Orange : City to Mark Reaching 100,000 in Population

When Orange became a city in 1888, it had 600 residents.

The city has grown a bit since then. Tuesday, the City Council will celebrate a landmark in the the city’s history: reaching the 100,000 mark in population. As a symbolic gesture, a resident of one of the newer housing developments in the community’s growing eastern area will be honored as the 100,000th person to move into Orange.

The informal reception will take place about 5 p.m., following the council’s afternoon session, with the guest of honor scheduled to receive a plaque from Mayor James Beam. Administrative analyst Sabine Wromar said the 100,000th Orange resident was selected by tabulating new developments in a symbolic manner rather than by any specific formula.

The city’s population approximately doubled between the date of incorporation and 1900, according to associate planner Jack McGee. The population grew to 10,027 in 1950, 26,444 in 1960, 77,374 in 1970 and 91,788 at the 1980 census. Unofficial projections are that the city’s population will reach about 121,000 by 2000, he said.

“We’re getting ready for the big push of the ‘80s,” said Bert Yamasaki, director of development. He said Orange recently approved a development plan for 230 acres in the eastern portion of the city, which includes the northern portion of the Irvine Ranch.

The plan calls for about 2,000 residential units.