Orange County (Calif.). Board of Supervisors

Orange County, California, formerly the southern portion of Los Angeles County, was formally established in 1889.

The City of Santa Ana is the county seat. Orange County is governed by a Board of Supervisors comprising five elected officials, each representing a regional constituency.

From the description of Orange County environmental issues, land use, and planning collection, 1919-1973 (bulk 1960-1970). (University of California, Irvine). WorldCat record id: 46541925

History

Orange County, California is located on Southern California's Pacific coast between Los Angeles and San Diego Counties. The county was formally established in 1889 when the southern portion of Los Angeles County separated to become Orange County. The City of Santa Ana is the county seat, and Orange County is governed by a Board of Supervisors comprised of five elected officials, representing regional constituencies.

Orange County was heavily agricultural prior to its inception and until the 1960s. Oranges were the primary cash crop, and other crops included lemons, lima beans, tomatoes, walnuts, peppers and beets. From the 1950s through the 1980s, Orange County experienced massive land development, urbanization, and a significant population increase. The completion of a network of freeways contributed to these phenomena, and the land development and the growth of new towns and cities diminished many of the orange groves and open fields of Orange County.

Excessive development and overpopulation are long-standing, major issues in Orange County, and both coastal and environmental issues associated with development have played a major role in local politics and public policy, particularly in the post-World War II era

Chronology

• 1933: Orange County Harbor District established under the Harbor Improvements District Act.
• 1963: Orange County Board of Supervisors authorized participation in the Federal Beach Erosion Control Project.
• Local Agency Formation Commission organized.
• 1964: Phase 1 of Federal Beach Erosion Control Project.
• 1965: California Land Conservation Act of 1965, also known as the Williamson Act.
• 1966: California State Constitution amended, giving the legislature power to enact laws pertaining to open space.
• 1967: California State Constitution amended to provide special tax privileges to preserve land for "the production of food and fiber ..."
• UCI-Project 21 Study Team on Coordination of Urban Planning organized.
• Phase 2 of Federal Beach Erosion Control Project.
• 1968: Proposal for the dissolution of the Harbor District and replacement by a County Department of Harbors, Beaches and Parks.
• General and special district elections in Orange County.
• County Assessor Andrew J. Hinshaw presented findings on double taxation to the Local Agency Formation Commission.
• 1969: Irvine Ranch and Rancho Mission Viejo agricultural preserves proposed and approved by the Orange County Board of Supervisors.
• 1971: Following the 1970 census, Orange County reapportioned the supervisorial districts.
• 1972: California Coastal Zone Conservation Act.
• 1973: California legislature mandated open space and conservation elements in local general plans.

From the guide to the Orange County environmental issues, land use, and planning collection, 1919-1973, (bulk 1960-1970), (University of California, Irvine. Library. Special Collections and Archives.)