Irvine: a Short History

1870--James Irvine buys out his partners for $150,000 and becomes sole owner of the sprawling Irvine Ranch.

1894--James Irvine’s son, also named James, incorporates the ranch as the Irvine Co., beginning the transition from grazing to farming.

1897--106-acre Irvine Park donated to the county by James Irvine Jr.

1899--First school built on Irvine Ranch.

1906--James Irvine Jr. relocates his family from earthquake-shattered San Francisco to the Irvine Ranch.

1914--Town of Myford renamed Irvine.

1932--First church in Irvine established.

1958--Santa Ana Freeway opens.

1959--The University of California Board of Regents selects a site on the Irvine Ranch for its newest campus.

1964--President Lyndon B. Johnson dedicates UC Irvine.

1969--San Diego Freeway opens.

1971--Irvine population reaches 20,156. With nearby cities threatening to gobble up portions of the city, residents vote to incorporate. New City Council immediately questions Irvine Co. plans for a city of 430,000 and begins process of drafting city’s own General Plan.

1972--Irvine Unified School District formed.

1973--City draws up a General Plan with three possibilities: a city similar to what the Irvine Co. envisioned, but with a population of 337,000; a second option with a population of 453,000, or a third option with minimum urbanization and a population of 194,000.

1977--Private investors headed by A. Alfred Taubman and Donald L. Bren gain control of the Irvine Co.

1978--Larry Agran, running on a slow-growth platform, wins a seat on the City Council.

1983--Bren purchases a controlling interest in the Irvine Co.

1986--Voters elect a slow-growth majority to the City Council.

1988--Voters approve a plan to adopt a conservation/open space agreement with the Irvine Co.

June, 1990--Voters sweep Agran and other slow-growth members from the City Council and elect a council majority that favors approval of huge Irvine Co. residential developments.

December, 1990--City Council approves Westpark II, a 3,850-home development.

January, 1991--The Westpark II plan is forced onto the ballot by slow-growth proponents. The Irvine Co. gears up for the most expensive campaign in city history, eventually spending $600,000 to defend the project.

November, 1991--The Westpark II issue goes before voters and wins narrow approval.

Sources: “Postsuburban California” by Rob Kling, Spencer Olin and Mark Poster; the Irvine Co. and city of Irvine.