Know all about Santa Ana, California

When it comes to fun and entertainment, nothing can beat the Orange County. Situated in Southern California, next to Santa Ana River, Santa Ana is home to a number of exciting attractions that will surely make you want to come back again and again. There is actually something for everyone in this sunny capital of Southern California. Not to mention, popular amusement parks like Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm are located just a few kilometers northeast of Santa Ana.

History of Santa Ana

About 100 years ago, a small town of just 4,900 people, fought its neighbors in Anaheim to become the government seat in the recently formed Orange County.

This fight for a legit city began in the year 1869, when Santa Ana was just a simple mustard field situated in the middle of nowhere. During the year 1889, the residents of this place were very unhappy with the class of public services provided by the county of Los Angeles. They, then, decided to vote for a county of their own. After some heavy petitioning in the city of Sacramento, the residents of Santa Ana won the designation of a county seat and were declared as the political power of that area.

This small mustard field then became a town when the city’s founder William H. Spurgeon purchased 74 acres of land from Yorba Estate. He then began to lay out a plan for a 24 block village and huge block for the notable stone courthouse, which has a tower higher than any other building in the town. This historic building has been renovated and restored and still stands tall today in Santa Ana.

With the construction of Southern Pacific Railroad in 1877, Santa Ana experienced a big boom in the nation and nine years later, it was declared as a city. After World War II, Santa Ana experienced another boom, thus creating several jobs and attracting new residents. However, during 1960’s, the city’s image tarnished as many businesses became stagnant and neighborhoods depreciated.

Then in 1980, Santa Ana pursued redevelopment with full determination. Several luxury hotels, shops, boutiques and industries opened up and the city started regaining growth.

Important Locations in Santa Ana

With a beautiful weather throughout the year and a myriad of tourist attractions, for all ages, the city of Santa Ana has something for everyone. Here are some places one must explore over here:

Bowers Museum

Bowers Museum is a big part of Santa Ana’s history. The museum first opened its doors to the public in 1936, but was closed in 1987 and opened again 1992 after a complete renovation. Bowers Museum houses several prominent collections representing different cultures in the world. It also has art classes, exhibitions, travel programs and community events for its visitors. For more information, click here.

Address: 2002 N Main St, Santa Ana, CA 92706, United States
Phone: 1 714-567-3600

Discovery Cube Orange County

Also known as Discovery Science Center, Discovery Cube Orange County is a fun museum with several hand-on and interactive science exhibits to fulfill the natural curiosity of a young child. Known for its 10 story solar cube, this museum has become a visual landmark for the city of Santa Ana. It is divided into different areas, each with a specific theme. To know more about the museum and its exhibits, click here.

Address: 2500 N Main St, Santa Ana, CA 92705, United States
Phone: 1 714-542-2823

Old Orange County Courthouse

The impressive building of Orange County Courthouse, made completely out of red sandstone and granite, was declared as a state landmark of California. It is one of the oldest courthouses in Southern California and has witnessed some of the most important court and financial transactions of Orange County’s history. Today, the building has been restored and consists of a historic center and library as well as several government offices. Click here, for more information on the courthouse.

Address: 211 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, CA 92701
Phone: (714) 973 6605 or (714) 973 6607

Santora Arts Building

With Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, this beautiful building is another popular historic site located in the Downtown District of Santa Ana. It was designed by Frank Lansdowne in 1928 and is even registered in the National Register of Historic Places of Orange County. After the revival of the downtown area of Santa Ana, Santora Arts Building re-emerged as a popular arts complex and currently houses several art galleries, restaurants and stores. Read more about the art gallery in Santora Arts Building here.

Address: Santora Arts Building, 207 N Broadway, Santa Ana, Ca 92701, USA
Phone: (714) 564-5605 (SAC Arts Gallery)

Heritage Museum of Orange County

The impressive Heritage Museum of Orange County in Southwest Santa Ana is one of the most fascinating historical and cultural museums of Southern California. The pride and joy of the museum – Historical Plaza, covering more than 12 acres of land is a collection of several buildings from the nineteenth century set amidst vibrant gardens and citrus groves. Out of these buildings, Kellogg House is the most popular, especially among teachers and students for school field trips. Click here for more information.

Address: 3101 W Harvard St., Santa Ana, CA 92704
Phone: (714) 540 0404

People and Culture of Santa Ana

According to the 2010 Census of United States of America, Santa Ana had a population of 324,528. This city is a dwelling for several racial compositions including White (45.9%), Hispanic (78.2%) African American (1.5%), Native American (1.0%), Non-Hispanic White (9.2%), Asians (10.5%), Pacific Islander (0.3%), Other Races (37.2%) and Two or more Races (3.6%). Spanish is the major language spoken here, while other important languages like English and Vietnamese are also widely spoken.

Time Zone and Phone Codes of Santa Ana

Santa Ana is in the Pacific Time Zone (UTC – 8). The Summer Daylight Saving Time (DST) is Pacific Daylight Time (UTC − 7).

Standard Time Zone: UTC – 8 hours
Daylight Saving Time: UTC – 7 hours
Daylight Saving Time: 1 hour
Time Zone Abbreviation: PT, PST and PDT

Phone Codes of Minneapolis

Minneapolis Area Code: 657, 714 and 949
International Country Code: 1

Best Time to Visit Santa Ana

Santa Ana has a mild, hot Mediterranean climate throughout the year, which is characterized by warm and dry summers and cool, wet winters. Since, the city is located close to Monterey Bay, it often experiences fog and low overcast during early mornings and evenings in summers.

Summers start from the month of June till the month of September with an average high of 83 degree Fahrenheit during summers. Winter months are from December to March and have an average temperature of 70 degree Fahrenheit during daytime. With a great weather throughout the year, It can be visited anytime due to its pleasant climatic conditions.

Seasonal Events and Festivals in Santa Ana

Floral Park Home & Garden Tour (April)
BOO at the Zoo (October)
Annual Historical Cemetery Tour (October)
Las Posadas Mexican Christmas Program (December)
Kwanzaa Celebration (December)
Artists Village Art Walk (First Saturday of Every Month)

Santa Ana Map