St. George’s Mission, c. 1891

In my neighborhood and in a historic park with a ranch, a schoolhouse and other historic buildings and places.
Spanish Mission period:
After the 1769 expedition of Gaspar de Portola, a Spanish expedtion led by Junipero Serra named the area Valle de Santa Ana.
November 1, 1776 Mission San Juan Capistrano became the area's first permanent European settlement. Among those who came with Portola were Jose Nieto and Jose Yorba. Both these men were given land grants.. Other ranchos in Orange County were granted by the Mexican government during the Mexican period in Alta California.
They produced wine in the region and there was cattle ranching. After a severe drought in 1860 much of the land was then purchased by land barons. In 1910 Citrus, avocados, almonds as well as potatoes, grains, hay was also important to the early economy as well as Oil extraction.
By 1917 W. Chapman owned 350.000 acres and had orange groves like the Valencia oranges, therefore the name Orange County.
Now most of the orange groves are replaced by development and it is still growing rapidly. When we drive along the freeway we are always in awe how many new apartment buildings have gone up. The new trend. Most of them are 'unaffordable'. Disneyland is also part of it and they will develop a lot of new attractions with hotels etc and in return they have to build affordable housing, I heard this on the news today.