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142-463: Seal Beach is a coastal city in Orange County, California , United States. As of the 2020 census , the population was 25,242, up from 24,168 at the 2010 census . Seal Beach is located in the westernmost corner of Orange County. To the northwest, just across the border with Los Angeles County , lies the city of Long Beach and the adjacent San Pedro Bay . To the southeast are Huntington Harbour ,

284-645: A bedroom community for many who moved to Southern California to work in aerospace and manufacturing. Orange County received a further economic boost in 1955 with the opening of Disneyland . In 1969, Yorba Linda -born Orange County native Richard Nixon became the 37th President of the United States . He established a " Western White House " in San Clemente , in South Orange County, known as La Casa Pacifica , and visited throughout his presidency. In

426-755: A "downtown for Orange County". The 820 acres (330 ha) area undergoing this large-scale redevelopment includes the city's two major sports venues, the Honda Center and Angel Stadium of Anaheim . The 2010 United States Census reported that Orange County had a population of 3,010,232. The racial makeup of Orange County was 1,830,758 (60.8%) White (44.0% non-Hispanic white), 50,744 (1.7%) African American , 18,132 (0.6%) Native American , 537,804 (17.9%) Asian , 9,354 (0.3%) Pacific Islander , 435,641 (14.5%) from other races , and 127,799 (4.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,012,973 persons (33.7%). The Hispanic and Latino population

568-617: A beach and grand bath house resort at the Long Beach terminus of the Red Car interurban commuter electric railroad system Pacific Electric Railway southern expansion from Los Angeles. A grand bath house was constructed at the shore, scheduled to open Independence Day, 1902. The grand opening of the bath house, known later as The Plunge, coincided with the inaugural run of the Pacific Electric Railway Long Beach Line on

710-556: A carousel at the Pike in Long Beach, and he took up residence with his son, Arthur Looff and the rest of his family in the second story above the shops in the carousel hippodrome building that would later become home to Lite-a-Line. Buster Keaton filmed a scene from The High Sign (1921) at the Long Beach Pike carousel. The horses of the original Long Beach Looff Carousel carved in 1911 were destroyed by fire in 1943. A new outdoor carousel

852-471: A female householder with no husband present, and 54.9% were non-families. Of all households, 48.8% were made up of individuals, and 34.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.83 and the average family size was 2.65. In the city, the population was spread out, with 13.3% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 37.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age

994-539: A larger, more modern auditorium was constructed. Filling of the shoreline area continued in the late 1950s and early 1960s with the Tidelands Filling Project. In 1954 there were 218 amusements in the park, but during that time the zone began to face stiff competition from Knott's Berry Farm and then Disneyland (both less than 20 miles (32 km) away) and the rough, free-for-all reputation of The Pike may have discouraged some families from attending. In

1136-599: A mall named "The City" which was the centerpiece of a planned, 1970s mixed-use development by the same name. There is commercial strip-style development including big box retailers along West Chapman Avenue in Orange, along Harbor Boulevard in Garden Grove, and around Harbor Boulevard and Chapman Avenue in Anaheim. Major hotels line Harbor Boulevard from Disneyland south to Garden Grove. The Orange County Transit Authority studied

1278-519: A neighborhood of Huntington Beach , and Sunset Beach , also part of Huntington Beach. To the east lie the city of Westminster and the neighborhood of West Garden Grove , part of the city of Garden Grove . To the north lie the unincorporated community of Rossmoor and the city of Los Alamitos . A majority of the city's acreage is devoted to the Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach military base. The Tongva village of Motuucheyngna

1420-467: A new county to be named "Orange" as directed by the legislature. The referendum required a 2/3 vote for secession to take place, and on June 4, 1889, the vote was 2,509 to 500 in favor of secession. After the referendum, Los Angeles County filed three lawsuits to prevent the secession, but their attempts were futile. On July 17, 1889, a second referendum was held south of the Coyote Creek to determine if

1562-505: A pedestrian overpass supporting teaser artwork resembling a steel roller coaster, an outdoor amphitheater, an antique Spillman carousel (1920) and a solar-powered Ferris wheel . However, the mostly entertainment-focused commercial concept was not ultimately successful. Borders , a main anchor of the center, closed in 2011. GameWorks shuttered and re-opened as Kitchen Den Bar, which also closed along with several other entertainment-oriented businesses. In 2013, Restoration Hardware opened in

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1704-489: A population of 24,168. The population density was 1,853.3 inhabitants per square mile (715.6/km). The racial makeup of Seal Beach was 20,154 (83.4%) White (76.9% Non-Hispanic White), 279 (1.2%) African American , 65 (0.3%) Native American , 2,309 (9.6%) Asian , 58 (0.2%) Pacific Islander , 453 (1.9%) from other races , and 850 (3.5%) from two or more races. There were 2,331 Hispanic or Latino residents, of any race (9.6%). The Census reported that 23,943 people (99.1% of

1846-457: A secluded booth with table service on linen. Charles I.D. Looff was one of the first great American carousel master carvers, having installed the first successful carousel at Coney Island , and developing amusements, carousels and roller coasters around the U.S.; examples of his carousels at Santa Monica Pier Looff Hippodrome (1922) and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk with brass ring feature (1911) still stand. In 1911, Charles I.D. Looff installed

1988-576: A shack on top, the caption should read "Niagara Barrel". The Pike's first more traditional wooden roller coaster opened for business in June 1907. It was built by Fred Ingersoll and named the Figure 8 after the shape of the tracks. It was built on pilings that reached out over the water. According to a 1966 editorial in the High Tide , the newspaper of Redondo Union High School, a rider met tragedy when he disobeyed

2130-594: A sign instructing riders not to stand up: "He apparently thought this would spoil his fun, so he proceeded to stand up. Unfortunately, his head was knocked off." Figure 8 was closed in 1914 and demolished to clear the way for new development. In 1914, the Pike Amusement Zone undertook several upgrades and a roller coaster named the Jack Rabbit Racer was opened in May 1915, becoming the second largest racing coaster in

2272-476: A simple beach access made of planks to a midway of concessions , it included The Plunge bathhouse (pictured), Sea Side Studio souvenir photography, the Looff carousel , McGruder salt water taffy , pitch and skill games, pony rides, goat carts, fortune teller, weight guesser and a variety of dark and thrill rides, amusements and attractions large and small. In the early 1920s, the first Long Beach Municipal Auditorium

2414-457: A steel monorail track and could swing freely. The cars traveled up an inclined lift track to the top of an expanding, spiral cone-shaped, steel tower. As they began their spiral descent, centrifugal force caused them to swing outward before returning to the station. This is commonly acknowledged as the first suspended roller coaster type ride. This tall steel tower figures prominently in early postcards of Long Beach Pier (Pine Ave., later to join

