The History of Santa Anna

By PaoG

  • 1769

    1769
    After the 1769 expedition of Gaspar de Portolá out of Mexico City, then capitol of New Spain, Frior Juníper Serra named the area of Valleja de Santa Ana.

  • 1776

    1776
    Mission San Juan Capistranowas established within this valley. This Santa Ana Velley comprised most of what is now called Orange County.

  • 1810

    1810
    year of the commencement of the war of Mexican Independence (1810-18219) , Jose Antonio Yorba, a sergeant of the spanish army , was granted land that he called Santiago de Santa Ana.

  • 1848

    1848
    after the mexican-american war ended in 1848 ,Alta California became part of the U.S.A & american settlers arrivedin this area

  • 1896

    1896
    Claimed in 1869by Kentukilliam H. spurgeon on land obtained from the decendents of Jose Antonio Yorba, Santa Ana Was Incorporated as a city in 1886n with a population of 2000 & in 1889 became the seat of the newly formed Orange Country

  • 1906

    1906
    By 1906 the Pacific Electric Railway from Los Angeles was extended to Santa Ana, running along Fourth Street downtown.

  • 1912

    1912
    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 which eventually merged with the Lockheed Corporation to form the largest defense contractor in the world, Lockheed Martin.

  • 1950´s

    Due to the declining ridership, the route was abandoned by the 1950´s and the tracks were removed along with much of the rest of the Pacific Electric System.

  • 1952

    Having been a Charter City since November 11, 1952, the citizens of Santa Ana 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.

  • 1953

    1953
    The closing (Pacific Electric system) coincided with the opening of the Santa Ana Freeway in 1953, increasing the ease of travel by automobile.

  • 1980´s

    Since the 1980´s, Santa Ana has been characterized by an effort to revitalize the downtown area which had declined in influence.

  • 1987

    1987
    In 1987, MainPlace Mall (now Westfield MainPlace) was opened north of downtown and became a major retail center for the area.

  • 2009

    2009
    The Santa Ana process has continued into 2009 with the reopening of the historic Yost Theater.