|
Home to a substantial Vietnamese-American population, forming
the northern edge of Orange County's Little Saigon, and also to a large
Korean-American population centered along Garden Grove Boulevard west of
Brookhurst Street, the city is known outside the Southern California area for
being the home of Robert H. Schuller's Crystal Cathedral, from which religious
broadcasts are made. Alonzo Cook founded Garden Grove in 1874. A school
district and Methodist church were organized that year. It remained a small
rural crossroads until the arrival of the railroad in 1905. The rail connection
helped the town prosper with appraisal of crops including oranges, walnuts,
chili peppers and later strawberries. In 1933, the Long Beach earthquake
destroyed much of the town’s central business district. The post-World War II
boom led to rapid development, and Garden Grove was incorporated as a city in
1956 with about 44,000 residents. By 1960, population had grown to 85,000; by
1970 it was 120,000. In recent years, Harbor Boulevard has become a booming
entertainment and tourism area, served by nine high-rise hotels. Well-known
Garden Grove residents include actor Steve Martin, adventurer Steve Fossett and
baseball star Lenny Dysktra. Garden Grove also lends its name to a song by the
famous Southern California band Sublime, on their eponymous album. |
