History of Orange County, California
By John-Robin Middlebrook
Nestled within the sprawling Los Angeles metropolitan area of Southern California, Orange County stands as a testament to dynamic growth and a rich tapestry of historical influences. This heavily populated region, encompassing numerous cities, boasts a past that stretches back centuries, marked by indigenous settlements, Spanish colonization, Mexican governance, and ultimately, American integration.
Before the arrival of European settlers, the land now known as Orange County was home to several Native American tribes. Among these were the Tongva, Juaneño, and Luiseño, each with their distinct cultures and traditions. These groups, believed to have originated from the Shoshonean family, thrived in the diverse ecosystems of the area. The proximity of the Gabrieleño people to the San Gabriel Mission and the Juaneño to the San Juan Capistrano Mission led to their respective names, reflecting the significant impact of the mission system on their lives.
The late 1700s ushered in a new era with the commencement of Spanish colonization. Driven by strategic ambitions, the Spanish Empire sought to rapidly integrate California’s Native American population into Spanish society, strengthening its claim over the territory. In 1769, Gaspar de Portolá, a Spanish military leader, led an expedition that marked the first official European exploration of Orange County. He bestowed upon the land a series of names, christening rivers, mountains, and valleys after Catholic saints. This rapid colonization was partly motivated by Britain’s preoccupation with the Revolutionary War on the East Coast, leaving the West Coast vulnerable.
The Spanish approach to colonization differed significantly from that of the British. Rather than marginalizing Native Americans, the Spanish promised land in exchange for their support. Intermarriage between Spanish soldiers and Native American women was also encouraged, fostering a degree of cultural blending. José Antonio Yorba, a Spanish corporal under Portolá, exemplified this trend. Born in Spain in 1746, Yorba married a Native American woman named Maria Garcia Feliz and fathered two children. His legacy lives on in the name of Yorba Linda, a city within Orange County.
Amidst the military campaign, Spanish Christian missionaries, primarily from the Franciscan order, arrived with the aim of converting Native Americans to Christianity. Father Serra, renowned for his commitment to poverty, spearheaded the construction of missions, funded by the Spanish Empire and the Jesuits from Baja California. On November 1, 1776, the San Juan Capistrano Mission, the first modern building in Orange County, was established as the seventh of 21 missions in California.
Initial resistance from Native Americans led Father Serra to temporarily abandon the mission. However, he soon returned, embarking on the challenging task of religious instruction. Overcoming the significant language barrier, the missionaries imparted practical job training skills to Native Americans, encompassing tanning, winemaking, blacksmithing, small business operations, and ranching.
The missionaries operated within the context of an aggressive military campaign. The Spanish military was intent on colonizing vast territories in California, a crucial step in asserting control over the New World.
Historical accounts present a mixed picture of the treatment of Native Americans within the mission system. While the Spanish military wielded considerable power, the Christian missions became enduring historical symbols of the era. Some missionaries implemented restrictive laws, prohibiting converted Native Americans from leaving the missions. Runaways were often subjected to forced labor. However, many missionaries opposed the exploitation of Native American labor by the military and settlers. It’s important to note that many Native Americans willingly joined the missions.
Research suggests that at the peak of missionary development, Native Americans often worked only a few hours a day, dedicating the remaining time to choir, mass, instruction, and worship. However, the hierarchical structure of the missions, where Native American converts were viewed as spiritual children rather than equals, hindered their social growth. The relatively short duration of the California mission period, conservatively from 1776 to 1833, prevented the establishment of mutual trust between the two cultures.
The impact of the Spanish military and war factions on mission operations remains a subject of ongoing historical inquiry. Furthermore, the introduction of European diseases had a devastating effect on the Native American population. Epidemics of smallpox and measles, for which there were no cures at the time, decimated communities and fueled doubts about the Christian faith.
Between 1776 and 1821, Spain maintained sole control over Orange County and California, granting limited land concessions to individuals. An exception was Juan Pablo Grijalva, a military leader who received title to some California lands. During this period, British, Russian, and French traders engaged in limited commerce with missionaries and Native Americans.
A significant shift occurred in 1810 when the Mexican and Spanish governments engaged in conflict. In 1821, Mexico emerged victorious, declaring its independence. The following year, the Mexican flag replaced the Spanish flag in Orange County. In a reversal of policy, Mexico rescinded the promise of land to Native Americans, instead granting land to individuals who could demonstrate the ability to construct a dwelling within a year and cultivate the land for the Mexican government.
