Orange County, California is a vibrant and diverse region with an intriguing past. The name Orange County was chosen to attract immigrants to the area, as it suggested that oranges and other citrus fruits could be grown in the area. In the 1910s, agriculture was the main focus of the county, with small farmers cultivating grain, hay and potatoes. Single-family homes were the dominant landscape in most of the county, while northern and central Orange County were more urbanized and dense compared to areas south of Irvine.
Nowadays, many international companies have their regional headquarters in Orange County, such as 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. In 1921, the Orange County Library, the County Health Department and the Eddie Martin Airport were inaugurated for the first time. In 1969, Richard Nixon, a native of Orange County born in Yorba Linda, became the 37th president of the United States. Southern California Bible College (now known as Vanguard University) became Orange County's first four-year school in 1950.
There is a strip-type commercial development that includes large stores along West Chapman Avenue in Orange (Marshalls, Ralphs), along Harbor Boulevard in Garden Grove (Burlington, Ross Dress for Less) and around Harbor Blvd. Orange County filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy after municipalities invested the county's money in the stock market. On a normal weekday, more than 40 trains run on the Orange County line, line 91 and the Inland Empire—Orange County line. Orange County is a vibrant area with a captivating history that continues to shape its present and future. From its agricultural beginnings to its current status as a hub for international companies and home to a former president of the United States, Orange County has come a long way.