2556-567: A suitable grape-growing region. This group purchased a 1,165 acres (4.71 km ) parcel from Juan Pacifico Ontiveros's Rancho San Juan Cajon de Santa Ana for $ 2 per acre and later formed the Anaheim Vineyard Company . With surveyor George Hansen , two of the wine colony's founders, John Frohling and Charles Kohler, planted 400,000 grapevines along the Santa Ana River ; by 1875, "there were as many as 50 wineries in Anaheim, and

2698-717: A syndicate to lay out the town of Bayside on the land between Anaheim Landing and Anaheim Bay and the eastern edge of Alamitos Bay . The new town would be situated along the still not-announced Balboa Line of the Pacific Electric, which would run from Long Beach to Newport Beach. As there was already a town called Bayside in Northern California (by Eureka), Stanton's group instead called their new town Bay City. Due to many factors—including competition from other beach resort areas (Long Beach, Redondo Beach and Venice/Ocean Park/Santa Monica), some national financial crises, and

2840-593: A three-dimensional model and are looking to perhaps have it rebuilt in Southern California. The last remaining Cyclone Racer roller coaster car is located in the Pike Museum at 2500 Long Beach Blvd, Long Beach CA 90806. The Pike was frequently a location for filming television programs and movies. In the 1970s, the city of Long Beach began redevelopment of the area, expanding into the Pacific Ocean, eliminating

2982-641: A transition zone between north and south; when this viewpoint is taken Tustin is also considered to be in Central Orange County. Costa Mesa is sometimes included in South County, although it is located predominantly to the west of the Costa Mesa Freeway and is part of the even street grid network of northern Orange County. Irvine is located in a valley defined by the Santa Ana Mountains and

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3124-460: A wagon overland across 12 miles (19 km) of soft soil to the Landing. The beaches and surrounding rolling Anaheim Landing had by this time become popular as a getaway from hot summer days. Los Angeles newspapers talk of a permanent summer population of as many as 400 and even more on special days. The landing was also home to a number of fishing boats that plied the local fishing areas. This activity

3266-630: Is a Gold Ribbon School. Until 2000, the Orange County High School of the Arts was part of Los Alamitos High School. In 2000, the school district suffered a major blow when the community lost the Orange County High School of the Arts to Santa Ana, where it is now located. Orange County, California Orange County (officially the County of Orange ; often known by its initials O.C. )

3408-628: Is a county located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area in Southern California , United States. As of the 2020 census , the population was 3,186,989, making it the third-most-populous county in California, the sixth-most-populous in the United States , and more populous than 19 American states and Washington, D.C. Although largely suburban , it is the second-most-densely-populated county in

3550-571: Is a tourist center, with attractions like Disneyland Resort , Knott's Berry Farm , Mission San Juan Capistrano , Huntington Beach Pier , the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum , Modjeska House , Segerstrom Center for the Arts , Yost Theater , Bowers Museum , Balboa Island , Angel Stadium , Downtown Santa Ana , Crystal Cove Historic District , the Honda Center , the Old Orange County Courthouse ,

3692-468: Is also a significant Muslim population in the county. As of the census of 2000, there were 2,846,289 people, 935,287 households, and 667,794 families living in the county, making Orange County the second most populous county in California . The population density was 1,392/km (3,606/sq mi). There were 969,484 housing units at an average density of 474/km (1,228/sq mi). The racial makeup of

3834-615: Is also home to the Bay Theatre , which was a popular venue for independent film and revival screenings. It was closed in 2012 but was purchased in 2017 by Paul Dunlap who is currently restoring it. The Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge is located on part of the Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach. Much of the refuge 's 911 acres (3.69 km) is the remnant of the saltwater marsh in the Anaheim Bay estuary (the rest of

3976-565: Is based in Seal Beach and Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems ( satellite systems and classified programs) is headquartered in Seal Beach. According to the city's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are: The Lions Club Pancake Breakfast in April and its Fish Fry (started in 1943) in July are two of the biggest events in Seal Beach. There has been a Rough Water Swim

4118-657: Is bordered on the southwest by the Pacific Ocean , on the north by Los Angeles County , on the northeast by San Bernardino County , on the east by Riverside County , and on the southeast by San Diego County . The northwestern part of the county lies on the coastal plain of the Los Angeles Basin , while the southeastern end rises into the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains . Most of Orange County's population reside in one of two shallow coastal valleys that lie in

4260-484: Is home to the county's only natural lakes, Laguna Lakes, which are formed by water rising up against an underground fault. Orange County is sometimes divided into northern and southern regions. There are significant political, demographic, economic and cultural distinctions between North and South Orange County. A popular dividing line between the two regions is the Costa Mesa Freeway . Northern Orange County, including Anaheim, Fullerton , Garden Grove and Santa Ana ,

4402-602: Is land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km) of it (13.45%) is water. Seal Beach is bounded by the CDP of Rossmoor and the city of Los Alamitos to the north, the West Garden Grove neighborhood and city of Westminster to the east, Huntington Beach to the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Seal Beach has a semi-arid climate ( Köppen climate classification BSh ) with Mediterranean characteristics. The 2010 United States Census reported that Seal Beach had

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4544-566: Is now Newport Beach . The village was shared by the Tongva and Acjachemen. The village of Puhú was located in what is now Black Star Canyon and was shared by multiple groups, including the Tongva, Acjachemen, Serrano and Payómkawichum . The mother village of the Acjachemen was Putiidhem and is now located in San Juan Capistrano underneath Junipero Serra Catholic High School . For

4686-462: Is predominantly flat, giving way to the Santa Ana Mountains in the Northeast. Southern Orange County is wealthier, more residential, more Republican, predominantly non-Hispanic white, and more recently developed. Irvine, the largest city in the region, is an exception to some of these trends, being not only a major employment center, but also a major tech hub and education center with UCI. Furthermore,

4828-429: Is predominantly of Mexican origin; this group accounts for 28.5% of the county's population, followed by Salvadorans (0.8%), Guatemalans (0.5%), Puerto Ricans (0.4%), Cubans (0.3%), Colombians (0.3%), and Peruvians (0.3%). Santa Ana with its population reportedly 75 percent Hispanic/Latino, is among the most Hispanic/Latino percentage cities in both California and the U.S., esp. of Mexican-American descent. Among

4970-516: Is said to have been named for the citrus fruit in an attempt to promote immigration by suggesting a semi-tropical paradise – a place where anything could grow. In 1919, the California State Legislature redefined the county's boundary with Los Angeles County to no longer follow Coyote Creek but instead along Public Land Survey System township lines instead. Other citrus crops, avocados , and oil extraction were also important to

