 |
||||||||||||||||||
| Shan & Raschel Roberts |
Call Us if you have any questions 1-866-624-6873 |
|||||||||||||||||
|
City of Brea
demographics Transportation Economic Base Brea's average household income as estimated by the 2002 Census is $84,457, well above the nation's average. Average household incomes are expected to increase 14.8% over the next five years to $96,936. Education levels are also high in Brea, with 21% of the adult population earning bachelor's degrees and 10% earning graduate or professional degrees. Housing Baywood Development built 96 single-family residences in the old downtown area. Called the "Ash Street Cottages," the project features charming Victorian and Craftsman archictecture clustered in a pedestrian-oriented village setting. The Olson Company completed a 27-home development called The Arbors in 1997, and has built a neighborhood for an additional 25 families in the same area near the Brea Mall/Brea Civic Center at Poplar and Birch. City Walk townhomes sold out very quickly in the downtown area, and 625 new tract homes are now complete at Olinda Heights, near the intersection of Lambert Rd. and Valencia Ave. There are also a number of housing opportunities for senior citizens, including Brea Woods Senior Apartments, Breal Senior Apartments, Rebecca's Senior Apartments, Heritage Plaza Senior Apartments, Vintage Canyon, Orange Villa and Cypress Gardens at Brea. Call the Chamber office at (714) 529-4938 for more information. Public Safety Environment &
Public Works The city's environmental consciousness is also reflected in the many drought-resistant landscape plantings on city properties, and the use of recycled and recyclable goods in city operations. A tough anti-graffiti ordinance, community volunteers, and a Graffiti Hot Line have helped keep Brea free from the unsightly blight that plagues many other cities. Graffiti is removed within 24 hours when possible, and perpetrators are prosecuted and made to perform or pay for clean-up. Brea leaders are committed to a strong public works program including street maintenance, tree trimming, traffic management, street sweeping, and infrastructure such as the water and sewer systems. Medical Care Brea is close neighbors with Placentia-Linda Hospital and St. Jude Regional Medical Center. These excellent facilities provide quality health care and 24-hour emergency care to the Brea area. St. Jude Regional Medical Center, located in nearby Fullerton, is one of Southern California's most respected and technologically advanced hospitals. It is widely recognized for its success in areas from cardiology to extensive rehabilitation. With more than 600 of the area's finest physicians on staff, St. Jude continues to set the standard for medical care. Placentia-Linda Hospital is located in the neighoring city of Placentia. The hospital's services range from general and orthopedic surgery and joint replacement to rehabilitation therapy, and include a highly advanced gastroenterology lab. Placentia-Linda also features a "Premier Advantage for Seniors 55+" community outreach program. Education The Brea Olinda Unified School District operates six elementary schools, one junior high school, a high school, and an alternative high school. Brea Olinda High School boasts state of the art computer technology, a professional performing arts center and complete athletic facilities, including a synthetic track. Brea also has several preschools, two Christian schools, and a Roman Catholic school serving grades K-8. Colleges, universities and a
number of technical and vocational schools are located in and around Brea. California
State University, Fullerton College, Pacific Christian College, Hope University,
Western State University College of Law and Southern California College
of Optometry are located in nearby Fullerton. Community
Profile Average rainfall 15.9 inches per year. Average humidity 45-75%.
history Nestled in the foothills on a plateau at the northern tip of Orange County, Brea was known as a place where tar seeped from the hills. The word "Brea" means tar in Spanish. In early history, Indians and pioneers used chunks of the oil-soaked earth for fuel and domestic purposes like heating their homes and waterproofing their roofs. Then came the big oil boom! In 1894, the Union Oil Company purchased 1,200 acres of land to be used for oil development. They struck it rich in 1898 when the first oil well, Olinda Oil Well #1, came in - thus creating an oil boom in the hills of Brea and Olinda and paving the way for the thriving city that Brea is today. For a short time, the early settlement was named Randolph. An actual town did not develop until 1911 when businesses and small industries sprang up to serve the oil field workers and their families. The official founding date for the town of Brea is January 19, 1911, when the old map of the town of Randolph was refiled under a new name. The City of Brea became incorporated on February 23, 1917, with a population of 752.
Two historical books provide an interesting look at Brea's past, "Brea, Celebrating 75 Years," by Teresa Hampson, and "Oil, Oranges and Opportunity," by local historian Esther Cramer. Also, a recently produced DVD by Brea historian Brian Saul titled "Brea, A History of Our Town and Our Times," takes you through some fascinating and unusual facts about Brea's early times. All are available for purchase at the Brea Community Center front counter. For information, please call 990-7100. A historical video titled, "A Walk in Time," and the items mentioned above, can also be purchased from the Brea Historical Society. For information, please call 671-4448.
|
||||||||||||||||||
Nestled
in the foothills of north Orange County, the City of Brea is a unique community
of more than 36,000 residents. Brea plays host to over 100,000 people who visit
the City daily to work, shop or enjoy one of the fine entertainment venues
offered here. Brea is a diverse residential, industrial and commercial North
Orange County community located about 30 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles
and 20 miles northwest of John Wayne Airport. It occupies 11.2 square miles and
is surrounded by gentle, rolling hills and extends into picturesque Carbon
Canyon, linking it with Chino Hills to the east. The Orange (57) Freeway
provides easy access to the rest of Orange County, as well as the San Gabriel
and Pomona valleys. Beaches, deserts, mountains and the recreational facilities
of Southern California are within easy reach of Brea.
Brea's
oil boom lasted until the 1940s. As oil production declined, the next
three decades brought new housing developments and businesses to Brea. The
70s saw big changes with the opening of the Brea Mall. The city grew
steadily through the years. As oil production declined, the 40s, 50s and
60s brought many new housing developments and new businesses. The 70s saw
big changes with the opening of the Orange (57) freeway and the
construction of the Brea Mall. Industrial parks and retail areas thrived
in Brea during the 70s and 80s, as more and more companies took advantage of the
city's strategic location in the center of Southern California.