Named for its circular Grand Boulevard, Corona sits at the gateway between the Inland Empire and coastal Orange County through the Santa Ana Mountains.
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Founded1886|Population163,635|Peak163,635(2024)|CountyRiverside County
Top 10 Most Important Events for Corona, California
1
1886City Founded: The South Riverside Land and Water Company founded Corona and laid out Grand Boulevard in a perfect circle — unique in California.
2
1913Corona Road Race: The circular Grand Boulevard hosted one of America's first auto races, predating Indianapolis.
3
1920Citrus Capital: Corona became one of the top lemon-producing areas in the world during the Southern California citrus boom.
4
1990Suburban Boom: Corona's population tripled as commuters seeking affordable housing flooded the Inland Empire.
5
2020COVID Irony: A city named Corona gained worldwide attention during the coronavirus pandemic, though there was no connection.
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Complete Historical Timeline
1886Government
Founded with circular boulevard
1896Government
Incorporated
1913Sports
Auto race on Grand Boulevard
1920Industry
Citrus industry peaks
1990Government
Population triples as IE booms
2020Culture
COVID name confusion
2023Government
Exceeds 163,000
Did You Know?
1
Grand Boulevard in Corona is a perfect 3-mile circle — one of the few circular streets of its kind in the country.
2
Corona's 1913 road race on Grand Boulevard was one of the earliest automobile races in American history.
3
The city's name means 'crown' in Spanish — and had nothing to do with a certain virus that made headlines in 2020.
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