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Expedition of Gaspar de Portolá
Expedition of Gaspar de Portolá out of Mexico, then capital of New Spain, Friar Junípero Serra named the area Vellejo de Santa Anna -
Mission San Juan Capistrano
Mission of San Juan Capistrano was established within this Valley. -
Rancho Santiago de Santa Anna
Jose Antonio Yorba, a sergeant of the Spanish army, was granted land that he called Rancho Santiago de Santa Anna. Yorba's rancho included the lands where the cities of Olive, Orange, Irvine, Yobe linda, Villa Park, Santa Anna, Tustin, Costa Mesa, and unincorporated El Modena and Santa Anna Heights are today. -
After the Mexican-American war
After the Mexican-American war ended in 1848, Alta California became part of the United States and American settlers arrived in this area. -
Kentuckian
Claimed in 1869 by Kentuckian William H. Spurgeon on land obtained from the descendents of Jose Antonio Yorba. -
Santa Anna was incorporated as a city
Santa Anna was incorporated as a city in 1886 with a population of 2000. -
Pacific Electric RailWay
Pacific Electric Railway from Los Angeles was extended to Santa Anna, runninf along Fourth street DownTown. -
Glen.L. Martin
Santa Anna was the home of the original Glen.L. Martin aviation company founded in 1912 Before merning with the Wright company im 1916. -
Election of the Mayor
The citizens of Santa Anna amended the Charter November 1988 to provide for the direct election of the Mayor who until that point had been an appointee of the Council. -
Santa Anna FreeWay
Due to declining ridership, the route was abandonedby the 1950 and the tracks were removed along with much of the rest of the Pacific Electric system.The closing coincided with the opnening of Santa Anna Freeway in 1953, increasing the ease of travel by automovil. -
1980's
Santa Anna has been characterized by a effort to revitalize the Dowtown Area wich had declined in influence . -
MainPlace Mall
In 1987 , MainPlace Mall (Now Westfield MainPlace) was opened north of Doentown and become a major retail center of the area.