Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Irvine Company
The Irvine Company is a century-old, privately held company based in Orange County, California, and specializing in real estate development. It grew out of the 185 square mile (479 km²) ranch founded by James Irvine and two other partners in 1864 from Mexican and Spanish land grants. The ranch covers a third of Orange County and spans from the Pacific Ocean from Newport Bay to Laguna Beach up to Santa Ana Canyon and the boundary of the Cleveland National Forest.
Today, the company is known in Orange County as the developer of master-planned communities throughout Central and Southern Orange County. A partial list of Irvine Company cities with its characteristic tract homes :
The communities are marked with a suburban feel and attract relatively affluent residents. Despite the large population of the cities, public transportation remains a minor factor, with most residents choosing to drive private cars.
The company donated a part of its ranch near Newport Beach to the University of California for construction of a new UC campus. The university named the new campus (UC Irvine) after the company, and the city of Irvine grew around it.
The Irvine Company is now owned by Donald Bren, who purchased all outstanding shares in 1996.
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