This policy change deeply angered Native Americans, who felt betrayed by the broken promise. Supplies to the missions dwindled as Spanish resources were stretched thin across North and South America. Missions were abandoned, and churches fell into disrepair.
In 1833, the Mexican government secularized all California missions, transferring control away from the church. This marked the end of the mission system in California, with the Mexican government initially intending to return the land to Native American control.
However, disputes over land ownership erupted between Spanish and Mexican governments, as well as local factions. Ranchers from the United States and Mexico outnumbered Native Americans, forcing them into slavery on burgeoning private ranches. Some Native Americans sought refuge in the mountains. During this period, the Mexican government granted land to various individuals in Orange County, including: Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana, Rancho San Joaquin, Rancho Niguel, Rancho Lomas de Santiago, and Rancho Cañada de los Alisos.
While Mexico governed California, large ranch owners oversaw the development of Orange County. Meanwhile, settlers from the Midwest and Eastern United States began to arrive in the West, leading to tensions with Mexican provincial administrators and ultimately, war between the United States and Mexico.
The Mexican-American War, spanning from 1846 to 1848, resulted in the Mexican government ceding 55% of its territory, including Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas, and parts of Colorado, Nevada, and Utah, to the United States for $15 million. California became the 31st state of the United States. The following year, in 1849, the California Gold Rush ignited.
Following California’s annexation by the United States, landowners lacking proper documentation lost their land. The U.S. government subsequently sold the land at affordable rates to farmers and pioneers from the Eastern and Midwestern states.
In 1862, a series of natural disasters struck Orange County, triggering significant changes. A flood created conditions conducive to a massive plague epidemic, resulting in a smallpox outbreak that claimed many lives. Shortly thereafter, a severe drought devastated crops and cattle ranches. Ranchers who had received land from the Mexican and Spanish governments were driven into bankruptcy by exorbitant interest rates imposed by North American businessmen. Local farmers also faced ruin and lost their land.
Between 1863 and 1888, Orange County experienced a "boomtown" era, characterized by rapid development as settlers, developers, investors, farmers, ranchers, and locals built the cities and communities that exist today. James Irvine acquired the Irvine Ranch, encompassing approximately one-fifth of Orange County‘s total real estate. Anaheim became the first city in Orange County to incorporate in 1876. Santa Ana emerged from a mustard field, founded by William Spurgeon after he purchased 74 acres and sold them off in parcels. Presbyterian minister Lemuel P. Webber founded Westminster in 1870. Orange was founded by Chapman (namesake of Chapman University) and Glassell. Newport, Fullerton, and Buena Park were established between 1874 and 1888.
In 1888, the state of California officially recognized the County of Orange. The formation of Orange County was driven by the desire of residents in Santa Ana, Anaheim, and Orange (totaling 13,000 people) to secure greater resources from the state legislature. They argued that Los Angeles County was not adequately addressing the needs of the southern region, particularly in terms of infrastructure.
With a population three times that of Anaheim, Santa Ana lobbied to become the county seat. Disputes arose over the location of the county line, with Anaheim resisting Santa Ana’s efforts to establish the boundary at Coyote Creek. Ultimately, the state legislature decided to hold elections to determine whether a new county should be formed. Backed by $50,000 from Orange County residents, state government officials passed a measure to establish Orange County. The vote among Orange County residents was overwhelmingly in favor, with 2,509 votes for and 500 votes against.
A second election was held to determine the county seat, with Santa Ana prevailing over Orange. In the late 1800s, infrastructure and commerce in Orange County expanded rapidly. Santa Ana established the first high school in the county in 1891. Fullerton became home to the Fruit Exchange, which later became Sunkist, in 1893. In 1894, San Juan Capistrano was connected to Los Angeles by train. The Union Oil Company (Unocal) acquired large tracts of land, forming the Brea-Olinda Oilfield. The first county jail was built in Santa Ana in 1896, the same year that Los Alamitos became known as the "sugar beet town" and James McFadden developed Balboa, Lido, and Harbor Islands.
