Old Towne, Orange Historic District

Old Towne, Orange Historic District, also known as Downtown Orange, and colloquially The Circle is a one square-mile district around Plaza Park in Orange, California, and contains many of the original structures built in the period after the city's incorporation. It is a vibrant commercial district, containing Orange County's oldest operating bank. The Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997, and is the largest National Register District in California. The Old Towne Preservation Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to maintaining the district.

Old Towne Orange Historic District
LocationRoughly bounded by Walnut Ave., Waverly St., W.O. Hart Park, La Veta Ave., Clark St., and Atchison Topeka Railroad Track, Orange, California
Coordinates33°47′16″N 117°51′10″W / 33.78778°N 117.85278°W / 33.78778; -117.85278
Architectmultiple
Architectural styleBungalow/Craftsman, Mission/Spanish Revival, Classical Revival
NRHP reference No.97000617
Added to NRHPJuly 11, 1997[1]

According to State Historic Resource Surveys, Orange is unique among the region and the state in that it has the second largest concentration of historic buildings. A list of all of the buildings and sites in Orange that appear in the National Register of Historic Places can be found at National Register of Historic Places listings in Orange County, California.

Orange International Street Fair

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The district is home to the Orange International Street Fair, which has been held annually every Labor Day weekend since 1973. The inaugural event was held to celebrate the city's centennial and pay homage to the original 1910 Orange Street Fair. The Fair's success led to the city holding the event annually ever since.[2] The event covers the Plaza, West and East Chapman Avenue, and North and South Glassell Street, and features international food and drink, live music and entertainment, and showcases for local businesses and non-profit organizations. The event typically draws several hundred thousand attendees over the course of the weekend.[3][4]

Architectural styles in Old Towne Orange

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Panorama from the center of the Plaza

References

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  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. ^ "History". Orange International Street Fair. City of Orange. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  3. ^ Shyong, Frank (August 31, 2011). "International Street Fair to draw 500,000". The Orange County Register. The Orange County Register. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  4. ^ "Plaza Events - Street Fair". City of Orange. Retrieved July 30, 2015.