California

In a case of life imitating 'art', Orange County ('The OC') really lives up to the stereotypes peddled by the eponymous TV show: all-over tans, gleaming automobiles and the happy braying of kids born into privilege. It's everything you'd expect from a county whose biggest employer is Walt Disney.

Before the 20th century

The earliest known inhabitants of Orange County were the Tongva (inhabiting the northern part of the county) and the Acjachemen (you guessed it, in the south.) Named the Gabrielino and Juaneño by Spanish missionaries (the first Europeans to settle in the area) they are descended from Paleoindian ancestors who brought their stone technology across the land-bridge from Siberia to Alaska around 13,000BC. Living in permanent villages bonded by clan allegiances, the first inhabitants of the OC lived off the land and the sea, maintaining intricate trading relationships with other nearby language groups. As was the Spanish custom during the missionary era, they were named for the missions that came to dominate their post-contact lives: in this case, those of San Gabrieleño (founded in 1771) and San Juan Capistrano (1776).

The mission era was relatively short-lived: in 1834, Mexico (which had broken from its parent country, Spain, a decade before, taking control of California in the process) secularized (or, to be precise, confiscated) the network of Franciscan settlements. The 'official' period of Mexican California was brief - Cali was ceded to the United States following the 1848 war - but the state, particularly the south, is still strongly Latino in culture (although the 'vanilla' enclave of the OC is something of an exception.)

The Gold Rush of 1849 provided a major fillip to the area - especially for those selling goods to the lucky, luckless and deluded. When, in 1856, a group of German migrants bought a swathe of the Rancho San Juan Cajon de Santa Ana and planned the settlement of Anaheim, the first town in the county was founded. With further sales breaking down the land monopoly once enjoyed by the rancheros, other towns - including Santa Ana, Westminster, Orange and Tustin - followed. The arrival of the Southern Pacific railway, the establishment of Newport as a shipping center and the intensification of immigration and agriculture kept the boom rolling, although 'paper towns' (such as the confusedly named San Juan-by-the-Sea) disappeared when fortunes dipped. The general trajectory was up, however, and the County of Orange, seated in Santa Ana, was proclaimed in 1889.

Modern history

Before The Mouse came, Orange County was all about agriculture. Cattle- and sheep-grazing, apricots, avocados, walnuts, sugar-beets and grape vines have all been important here at various times. However, it was citrus that really took off in the sunny Mediterranean climate - oranges became so important to the region that they lent their name to the county (and also grace its official seal.) Oil also played a significant role in the state's industrial story: some of the earliest strikes in the 20th century US oil boom were made in the area, just in time to capitalize on the cosmic growth of the auto industry. That industry was also served by extensive road building throughout California, and particularly in the heavily-populated southwest: California's first state highway traversed the county from La Habra to San Juan Capistrano. The extensive road network that quickly spread across SoCal also fueled the immediate success of Disneyland. In fact, that success was almost too immediate: its opening day in 1955 was a shambles, as huge crowds descended on the under-prepared park in sweltering July heat.

In the latter half of the 20th century, agriculture's role in the state's economy steadily dwindled, to be replaced by tourism and service and other industries (including aerospace manufacturing.) Where once orange and walnut groves stood, housing began its languid sprawl across the landscape. Cities, both planned and newly incorporated, stained the face of the county, leaving Cleveland National Forest as the only major island of nature in a sea of suburban sprawl. The establishment of naval, marine and air force bases during WWII, and the subsequent settlement of substantial numbers of veterans, contributed greatly to this suburbanization.

Recent history

The teen-dream drama The OC (much of which, ironically, was filmed in neighboring LA County) defines most people's notion of the county today: sun-bleached, sanguine and stinking rich. While the TV isn't a reliable mirror of social realities, there's no doubting that behind the 'Orange Curtain' - and in the beach communities in particular - you'll find a denser concentration of Hummers and Hugo Boss than just about anywhere on earth. This affluence is reflected in the predominantly WASP, Republican demography of the coastal fringe - although there are significant Latino populations (and Democrat electorates) inland (in Santa Ana in particular.) There's no mystery to money's attraction to the coastal fringe communities: Laguna Beach combines woods and dramatic bluffs with booming Pacific rollers, Huntington Beach ('Surf City') is the epicenter of the SoCal board scene, and Newport Beach is the epitome of the yacht-owning lifestyle.

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You can pretty much bank on the climate in Southern California: while the coastal areas enjoy the cooling ministrations of the ocean, it's sunny, and either hot or mild for much of the year. Summer (June to August) is very dry, with average temperatures ranging from a minimum of 15°C (59°F) to a maximum of 28°C (82°F). Averages are still high in Fall (ranging from 8°C (46°F) to 28° (82°F) from September to November), and there's a little more chance of rain. Winter (December to February) sees average lows plunge to 6°C (43°F), but average highs still reach 20°C (68°F); it's also the wettest time of year. Spring (March to May) sees the rains dwindle, average lows hover around 8°C (46°F) and average highs climb to 22°C (72°F).

Average weather

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Health & Legal Requirements

Dangers and annoyances

There are plenty of places in California more risky than moneyed, white-bread Orange County. However, it never pays to throw caution to the wind, and travelers in particular should take precautions against property crime. It's best to remain vigilant, and keep all belongings either in sight, or in a known secure place (hotel safes are a good option, especially for valuables and vital travel documents.) Be particularly alert in those places that pick-pockets and bag-snatchers like to work - especially crowded public transport and popular tourist destinations. It's best to know where you're going after dark - seek local advice about which areas are considered safe. Southern California, known for its climate, is a magnet for sun-seekers and beachcombers. Take all the usual precautions against sun-damage, especially during peak UV periods.