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Santa Ana, California

"Downtown of Orange County"
The county seat and urban heart of Orange County — a vibrant, densely populated Latino city serving as the governmental center of one of America's wealthiest counties.
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Founded 1869 | Population 318,663 | Peak 340,378 (2010) | County Orange County

Top 10 Most Important Events for Santa Ana, California

1
1889Orange County Created: Orange County separated from LA County with Santa Ana as county seat, anchoring the city's identity as OC's governmental hub.
2
1970Latino Immigration Transforms City: Demographics shifted dramatically as Mexican and Central American immigrants settled in the city. By 2000, over 76% of residents were Latino.
3
1869Santa Ana Founded: William Spurgeon purchased acreage and platted the town along the Santa Ana River, growing as an agricultural center.
4
1933Earthquake Devastates Downtown: The 1933 earthquake caused significant damage, leading to rebuilding that shaped the modern downtown.
5
2012Downtown Arts Renaissance: The Artists Village and monthly art walks transformed downtown into a vibrant cultural destination.
6
1906Pacific Electric Railway Arrives: The Red Car connected Santa Ana to LA and the rest of Southern California.
7
1877Southern Pacific Railroad Arrives: The railroad transformed the agricultural town into a shipping center for citrus and produce.
8
1990Most Densely Populated City in OC: Santa Ana reached over 11,000 people per square mile, reflecting its role as OC's urban core.
9
2017Sanctuary City Declaration: Santa Ana declared sanctuary status, reflecting its large immigrant population and sparking debate.
10
1955Disneyland Opens Nearby: Disneyland's opening in adjacent Anaheim transformed the entire region's growth patterns.
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Population Over Time

0 84,494 168,989 253,483 337,977 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

Latest News in Santa Ana

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Complete Historical Timeline

1769 Government
Portolá expedition camps along the Santa Ana River
1869 Government
William Spurgeon founds Santa Ana
1877 Transport
Southern Pacific Railroad reaches city
1886 Government
Santa Ana incorporated
1889 Government
Becomes county seat of new Orange County
1906 Transport
Pacific Electric connects to LA
1933 Disaster
Earthquake damages downtown
1955 Business
Disneyland opens nearby
1970 Social
Latino immigration transformation begins
1990 Government
Most densely populated city in OC
2012 Culture
Artists Village revitalizes downtown
2017 Politics
Sanctuary city declaration
2024 Transport
OC Streetcar project advances

Did You Know?

1
Santa Ana is the most densely populated city in Orange County, with over 11,000 people per square mile.
2
The Bowers Museum is considered one of the finest cultural art museums in Southern California.
3
Despite being the county seat of one of America's wealthiest counties, Santa Ana has one of OC's lowest median household incomes.
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