Downtown Fullerton is experiencing a renaissance as a people-friendly
gathering spot. After 20 years or redevelopment, its growing number of
sidewalk cafes, specialty restaurants, unique shops, entertainment venues,
and upscale apartments provide an atmosphere reminiscent of an earlier era
with more than 70 historic buildings, beautiful shade trees, and decorative
walkways. Downtown is offers more than 2,500 "free" public parking spaces to
support the over 350,000 square feet of retail and more than 275,000 square
feet of office space.
An ward-winning Museum Center, the Downtown
Plaza, and Plummer Auditorium enhance the dining and shopping, nightclubs
and public transportation system complete with an Amtrak train stop.
Incorporated in 1904, Fullerton is Orange County's fourth-oldest city, rich
with reminders of its heritage and alive with arts and education. The city
has blossomed from 430 acres of mustard fields to 22 square miles and about
130,000 residents. It has become a hub for transportation, with an Amtrak/Metrolink
station, an Orange County Transportation Authority bus depot and the only
remaining municipal airport in the county.
Fullerton is known as the The Education Community. With five colleges
and universities, including Cal State Fullerton, Fullerton College, a law
school and two other private schools, it vies for the smartest city, a
ranking that Irvine, home to University of
California Irvine enjoys.
Fullerton rejected a bid by Walt Disney to build his theme park here -- the
downtown has become a popular stop for people looking for a few quaint
reminders of yesteryear. Much of the historic downtown has been preserved
and is filled with antique and vintage shops and a variety of eateries.
What's developing in Fullerton's downtown
area is a revitalized infrastructure of residential and shopping offerings.
Fullerton also enjoys a cutting edge reputation lately for its night clubs
that feature some of the regions' great bands.
There are at least 5 hotels in Fullerton that
offer online, instant reservations.
Established in 1887 along the fringe of the
California coastal plain, Fullerton was founded by brothers George and
Edward Amerige and named after railroad executive George H. Fullerton, who
brought the first rail line through.
The city was incorporated in 1904. It grew steadily through the 1920s, which
saw the transformation of the area's green and gold fields of wild mustard
into groves of Valencia oranges, walnuts and avocado, along with a
smattering of oil rigs.
Fullerton is a city of contrasts. Visitors can view the restored Fox
Fullerton Theater, where "talkies" debuted in Orange County and where Mary
Pickforrd and Douglas Fairbanks Sr. once appeared in person.
Another historic venue is the George Crook Clark House (Heritage House) -
800 N. State College Blvd. The house was built in 1894 by pioneering
physician George Clark and was originally located on Lemon Street. Clark
paid $1,300 to build the two-story home and office. In 1972 the house was
moved to Cal State Fullerton, where it was restored by students.
Phone: 714-773-3579
