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Oil, Oranges and Opportunity

About

Located at at the north end of Orange County, Brea's history is rich in both oranges and tar from its old Olinda history to its modern retail-center state.

Brea's population as of the 2017 Census was 42,777. Brea's most notable features include Downtown Brea, the Brea Mall, its Civic and Community Centers, and its extensive Art Galler that extends througout the city.


Imagery

Explore Brea's history through various images and photos

Animations & Videos

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History

Translating to "tar" in Spanish, Brea-Olinda came to fruition when the Union Oil Company purchased 1,200 acres of land to be used for oil development in 1894. Upon finding the first oil well, Olinda Oil Well #1 in 1898, an oil boom was created that led to the city of Brea that exists today.

The eventual discovery of oranges and the succession of Orange County included the city of Brea, and helped for the decline of oil and paved the way for Brea's modern infrastructure of today. The combination of oil and oranges leading to Brea's success helped give Brea its motto of "Oil, Oranges and Opportunity."

Map

Use this interactive Google Map to explore the city of Brea