Get to know Fullerton, CA

The City of Fullerton is called “The Education Community.”  The land of present-day Fullerton changed many times before brothers George and Edward Amerige bought the land in 1886.  There were rumors that the Sante Fe Railway was looking for land and they began negotiations wit George H. Fullerton of the Pacific Land and Improvement Company, a Santa Fe subsidiary, in 1887.  As part of the negotiations, the land for the railway would include a town site, which would become Fullerton.  In 1894, Charles Chapman purchased an orange orchard and began promoting Valencia oranges from his Santa Ysabel Ranch.  The climate proved perfect for the oranges, as well as walnuts and avocados, making the town an agricultural center.  Oil was also found in the area creating a boom from the late 19th century into the 1920’s.  Fullerton was incorporated as a city in 1904.  By the mid 1900’s, the economy shifted toward food processing and manufacturing.  The area also saw the birth of the electric guitar when Leo Fender designed the Fender Telecaster in 1949.  Following World War II, the city exploded in population, but the influx of housing developments destroyed much of the farming land.  The city is known for its music scene, particularly punk rock.  It produced acts including Gwen Stefani and D.I.  The main employers in Fullerton include California State University, Fullerton and St. Jude Medical Center.

Quick Facts

Population: 138,976

Median Household Income: $65,974

Median Property Value: $522,500