Today I thought I'd give those that don't really know about Corona a little history on the town. Most people have no idea how important this little city has been in the past, so here goes!
Corona is located approximately 45 miles southeast of Los Angeles in western Riverside County. The community is ideally situated at the base of the mountainous Cleveland National Forest. Historically, the area has many significant features. The Luiseño Indians, the site of the first Spanish family to settle in Riverside County, the Temescal Tin Mines, and some of the best clay and mineral deposits in the United States are located here. In fact, many Major league baseball Teams use this clay for their infields and pitchers mounds. Also, the renowned circular Grand Boulevard where three international road racing events took place in 1913, 1914 and 1916. The first lemon processing plant in the country was built here in 1915, which was the beginning of Sunkist, and the world's largest cheese plant was opened on Lincoln Avenue in 1985 where the Desi Arnaz horse ranch had once stood. Yep, that's right, Lucy and Ricky had a place here in simple Corona!
As the Spanish settlement progressed inland, the land soon was taken over by Spanish ranchos. Sheep and cattle dotted the hills from ranchos run by the Serrano, Cot, Sepulveda and Botiller families. Remnants of the Serrano tanning vats are still found on Old Temescal Canyon Road. This is also the route that was taken by the Butterfield Stage Route that brought many Americans to California along the southern route between 1858 and 1861. Plaques marking the sites of Indian petroglyphs, the Butterfield Stage stops and the Serrano adobes are still found along this road.
In 1886, developer Robert Taylor persuaded his partners, Rimpau, Joy, Garretson and Merrill to form the South Riverside Land and Water Company. Together they raised approximately $110,000 to purchase approximately 12,000 acres of good agricultural land. Taylor realized the importance of water for the soon to be developed community, and additional funds were used to ensure that sufficient water rights were obtained. Taylor hired Anaheim engineer H. C. Kellogg to design a circular Grand Boulevard three miles round. Early residents used to parade their fancy buggies on this circular street that enclosed the main functions of the community: schools, churches, residences and stores. To the north along the railroad tracks were the manufacturing plants and packing houses. The southern end of town was left to the citrus industry, and the mining companies were established just outside the city's southeastern and eastern city limits.
Almost all of the new settlers planted orange and lemon trees in hopes of gaining future profits. New groves continued to spring up and by 1912 there were 5,000 acres of established lemon and orange groves. By 1913 Corona shipped more fruit than any other town in Southern California. In 1961 citrus was still considered the backbone of Corona's economy, and the largest source of revenue. In that year citrus covered 7500 acres. The labor force fluctuated between 400 and 1800 workers at the peak of the harvest. An additional 500 people worked at the Exchange Lemon Products plant.
On July 13, 1896 residents voted to incorporate and change the name of the community to Corona, which is Spanish for crown, in honor of the City's circular Grand Boulevard. On September 9, 1913, in observance of California's Admissions Day, Corona residents celebrated with an international automobile race on the Boulevard. The event attracted such auto racing greats of Ralph De Palma, Barney Oldfield, Terrible Teddy Tetzlaff and Earl Cooper. More than 100,000 people came to the town of 4,000 to watch Cooper win the race and a prize of $8,250. It was so successful that races were held again in 1914 and 1916. The demise of the road races were due not only to the tragic deaths which occurred in 1916, but because of the cost and local effort needed to stage such an extravagant event.
During the teens and twenties, Corona citizens built numerous churches, a library and a new city hall. By 1915 the production of lemons was exceeding national demand, and local businessmen worked together to form the first Lemon Exchange By-Products Company in the United States. Located on Joy and the railroad tracks, this co-operative was eventually bought out by Sunkist. In 1954 they employed over 700 people and marketed a variety of lemon products for worldwide disbursement. The plant produced citric acid, lemon oil, lemon juice and pectin which helped Corona gain the nickname "Lemon Capital of the world." As housing developments began to overtake the Southern California citrus orchards, Sunkist found that the lack of a local supply was forcing them to move. They closed the Corona plant in 1982.
As Southern California began to grow, so did Corona. The Riverside Freeway (Highway 91) was constructed through Corona in 1962. Downtown Corona went through urban renewal in the late 60s and 70s, razing the old and putting in a new downtown. By 1989, the I-15went in to the east of town, and development of Sierra del Oro, Corona Hills and South Corona were in full gear. New commercial developments began opening on Lincoln Avenue, McKinley Avenue and in Sierra del Oro. Price Club, Walmart, and the new auto mall became important parts of the city's revitalization. In June 1993 the City opened the newly redone Corona Public Library at 650 South Main Street with 62,300 square feet of space and the addition of new automated technologies. By 1996 Corona's population had topped 100,000 people, there were 32 Corona parks, a Senior Center, gymnasium and 30 schools in the Corona Norco Unified School District. The City also celebrated the Centennial of the City's Incorporation with numerous events, parades, picnics, banquets and ceremonial dedications to mark the City of Corona's 100th birthday.
Today, we enjoy several large shopping centers and theaters, along with many fine dining restaurants. Corona is the perfect place to raise a family or retire for that matter with many parks, playgrounds and Golf courses. Freeway close to Big Bear and the Newport Coast area we have just about all we could need right hear! If your thinking of moving this way, give me a holler and I'll help you find the perfect home!
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