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Orange County is a tourist's dream destination. It is located in southern California and its county seat is Santa Ana. In the year 2008 Orange County reached high numbers again proving that is was still the second most populated county in the great state of California. That number easily tops the scales with over 3 million residents! That can easily be attributed to its variety of attractions.
The most popular family fun attraction has to be Disneyland. Kids and adults alike can both enjoy Disneyland with it fantastic rides and encounters with various Disney characters. Knott's Berry Farm is also located in Orange County. There is a theme park located in Buena Park and the farm is a large producer of jams and preserves.
Other attractions for tourists include beaches that stretch along for 40 miles of coastline. Religion is also a big part of what makes Orange County a sought after place to visit. It is home to Crystal Cathedral, Saddleback Church, Calvary Chapel and the Newport Beach California Temple.
Orange County is predominately suburban although some of its cities take on a downtown appearance. Anaheim is one such city that is the major tourist attraction. Others include Santa Ana, which serves as the government hub, Orange, Huntington Beach and Fullerton.
Without the history of Orange County Disneyland would be in another location or maybe not exist at all. On March 11, 1889, Orange County was formed after Los Angeles County was divided to accommodate. In 1969, a native of Orange County, Richard Nixon, became the 37th president of the US.
While Orange County has a large population it is still the smallest county in southern California according to land area. It is less than 10,000 square miles. The numbers don't mean much because even in a small area the county packs a punch with recreation and local nightlife.
Orange County has many beautiful sites around it. In the southwest there is the Pacific Ocean. LA County is to the north while San Diego County is located in the southeast. The Foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains and the Cleveland National Forest are also a part of Orange County. Long Beach is also a great addition to the county.
While the city list of Orange County is extensive most had their start as a planned community. Some of the most notable include Anaheim Hills, Talega, Mission Viejo, and Ladera Ranch. The city of Irvine is the model for which all present communities were planned after.
Orange County has an abundance of public transportation options. There are no US Highways in the county, but the interstate highways do run rampant. Metrolink provides commuter rail services. The Monorail line connects Disneyland Resort, the Convention Center and Angel Stadium in Anaheim. Bus Rapid Transit Lines made their mark in 2008.
Orange County is big in business. They headquarter many Fortune 500 companies. Pacific Life and Western Digital are a few examples. The county also is home to Fortune 1000 companies like Quiksilver, Gateway and international headquarters of companies that include Toyota and Samsung also reside in Orange County. Irvine is home to several restaurant headquarters like Taco Bell and In-N-Out Burger.
Between the malls and Disneyland Resort they are plenty of things for tourists to enjoy. The Brea Mall and The Block at Orange are notable malls in the area. Little Saigon is a great place for visitors. Orange County also serves as the backdrop for shows like the Housewives of Orange County and the O.C., which have made the county even more popular.
Orange County's own Hunting Beach was used for the opening scene of Gilligan’s Island. The writer Dean Koontz is a resident of Newport Beach. The Anaheim Ducks are the local hockey team and very well respected. John Wayne was the namesake for the airport and Tiger Woods came from Orange County. Singers Gwen Stefani and Jeff Buckley also hail from Orange County. Trinity Law School and Whittier College both call Orange County home too.
The list for the county's culture, media, music and attractions goes on and on and that just keeps the population numbers increasing higher and higher. Orange County is a place that you must visit at least once.
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