5112-630: Is the Red Car Museum which features a restored Pacific Electric Railway Red Car. The Balboa Line once passed through Seal Beach going south to the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach . Going north into Long Beach a rider could then take the Red Cars through much of Los Angeles County. Anderson Street Water Tower is a restored 1892 water tower that is being rented for overnight stays. Seal Beach

5254-509: The 1939 California tropical storm , meant that Orange County was in need of new infrastructure, which was supported by the New Deal . This included the construction of numerous schools, city halls, post offices, parks, libraries, and fire stations, as well as the improvement of road infrastructure throughout Orange County. School segregation between Mexican and white students in Orange County

5396-689: The 72nd Assembly District , represented by Republican Diane Dixon . In the United States House of Representatives , Seal Beach is in California's 47th congressional district , represented by Democrat Katie Porter . Seal Beach is almost entirely in the Los Alamitos Unified School District , and a small portion outside of that district is on the reservation of Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station . Seal Beach once had its own elementary school district and sent its older children to Huntington Beach or Marina High School in

5538-646: The Concord Naval Weapons Station in Northern California, it has become the primary source of munitions for a majority of the United States Pacific Fleet . The arrival of the Navy catalyzed a growth in population which eventually succeeded in shutting down Robertson's gambling operations. Surfing has always had a presence in Seal Beach. Newspaper advertisements showing surfers were part of Guy M. Rush's "Seal Beach" campaign of 1913. The town hosted

5680-784: The Honda Center – home to the Anaheim Ducks of the NHL ( National Hockey League ), and the Anaheim Convention Center . Health care facilities include CHOC ( Children's Hospital of Orange County ), Kaiser Permanente Health Pavilion (Anaheim), St. Joseph Hospital (Orange) , and the UCI Medical Center . Retail complexes include Anaheim GardenWalk , Anaheim Marketplace (claiming to be the largest indoor swap meet in Orange County with more than 200 vendors), MainPlace Mall , Orange Town & Country, and The Outlets at Orange , originally

5822-613: The Huntington Beach Union High School District . Since the early 1980s it has been part of the Los Alamitos Unified School District. Younger students (K-5) go to McGaugh Elementary School, Hopkinson Elementary School, Rossmoor Elementary, Lee Elementary, Los Alamitos Elementary or Weaver Elementary. Students in grades 6–8 attend either Oak Middle School or McAuliffe Middle School. High school students go to Los Alamitos High School , which

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5964-560: The Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks , and several popular beaches along its more than 40 mi (64 km) of coastline. It is also home to a major research university, the University of California, Irvine (UCI), along with a number of other notable colleges and universities such as Chapman University and Cal State Fullerton . Archeological evidence shows the area to have been inhabited beginning about 9,500 years ago. At

6106-552: The Ocean Center Building containing Hollywood on the Pike cabaret and an amusement arcade , one could stroll west along the midway past storefront games, such as ball-pitch and shooting galleries , as well as outdoor amusement machines such as fortune predicting weight-scales, and several large indoor collections of coin-operated Electro-mechanical amusements - pinball, skill-prize merchandisers, penny-pitch, nickelodeon viewers, love and strength testers, fortune tellers,

6248-557: The Queen Mary opened to the public in 1971 as a self-guided maritime museum tour on the upper decks and engine room, a hotel utilizing the former luxury staterooms of the mid-decks and Jacques Cousteau 's The Living Sea . Focus and attention was further diverted from Queens Park with Shoreline Village and Rainbow Harbor marina, serviced by Shoreline Drive, built to connect to the Long Beach Freeway on even more ocean landfill south of

6390-487: The San Gabriel River —the stingrays are attracted by the heated water from several upstream powerplants ). Classic longboard builders in the area include Harbour Surfboards, established in 1959, in Seal Beach. The city is administered under a council-manager form of government, and is governed by a five-member city council serving four-year alternating terms. The mayor and mayor pro tempore are chosen by and from

6532-798: The San Joaquin Hills , while much of Southern Orange County is very hilly. Another region of Orange County is the Orange Coast , which includes the six cities bordering the Pacific Ocean. These are, from northwest to southeast: Seal Beach , Huntington Beach , Newport Beach , Laguna Beach , Dana Point and San Clemente , although Seal Beach is sometimes viewed as an extension of neighboring Long Beach in Los Angeles County. Older cities in North Orange County like Santa Ana, Anaheim, Orange and Fullerton have traditional downtowns dating to

6674-540: The Santa Fe and Southern Pacific Railroads . High rates of Anglo migration gradually moved Mexicans into colonias , or segregated ethnic enclaves . After several failed attempts in previous sessions, the California State Legislature passed a bill authorizing the portion of Los Angeles County south of Coyote Creek to hold a referendum on whether to remain part of Los Angeles County or to secede and form

6816-558: The Tongva , north Orange County was at the southern extent of their village sites. In coastal villages like Lupukngna , at least 3,000 years old located in what is now Huntington Beach , villagers likely used te'aats or plank boats to navigate the coastline, with fish and shellfish being more central to the diet. In inland villages such as Hutuknga , rabbit and mule deer were more central, in addition to acorns from oak trees and seeds from grasses and sage bushes common everywhere. After

6958-565: The poverty line , including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over. The major employer in Seal Beach is Boeing , employing roughly 1,000 people. Its facility was originally built to manufacture the second stage of the Saturn V rocket for NASA 's Apollo crewed space flight missions to the Moon and for the Skylab program. Boeing Homeland Security & Services (airport security, etc.)

7100-810: The 1769 expedition of Gaspar de Portolà , a Spanish expedition led by Junipero Serra named the area Valle de Santa Ana (Valley of Saint Anne ). On November 1, 1776, Mission San Juan Capistrano became the area's first permanent European settlement. Among those who came with Portolá were José Manuel Nieto and José Antonio Yorba . Both these men were given land grants— Rancho Los Nietos and Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana , respectively. The Nieto heirs were granted land in 1834. The Nieto ranches were known as Rancho Los Alamitos , Rancho Las Bolsas , and Rancho Los Coyotes . Yorba heirs Bernardo Yorba and Teodosio Yorba were also granted Rancho Cañón de Santa Ana (Santa Ana Canyon Ranch) and Rancho Lomas de Santiago , respectively. Other ranchos in Orange County were granted by

7242-421: The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, which sent most investment dollars to the more lucrative rebuilding of San Francisco—Bay City failed miserably as a real estate investment. In 1913, Stanton optioned the land to real estate promoter Guy M. Rush, who invested in building a renovated pier with pavilions on either side. Rush also re-branded the town as Seal Beach and marketed it via postcards and advertisements around

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7384-405: The 1950s, the area underwent another face-lift. Advertising with coupons appealing to families appeared in local newspapers. A Kiddieland collection of carnival flat rides, a "Bud" Hurlbut miniature train and petting zoo were installed on the silted-in new sand and public restrooms were built of concrete and cinder-block near a new picnic area, giving it a post-World War II modern look, and the park

