The Real Orange County Trivia Quiz

Answer: The South Coast Plaza Mall

With over 375 stores and restaurants, South Coast Plaza located in Costa Mesa was Orange County's largest electricity consumer from at least 1995 to 2004. The mall has several wings, and stories. Stores include everything from Sears Dept. Store to Chanel of Paris.

Answer: The Bowers Museum of Cultural Art

The Bowers Museum, located in Santa Ana is Orange County's largest museum. Started in 1936 by the Bowers family, it was first devoted to the history of Orange County. It closed in the mid-1980's with the understanding that it would reopen with a new agenda and purpose.

It reopened in 1992 as a cultural museum dedicated to promoting understanding between cultures through art. It is now one of the largest museums in the United States with this goal.

Answer: The John Wayne Airport

The airport was renamed after John Wayne following his death, as a tribute to one of Orange County's most recognized citizens. Prior to its name change it was simply known as the Orange County Airport.

Answer: Santa Ana

Although the John Wayne Airport does not compare in size to many of the nation's larger airports, such as O'Hare and JFK, it still is considered to be one of the busiest around because of the hundreds of small private aircraft that use it on a regular basis.

Santa Ana is one of the largest cities in Orange County.

Answer: The Wedge

The Wedge is legend amongst California surfers for its dangerous, yet thrilling waves. The area is where Newport Harbor and the Pacific Ocean meet. Because of tides, and undersea rock formations, the waves are quite thrilling to surf, but very dangerous too. Only the best surfers attempt to surf here.

Answer: they owned a bean farm

The Segerstrom family developed what would become Orange County's largest shopping mall in 1967 on what was their original bean farm. Since that time, many more business have been developed on their land. Where their farm once was now stands highrise office buildings and a performing arts center, as well as South Coast Plaza and numerous restaurants.

The Segerstroms support the arts in Orange County, as well as the YMCA and other charitable causes.

Answer: rancheros

The early Spanish settlers called their farms, rancheros, which is where we get the word ranch in English. The land was owned by the original families until after California came under U.S. jurisdiction. Some of the rancheros were given over to Americans, but many of the original families were able to keep their land.

Many opportunistic American settlers married into some of the early Spanish families.

Answer: El Camino Real

The El Camino Real is the name given to the road by Father Serra as he started his missions in California. Today, where the original road is still known, or is still used, such as a real road, replicas of mission bells stand. San Juan Capistrano is the only mission still standing in Orange County that Father Serra started.

Answer: Disneyland

Disneyland, of course. It is not only Orange County's biggest tourist attraction, it is California's too. Opened in 1955 by Walt Disney it is the original of his theme parks. Millions have been enchanted by this magic kingdom.

Answer: Mrs. Knotts' fried chicken dinners

Knotts Berry farm, was really that, a berry farm. Mrs. Knott started serving fried chicken dinners as a way to supplement the income from the produce, during the depression. Soon word spread of the delicious dinners, and hundreds would be lining up to partake, including such movie stars as Roy Rogers, Clark Gable and a little known actor at the time, Ronald Reagan. Mr. Knott started the Ghost Town as a way to amuse those standing in line.

The dinners are still being served there, and the Ghost Town is still there too.

Answer: all of these

Laguna Beach is a charming town. It is filled with artists and their shops, along with wonderful restaurants and hotels. The beach is very nice, and is known for its volleyball tournaments. Laguna Beach also has the Laguna Beach Playhouse Theater, which stages many fine theatrical productions each year. The town is famous for its annual Laguna Beach Arts Festival held each summer.

Answer: University of California, Davis

The University of California, Davis is located in central California in the city of Davis. Irvine and Fullerton are both cities in Orange County. Vanguard University is a private university located in Costa Mesa.

Answer: Richard Nixon

Richard Nixon is buried at the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda. He was born in Yorba Linda to a Quaker family. Orange Countians still love him to this day.

Answer: Taco Bell

Taco Bell's headquarters are in the city of Irvine. If you want to go to 'taco college', that is where you will be sent. Yum, yum, I can taste the burritos already!

Answer: $350,000

The average home price in Orange County in June of 2004 was $350,000. This accounts for all home sales, including condominiums and trailer parks. If you want to live at the ocean be prepared to pay over one million dollars, and that price doesn't even guarantee you a view.