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Impact of Urbanization on Agriculture in Orange County, California William S. Kerr, III* Orange County, California, one of the nation's most rapidly growing Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas, is an example of man's ability to transform not only the landscape but also his own economic activities through urbanization. An attempt is made in this paper to examine the variables inherent in urbanization in the past and the present and to project Orange County's agricultural future on the basis of historical patterns and recent field study. Orange County is bounded by Los Angeles, San Bernadino, Riverside, and San Diego counties and the Pacific Ocean along a 37mile littoral. The Santa Ana Mountain crest delineates the inner margin of the 782-square-mile area. Foothills and coalescing alluvial fans characterize a significant proportion of the southeastern half of the county. A 15-mile-wide continuation of the Los Angeles Lowland extends southward to impinge against east-west oriented foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains (Figure 1). The dissected foothill and mountain zones restrict dense tract settlement to the coastal and alluvial lowlands where the bulk of the present population growth is taking place. Population Expansion Pattern Orange County is a reflection of Los Angeles County's transformation from agriculture to diverse manufacturing and its attendant demographic characteristics. Once an important producer of agricultural commodities, especially the crop for which the political unit * Dr. Kerr is an assistant professor of geography at The University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida. This paper was presented at the meeting of the Association at San Fernando Valley State College in June 1969. 161 162 ASSOCIATION OF PACIFIC COAST GEOGRAPHERS Orange County California Lot An«·»· iver33 30 Pacific Ocean San Di«go CO. 1 Santa Ana Ml«. 2 Foothill Zona fj 3 Cooitol and Alluvial Lowland· 20 Figure 1. Orange County, California was named, Orange County is now being overwhelmed by human population. To some, this is an example of man's progress in a technologically advancing state. To others, the engulfment of agricultural land is a reminder of man's unruly and irrational powers as a causal force. What is the pattern of population growth as it relates to agricultural activities in the county? Due to the moderating influence of irrigation and agricultural activities such as orchard and field crops, the population prior to 1940 increased relatively slowly.1 Orange County's population in 1940 was 13,000 people.2 The economic impetus triggered by World War II 1 For a more detailed study of early 20th Century agriculture in Orange County see Arthur W. Carthew, "The Lower Rasin of the Santa Ana River" (unpublished Master's thesis, University of California, 1931). 2 The Growth and Economic Stature of Orange County (Los Angeles: Economic Research Division, Security First National Rank, May, 1967), 4. YEARROOK · VOLUME 34 · 1972 163 Orange County - Urban Expansion Sonto Santa Sania Ano a San Diego Frwy Figure 2. Urban Expansion in Orange County, 1950 to 1967 and secondary and tertiary expansion following the war resulted in a population of 216,000 at the end of the decade. An era of mass inmigration began in the early 1950's. The influx was largely a result of (1) increased employment opportunities in outlying areas, (2) a desire to live in single-family dwellings which were constructed rapidly and inexpensively on the relatively unoccupied coastal plain, and (3) the completion of the Santa Ana Freeway which provided access to the diverse employment areas of Los Angeles in little more than a half hour. In addition to the somewhat minor factor of natural birth rate, a substantial percentage of the county's population came from other areas of the United States. These migrants found incentives in the increased employment opportunities created by defense, aerospace, manufacturing, and service industries beginning to appear in the 164ASSOCIATION OF PACIFIC COAST GEOGRAPHERS mid-1950's. Perception of climatic amenities and pleasant living conditions may have provided some additional motivation formigration. By 1970 the population had grown to 1,420,3863, an increase of 353 percent since 1950. The January 1969 population estimate is about 1.26 million. Figure 2 displays Orange County urban encroachment as a result of the...

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