Irvine is a planned community city in Southern Orange County, California.
The Spanish explorers, came to the area in 1769, and initiated the establishment of missions, forts, and cattle herding. The King of apportioned the land for missions and private use. Upon Mexico’s independence from Spain, in 1821, Irvine Ranch was parceled out by the Mexican government. 50,000 acres of the land was sold to a group of businessmen in 1864, including James Irvine. The group also purchased a 47,000-acre land parcel. James Irvine eventually bought out his partners and ended up owning a total of 110,000 acres of land. After his death, Irvine’s son James Irvine, Jr. inherited the ranch and created whats known today as The Irvine Company. After James Irvine, Jr. died in the 1940s, his son took over. He permitted urban development to take place. The Irvine Company started developing the area in the 1960s and the city was formally incorporated on December 28, 1971.
Irvine is home to many higher education institutions including the University of California, Irvine, campuses of California State University Fullerton, University of La Verne, and Pepperdine University. Corporations in the technology and semiconductor sectors, have their national or international headquarters in Irvine, including, Mazda, Samsung, Toshiba, Kia, and Asics.
