When California became a state in 1850, what is now Orange County was part of Los Angeles County. The Gold Rush of 1849 brought tens of thousands of new settlers to the area, providing ranchers with a new market for their livestock. Archaeological evidence suggests that the area was inhabited around 9,500 years ago. At the time of European contact, the northern part of Orange County was mainly inhabited by the Tongva, a part of Tovaangar, while the southern area was mainly inhabited by the Acjachemen.
Both groups lived in villages throughout the area. Large villages were sometimes multiethnic and multilingual, such as Genga, located in what is now Newport Beach. The village was shared by the Tongva and the Acjachemen. The town of Puhú was located in what is now Black Star Canyon and was shared by several groups, including the Tongva, the Acjachemen, the Serrano, and the Payómkawichum.
Other crops such as citrus, avocado, and oil extraction were also important to the initial economy. Orange County benefited from the completion on July 4, 1904, of the Pacific Electric Railway, a streetcar connecting Los Angeles to Santa Ana and Newport Beach. This link turned Orange County into an accessible weekend retreat for celebrities in early Hollywood. It was 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 improved even more with the completion of the State Highway and U. S. Route 101 (now mostly interstate) in the 1920s.
In 1969, Richard Nixon, a native of Orange County from Yorba Linda, became the 37th president of the United States. In the 1980s, Orange County became the second most populous county in California as its population surpassed two million for the first time. Orange County is bordered to the southwest by the Pacific Ocean, to the north by Los Angeles County, to the northeast by San Bernardino County, to the east by Riverside County, and to the southeast by San Diego County. The Santa Ana River is its main watercourse, flowing through its center from northeast to southwest.
Its main tributary to the south and east is Santiago Creek. Other watercourses within Orange County include Aliso Creek, San Juan Creek, and Horsethief Creek. In its north region, San Gabriel River briefly crosses Orange County and flows into the Pacific between Long Beach and Seal Beach. Laguna Beach is home to its only natural lakes - Laguna Lakes - which are formed by water rising against an underground fault. 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, Honda Center (home of Anaheim Ducks NHL team), and Anaheim Convention Center.
Health care facilities include CHOC (Children's Hospital of Orange County), Kaiser Permanente Health Pavilion (Anaheim), St Joseph Hospital (Orange), and ICU Medical Center. Shopping complexes include Anaheim GardenWalk, Anaheim Marketplace (which claims to be largest indoor exchange center in Orange County with more than 200 vendors), MainPlace Mall, Orange Town & Country, and The Outlets at Orange (originally a mall called The City that was centerpiece of planned mixed-use development from 1970s).Tourism remains a vital aspect of Orange County's economy; Anaheim is its main tourist center with Disneyland Resort being second most visited theme park in world. Knotts Berry Farm receives around 7 million visitors annually and is located in Buena Park city. Anaheim Convention Center holds many important conventions throughout year; beach cities resorts welcome visitors year-round due to their proximity to beach, bike trails, mountain hiking trails, golf courses, shopping centers & restaurants; area's warm Mediterranean climate & 68 km of beaches all year round attract millions of tourists every year; Huntington Beach is popular spot for sunbathing & surfing - nicknamed Surf City USA; The Wedge at tip of Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach is one of world's most famous surfing spots; Southern California surf culture is prominent in Orange County beach towns; other popular beaches include A Thousand Steps on 9th Street; Main Street Beach; & The Montage. Orange County has produced notable Republicans such as President Richard Nixon (born in Yorba Linda & lived in Fullerton & San Clemente); former congressman Seymour (formerly mayor of Anaheim); former congressman Christopher Cox (of Newport Beach) - President Reagan's lawyer in White House & former president; former Republican congressman John G Schmitz - presidential candidate for ultra-conservative American Independent Party & member John Birch Society & father Mary Kay Letourneau; Curt Pringle (later mayor of Anaheim) became first Republican president California State Assembly in decades. Some institutions not headquartered in Orange County have satellite campuses such as University Southern California; National University; Pepperdine University; & Springfield College.
The Orange County Department Education oversees 28 school districts; Los Angeles news outlets serve Orange County including its radio & television stations; it has two television stations - KOCE-TV (main PBS broadcaster Southland) & KDOC-TV (independent broadcaster).
