Garden Grove, California

Garden Grove, is a city centrally located in northern Orange County, California, United States. As of 2004, the city had a total population of 170,000 people. California State Route 22, also known as the Garden Grove Freeway, passes through the city from east to west. Garden Grove is home to a substantial Vietnamese population, forming the northern edge of Orange County's Little Saigon, and also to a large Korean population centered along Garden Grove Boulevard west of Brookhurst Street. The city is possibly best known outside the Southern California area for being the home of Robert H. Schuller's Crystal Cathedral, from which religious broadcasts are made.

Related Topics:
Orange County, California - United States - 2004 - California State Route 22 - Garden Grove Freeway - Vietnamese - Little Saigon - Korean - Robert H. Schuller - Crystal Cathedral

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Garden Grove was founded by Alonzo Cook in 1874. A school district and Methodist church were organized that year. It remained a small rural crossroads until the arrival of the railroad in 1905. The rail connection helped the town prosper with crops of oranges, walnuts, chili peppers and -- later -- strawberries. In 1933, much of the town's central business district was destroyed by the Long Beach earthquake, and one person was killed. The post-World War II boom led to rapid development, and Garden Grove was incorporated as a city in 1956 with about 44,000 residents.

Related Topics:
Alonzo Cook - 1874 - Methodist - 1905 - 1933 - World War II - 1956

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By 1960, population had grown to 85,000; by 1970 it was 120,000. In the late Seventies and Eighties a significant Asian population (primarily Vietnamese and Korean) began to locate in the area. In recent years, Harbor Boulevard has become a booming entertainment and tourism area, served by nine high-rise hotels. Well-known Garden Grove residents include actor Steve Martin, adventurer Steve Fossett and baseball star Lenny Dysktra.

Related Topics:
1960 - 1970 - Steve Martin - Steve Fossett

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