Irvine is the country's largest and best-known planned community. Now a city of over 150,000 people, its housing "villages" and business developments were sculpted from portions of the huge Irvine Ranch, purchased by James Irvine in 1864. Cattle and sheep once grazed the flat valley, but James Irvine began switching from ranching to farming in the late 1800s.

Irvine's growth as a residential and employment area was spurred by the decision to build a local University of California campus. In 1960, The Irvine Co. donated 1,000 acres and sold 500 acres to the university system for the new campus.

In 1970, the company announced an ambitious plan to turn 43 square miles of undeveloped land into a master-planned community. Rows of houses rapidly began replacing rows of crops. From 1970 to 1980, Irvine was California's fastest growing city.

The city also prides itself on its parks, bicycle trails and recreational programs for children.

Police, fire, ambulance/paramedics: Dial 911

Police Department:
One Civic Center Plaza 92623-9575
phone: 949-724-7200
Fire Department:
phone 714-744-0400

Children's Hospital of Orange County
(714) 997-3000
455 South Main Street, Orange 92868
Hoag Memorial Hospital
(949) 645-8600
1 Hospital Road, Newport Beach 92658-6100
Irvine Medical Center
(949) 753-2000
16200 Sand Canyon, Irvine 92618
UCI Medical Center
(714) 456-7890
101 City Drive South, Orange 92868

Irvine Park Information
Number of parks in city: 16
Park information: phone 949-724-6604

County Libraries:

Irvine Valley College Library
Phone: (949) 451-5100
University of California, Irvine (949) 824-6836

Branch city libraries:

Heritage Park Regional Library
Phone: (949) 551-7151
14361 Yale Avenue, Irvine
University Park Library, Phone: (949) 786-4001
4512 Sandburg Way, Irvine

Post Office locations:
14982 Sand Canyon Ave.
15642 Sand Canyon Ave.
17192 Murphy Ave.
4255 Campus Dr., #100-A

Cable TV:
Cox Communications 714-720-2020
Gas:
The Gas Company 800-427-2200
Electricity:
Southern California Edison 800-655-4555
Telephone service:
Pacific Bell 800-310-2355
Trash collection:
Waste Management 714-837-0427
Water:
Irvine Ranch Water District 714-453-5300