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Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Station
Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Station The former Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Station in Orange, Calif.

Orange

California, United States
Also known as: Richland
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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Last updated
•History

News •

Orange County sues Teamsters over picketing at landfills amid delays to trash services • Nov. 11, 2026, 9:09 PM ET (The Orange County Register)
ICE activity outside OC jail and SAPD headquarters raises sanctuary concerns • Nov. 6, 2026, 5:21 PM ET (The Orange County Register)
Coastal O.C. election counts show close battles and clear leads • Nov. 4, 2026, 9:17 PM ET (Los Angeles Times)
Parking Management Services of America Marks 25 Years Serving Los Angeles and Orange County • Nov. 3, 2026, 3:19 PM ET (Des Moines Register)
What the El Niño worst-case scenario would look like in California • Nov. 2, 2026, 6:00 AM ET (Los Angeles Times)

Orange, city, Orange county, southern California, U.S. Adjacent to Anaheim (west) and Santa Ana (south), it lies along the Santa Ana River. Part of Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana, the city was founded as Richland in 1869 by Alfred Chapman and Andrew Glassell, who received the land as payment for legal fees. The town was laid out in 1871 and renamed in 1875 for its orange groves. Both the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe railways arrived in the 1880s, encouraging development of the area. Orange was initially a citrus-packing centre. It subsequently developed with the Los Angeles metropolitan area and acquired some light manufacturing. Orange is the seat of Chapman University (established 1861 in Los Angeles, relocated 1954) and a community college (1985). Inc. city, 1888. Pop. (2010) 136,416; (2020) 139,911.

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