Buena Park California
is world renown as home to some of America's most popular attractions.
In addition to the outstanding Buena Park hotels and restaurants,
Buena Park boasts Knott's Berry Farm, The Medieval Times Dinner
and Tournament, The Movieland Wax Museum, Ripley's "Believe It
or Not!" Museum and Knott's Soak City U.S.A.
History of Buena Park: Buena Park's history began
in 1783 when California belonged to Spain. Governor Pedro Fages
gave a land grant to Manuel Nieto, ex-corporal of the "Leather
Jacket" guards of the Portola Expedition. In 1834 Manuel Nieto's
land was divided into five ranchos. One of the five ranchos was
named Rancho Los Coyotes and Buena Park is located near the center
of this rancho. Rancho Los Coyotes is played a pivotal part in
American history for it was here in January 1847 that Commodore
Robert S. Stockton and his band of Americans rested in preparation
for the battle of the San Gabriel River. The battle was won and
the outcome of the Mexican War (1846-48) was settled in this area.
The exact location of Stockton's encampment is historically marked
near the Los Coyotes Country Club in the Bellehurst area of Buena
Park.
In 1885, James A. Whitaker, a wholesale grocer from Chicago, bought
690 acres of the Stearns Rancho, part of what was once the sprawling
Rancho Los Coyotes. Whitaker intended to create a cattle ranch,
but Santa Fe Railway officials convinced him to use the land for
a new town. Whitaker filed his township papers in 1887 in Los
Angeles County (Orange County had not been formed) to create the
town of Buena Park and by the 1900 census 995 people called the
area home.
Buena Park was incorporated in 1953. Today the population is approximately
80,000. |
