Orange County Almanac

Huntington Beach is one of Orange County’s oldest cities. Founded in 1901 as “Pacific City,” the community’s name was changed three years later to honor Henry Huntington, the famed Pasadena developer.

Huntington’s Pacific Electric “Red Car” Railway had a stop at the base of the pier, at Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway.

By 1920, Standard Oil Co. began extensive drilling along the beaches. The result was a forest of derricks and the nickname, Oil City.

As oil drilling decreased, land values went up and there was more land for housing tracts.

Today, this little boom town is once again in the state of economic expansion and growth as city officials redevelop Main Street.

Today

Here’s a chance to explore Greece without leaving Orange County.

Art historian Irini Vallera-Rickerson will present a lecture on Greece’s history and culture at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa.

The lecture, which will include a slide show, begins at 8 p.m. at the Forum room. Tickets are $10.

A Greek dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. at the Student Center. Tickets are an additional $20. Proceeds from both events will benefit the college’s art gallery.