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Real Estate & Homes in Irvine - California - Irvine, California homes and communites Irvine Irvine History In 1864, a man named James Irvine and his two partners purchased over 100,000 acres in Southern California from a Spanish landowner. The three men were sheep ranchers, and used the land primarily for grazing sheep. James Irvine bought out his partners in 1878 and became the sole owner of the property. After his death, his son, James Irvine, Jr., incorporated the land into the Irvine Company and transitioned away from sheep ranching and into various agricultural crops, including barley and lima beans. For the next several decades, the community would slowly expand as the agriculture activity continued to be successful. In the 1940s, the Marine Corps purchased a parcel of land from the Irvine Company and began construction on the Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. The facility was expanded over the years, becoming a Master Jet Air Station and the West Coast hub of Marine aviation. The air station remained in use for almost 50 years, until its closure in July 1999, which resulted from the federal Base Realignment and Closure process. The event that would largely shape the city’s future was the decision to build a University of California campus at Irvine. In 1960, the Irvine Company donated 1,000 acres and sold an additional 500 acres for the future university campus. The community then created an aggressive master plan to develop the land surrounding the campus site. This master plan covered 43 square miles of land, mixing high- and low-density residential areas, professional, retail, and public space to create a convenient suburban community. Irvine was incorporated in 1971. Between 1970 and 1980, Irvine was the fastest growing city in California. About Irvine Some sections of Irvine continue to be used for agriculture. This land is primarily that which surrounds the El Toro air facility. The university uses some of the agricultural space; private parties own other parcels. Irvine is also surrounded by undeveloped land in the Santa Ana Mountains and San Joaquin Hills, which provide great views for homeowners. Irvine is considered a progressive city that offers an enviable lifestyle to its residents. Locals are generally affluent, and maintain strong community pride. Activities Many recreational and cultural activities are available within the city. Golf is popular here, and residents may choose from several public courses. These include the El Toro Golf Course, Oak Creek Golf Club, Rancho San Joaquin Golf Course, and Strawberry Farms Golf Club. The city's quality of life is enhanced by the open public spaces, which allow for team sports activities and exploration of the natural surroundings. There are 13 community parks and 29 neighborhood parks, plus a skateboard park, disc golf course, and rugged Bommer Canyon, which is popular with hikers and nature enthusiasts. Heritage Park is one of the city's all-purpose destinations; visitors can enjoy the on-site aquatics facility - complete with three pools - plus tennis, racquetball, basketball, and volleyball courts and baseball and soccer fields. There is also an amphitheater and lake pond on site. Recreational and competitive sports of all types, for kids and adults, are an important part of the Irvine culture. Some of the country's most competitive youth soccer teams are based in Irvine. Irvine's more exciting attractions are Wild Rivers Water Park, Adventure Playground, and Irvine Spectrum. Wild Rivers is a 20-acre facility that features over 40 water rides, plus splash areas for kids and special events. Adventure Playground is part of the city's University Community Park. The playground offers supervised play on a climbing net and water slide, plus educational and skills classes in a variety of subjects. The Irvine Spectrum shopping complex will keep members of the whole family entertained; parents can enjoy a nice meal or live music, while teenagers shop, socialize and take a ride on the ferris wheel. The city's best-known entertainment venues are the Barclay Theatre at UCI and Verizon Wireless Amphitheater. Barclay hosts a variety of live musicians and dancers, including artists of jazz, blues, classical, and flamenco. The Verizon Wireless Amphitheater hosts the Pacific Symphony Orchestra regularly as well as big-name entertainers, including pop, country, and rock performers. Irvine's location makes many other activities convenient to enjoy. Dana Point's waterfront harbor, Laguna Beach's arts community, Anaheim's theme parks, and the culture and excitement of Los Angeles are all within driving distance. For those who prefer natural attractions, Southern California's beaches, mountains, and deserts are close enough for day or weekend trips. Schools Public education is provided by Irvine Unified School District. There are 34 campuses within the district, serving kindergarten through the 12th grade. District-wide enrollment is about 25,000, and the student-to-teacher ratio is just over 23. Several institutions offer private schooling at all grade levels, including high school. The largest college/university in the city is the University of California, Irvine. Approximately 20,000 students are enrolled at UCI. The school offers bachelors, masters, and doctoral programs plus first professional and post bachelor’s certificates. Other options for higher education include Irvine Valley College, Concordia University, and Keller Graduate School of Management. Irvine Fast Facts Location: Irvine is located in Orange County, east of Dana Point and midway between Los Angeles and Oceanside. Interstate 405 runs through the center of the city; other major roadways nearby are Interstate 5 and State Routes 55 and 73. Total area*: 46.2 square miles *Information provided provided by 2000 Census
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