December 28 marks the City of Irvine's 55th anniversary — but our story began long before incorporation. How well do you know Irvine’s history? Put your knowledge to the test!

How did the City of Irvine get its name?

In 1864, James Irvine partnered with Benjamin and Thomas Flint and Llewellyn Bixby to buy the land that formed the core of the historic ranch. Irvine bought out his partners by 1878. His son, James Irvine Jr., inherited the land and officially incorporated the Irvine Company in 1894, shifting operations toward agriculture and orchards.

Because a town called Irvine already existed in California, our community was originally named Myford in honor of Irvine’s infant son. In 1914, after the northern California Irvine changed its name to Carson Hill, our town adopted the name Irvine.

In 1918, the Irvine Ranch was home to 60,000 acres of what crop?

Lima beans. Frederick Culver, a tenant farmer on the Irvine Ranch, planted lima beans here in 1902 and became one of the most successful farmers in Orange County. By 1918, the Irvine Ranch had 60,000 acres of lima beans, helping to secure its distinction as "the largest bean field in the world under one management.”

The crop was harvested in the fall, and sheep, which also lived on the Ranch, would graze the land clean before the beans were replanted every May. During World War I, lima beans were an important food staple for troops thanks to their high protein and carbohydrate content and low spoilage rate.

Which Irvine Public Library branch is a replica of the original Irvine family home?

Katie Wheeler Library is a replica of the original Irvine family home, which was damaged in a fire in 1965 and torn down years later. The Katie Wheeler Library was designed by architects who studied the original home's blueprints. It opened in 2008 and was named after Wheeler, a philanthropist and James H. Irvine's granddaughter, who was born and raised in the home.

What City street is named in honor of a national scouting event that took place in the 1950s?

It's Jamboree Road! In 1953, it was an 8-mile dirt road that led thousands of Scouts to the Third National Boy Scout Jamboree, which was staged on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean at what is now Newport Center/Fashion Island.

What animal attraction was located near Irvine Center Drive and Irvine Spectrum Center from 1970 to 1984?

On June 16, 1970, Harry Shuster opened Lion Country Safari near Irvine Center Drive and the Irvine Spectrum Center. The attraction allowed visitors to spend a day on safari as they drove through a four-mile African wildlife preserve trail. It also included an African Express Train, Hippo Pedal Boats, and the Zambezi River.

One of Lion Country Safari's most famous residents was an elderly, toothless lion named Frasier. Over the span of nearly a year and a half, he fathered 33 cubs at the safari park. The State Assembly named him Father of the Year.


For more facts about Irvine's history, visit the Irvine Historical Museum.