7526-680: The 19th century, while newer commercial development or " edge cities " stretch along the Interstate 5 (Santa Ana) Freeway between Disneyland and Santa Ana and between South Coast Plaza and the Irvine Business Complex , and cluster at Irvine Spectrum . Although single-family homes make up the dominant landscape of most of the county, northern and central Orange County is relatively more urbanized and dense as compared to those areas south of Irvine, which are less dense, though still contiguous and primarily suburban rather than exurban . The county

7668-447: The Asian population, 6.1% are Vietnamese, followed by Koreans (2.9%), Chinese (2.7%), Filipinos (2.4%), Indians (1.4%), Japanese (1.1%), Cambodians (0.2%), Pakistanis (0.2%), Thais (0.1%), Indonesians (0.1%), and Laotians (0.1%). According to KPCC in 2014, Orange County has the largest proportion of Asian Americans in Southern California, where one in five residents are Asian American. There

7810-588: The House of Mirrors and more. Among the most popular coin-operated amusement machines and devices were the redemption games which dispensed tickets, such as skee-ball . Proximity to the Long Beach Naval Shipyard , and its many sailors on extended leave during retrofitting, supported an ink economy because of the tradition of sailor tattoos . The dense collection of tattoo shops made next-door and cross-street neighbors of many minor and world-renowned artists,

7952-415: The I-5 Santa Ana Freeway, straddling the city limits of Anaheim , Garden Grove , Orange , and Santa Ana , and in fact stretching between the original downtowns of those four cities. Entertainment and cultural facilities include Disneyland Resort , Angel Stadium , Christ Cathedral (formerly Crystal Cathedral), City National Grove of Anaheim – a live concert venue, Discovery Cube Orange County ,

8094-423: The Long Beach Pier eastward to Linden St. Because its shape resembled a rainbow, it was named Rainbow Pier. For a short time, the Long Beach Pier and Rainbow Pier both existed, sharing combined shore access at the Pine street incline. In the late 1940s, the City of Long Beach began filling in the water area enclosed by Rainbow Pier, creating Rainbow Lagoon and Wilmore Park, additional public trust lands upon which

8236-511: The Magnolia Bridge in anticipation of the RMS Queen Mary 's imminent arrival (a connecting road which was later demolished when found unneeded, proving the Cyclone Racer was removed unnecessarily. ) The Cyclone Racer was the last remaining seaside dual-track roller coaster of its kind in the United States until it was disassembled and cataloged in September 1968 with the promise to Long Beach citizens that it would be rebuilt elsewhere. Enthusiasts seeking to re-create this roller coaster have made

8378-507: The Mendez family were denied enrollment into the 17th Street School in Westminster in 1944, despite their cousins with lighter skin being admitted, and were instead told to enroll at the Hoover Elementary School for Mexican children. In the 1950s, agriculture, such as that involving the boysenberries made famous by Buena Park native Walter Knott , began to decline. However, the county's prosperity soared during this time. The completion of Interstate 5 in 1954 helped make Orange County

8520-426: The Mexican government during the Mexican period in Alta California . Saint Junípero Serra y Ferrer and the early components of the Portolá Expedition arrived in modern-day San Diego , south of present-day Orange County, in mid-late 1769. During these early Mission years, however, the early immigrants continued to rely on imports of both Mexican-grown and Spanish-grown wines; Serra repeatedly complained of

8662-416: The Pacific Electric and nephew of Collis Huntington . Transportation further improved with the completion of the State Route and U.S. Route 101 (now mostly Interstate 5 ) in the 1920s. In the 1910s, agriculture in Orange County was largely centered on grains, hay, and potatoes by small farmers, accounting for 60% of the county's exports. The Segerstroms and Irvines once produced so many lima beans that

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8804-406: The Pike, Silver Spray Pier, was included along with additional parking in the post- World War II expansion; it was all renamed Nu-Pike via a contest winner's submission in the late 1950s, then renamed Queen's Park in the late 1960s in homage to the arrival of the Queen Mary ocean liner in Long Beach. 1979 was the year Long Beach city council refused to renew the land leases and demolished all of

8946-429: The Pike, as locals continued to call it. Planning for Shoreline Drive and a cloverleaf connection to the new Magnolia Bridge was the excuse to demolish the Cyclone Racer in 1968. Since 1975, the area has been a major portion of the Grand Prix of Long Beach route. In 1979, the Pike amusement zone was officially closed and demolished. By the time the lease with the city ended, The Pike had fallen into disrepair and most of

9088-415: The Pine St. incline of the Long Beach Pier west along the shoreline to The Plunge bath house . It gradually grew in length, was widened, and later poured in concrete and illuminated with strings of electric bulbs as The Walk of a Thousand Lights, the midway anchoring the widely dispersed attractions and The Pike changed context from the original wooden boardwalk to the entire amusement zone. As it grew from

9230-425: The Seal Beach, just over the line from Long Beach. With gambling being a misdemeanor, the trials were held in the town's municipal court and a Seal Beach jury never returned a guilty verdict, to the dismay of Orange County and Long Beach officials. But circa 1941, with significant pressure being put on the gamblers by State Attorney General Earl Warren , most of the Seal Beach gambling and ships ended. Their absence

9372-505: The United States. From low-brow seedy dives like Rudy's (cocktails) and open front liquor stores to upscale cabarets featuring suggestive girly-shows like Hollywood on the Pike, many an opportunity existed for visiting sailors and locals to get drunk. A variety of eating establishments ranged from snack stands with corn-dogs, cotton candy, popcorn and hot nuts, or one could sit at soda-pop fountains and counter service restaurants like Lee's Barbecue with menus of chicken, ribs and fish meals, to

9514-440: The basin, the Santa Ana Valley and the Saddleback Valley . The Santa Ana Mountains lie within the eastern boundaries of the county and of the Cleveland National Forest . The high point is Santiago Peak (5,689 ft (1,734 m) ), about 20 mi (32 km) east of Santa Ana. Santiago Peak and nearby Modjeska Peak , just 200 ft (60 m) shorter, form a ridge known as Saddleback , visible from almost everywhere in

9656-413: The body and asked the public to put a nickel in its mouth to see the corpse. A carnival runner turned up and claimed McCurdy was his long lost relative. It then made its way across carnivals and amusement parks until people forgot it was an actual mummy. The body was returned to Oklahoma, where it is buried. A grand bath-house was constructed at the shore and was scheduled to open on Independence Day, 1902,

9798-454: The businesses had already left. The City of Long Beach then removed the remaining structures. Various plans for development of the area took form over the next twenty years. In 1999, the California Coastal Commission approved a plan for the construction of The Pike at Rainbow Harbor commercial and entertainment complex in the downtown shoreline area. The name is only a nod in reference to the original amusement zone, bathing beach and boardwalk —

