History Fullerton, California

1 history

1.1 history
1.2 boom years
1.3 postwar suburbanization
1.4 recent history

history
early history

evidence of prehistoric animal habitation, such saber-toothed cats , mammoths, present in ralph b. clark regional park in northwest of city. europeans first passed through area in 1769 when gaspar de portolà led spanish expedition north monterey. description recorded in diary of father juan crespi, seems party camped on july 29 near present-day laguna lake, in sunny hills area.

after establishment of mission san gabriel arcangel in 1771, local tongva people dubbed gabrieliños spanish. in 1837, fullerton area became part of rancho san juan cajón de santa ana, granted juan pacifico ontiveros, spanish soldier.

ontiveros began sell parcels of rancho migrant americans settling , developing california in aftermath of 1849 gold rush, including massachusetts native abel stearns. in 1860s, stearns sold in turn domingo bastanchury, basque shepherd.

in 1886 while in area on duck hunting vacation, malden brothers george , edward amerige, heard rumors california central railroad, subsidiary of santa fe railway, looking land. sensing opportunity, arranged buy 430 acres (1.7 km) north of anaheim approximately $68,000.

they began negotiations george h. fullerton, president of pacific land , improvement company, santa fe subsidiary. offered free right-of-way , half interest in land railroad if fullerton s survey revised include proposed town site, , on july 5, 1887 edward amerige formally staked claim @ intersection of harbor boulevard , commonwealth avenue.

in 1894 charles chapman, retired chicago publisher , descendant of john johnny appleseed chapman, purchased orange orchard in eastern fullerton. valencia variety of oranges promoted santa ysabel ranch, suited local climate, proved boon producers; fullerton boasted more orange groves other municipality in united states. cultivation of walnuts , avocados flourished, , western railroad town became agricultural center. fullerton incorporated in 1904.

boom years

city of fullerton s valencia orange show exhibit featuring aztec pyramid, 1931

drilling petroleum began in 1880 discovery of brea-olinda oil field , fueled first real boom, peaking in 1920s. construction reflected vogue spanish colonial , italian renaissance-inspired architecture, in historic fox fullerton theatre (erected 1925); home of walter , adella muckenthaler, designed frank k. benchley (erected 1924); , city s chief landmark, plummer auditorium , clock tower (erected 1930). fullerton college established @ present location @ chapman avenue , lemon street in 1913. meanwhile, city banned overnight street parking in 1924— law enforced present day. period 1910-1950 represented golden age city other southern california cities marked elegant architecture ranging beaux arts movement distinctive california mediterraneum architecture, in turn surrounded bucolic farms , parks. significant public works projects constructed during period, including conversion of southwestern sewer farm fullerton municipal airport @ behest of placentia ranchers , aviators william , robert dowling in 1927.following depression, concentration of industry, depressed farming economy, , cheap land development shattered earlier period quality of life. through mid-1900s economy shifted toward food processing rather food production, manufacturing; southeastern fullerton became industrial center. val vita food products (later hunt wesson , today part of conagra foods, inc.) began operating citrus juice plant in western fullerton in 1932. 1941 had become largest food processing company in us. in 1934 a.w. leo, tom yates , ralph harrison developed first hawaiian punch recipe in converted garage in fullerton. city became producer of aerospace equipment, electrical , electronic components, navigation systems, , laboratory instruments.

in 1949 dick riedel , bill barris piloted sunkist lady, modified aeronca sedan, out of fullerton airport set endurance flight record of 1,008 hours , 2 minutes.

also in 1949, fullerton setting in leo fender developed , refined design of fender telecaster, guitar later used among of greatest musicians of 20th , 21st century. among them: bruce springsteen, keith richards, joe strummer, waylon jennings, dwight yoakam, greg camp, jimmy page, kurt cobain, james burton, jonny greenwood , many others.

postwar suburbanization

although fullerton other southern california cities had experienced expansion of population due housing development, increased order of magnitude during post war years. fullerton s population soared after world war ii american veterans migrated california, bought housing in land development destroyed surrounding farming , park areas, , in particular after construction of interstate 5 , development in neighboring anaheim.

to serve growing population, california state legislature authorized orange county state college in 1957, began operating out of fullerton high schools in 1959. in 1963, moved present campus on state college boulevard, , later, after several name-changes, redesignated california state university, fullerton. other institutions followed, earning fullerton reputation education city. fullerton arboretum, 26-acre (105,000 m²) botanical garden, opened in northeastern part of city adjacent campus in 1979.

manufacturing growth leveled off ever-soaring property prices, increasing environmental regulation, traffic, , other pressures increased. late 20th century city had lost of rural character in favor of suburban housing tracts , shopping centers.

recent history

fullerton police headquarters

the first years of 21st century have seen several political issues played out against backdrop of class division (between more affluent northern , western parts of city , southern portion of city, borders anaheim), rapidly diminishing supplies of undeveloped land, , demographic changes (including influx of asian , latino immigrants area dominated caucasian americans).

as in many cities, growth , development contentious issues. in 1990s, downtown commercial district had become economically depressed, , known being area of sleepy antique stores , small shops. symbol of downtown s problems fox theatre, local landmark, had fallen disrepair. of november 2004, fundraising drive had accumulated sufficient funds buy theater, not yet enough money restore it. 2006, restoration started.

during same period, downtown area (a.k.a. dtf), south of commonwealth avenue (a.k.a. soco), has become more of busy entertainment district, described oc weekly bourbon street west. in less 5 years, 30 businesses sell alcohol have opened, making downtown area more active @ night. ranging mixture of mexican cantinas , asian bars jazz, local venues , music stores, festive atmosphere have come problems such public drunkenness, fights , shortage of parking. in 2008, city manager chris meyer called department head , finance department , reported city council restaurant overlay district (established december 2002)was costing city $935,000 on , above sales taxes collected. 4 officers hired downtown, bringing costs $1,600,000 year. rod had abolished condition use; new ordinance establish restrictions drafted , adopted city council in 2008. police task force last year has addressed of these problems.

the 293-acre (1.19 km) hughes aircraft company s ground systems group campus in western fullerton redeveloped major new residential , commercial district, called amerige heights, in 2001–2004. development accompanied extreme shifts in neighborhood property values, first dropping precipitously in late 1980s 1990s former hughes employees sold houses, , rising rapidly part of general increase in real estate values throughout orange county.