Laguna Beach History

Since it was first inhabited by the Azteca tribe, Laguna Beach has been shaped by its inhabitants and their community. Some of the first non-native settlers were Mormon and came to the area in 1876. Deciding they liked it, they stayed and the city was officially founded in 1887.

Many of these settlers were given 160 acres of land by the government with the agreement that they would plant 10 acres of trees on that land. The tree of choice was the drought-tolerant eucalyptus trees that still forest much of Laguna today.

At the end of the 19th century the beautiful beaches and rolling hills had become a popular vacation destination and were often visited by celebrities for seaside rest and relaxation.

By the turn of the century Laguna was making a name for itself as an artists mecca and a tourist destination, due in large part to the natural beauty of the area, and in 1917 the city was declared an artists colony. Later in 1927, Laguna Beach was the first city in south Orange County to be incorporated.

As the artist community flourished, so did the land. Physical separation from the rest of the county created a tight knit community of active members. So in 1953 when there was talk of development in the rolling hillsides, the people took action to stop it.

The Laguna Beach Greenbelt Plan was created in the late 60’s to preserve the natural beauty of the area that had inspired artists and visitors alike. Local government and private citizens purchased as much of the land as possible to keep it natural and limit development options.

Their plan worked, which is why today Laguna still possesses a great deal of the character the community has always worked so hard to preserve.