9940-403: The city is an Asian plurality (both South and East Asian), and votes reliably Democratic in recent years. Southern Orange County almost always includes Irvine, Newport Beach , and the cities to their southeast, including Lake Forest , Laguna Niguel , Laguna Beach , Mission Viejo , and San Clemente . Alternatively, Irvine and Newport Beach are sometimes seen as Central Orange County, acting as

10082-413: The city of Irvine pledging to be a zero-carbon economy by 2030 and Buena Park , Huntington Beach , and Fullerton pledging to move to 100% clean energy. Residential solar panel installation has rapidly increased, even among middle-income families, as a result of the state's residential solar program which began in 2006. In the 2010s, campaigns to conserve remaining natural areas gained awareness. By

10224-402: The city was 88.91% White , 1.44% African American , 0.30% Native American , 5.74% Asian , 0.18% Pacific Islander , 1.28% from other races , and 2.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.43% of the population. There were 13,048 households, out of which 13.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.2% were married couples living together, 5.3% had

10366-447: The city's wine production topped 1 million gallons annually." Despite later afflictions of both Phylloxera and Pierce's Disease , wine growing is still practiced. A severe drought in the 1860s devastated the prevailing industry, cattle ranching , and much land came into the possession of Richard O'Neill Sr. James Irvine and other land barons . In 1887, silver was discovered in the Santa Ana Mountains , attracting settlers via

10508-616: The construction and 2003 opening of The Pike at Rainbow Harbor , an entertainment-retail center that pays homage to its past as an amusement zone. The revised center spanned between the Long Beach Convention Center and the Aquarium of the Pacific . The tourist-oriented development had a large number of restaurants and a 14-theater megaplex Cinemark movie theater. There is a four-level, fee parking structure, metered street parking,

10650-486: The cool ocean breeze and the Pacific Ocean chilled by the Aleutian current. With the surge of health-conscious new residents and the ease of access to a beach near the services of local merchants, Willmore City became a destination. In 1888, Long Beach Land and Water Company bought William E. Willmore's failed plat of Bixby's Rancho Los Cerritos and changed the name to Long Beach in 1892. The amusement zone began in 1902, as

10792-434: The corridor as the possible route for a streetcar, a proposal that was dropped in 2018 due to opposition from Anaheim and other city governments. In addition to suburban-style apartment complexes, Anaheim's Platinum Triangle is undergoing transformation from a low-density commercial and industrial zone into a more urban environment with high-density housing, commercial office towers, and retail space. Anaheim envisions it as

10934-579: The council. Seal Beach's municipal jail offers a pay for stay program in which offenders who would normally go to county jails could stay at Seal Beach's jail for a price. In the California State Senate , Seal Beach is in the 36th Senate District , represented by Republican Janet Nguyen . in the California State Assembly , Seal Beach is split between the 70th Assembly District , represented by Republican Tri Ta , and

11076-483: The country. This too failed and by early 1915, Rush had let his options lapse. In 1915 Stanton tried again, arranging to obtain some amusements from the closing San Francisco Panama-Pacific International Exposition and rebuild them as part of new amusement area which would be called The Joy Zone. As part of this plan, the Bayside Land Company led a campaign to incorporate the town (October 27, 1915) and then had

11218-478: The country. It again was designed by Fred Ingersoll , with the help of John Miller . It was part of the Silver Spray Pier, which included several new rides and concessions. One could look down through the tracks and see the water. In the mid 1920s, several expansions were made to the area, and the Jack Rabbit Racer was remodeled, raising the ride's dips to a greater height and steepness. An elevated band shell

11360-399: The county has a total area of 948 sq mi (2,460 km ), of which 791 sq mi (2,050 km ) is land and 157 sq mi (410 km ) (16.6%) is water. It is the smallest county by area in Southern California , being just over 40% the size of the region's next smallest county, Ventura . The average annual temperature is about 68 °F (20 °C). Orange County

11502-534: The county seat of the new county would be Anaheim or Santa Ana, along with an election for every county officer. Santa Ana defeated Anaheim in the referendum. With the referendum having passed, the County of Orange was officially incorporated on August 1, 1889. Since the incorporation of the county, the only geographical changes made to the boundary was when the County and Los Angeles County traded some parcels of land around Coyote Creek to conform to city blocks. The county

11644-562: The county was 64.8% White , 13.6% Asian , 1.7% African American , 0.7% Native American , 0.3% Pacific Islander , 14.8% from other races , and 4.1% from two or more races. 30.8% were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 8.9% were of German , 6.9% English and 6.0% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000 . 58.6% spoke only English at home; 25.3% spoke Spanish , 4.7% Vietnamese , 1.9% Korean , 1.5% Chinese ( Cantonese or Mandarin ) and 1.2% Tagalog . The Pike The Pike operated under several names. The amusement zone surrounding

11786-548: The county was called "Beanville". By 1920, fruit and nut exports exploded, which led to the increase of industrialized farming and the decline of family farms. For example, by 1917, William Chapman came to own 350,000 acres in northeastern Orange County from the Valencia orange . Around the 1910s and 1920s, most of the barrios of Orange County, such as in Santa Ana, further developed as company towns of Mexican laborers, who worked in

11928-431: The county's shrinking natural areas. In 1994, an investment fund meltdown led to the criminal prosecution of treasurer Robert Citron . The county lost at least $ 1.5 billion through high-risk investments in bonds. The loss was blamed on derivatives by some media reports. On December 6, 1994, the County of Orange declared Chapter 9 bankruptcy, from which it emerged on June 12, 1996. The Orange County bankruptcy

12070-478: The county. The Peralta Hills extend westward from the Santa Ana Mountains through the communities of Anaheim Hills , Orange , and ending in Olive . The Loma Ridge is another prominent feature, running parallel to the Santa Ana Mountains through the central part of the county, separated from the taller mountains to the east by Santiago Canyon . The Santa Ana River is the county's principal watercourse, flowing through

12212-547: The day on which the Pacific Electric Railroad established service connecting communities along the line to offices and shopping in Downtown Los Angeles and bringing bathers and families south to shoreline recreation. Admission was charged for use of the clear, 'vacuumed', indoor freshwater pool, changing-rooms, and waterslide, all of which lay beyond a colonnade and sundeck. An interior balcony surrounding

12354-470: The deaths disproportionately occurred in the homeless population . However, deaths were widespread among affluent and poorer areas in Orange County, with the highest at-risk group being Caucasian males between the ages of 45–55. A 2018 study found that supply reduction was not sufficient to preventing deaths. In 2008, a report issued by the Orange County Superior Court found that the county

