THE HISTORY

In 1888, Villa Park was a community just beginning to recover from the destruction of its agricultural mainstay. There was an 1887 blight that ruined muscat grapes grown for the popular raisin crop.

Valencia orange groves eventually replaced the vineyards, and by 1912 the Villa Park Orchards Association was packing and shipping citrus fruit all over the world.

Although orange groves now have given way to houses and a small shopping center, Orange County's 24th city still is quiet and uncrowded. And the over 6,000 people who live within its 2.6 square miles intend to keep it that way.

With its rolling hills and lush landscaping, Villa Park is a quiet retreat from surrounding cities. Except for the vacant lot where the old Villa Park Orchards Association packing house once stood at Wanda Road and Santiago Boulevard, there is little land left for commercial development. Most of the homes in the city are at least 2,000 square feet. Tennis courts and equestrian trails are scattered throughout the city.

Villa Park became a city after its Property Owners Association voted in 1961 to launch an incorporation drive.

The Villa Park area was originally much bigger then 2.6 square miles. It included a lot of outlying ranches. But some of those rancher weren't interested in incorporating, which is why when you look at a map of the city, there are some pretty unusual lines drawn.

On Jan 2, 1962, residents voted 246 to 134 in favor of incorporation. Today, although primarily a residential city, Villa Park does have a combination of retail and commercial businesses.