Irvine

About Irvine

Irvine grew out of the Irvine Ranch, a vast spread of grazing land and later orchards that James Irvine and his partners bought in the 1860s and that once covered about a fifth of what is now Orange County. In the early 1960s the Irvine Company gave land for a new University of California campus, and architect William Pereira drew up a master plan for a city around it. UC Irvine opened in 1965, and the city was incorporated in 1971.

The result is one of the largest planned cities in America, organized into villages with their own parks, schools and shopping, linked by greenbelts and bike trails. Irvine is known for safety, good schools and a large business district, and it has become one of the most diverse cities in California, with a large Asian American community and a wide range of international restaurants.

For visitors, the Orange County Great Park, built on the former El Toro Marine base, offers sports fields, a carousel and a giant orange balloon that rises above the park. The San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary draws birdwatchers, Bommer Canyon and Quail Hill offer hiking, and the Irvine Spectrum Center is a popular outdoor shopping and dining destination.