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Gaspar de Portolá (Mexico City)
then capitol of New Spain, Friar Junipero Serra named the area Vallejo de santa Ana. (Valley of Saint Anne, or Santa Ana Valley). -
Mission San Juan Capistrano
Was established within this valley. This Santa Ana Valley comprised most of ehat is now called Orange County. -
Mexican Independence
Year of the commencement of the war of Mexican Independence (1810-1821) , Jose Antonio Yorba , a sergeant of the spanish Army , eas granted land that he called Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana. Yorbas Lindaa , Villa Park , Santa Ana , Tustin , Costa Mesa and unicorporated El Modena , and Santa Ana Heights , are today. This Rancho was the only land grant in Orange County granted under Spanish Rule. -
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 William H
Claimed in 1869 by Kentuckian William H . Spurgeon on land obtained from the descendents of Jose Antonio Yorba , Santa Ana was incorporated as a city in 1886 with a population of 2000 and in 1889 became the seat of the newly formed orange county. -
Pacific Electirc Railway
By 1906 the Pacific Electirc Railway from los Angeles was extended to Santa Ana , running along Fourth Street downtown . The "red car´s" made travel to Los Angeles easier and helped continue Santa Ana´s population boom . The closing coincided with the opening of the Santa Ana Freeway in 1953 , increasing the ease of travel by automobile. -
Glenn L . Martin aviation company
Santa Ana was the home of the original Glenn L . Martin aviation company , founded in 1912 before merging with the Wright Company in 1916 . Later Glenn Luther Martin created a second company of the same name in Cleveland , Ohio wich eventually merged with the Lockheed Corporation to form the largest defense contractor in the world. -
world War ll
The Santa Ana Army Air Base was built as a trining center for the United States ARmy Air Force -
Downtown Area
Since 1980s , Santa Ana has been characterized by an effort to revitalize the dowtn area wich has declined in influence. The Samta Ana Artist´s Village was created around Cal State Fullerton´s Grand Central Art Center businesses. The process has continued into 2009 with the reopening of the historic Yos Theater. -
Main Place Mall
in 1987 , Main Place Mall (now westfield MainPlace) was opened north of downtown and became a major ratail center for the area.
