Downtown National Register District
Encyclopedia
The Historic Downtown District in Santa Ana, California
is roughly bounded by Ross to French streets and First to Civic Center streets.
This district is characterized by a number of buildings in the Art Deco
style as well as three old movie houses (The West End, Fox West Coast, and the Yost). Orange County
's first Courthouse is also located here on Civic Center and Broadway streets. It is now a museum. The Dr. Willella Howe-Waffle House and Medical Museum is also located in this district and it is now home to the Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society.
. The County's first theater, Walker's Theater, was built in 1909 on Main & Second streets adjacent to the old City Hall. Today, the Main Street Studio Lofts now stand where the county's first movie house used to.
The City of Santa Ana was established in 1869 by William Spurgeon on 74.27 acres (300,560.3 m²) of land purchased from the old Spanish land grant, Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana
. The County of Orange
was formed in 1889 by William Spurgeon and James McFadden and Santa Ana was chosen as the county seat of government because of its larger growth as a town over surrounding towns namely Orange
. The Old Orange County Courthouse
was built in 1901 and thus the town blossomed into the county's main economic and political center. The surrounding old town buildings then became what is now Santa Ana's Historical Downtown.
In recent years, efforts have been made to revitalize and beautify the Downtown by attracting new businesses and a higher economic class. It for many years has been a place for low income consumption (specifically Fourth street and some surrounding streets) and it unfortunately gained a stigma for some time but now things and attitudes towards it are changing.
and the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art.
states that the Santa Ana Historical Downtown District is roughly bounded by Civic Center, 1st, Ross, & Spurgeon streets. What this means is that nearby buildings could be considered part of the Historical Downtown. For instance, the blocks from Spurgeon to French streets are seemingly not listed in the National Register of Historic Places. However, there are a number of buildings which date back to the 20s and have Art Deco like traits. The Yost Theater, is beyond the Spurgeon street boundary and it is officially listed as a historic building. It is on the block in between Spurgeon and French streets. This area is now marked as Fiesta Marketplace.
Other examples are the buildings in Civic Center Plaza. These institutions are inevitably tied and related to and even based on the Old OC Courthouse and the Reagan Building which are within this rough boundary. That and their geographical proximity.
Santa Ana, California
Santa Ana is the county seat and second most populous city in Orange County, California, and with a population of 324,528 at the 2010 census, Santa Ana is the 57th-most populous city in the United States....
is roughly bounded by Ross to French streets and First to Civic Center streets.
This district is characterized by a number of buildings in the Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
style as well as three old movie houses (The West End, Fox West Coast, and the Yost). Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
's first Courthouse is also located here on Civic Center and Broadway streets. It is now a museum. The Dr. Willella Howe-Waffle House and Medical Museum is also located in this district and it is now home to the Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society.
A Brief History
At one point in time, Downtown Santa Ana was the place to be in Orange CountyOrange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
. The County's first theater, Walker's Theater, was built in 1909 on Main & Second streets adjacent to the old City Hall. Today, the Main Street Studio Lofts now stand where the county's first movie house used to.
The City of Santa Ana was established in 1869 by William Spurgeon on 74.27 acres (300,560.3 m²) of land purchased from the old Spanish land grant, Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana
Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana
Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana was a Spanish land concession in present day Orange County, California given by Governor José Joaquín de Arrillaga in 1810 to Jose Antonio Yorba and his nephew Pablo Peralta...
. The County of Orange
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
was formed in 1889 by William Spurgeon and James McFadden and Santa Ana was chosen as the county seat of government because of its larger growth as a town over surrounding towns namely Orange
Orange, California
Southern California is well-known for year-round pleasant weather: - On average, the warmest month is August. - The highest recorded temperature was in 1985. - On average, the coolest month is December. - The lowest recorded temperature was in 1950...
. The Old Orange County Courthouse
Old Orange County Courthouse (California)
The Old Orange County Courthouse, at one point also known as the Santa Ana County Courthouse, is a Romanesque Revival building that was opened in September 1901 and is located in Santa Ana's Historic Downtown District on Civic Center and Broadway streets. The Old Orange County Courthouse is...
was built in 1901 and thus the town blossomed into the county's main economic and political center. The surrounding old town buildings then became what is now Santa Ana's Historical Downtown.
Downtown Santa Ana Today
The Downtown is characterized by a varied mix of old and new businesses and a portion of the Civic Center. The new and old Santa Ana City Hall buildings are within this area as well as the Old Orange County Courthouse and the Ronald Reagan Federal Building and United States Courthouse. The newly formed Artist's Village and the older Fiesta Marketplace also characterize this historic downtown.In recent years, efforts have been made to revitalize and beautify the Downtown by attracting new businesses and a higher economic class. It for many years has been a place for low income consumption (specifically Fourth street and some surrounding streets) and it unfortunately gained a stigma for some time but now things and attitudes towards it are changing.
Artist's Village
The Artist's Village was the vision of Don Cribb and was made possible with the help of the City Council & others. It is the home to various artists and institutions namely the Historical Santora building, the Cal State Fullerton Grand Central Art CenterCSUF Grand Central Art Center
California State University, Fullerton Grand Central Art Center is a partnership between the university and the city of Santa Ana. Based in the Downtown National Register District or Artists village it is dedicated to the investigation and promotion of contemporary art and visual culture:...
and the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art.
Artist's Village Restaurants
- The Gypsy Den
- Memphis
- Pangea
- Trattoria Ciao
- Original Mike's
- Subway
- The Crosby
Fiesta Marketplace
Overtime the Fiesta Marketplace merchants have sought to maintain a Mexican-like business district with stores and restaurants varying in their offerings.Fiesta Marketplace Restaurants
- Taquería Guadalajara
- Mariscos Tampico
- Nevería Reina de Michoacán
The Roughly Bounded Tag
It is important to note that the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
states that the Santa Ana Historical Downtown District is roughly bounded by Civic Center, 1st, Ross, & Spurgeon streets. What this means is that nearby buildings could be considered part of the Historical Downtown. For instance, the blocks from Spurgeon to French streets are seemingly not listed in the National Register of Historic Places. However, there are a number of buildings which date back to the 20s and have Art Deco like traits. The Yost Theater, is beyond the Spurgeon street boundary and it is officially listed as a historic building. It is on the block in between Spurgeon and French streets. This area is now marked as Fiesta Marketplace.
Other examples are the buildings in Civic Center Plaza. These institutions are inevitably tied and related to and even based on the Old OC Courthouse and the Reagan Building which are within this rough boundary. That and their geographical proximity.
Expanded Restaurant List
- Bistro 400
- The Crosby
- El Curtido (Salvadoran)
- El Pollo de Oro
- The Gypsy Den
- Jason's
- Mariscos Tampico
- Memphis
- Mil Jugos (Venezuelan)
- Nature's Niche
- Nevería Reina de Michoacán
- Original Mike's
- Pangea
- Proof (Happy hour)
- Quizno's
- Rancho de Mendoza
- Subway
- Taquería Guadalajara
External links
- City of Santa Ana
- Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society
- Santa Ana History Room Photograph Collection
- National Register of Historic Places
- Cinema Treasures - Santa Ana
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