Anaheim is the second largest city in Orange County by area.
Attractions and Employers
Disneyland Resort is the city’s top employer, providing jobs to about 31,000 people. Kaiser Foundation Hospital, Northgate Gonzalez Markets, Hilton Anaheim and Angels Baseball are other top employers within the city.
Anaheim Population Growth
Anaheim has seen steady growth since it was founded in the 19th century. After the construction of Disneyland and other surrounding businesses, the population grew by a whopping 615%. Though growth has slowed since that time, recent estimates show that the population has increased by over 4% since the last census taken in 2010. The city’s thriving economy and many attractions will continue to draw in residents and visitors alike into the future.
Anaheim was founded in 1857 when a group of Germans came to the area from San Francisco. The group came to the region while looking for somewhere to grow grapes and purchased over 1,100 acres. The community was named Anaheim, which was changed to Anaheim. Many of the 50 settlers were craftsmen, carpenters, and mechanics and though they wanted to grow grapes and make wine, did not have the experience.
The first house was built the same year it was founded, and 40 acres of land was set aside for a town center. A school was constructed as the first building in the town center. Despite the inexperience of the original settlers, the community of Anaheim was the most extensive wine producer in the state. However, during the late 19th century, disease destroyed the grapes and ruined the wine industry. Anaheim shifted its focus to other crops including lemons and oranges. Throughout the 19th century, Anaheim continued to grow with the construction of a hotel and the establishment of a newspaper.
In the early 20th century, Anaheim remained a rural area dotted with orange groves. Anaheim became a thriving city after Bennett Baxter discovered new ways to irrigate the groves, knowledge which he bestowed upon others in the city to help them prosper.
It was during the 1950s when construction of Disneyland began and was finished just one year later. Today, it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, with over 650 million people visiting the theme park since it opened. After Disneyland was built, the area began to grow with the addition of hotels and motels, while also opening additional theme parks.
Today, Anaheim is a mixture of old and new. The city has added multiple attractions including the Pearson Park Amphitheater, the Muzeo museum, restaurants, shopping centers and more. Many historic buildings still stand today, including the first house built in Anaheim and the Woelke-Stoeffel House, which was owned by one of the original families that lived in the city. It continues to be a popular tourist destination, with just Disneyland Resort contributing $4.7 billion each year to the region’s economy.