Life in the Past Lane
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or a glimpse at what life was like in Orange County between the late 1800s and the 1930s, head over to Old Towne Orange. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the neighborhood blends turn-of-the-century charm with the high-octane energy and modern comforts of a city firmly rooted in the new millennium.
Snugged into the center of Orange’s one square mile, 130-year-old, Old Towne Orange is the largest residential historic district in the state. With more than 1,300 original homes and buildings, the area boasts an impressive concentration of turn-of-the-century structures.
A balmy Mediterranean climate. Forty miles of world-famous beaches. Safe neighborhoods, great schools, innumerable parks and open spaces and a slew of strong, diverse cultural offerings. What’s not to love about Orange County?
“Orange is a prototypical example of an early California settlement that evolved from an agricultural to an urban community,” said Hoffman. “Old Towne is most famous for its period revival architecture, primarily Craftsman bungalows built between 1915 and 1930. But visitors will also find beautifully preserved examples of Spanish Colonial, Tudor, French, Mediterranean, Prairie and Victorian architecture.”