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Real Estate & Homes in Orange County - California - Orange County, California homes and communities Orange County
Orange County History One of those relatives borrowed money from a Southern California landowner and used his share of the Greave rancho as collateral. When the borrower defaulted, the Los Angeles Superior Court was tasked with sorting out the legal ownership of the land. The land was divided up into 1,000 pieces and distributed to the heirs and the plaintiff in the lawsuit. Two lawyers working on the case had begun to buy parcels in the area and were willing to accept more land in lieu of a portion of their fees. These men owned what is now known as downtown Orange. After identifying the spot as a good place for a town, the lawyers hired a surveyor and began selling tracts of land. They called the town Richland. An irrigation system was built for farming, and a general store and school were established. When the founders applied for a local post office, they were informed that the name Richland was already in use in California. The founders were forced to rename the community in order to obtain the post office. In 1875, the town's name was changed to Orange. By that time, the agricultural efforts of local farmers were beginning to produce returns. After attempting to grow barley, grapes and even pineapples, the farmers finally found success with orange groves. Over the next 15 years, rail lines would be built, Orange would be incorporated, and the entire County would swell with new residents and land investors. Orange would experience another population and development boom in the 1950s and 1960s. The reigning city manager in those years encouraged a balanced mix of residential and commercial development that would help Orange maintain its pleasant lifestyle. About Orange County Activities For those interested in a quaint, main street experience, Old Towne Orange (also called The Plaza) is the destination of choice. Outdoor dining, boutique shopping and a great sense of history make Orange's Old Towne one of the most popular downtown areas in the county. This is also the place to do for antique shopping, as more than 60 antique dealers do business here. Orange is also home to several large nature sites, where picnicking, hiking, and exploring are popular. The best known options are Irvine Park, Peters Canyon Regional Park, Santiago Oaks Regional Park and Nature Center, and Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary. Combined, these facilities provide more than 1,180 acres of open space and wildlife to enjoy. Irvine Park is the largest of these, covering 477 acres. The facility includes the Orange County Zoo and William Harding Nature Center, as well as athletic facilities and trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Orange also has over 15 public parks located throughout the city. Other sites of note are the Ridgeline Country Club and Vans Skate Park. Ridgeline is a membership facility that features nine holes of golf plus 14 championship tennis courts. Vans Skate Park is the world's largest facility of its kind, covering 46,000 square feet. Orange residents get together several times a year to celebrate their city during community events. The most established of these is the Orange International Street Fair, which has been a Labor Day tradition since 1910. More than 400,000 people attend the event each year to celebrate the diversity of Orange's heritage. The city also has several landmarks, which represent the earlier days of Orange's development. The Old Towne district has the second largest concentration of historic buildings in the state. One of these buildings is home to Watson Drugs and Soda Fountain, the oldest drugstore in the county. Watson Drugs opened its doors in 1899 and continues doing business today. Other historic sites include the Woman's Club House building, constructed in 1923, and Dairy Treet, Orange's oldest burger joint. Schools Location: The city of Orange is located in central Orange County, surrounding the intersection of State Routes 22 and 57 and Interstate 5. Neighboring communities include Villa Park, Tustin, and Anaheim. Orange is approximately 15 miles northeast of Newport Beach. Total area*: 23.4 square miles *Information provided by 2000 Census
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