In 1899, the Edison Electric Company acquired the Santa Ana Gas and Electric Company. In 1901, Philip Stanton founded Pacific City, later known as Huntington Beach. The Orange County Bar Association was formed the same year. Santa Ana Valley became the first hospital in Orange County in 1902. Philip Stanton established Bay City (Seal Beach) in 1903. The Pacific Electric Railway (Red Car) connected Huntington Beach and Seal Beach in 1904 and reached Newport and Santa Ana in 1905. In 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt renamed the Trabuco Canyon Reserve the Cleveland National Forest. In 1911, Stanton incorporated to avoid becoming a sewage disposal site, then unincorporated in 1924. The first avocado grove was planted in Yorba Linda in 1913. Fullerton Junior College became the first junior college in the county in 1913. In 1914, funding was allocated for the construction of 108 miles of road.
Following World War I, Orange County experienced continued growth. In 1919, a victory parade was held at Orange County Park (later Irvine). The City of Brea was established in 1917. The 1920 U.S. Census recorded an Orange County population of 61,375. Walter Knott established his first farm in 1920, which would later become Knott’s Berry Farm. Women were allowed to serve on the Grand Jury the same year. The Orange County Library, County Health Department, and Eddie Martin Airport opened in 1921. Duke Kahanamoku introduced surfing to Orange County in 1922, and KFAW became the first county radio station. Midway City was developed in 1922 to house oil field workers. Dana Point became a recognized development in 1924. La Habra was incorporated in 1925, the same year that San Clemente was recognized. Placentia formed in 1926, along with the Pacific Coast Highway between Huntington Beach and Newport Beach. Tustin and Laguna Beach were incorporated in 1927. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange opened St. Josephs Hospital in 1929, and construction of the Ortega Highway began.
The population of Orange County doubled between 1920 and 1940. Doheny Beach State Park was established in 1931. The first Laguna Beach Arts Festival took place in 1932. The 1933 Long Beach Earthquake caused widespread damage. The Bower’s Museum opened in Santa Ana in 1936. World War II brought significant changes, with the construction of the Los Alamitos Naval Air Station and the Santa Ana Army Air Base. Colorado River aqueducts provided drinking water to Orange County in 1941. In 1943, the El Toro Marine Base opened. In 1946, school segregation ended.
The 1950s and 1960s witnessed the emergence of many new cities. The population of Orange County increased to 216,224 in 1950. Interstate 5 began construction in 1950. Southern California Bible College (Vanguard University) became the first four-year degree school in Orange County in 1950. The Tustin Navy based reopened in 1951. Buena Park and Costa Mesa incorporated in 1953. Garden Grove, Stanton, and Dairy City (Cypress) were incorporated in 1956. In 1957, Westminster and Fountain Valley emerged as cities. Orange County State College (California State University Fullerton) opened in 1959.
In 1960, the population of Orange County reached 703,925. Los Alamitos was established in 1960, San Juan Capistrano incorporated the following year, and Villa Park became a city in 1962. The University of California Irvine began in 1964. La Palma originated from Dairyland in 1965, and Mission Viejo was founded a year later. Yorba Linda was incorporated in 1967, the same year that Fashion Island, South Coast Plaza, and the Orange County Airport (John Wayne Airport) were built.
Municipalities and commerce continued to grow in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1970, the population of Orange County rose to 1,420,386. Irvine was incorporated in 1971. Rockwell International constructed the "Ziggurat" building in Laguna Niguel. In 1975, the Irvine Business Spectrum was conceived, and 50,000 Vietnamese refugees were admitted into Orange County. In 1980, the population reached 1,931,570.
The Crystal Cathedral opened in 1980. Kim Stanley Robinson wrote his Three Californias Trilogy. Dana Point and Laguna Niguel were incorporated in 1989.
The 1990s brought commercial growth and political challenges. In 1990, the population reached 2,410,556. Laguna Hills and Lake Forest were incorporated in 1991. Orange County filed Chapter 9 Bankruptcy. The Richard Nixon Library opened in Yorba Linda in 1994. The Irvine Spectrum Center was built in 1995. In 1999, the El Toro and Marine Corps Air Stations closed, Laguna Woods, incorporated, and Highway 261 was completed.
The New Millennium brought real estate and government budget cuts. In 2000, the population rose to 2,846,289. The Orange County High School of the Arts was founded. Rancho Santa Margarita and Aliso Viejo were incorporated. Orange County voters agreed to turn El Toro Air Base into a park in 2002. In 2004 and 2005, Orange County residents moved to Riverside and San Bernardino Counties to find more affordable housing. In 2005, the Visitor’s Bureau of Huntington Beach trademarked the term "Surf City USA."
By John-Robin Middlebrook, edited by Kathy Weiser-Alexander/Legends of America, updated November 2021.
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