As much as we’re proud to call Long Beach a very unified place, the fact is that there are several pockets throughout the city with distinct histories, cultures and communities that are uniquely their own. That phenomenon is visible in the essay contest being held by EverythingLongBeach.com, which has selected 12 essays from Long Beach residents who write about their particular community and what makes it unique.

You’ll be able to read all of the essays by clicking here, ranging from Rose Park and Los Altos to La Marina Estates and Rancho Los Cerritos. Of course, I can think of about a dozen more communities that I would have loved to have seen represented, but this is the first contest and I’m sure submissions will expand exponentially as the website grows.

Anyway, the site is giving away some great prizes, so be sure to log into the site and vote for your favorite essay – the winner gets $100 cash and there are also some great prizes for runners-up. Congrats to all the writers!