FMMP - Irvine area time series

Changes in this area are predominantly conversions from irrigated farming (shades of green) to urban (red). Commercial, residential, and infrastructure uses, such as a landfill, comprise most of the development. Information on these changes was gathered from air photos, local comments, and field reconnaissance. Area shown is approximately 9 miles in each direction.

Orange County has gained more than 33,500 acres of Urban land between 1984 and 2002. Prime Farmland has declined by nearly 11,500 acres during the same period. Orange County has been among the 'Top Ten Urbanizing Counties' from all categories, and from Prime Farmland, between 1996 and 2000. Statewide rankings for the 2000-2002 period are not yet available.

A brief history of Irvine

The City of Irvine is located in central Orange County and is named for the family which owned the area since the 1870's. James Irvine I was partner in a sheep-raising venture covering three major Southern California ranchos, and slowly brought a total of 110,000 acres under his family's ownership. The ranch stretched 23 miles from the Pacific Ocean to the Santa Ana River. In 1893, his son, James Irvine, Jr. incorporated the land into the Irvine Company and branched into field crops, olive and citrus orchards. By the end of World War I, more than 60,000 acres of lima beans were being grown on the Irvine ranch, and in World War II two Marine Corps air bases were developed.

Urban development on the property began in earnest in 1959, when the University of California obtained 1,500 acres from the Irvine Company. A master planned community of 50,000 was designed at that time. In 1971, residents incorporated to form the city of Irvine on an area significantly larger than the original planned community.

Irvine's most rapid population growth was in the 1970's and 80's, yet it has continued to grow consistently, with an increase of 31% between 1990 and 2000.

Division of Land Resource Protection