12496-544: The early 2020s, some success was found, with the conservation of 24 acres in the West Coyote Hills of a total 510 acres and the Genga/Banning Ranch project moving forward, conserving some 385 acres, which was part of the Tongva village area of Genga . In 2021, the commemorative 1.5 acre Putuidem village opened after years of delays and campaigning by the Acjachemen . According to the U.S. Census Bureau ,

12638-480: The early economy. Orange County benefited from the July 4, 1904, completion of the Pacific Electric Railway , a trolley connecting Los Angeles with Santa Ana and Newport Beach . The link made Orange County an accessible weekend retreat for celebrities of early Hollywood . It was deemed so significant that Pacific City changed its name to Huntington Beach in honor of Henry E. Huntington , president of

12780-512: The existing John Wayne Airport . But subsequent voter initiatives and court actions caused the airport plan to be permanently shelved. It has developed into the Orange County Great Park and housing. In the 21st century, the social landscape of Orange County has continued to change. The opioid epidemic saw a rise in Orange County, with unintentional overdoses becoming the third highest contributor of deaths by 2014. As in other areas,

12922-446: The filming of The Six Million Dollar Man , someone spotted a mannequin in the corner on the ride Laff in the Dark. When he reached for the arm and it shockingly came off, it was then noticed that this was no dummy but a man. The man was later identified as Elmer McCurdy , an outlaw in the early 20th century who had been shot by police. McCurdy had no living relatives, so the undertaker took

13064-550: The history of the Pike, some of which can be seen on display at his relocated "Lite-a-Line". The cupola was removed with its crest of popcorn lighted orb and saved intact by Cincola in 2010, but the roof was dismantled, it remains the last surviving original structure of The Pike. According to its misnamed Queens Pike entry in the Roller Coaster DataBase, The Pike had the following roller coasters: Bisby's Spiral Airship, built in 1902, had cars that were suspended beneath

13206-514: The households, 6,312 (48.5%) were made up of individuals, and 4,340 (33.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.84. There were 5,962 families (45.8% of all households); the average family size was 2.65. In Seal Beach there were 3,151 people (13.0%) under the age of 18, 1,176 people (4.9%) aged 18 to 24, 4,076 people (16.9%) aged 25 to 44, 6,513 people (26.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 9,252 people (38.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age

13348-497: The importance of the livery, which closed as the automotive culture of Southern California developed. It was converted into a skating rink in 1906, then a dance hall by 1911, named The Majestic, featuring big bands. In the 1950s, it changed hands and was renamed The Lido Ballroom. Long Beach downtown featured several theaters, many of which were along the Walk of 1000 Lights. Starting east of Pine Street with access at Ocean Blvd. and The Pike

13490-481: The industrial orange groves. Poor working conditions resulted in the Citrus Strike of 1936 , in which more than half of the orange industry's workforce, largely Mexican, demanded better working conditions. The strike was heavily repressed, with forced evictions and state-sanctioned violence being used as tactics of suppression. Carey McWilliams referred to the suppression as "the toughest violation of civil rights in

13632-459: The largest silent auctions in the nation, often having over 100 tables. The record label Mash Down Babylon Records is based in Seal Beach, operated out of a garage known as The Elizabethan. The label was founded by Matt Embree , lead vocalist and guitarist in the Seal Beach-based progressive rock/post-hardcore band RX Bandits . On Electric Avenue where the railroad tracks used to run, there

13774-411: The late 1970s, Vietnamese and Latino immigrants began to populate central Orange County. In the 1980s, Orange County had become the second most populous county in California as the population topped two million for the first time. In the 1990s, red foxes became common in Orange County as a non-native mesopredator , with increasing urban development pushing out coyote and mountain lion populations to

13916-440: The late 19th century, with Downtown Santa Ana being the home of the county, state and federal institutions. However, far more commercial activity is concentrated in clusters of newer commercial development located further south in the county's edge cities . The three largest edge cities, from north to south, are: A contiguous strip of commercial development (an edge city ) stretches from Disneyland through to MainPlace Mall along

14058-420: The location of a former night club, hailed as a new retail anchor for the complex. Shortly after, it was announced that the center would be heavily revised - this time with a greater focus on retail shopping. Renamed The Pike Outlets , it includes several outlet stores such as Nike Factory Store, Forever 21 , H&M , and Gap Outlet. The Cinemark movie theater and most of the restaurants remained open during

14200-402: The mainland's first surfing competition—it was at a private gathering of the annual Minnesota Picnic. But its popularity really took off after the war with the arrival of legendary surfer Blackie August, who taught many of the local kids how to surf. August's son, Robert, was one of the pair of surfers featured in the classic surf film, Endless Summer . Local legends Jack Haley and Mike Haley were

14342-793: The marsh became the bayside community of Huntington Harbour, which is part of Huntington Beach). Three endangered species, the Ridgway's light-footed rail , the California least tern , and the Belding's Savannah sparrow , can be found nesting in the refuge. With the loss and degradation of coastal wetlands in California, the remaining habitat, including the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington Beach and Upper Newport Bay in Newport Beach , has become much more important for migrating and wintering shorebirds, waterfowl, and seabirds. Although

14484-542: The middle of the county from northeast to southwest. Its major tributary to the south and east is Santiago Creek . Other watercourses within the county include Aliso Creek , San Juan Creek , and Horsethief Creek. In the North, the San Gabriel River also briefly crosses into Orange County and exits into the Pacific on the Los Angeles-Orange County line between the cities of Long Beach and Seal Beach . Laguna Beach

14626-473: The morning of July 4, 1902 – which established service connecting communities along the line to offices and shopping in downtown Los Angeles as well as bringing bathers and families south to Pacific Ocean shoreline recreation. Stretching Pine Avenue south from Ocean Avenue into the Pacific Ocean, the Long Beach Municipal Pier had an upper and lower deck to a service building on the end. Sheltered at

14768-484: The most famous being Bert Grimm's tattoo shop and tattoo artist Rick Walters . Grimm's work contributed to the development and popularity of the American Traditional tattoo style . Kari Barba purchased Grimm's shop in 2003, and it operates under the name Outer Limits Tattoo. Started in 1927, this shop is the last remaining business from the original Pike, and the oldest continuously-operating tattoo studio in

14910-469: The mouth of the Los Angeles River, the public pier served a range of purposes, primarily for trade and commerce, servicing freight and passenger shipping, but also served anglers fishing as well as pedestrian strolling. A simple wooden boardwalk was laid directly at the top of the sand west along the shoreline connecting the pier to the new bathhouse. Pike was the name of the wooden boardwalk connecting

15052-544: The nation." The Los Angeles flood of 1938 devastated some areas of Orange County, with most of the effects being in Santa Ana and Anaheim, which were flooded with six feet of water. As an eight-foot-high rush of water further spilled out of the Santa Ana Canyon , forty-three people were killed in the predominately Mexican communities of Atwood and La Jolla in Placentia . The devastation from this event, as well as from

