River at the entrance to Alamitos Bay.

The town was first known as "Bay City" but in 1911 it was incorporated as Seal Beach. It is well known for the harbor seals that use the sandy beaches at the entrance to the bay as a hauling ground. It is one of the two places in the State where one may be reasonably sure of seeing true seals sunning themselves. The so-called seals to be found at other spots along the coast are sea lions.

There is a sport-fishing pier but no fish-cleaning sheds or canneries. Small amounts of commercially caught fish are landed here but the average has been about two tons per year. The peak year of 1939 accounted for 8½ tons but 1951 showed only 90 pounds. The catches have been barracuda, lobster, rockfish, and rock bass.