A Brief History of Yorba Linda Quiz

Answer: 1967

At the time of its incorporation, Yorba Linda's population was just over 11,000. In 2004, nearly 65,000 people lived in the town (yorbalindahistory.org).

Answer: Star

The Yorba Linda Star is a weekly paper which launched in 1917. Today, it (along with over two dozen other "community papers" in Orange County) is published weekly by the Orange County Register.

Answer: False

The so-called "Red Cars" of the Pacific Electric Railway did go to Yorba Linda, and it was the end of line -- for the La Habra - Whittier route. But, at its peak, Pacific Electric had over 1150 miles of track stretching from Ventura in the north and west, to Newport Beach in the south, and to the "Inland Empire" cities of Ontario and San Bernardino in the east. The depot building in Yorba Linda, constructed in 1911, has since served as a nursery, a real estate office, and at least two different restaurants (ehra.org)

NOTE - In 1901, Southern Pacific Railroad president Collis Huntington and his nephew, Henry, purchased the then-struggling Los Angeles Consolidated Electric Railway and the Pacific Electric was born. Within a few years, Henry Huntington had full control of the Red Car system, which thrived until the late 1950s. Today, the city of Huntington Beach is named for him.

Answer: No

In October 1970, Yorba Linda entered into a contract with the neighboring city of Brea to provide law enforcement, marking the first time in state history a police department patrolled two different cities. So unique was this arrangement, a bill had to be run through the state legislature in Sacramento to allow it (ci.brea.ca.us)! In 2013, the Orange County Sheriff's Department took over law enforcement in Yorba Linda after signing a five-year contract.

NOTE - By the 1980s, the Yorba Linda Volunteer Fire Department was disbanded. Orange County now runs fire stations within city limits.

Answer: True

Believe it or not, it is! The Yorba Family Cemetery is the centerpiece of a park within a townhome complex, located along Woodgate Drive, north of Esperanza Road and east of Fairlynn Blvd. Bernardo Yorba established the cemetery in 1858. Interestingly, he was interred in Whittier when he died later that year; it wasn't until 1923 when Yorba was buried within his own cemetery (yorbalindahistory.org).

NOTE - It is here that Yorba Linda has its own ghost, known as the "Pink Lady". She is said to be Alvina Yorba de los Reyes, a Yorba descendent who was killed in a buggy accident in 1910, on her way home from a dance at a local school. According to local legend, her ghost appears in this cemetery every two years in mid-June. But one of her relatives says she really died during childbirth. Personally, I find the legend compelling (yorbalindahistory.org).

Answer: True

In 2002, the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) relinquished control of Imperial Highway, from Yorba Linda Blvd. to Esperanza Rd./Orangethorpe Ave., to the City of Yorba Linda. This stretch of road, technically a freeway, was once part of a planned freeway project (Highway 90) which linked Yorba Linda to Marina Del Rey. Today, this portion of Imperial Highway is known officially as The Richard M. Nixon Parkway (wikipedia.org).

NOTE - Highway 90 has two segments. The first runs along Imperial Highway, from the 91 Freeway to Beach Blvd. The other segment, which has a more formal freeway "look" to it, runs from Pacific Coast Highway in Marina Del Rey to Slausen Blvd. Now known as the Marina Freeway, it was once called the Richard Nixon Freeway. The Watergate scandal prompted the name change.

Answer: False

No, but there used to be. The Richard M. Nixon Library and Birthplace is located on the site of the former Richard M. Nixon Elementary School.

Answer: Apples

The old lemon packing house building was renovated in the 1980s. It is now part of a shopping complex on Yorba Linda Blvd., near Imperial Highway. Avocado trees were once so widespread, they became the official city tree. And, as for oranges, I still recall roaming through orange groves as a child.

Answer: Olinda

Both Anaheim and Placentia attempted to annex Yorba Linda in 1963, while Brea mulled it over in 1958 (yorbalindahistory.org).

There are two villages named Olinda in California. One is a village which was annexed by Brea in the early 20th Century. The other is located in Shasta County, about halfway between Sacramento and the Oregon state line. Neither became incorporated cities.

Answer: Quaker

Opened in 1912, the original Friends Church was built near Downtown Yorba Linda, along School Street. In 1928, the congregation moved to a new site along Main Street, then they moved again to a five-acre facility on Lakeview Avenue in 1969. Charter members of the Yorba Linda Friends Church included Richard Nixon's parents, Frank and Hannah.

The original building still stands today (ylfc.org)