15194-475: The new city council approve legal drinking in the town. This made it different from the Pike at Long Beach, which was a "dry city." The Joy Zone, a beach-side amusement park built in 1916, was the first in Orange County. It achieved some brief popularity, but the US entry into World War I and the resulting restrictions on rubber and metal dramatically impacted the amusement area. After the war, Prohibition impacted

15336-451: The new coaster was built on pilings over the ocean, several hundred feet beyond the shore. Eventually the entire pier stood over sandy beach, not water, because of the sand deposition due to the slowing of water caused by the new harbor expansion and breakwater. Over 30 million riders rode on the Cyclone before it closed in 1968. It was removed to clear space for a Shoreline Drive cloverleaf to

15478-410: The newly settled town of Anaheim who wanted a closer, more convenient port to ship the wine they were growing and also to receive items they needed to help build homes and buildings in their new town. For a few years Anaheim Landing came close to rivaling San Pedro for its volume of shipping, but the arrival of the railroad in Anaheim in 1875 made it easier to ship product via the rails than by hauling

15620-467: The outdoor shopping mall bears no resemblance whatsoever to its historic predecessor. Concerns remained over the lack of a nearby recreational bathing beach, and solutions were sought for bringing back the excitement of the area’s heyday. With numerous debates over the area and its use as a portion of the track for the Long Beach Grand Prix , the main development of the area did not occur until

15762-508: The pier's entrance memorializes Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works, 1938, Project No. Calif. 1723-F, a rebuilding necessitated by storms in 1935. Another plaque honors the individuals, businesses, and groups who helped rebuild the pier after a storm on March 2, 1983, tore away several sections. A "Save the Pier" group formed in response to an initial vote by the City Council not to repair

15904-409: The pier. The ensuing outcry of dismay among residents caused the City Council to reverse its stance while claiming the city lacked the necessary funds. Residents mobilized and eventually raised $ 2.3 million from private and public donors to rebuild the pier. Surfing locations in Seal Beach include the Seal Beach pier and the river-"Stingray Bay" (or Ray Bay—the surfer's nickname for the mouth of

16046-552: The pool and an outdoor one facing the beach offered people-watching on reclining lounges. The name was later changed to The Plunge. When it closed, it was converted to the Strand Theater. Until 1902, primary access to bathing was over unpaved roads by horse and buggy. A large livery and stables had been built to care for the animals of the bathers. Opening the Pacific Electric Big Red Car line to Long Beach diminished

16188-547: The population) lived in households, 22 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 203 (0.8%) were institutionalized. There were 13,017 households, out of which 1,866 (14.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 4,891 (37.6%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 788 (6.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 283 (2.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 383 (2.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships , and 66 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships . Of

16330-560: The population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 6,254 people (25.9%) lived in rental housing units. During 2009–2013, Seal Beach had a median household income of $ 51,242, with 9.9% of the population living below the federal poverty line. As of the census of 2000, there were 24,157 people, 13,048 households, and 5,884 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,099.5 inhabitants per square mile (810.6/km). There were 14,267 housing units at an average density of 1,240.0 per square mile (478.8/km). The racial makeup of

16472-483: The process of repeated, labored import. The first grape crop production was produced in 1782 at San Juan Capistrano , with vines potentially brought through supply ships in 1778. Viticulture became an increasingly important crop in Los Angeles and Orange Counties through the subsequent decades. By the 1850s, the regions supported more than 100 vineyards . In 1857, Anaheim was founded by 50 German-Americans (with lineage extending back to Franconia ) in search of

16614-533: The recreational bathing beach by pouring landfill over it. The city had purchased the RMS Queen Mary in 1967 and permanently docked the ship in Long Beach across the mouth of the Los Angeles River from the shoreline area of the Nu-Pike where a new road circled the parking lot and Londontowne shopping-dining complex serviced by a London Double Deck omnibus to Downtown Long Beach. The Nu-Pike was renamed Queens Park when

16756-484: The refuge is a great place for birdwatching, because it is part of the weapons station, access is limited and usually restricted to once-a-month tours. The second longest wooden pier in California (the longest is in Oceanside ) is located in Seal Beach and is used for fishing and sightseeing . The pier has periodically suffered severe damage due to storms and other mishaps, requiring extensive reconstruction. A plaque at

16898-834: The same weekend as the Fish Fry since the 1960s. The Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce sponsors many events, including: a Classic Car Show in April, a Summer Concert series once every week in July and August, the Christmas Parade in December along with Santa and the Reindeer. Also in the fall is the Kite Festival in September. The Taste for Los Al, which since 2001 has been benefitting activities at Los Alamitos High School (home high school for Seal Beach students), takes place every October and has one of

17040-477: The shooting, there had been only one murder in Seal Beach during the previous four years. Seal Beach is located at 33°45′33″N 118°4′57″W  /  33.75917°N 118.08250°W  / 33.75917; -118.08250 (33.759283, -118.082396). According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 13.0 square miles (34 km). 11.3 square miles (29 km) of it

17182-724: The state behind San Francisco County . The county's three most-populous cities are Anaheim , Santa Ana , and Irvine , each of which has a population exceeding 300,000. Santa Ana is also the county seat . Six cities in Orange County are on the Pacific coast: Seal Beach , Huntington Beach , Newport Beach , Laguna Beach , Dana Point , and San Clemente . Orange County is included in the Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim Metropolitan Statistical Area . The county has 34 incorporated cities. Older cities like Tustin , Santa Ana, Anaheim, Orange , and Fullerton have traditional downtowns dating back to

17324-429: The structures and attractions it could that weren't trucked away. The Pike museum is located in Looff's Lite-A-Line at 2500 Long Beach Blvd. The first major attraction to the seashore at Long Beach was recreational bathing, long before trains and cars, when the only roads were dusty rutted paths littered with horse manure. Residents of Southern California escaped the summer heat by crowding the shore and beaches to enjoy

17466-415: The time of European contact, the northern area of what is now Orange County was primarily inhabited by the Tongva indigenous people , a part of Tovaangar , while the southern area of the county, below Aliso Creek , was primarily inhabited by the Acjachemen . Both groups lived in villages throughout the area. Large villages were sometimes multiethnic and multilingual , such as Genga , located in what

17608-569: The town's value as an amusement resort. After 1920, the town's location on two bays, with many inlets to offload bootleg liquor, its small police department, and its location on the county line, allowed it to become a popular place for rumrunners, then gamblers. From 1928 to 1939, the town had as many as six gambling establishments on Main Street. In addition, most of Southern California's famous gambling ships ( Johanna Smith, Rose Isle, Johanna Smith II, SS Caliente, SS Tango, Showboat, Mt. Baker ) operated off

