Orange County History

Our Orange County History section is designed to provide a reliable source of information about the rich history of Orange County, California. Just click on any of the highlighted links.

To learn more, you can visit the Orange County Archives, or contact us.

Additional links will be added in the future.

General Information

• Orange County History Photos 

• Brief History of Orange County 

• A Few Important Dates in Orange County History 

• How Orange County Got Its Name 

• County of Orange Historical Landmarks 

Statistical Information

• Orange County Population  

• 1900 Orange County Great Register of Voters

• Orange County Naturalizations, 1889-1905 

• Voter Registration Totals, 1938-80 

• Number of Subdivisions Filed, 1950-92

• Number of Building Permits Approved, 1950-2002 

• Property Deeds Recorded, 1946-91

• Vehicle Registration Totals, 1944-73 

Eras and Events

• Spanish and Mexican Ranchos of Orange County 

• World War I Veterans of Orange County 

Agriculture and Industry

• The Citrus Industry 

County Government

• The Creation of Orange County, 1889 

• History of the Orange County Civic Center 

• County Officials:

  • County Assessors 

  • County Auditors  

  • County Clerks and Recorders  

  • County Counsels  

  • County Executive Officers  

  • County Sheriffs  

  • County Supervisors  

  • County Treasurer-Tax Collectors  

  • District Attorneys 

  • Probation Department 

  • Superintendent of Schools 

Orange County Cities and Towns

• City Incorporation Elections 

• Orange County Post Offices

• Orange County School Districts 

Countywide Organizations

Orange County’s Diverse Population

• Orange County’s Chinatowns

• Wintersburg Japanese Presbyterian Church

• Pacific Beach Club 

Transportation

• The Pacific Electric Railway in Orange County 

• Orange County Freeways

Tourism and Recreation

• Disneyland 

• Knott’s Berry Farm 

Other Sources

• Suggested Reading 

• Links

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