Marina del Rey is an unincorporated seaside community and census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, on the Westside between Venice to the north and Playa del Rey to the south. The name is Spanish for "Harbor of the King," but the harbor itself is a twentieth-century creation: the area was once a tidal estuary and salt marsh frequented by duck hunters and fishermen before the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredged and reshaped it into a marina. The harbor was dedicated in 1965 and is North America's largest man-made small-craft harbor, with slips for about 5,000 boats. The harbor defines daily life. Waterfront walkways, yacht clubs, charter fleets, and dockside restaurants ring the basins, and high-rise and low-rise condominiums overlook the water. Residents boat, kayak, paddleboard, and bike along the coastal path that links Marina del Rey to Venice and Santa Monica. Fisherman's Village and Burton Chace Park host concerts, markets, and community events. Roughly 11,000 residents live here, a mix of professionals, young families, and retirees drawn by the water and the Westside's convenience. The Ballona Wetlands and Ballona Creek lie just inland, providing open space, while Playa Vista and Culver City sit to the east. Because the community is unincorporated, services are provided by Los Angeles County, and schools fall under the Los Angeles Unified School District. Marina del Rey's location is a defining feature: it sits immediately north of Los Angeles International Airport and within a short drive of Santa Monica, Culver City, and the Silicon Beach technology corridor. The Marina Freeway (State Route 90) and Interstate 405 link it to the region, while bus routes and the nearby Expo Line connect commuters to the rest of the Westside and downtown.