17750-417: The village was disturbed in a 196-acre (79 ha) Seal Beach residential development, Hellman Ranch, that was met with opposition from the Tongva. Beginning in the mid-1860s, the eastern area of what is now Old Town Seal Beach became known as Anaheim Landing . A warehouse and wharf had been built on a small bay where Anaheim Creek emptied into the Pacific Ocean. It was established by farmers and merchants in

17892-407: The west side of Rainbow Pier.) Often confused – Many photos and postcards seen on the web are mis-captioned Bisby's Spiral Airship. If the structure has one long thin approach of steel to the top of a cylinder and camel-back return, that's Bisby's Spiral Airship. If the structure pictured is a thick wooden cone spiral slide, the entrance next-door east of Lee's Barbeque with a switchback stairway to

18034-511: The winners of the first two national surfing championships. The deadliest mass killing in Orange County history occurred in Seal Beach. On October 12, 2011, a mass shooting took place at the local Salon Meritage hair salon . Eight people inside the salon and one person in the parking lot were shot, and only one victim survived. The suspect in the shooting, 41-year-old Scott Evans Dekraai, was arrested without incident and charged with eight counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. Prior to

18176-406: Was 54 years. For every 100 females, there were 78.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.4 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 42,079, and the median income for a family was $ 72,071. Males had a median income of $ 61,654 versus $ 41,615 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 34,589. About 3.2% of families and 5.5% of the population were below

18318-403: Was 57.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 78.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.3 males. There were 14,558 housing units at an average density of 1,116.4 per square mile (431.0/km), of which 9,713 (74.6%) were owner-occupied, and 3,304 (25.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.4%. 17,689 people (73.2% of

18460-480: Was Lowes, known for first-run major releases. Several small shop-front theaters, exhibiting side-shows and independent films, came and went along the Walk of a Thousand Lights, but one big (and very tall) one, the Virginia, was later converted into the dark ride Whispering River. The Strand Theater offered a double feature, after being converted to a picture house when The Plunge closed. A Pike attraction from 1909 to 1930

18602-430: Was at the time the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. Land use conflicts arose between established areas in the north and less developed areas in the south. These conflicts were over issues such as construction of new toll roads and the repurposing of a decommissioned air base. El Toro Marine Corps Air Station was designated by a voter measure in 1994 to be developed into an international airport to complement

18744-477: Was built into the coaster with track running right over it. Jack Rabbit Racer was removed in 1930. One of the best-known historic coasters, the Cyclone Racer was built in 1930 to replace the Jack Rabbit Racer. The Cyclone Racer was a dual-track (two trains could launch side by side at the same time), racing wooden roller coaster, the brain child of Fred Church and built by Harry Traver . To increase thrill,

18886-502: Was constructed nearby, and then the building was used as a gaming hall for Lite-a-Line bingo/pinball game and for many years was the last remaining building to survive the Pike demolition that began in 1979. The roof structure and cupola had been saved in the parking lot west of Pine Ave and the Ocean Center Building on Seaside Way was awaiting preservation by Mike Cincola, who married into the Looff family and has preserved much of

19028-433: Was constructed on 20 acres (81,000 m ) of tidal zone landfill located south of today's intersection of Ocean Boulevard and Long Beach Boulevard. After the construction of the auditorium, there were problems created by storms and coastal erosion in the area. In order to protect the auditorium from these problems, a horseshoe-shaped breakwater with a roadway along its crest was constructed around it, connecting Pine St. and

19170-860: Was experiencing a pet "overpopulation problem," with the growing number of pets leading to an increase in euthanasias at the Orange County Animal Shelter to 13,000 for the year alone. Following the 2016 presidential election , Santa Ana become a sanctuary city for the protection of those immigrants who worked around the legally established process of becoming a legal resident in Orange and other California counties. This created an intense debate in Orange County surrounding politics toward unlawful immigration, with many cities opposing pro-immigration policies. The COVID-19 pandemic in Orange County disproportionately affected lower income and Latino residents. Implementation of renewable energy and climate change awareness in Orange County increased, with

19312-526: Was located in what is now Seal Beach in the area of the Los Cerritos Wetlands . It was part of the greater area of Puvungna , which was a major ceremonial and regional trading center for the Tongva and Acjachemen . Villagers used te'aats to travel out to villages on Pimu ( Santa Catalina Island ) and other islands off the coast, now referred to as the Channel Islands . In 2003, a burial site of

19454-400: Was renamed "Nu-Pike" as result of a write-in naming contest. In 1969, the name changed to Queen's Park, to coincide with the public opening of the historical ocean liner RMS Queen Mary , which the city had purchased as a combination tourist attraction and hotel. The park retained this name until closing and demolition (1979–1980). Most locals continued calling it The Pike. In 1976, during

19596-599: Was soon filled by a former Los Angeles police detective named William L. Robertson. In early 1944. during World War II , the Navy purchased most of the land around Anaheim Landing to construct the United States Navy 's Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach for loading, unloading, and storing of ammunition for the Pacific Fleet , and especially those US Navy warships home-ported in Long Beach and San Diego . With closure of

19738-498: Was the Wall of Death. Reckless Ross Millman, among America's first motorcycle daredevils, built a motordrome near the Jack Rabbit Racer. The Long Beach Municipal Band played most Sundays and holidays. The band was led by Herbert L. Clarke, who had been a member of John Philip Sousa's Band. Beginning at the entrance to the Walk of a Thousand Lights through the arcade archway entrance of the last surviving building associated with The Pike,

19880-666: Was the first part of the county to be developed and is culturally closer to neighboring Los Angeles County . This region is more Hispanic (mostly Mexican) and Asian (predominantly Vietnamese and Korean), more densely populated (Santa Ana is the one hundredth and one most densely-populated city in the United States with a population of over 300,000), younger, less wealthy and with higher unemployment. It has more renters and fewer homeowners and generally votes Democratic. There are notable exceptions to these general trends, such as strongly Republican Yorba Linda and affluent Anaheim Hills , North Tustin , and Villa Park . Northern Orange County

20022-411: Was widespread in the mid-1940s, with 80% of Mexican students attending 14 segregated schools. These schools taught Mexican children manual education – or gardening , bootmaking , blacksmithing , and carpentry for Mexican boys and sewing and homemaking for girls – while white schools taught academic preparation. The landmark case Mendez vs. Westminster (1947) desegregated Orange County schools, after

20164-464: Was written about by Nobel-prize winning author Henryk Sienkiewicz in a short essay, "The Cranes." The site of Anaheim Landing is now registered as a California Historical Landmark . In 1903 Los Angeles realtor Philip A. Stanton, very familiar with the area from his time selling land in Anaheim, and Huntington Beach and also from representing the local real estate interests of banker (and Pacific Electric Railroad co-owner) Isaias W. Hellman , put together

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