Chapter 3: Foundations of Human Activity

Members of the Tongva, Juaneno and Luiseno Native American tribes had inhabited the area for centuries. After the Spanish came to California in the mid-1700's Junipero Serra named the area Valle de Santa Anna (Valley of Saint Anne). Mission San Juan Capistrano was founded November 1, 1776 and became Orange County's first permanent European settlement. Many ranchos in Orange County were given land grants by the Mexican government when the area was part of Mexico in the first half of the 1800s. (www.en.wikipedia.com/wiki/Orange_County,_California) 

                                           http://www.daytrippen.com/missionsjc.html

With the end of the Mexican War in 1848 Orange County, as was the rest of California was obtained by the United States. The economy of the county soared with the Gold Rush of 1849 when settlers came to California in the thousands. California entered statehood in 1850 and Orange County became part of Los Angeles County originally.The burst of economic growth in the 1880s led to the creation of Orange County in 1889. 

- Orange County is one of the most populous counties in the country, the sixth largest in the US and the third largest in the U.S. 

- About 3,000 to 66,940 people per square mile ( Regional Landscapes of the U.S. and Canada pg. 53)  

URBANIZATION 

http://www.destination-southern-california.com/things-to-do-in-southern-california.html

http://catalisthomes.com/CA_real_estate/Newport_Coast.aspx

By the mid-1950s, Orange County’s farms were being replaced by tract housing faster than any other community in the United States. Existing cities began annexing territory in every direction, and new cities incorporated almost every year. Tourism, manufacturing and service became the main drive for the economy. The opening of Disneyland in 1955 made Orange County an international destination. TV shows such as The O.C. and Laguna Beach also increased tourism in the 2000's. Today, Orange County has more than 3 million residents. 


Source: http://www.ocsd.org/vgnfiles/ocgov/Clerk-Recorder/Docs/Archives/history_of_orange_county.pdf