OC – Orange County

Orange County, known as “The OC,” is a prominent suburban region in Southern California, south of Los Angeles and part of the extended Los Angeles metropolitan area. As one of the southernmost counties in the state, Orange County is wealthier, with far less violent crime than L.A. County. Nearly half of the L.A. County residents polled last year had recently considered moving away, one out of every dozen naming Orange County as a good place to go.

Orange County is bordered by Los Angeles County to its north, San Diego County to the south, Pacific Ocean to the west, and San Bernardino County and Riverside County on the northeast.

Located within two shallow coastal valleys, the Santa Ana Valley and the Saddleback Valley, Santa Ana Mountains form the eastern boundaries of the county along with the Cleveland National Forest.

A patchwork of 34 independent municipalities, Orange County has a very culturally diverse population and a terrific and irrefutable reputation as a tourist destination and remains the premier region for California beach vacations.

History

In 1776, Mission San Juan Capistrano became the area’s first permanent European settlement. Today, the mission has but a few remnants of the original structure. It has been rebuilt to appear as the original mission looked, though the grounds have diminished.

In 1904 Orange County celebrated the arrival 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, and land developers quickly began to parcel land, promoting their seaside residential tracts. One of the most famous is Balboa Island, which exists due to dredging. Lots on the island were cheap when first offered for purchase in the early 1900’s. Today the parcels and homes cost no less than $1 million, but usually much more.

Much of Orange County’s growth has been a result of freeway and road construction. State Route and U.S. Route 101 (a portion which is Interstate 5 today) and the completion of Interstate 5 in 1954 allowed people to work in Los Angeles County, and return home to OC. I-405 west of I-605 at Seal Beach opened before 1965 and the southern junction with I-5 in Irvine Spectrum opened in 1969. SR22 Garden Grove Freeway opened in 1967 starting at the I405 at Seal Beach, intersecting with I-5 and State Route 57 until terminating at the Costa Mesa Freeway SR55. Toll roads have been built in recent decades to ease the crowding on the “free-ways”.

OCTA manages the county’s bus network of approx. 77 lines running along most major streets, while Metrolink operates three commuter rail lines through Orange County with parallel Amtrak service. Lines include Orange County, 91, and Inland Empire-Orange County, and total around 40 trains per day.

Today

A car and passenger ferry service, the Balboa Island Ferry, comprising three ferries running every five minutes, operates between Balboa Peninsula and Balboa Island in Newport Beach.

Orange County Airport and nearby Long Beach Airport and Los Angeles International Airport serve the county citizens. Ontario Airport also is considered within reach of Orange County’s transportation needs.

Diocese

The Diocese of Orange in California (Latin: Dioecesis Arausicanae in California) is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Los Angeles metropolis in the United States. It covers Orange County, California.

The diocese was canonically erected on March 24, 1976 by Pope Paul VI. It was separated from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The former Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles, William Robert Johnson (1918-1986), became the first ordinary.

Ordinaries

William Robert Johnson (1976-1986)

Norman McFarland (1986-1998)

Tod Brown (1998-2012)

Kevin Vann (since 2012)

Tourism

Tourism remains a vital aspect of Orange County’s economy. Anaheim is the main tourist hub, with the Disneyland Resort’s Magic Kingdom Park being the second most visited theme park in the country. The Anaheim Convention Center receives many major conventions throughout the year.

There’s no denying that the Pacific Ocean, palm trees and glamour draw visitors to its doorstep every day, given its mild climate, its miles of beaches, its famed surfing, and its two popular amusement parks: Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm.

Beyond its epic theme parks and perfect weather, Orange County is celebrated for outdoor dining, entertainment and beach-bound adventure. Treat yourself at Costa Mesa’s spectacular South Coast Plaza for the finest in luxury shopping and superlative restaurants. Spend an afternoon aboard a whale watching cruise in Newport Harbor, catch a wave in Huntington Beach or cast a reel from the Huntington Beach Pier. Stop to smell the flowers at the Sherman Library and Gardens, shop in Newport Beach, sample culinary delights at the Anaheim Packing District or explore idyllic Laguna Beach vast variety of boutique shops along the Pacific Coast Highway.

Orange County residents have included Sandra Bullock, Cameron Diaz, John Wayne, Tiger Woods, Dennis Rodman, Kobe Bryant, Mark McGwire, Kevin Costner, John Stamos, Steve Martin, Will Ferrell, Michelle Pfeiffer, Diane Keaton, Gwen Stefani, and countless other celebs and sports figures. Yorba Linda-born Orange County native Richard Nixon became the 37th President of the United States in 1969. He also lived in seaside San Clemente. His presidential library is in Yorba Linda.