When the name Orange County was first proposed, there weren't many oranges. Most of the locals grew grapes and raised pigs, but in an effort to better promote the area, the county looked for oranges. The name became official in 1889. The migrants arrived en masse and many planted small citrus fruits. The county is a tourist hub, with attractions such as Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, Mission San Juan Capistrano, Modjeska House, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Yost Theater, Bowers Museum, Balboa Island, Angel Stadium, Downtown Santa Ana, Honda Center and several popular beaches along its more than 40 miles (64 km) of coastline.
It is also home to a major research university, the University of California, Irvine (UCI), along with several other notable colleges and universities, such as Chapman University and Cal State Fullerton. More recently, state droughts in California have further tested Orange County's water security. A severe drought in the 1860s devastated the prevailing industry, livestock and much of the land passed into the hands of Richard O'Neill, Sr. In 1887, silver was discovered in the Santa Ana Mountains, attracting settlers through the Santa Fe and South Pacific railroads.
Other citrus, avocado and oil extraction crops were also important for the early economy. Orange County benefited from the completion of the Pacific Electric Railway on July 4, 1904, a streetcar connecting Los Angeles to Santa Ana and Newport Beach. The liaison turned Orange County into an accessible weekend retreat for celebrities from the early. It was considered so important that Pacific City changed its name to Huntington Beach in honor of Henry E.
Huntington, President of Pacific Electric and nephew of Collis Huntington. Transportation further improved with the completion of State Route and U, S. Route 101 (now mostly interstate in the 1920s). The Santa Ana River is the county's main watercourse, flowing through the center of the county from northeast to southwest.
Its main tributary to the south and east is Santiago Creek. Other watercourses within the county include Aliso Creek, San Juan Creek and Horsethief Creek. In the north, the San Gabriel River also briefly crosses Orange County and exits to the Pacific on the Los Angeles-Orange County line between the cities of Long Beach and Seal Beach. Laguna Beach is home to the county's only natural lakes, Laguna Lakes, which are formed by water rising against an underground fault.
Orange County is a charter county in California; its seat is Santa Ana. The Orange County name was created to promote immigration in the area. The name suggests that oranges and other citrus fruits can grow well in the area, making it perfect for anyone who wants to move to the area for a living. Many citrus, avocado and berry farms have been established in the county over the years, and the boysenberry farm run by Walter Knott is among the most prominent spaces.
By the 1980s, Orange County had become the second most populous county in California, with the population exceeding two million for the first time. There are also important Taiwanese, Chinese and Korean communities, particularly in western Orange County. The only major airport in Orange County is John Wayne Airport; its abbreviation (SNA) refers to Santa Ana, the closest major city in the early 20th century. Cultural and entertainment facilities include Disneyland Resort, Angel Stadium, Christ Cathedral (formerly Crystal Cathedral), City National Grove of Anaheim (a live concert venue), Discovery Cube Orange County, the Honda Center, home of the NHL (National Hockey League) Anaheim Ducks and the Anaheim Center conventions.
Shopping in Orange County is centered around regional malls, large energy centers, and smaller malls. The Orange County Plain Dealer (January 1898 to May 8, 1992) was a newspaper based primarily in Anaheim, and successor to The Independent, purchased by James E. Health care centers include CHOC (Children's Hospital of Orange County), Kaiser Permanente Health Pavilion (Anaheim), St. Orange is the only county in New York located between two rivers, the Hudson in the east and the Delaware in the west.
With just over three million people, Orange County is the nation's sixth-largest county by population. Other Fortune 1000 companies in Orange County include Beckman Coulter in Brea, Quiksilver in Huntington Beach and Apria Healthcare Group in Lake Forest. Another region of Orange County is the Orange Coast, which includes the six cities that border the Pacific Ocean. In 1969, Richard Nixon, born in Yorba Linda, became the 37th president of the United States.
Orange County has produced such notable Republicans as President Richard Nixon (born in Yorba Linda and lived in Fullerton and San Clemente), U. Many regional international business headquarters reside in Orange County, including Mazda, Toshiba, Toyota, Samsung, Kia, in the City of Irvine, Mitsubishi in the City of Cypress, Kawasaki Motors in Foothill Ranch, and Hyundai in the City of Fountain Valley. Orange County has many Republican voters from culturally conservative Asian-American, Latino, and Middle Eastern immigrant groups. After several failed attempts in previous sessions, the California legislature passed a bill authorizing the part of Los Angeles County south of Coyote Creek to hold a referendum on whether to remain part of Los Angeles County or separate and form a new county to be called “Orange,” as indicated by the legislature.
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