Santa Ana fought diligently to become the heart of government of the newly formed county of Orange over 100 years ago. It has become the area’s political power base. It was an impressive victory for a city that began in 1869 with under 5000 people.

Originally a mustard field, it became a town when founder William H. Spurgeon established his home here. Santa Ana has as its’ center an impressive stone courthouse with a tower rising higher than any building. The restored courthouse sits on the same site today.

History

Santa Ana is located in Orange County, south of LA County, and is the biggest city in the OC. Santa Ana has a population of just over 342,000 people. It is located thirty-three miles south of Los Angeles and twelve miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. The Santa Ana River and its smaller tributary Santiago Creek are usually dry but are unpredictable in wet years.

The land that became Santa Ana was covered with tall yellow mustard when William H. Spurgeon from Kentucky rode through on horseback October 10, 1869. So high was the wild growth that he climbed a sycamore tree to view the land. He liked what he saw and paid Jacob Ross, Sr., $595 for 74.2 acres. Here he built his city.

Many of Santa Ana’s pioneers were known for their cultural pursuits. The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (W.C.T.U.) ladies early collected books to keep in a downtown office. An Ebell Society was formed in 1894, and their members also worked actively to obtain the Carnegie Library, which was built in 1903 on land donated by Spurgeon at the northwest corner of Fifth and Sycamore streets. Church groups put on various socials and entertainments. From the early years there was an opera house, which often changed location; the most elegant one was built by Charles E. French, who also owned the most elegant house in town. A newspaper would start up, soon to be followed by another. The men had their lodges and took pride in their fast-stepping horses.

Santa Ana began its boom after the Southern Pacific Railroad built a line to the area in 1877. Nine years later, Santa Ana became a city. The city experienced another boom immediately after World War II. Industry grew, creating jobs and thousands of new residents arrived in Santa Ana.

The quiet Charles W. and Ada E. Bowers left their property to the city in 1924 with the understanding that it would be used for a museum building and “that the Orange County Historical Society should have free use of the building.” The Bowers Museum opened February 15, 1936. And just now in 2006 it has been expanded ready to open a new wing in 2007.

The “Old Orange County Courthouse” as it is now called is a tangible reminder of William H. Spurgeon. In 1893, several offers of land for a county courthouse were made. It was his offer that was accepted for the site. The city paid $8,000 for the block east of West St. and north of Sixth St., promising to erect the courthouse within ten years. It was completed, dedicated, and opened for business in September, 1901. Since then many movies have been filmed there.

The Courthouse withstood the 1933 Long Beach earthquake well, although its weakened cupola was removed as a precaution. In the 1980s the Courthouse narrowly escaped being torn down. It had become inadequate for its purpose. The Hall of Records building behind it could not alleviate the situation. After the failure of St. Anne’s Inn just across Broadway during the Great Depression years, that building had become a courthouse annex. (The Inn had been a resort of glamorous Hollywood stars some of whom were married at the Courthouse to avoid publicity.) In 1968 a new courthouse eleven stories high opened on Civic Center Drive (the former Eighth St.). Through the valiant efforts of many, especially Adeline Cochems Walker and the Orange County Historical Commission, the old Courthouse was spared. Totally reinforced and renovated, it now stands as California Registered Landmark No. 837 and appears on the National Register of Historic Places.

Sightseeing

A major tourist attraction in Orange County is the historical district in downtown Santa Ana. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, the 21-block area is among the largest such districts in the state of California. It contains 100 buildings constructed between 1877 and 1934; among them are the Old County Courthouse (now a museum featuring changing exhibits related to local and regional history), the Fox West Coast Theatre, and Old City Hall. The district also features homes of prominent Santa Ana citizens. Tours of the Dr. Willella Howe-Waffle House, a restored Queen Anne Style home built in the 1880s, are available the first Saturday of each month.

Fairhaven Memorial Park is situated on 73 acres and features an arboretum harboring nearly 1,000 trees and numerous plants from around the world. The park’s historic mausoleum was built in 1916 of European marble and granite, with handcrafted stained-glass windows.

The Santa Ana Zoo is home to 260 animals and 84 species; among the rare and endangered species living at the zoo are the ring-tailed lemur, the margay cat, the white-handed gibbon, and the golden lion tamarin; the zoo welcomes 270,000 visitors each year. There are several other points of interest in Orange County, including world-famous Disneyland amusement park in Anaheim, and Knott’s Berry Farm and the Movieland Wax Museum in Buena Park.

Within driving distance of Santa Ana are the Universal Studios tour, Magic Mountain, Raging Waters amusement park, Sea World, and the San Diego Zoo.

Arts and Culture

More than 1,000 cultural organizations are active in Orange County; among them are symphony orchestras, ballet companies, theater groups, and modern and folk dance troupes. Santa Ana is home to the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, which presents its summer season at Irvine Meadows Amphitheater and performs its regular season concerts at Segerstrom Hall in the Orange County Performing Arts Center. The center is one of three theater facilities in the nation to house all of the four performing arts—musical theater, symphony, opera, and ballet.

Among the other orchestras in the metropolitan area are the Orange County Youth Symphony and the American Youth Symphony. Theater groups include the South Coast Repertory Theatre; dance companies are the Gloria Newman Dance Theatre and the Penrod-Plastino Movement Theatre.

Artists Village is a thriving area of art galleries and studios. It includes the Santora Arts Complex, renowned for its flamboyant churrigueresque architecture, which offers the works of more than 38 artists in five galleries, including the Santa Ana College gallery; the Empire Market Building, which contains several galleries, artists’ studios and a small theater; and the Cal State Fullerton Grand Central Art Center, which houses a student gallery and studios and the Alternative Repertory Theatre. The Orange County Center for Contemporary Art is also located in the village.

One of Orange County’s most prominent museums is located in Santa Ana. The famous Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, a Spanish mission style building, houses collections pertinent to Orange County and California history; Native American, Pacific Rim, and African cultures; and natural history; it also features a hands-on “Kidseum,” a five-star restaurant, and shops. The nearby Discovery Museum of Orange County has exhibits that chronicle the history of Orange County back to the nineteenth century. The Natural

The Bowers Museum of Cultural Art houses historical items from Orange County and California history. History Museum in nearby Newport Beach displays fossils unique to Orange County and marine life such as whales and walrus. Art museums in the area include the Laguna Beach Art Museum Annex, the Muckenthaler Cultural Center, and the Newport Harbor Art Museum.

Sports for the Spectator

Santa Ana residents are within an easy drive of sporting events in Anaheim. The Major League Baseball Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim play home games in the 45,050 seat Angel Stadium. The Fullerton State Titans and the Anteaters of the University of California at Irvine field National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I teams. Los Alamitos Race Course features parimutuel thorough-bred and harness racing.

Sports for the Participant

Santa Ana’s mild climate invites year-round athletic enjoyment. Some of Southern California’s finest beaches are minutes away, and the city is located only 12 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Mountain ski resorts are within easy driving distance.

Shopping and Dining

South Coast Plaza Village in Santa Ana is a European-style marketplace. With 25 incorporated cities in Orange County, each with its own central shopping district and community shopping centers, the shopper has endless opportunities. More than 20 major regional shopping malls feature national department stores, specialty shops, and boutiques. Santa Ana is also within easy driving distance of Beverly Hills’ famous Rodeo Drive, which is lined with luxury and designer shops.

Santa Ana has dozens of restaurants that offer a variety of cuisine, including traditional American, Continental, Italian, Asian, and Mexican dishes.