Santa Ana in Orange County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Santa Ana's Birthplace

Photographed by Michael Kindig, May 11, 2008

1. Santa Ana's Birthplace Marker

Inscription. Here on October 10, 1869, his 40th birthday, William H. Spurgeon climbed a sycamore tree to inspect this mustard covered valley. Impressed, he bought 74.9 acres of the Santiago de Santa Ana, and laid out a townsite between First and Seventh, Spurgeon and Broadway.

Erected 1976 by Orange County Board of Supervisors and Orange County Historical Commission. (Marker Number 12.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Landmarks. A significant historical date for this entry is October 10, 1869.

Location. 33° 44.924′ N, 117° 52.144′ W. Marker is in Santa Ana, California, in Orange County. It is on West 5th Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 226 West 5th Street, Santa Ana CA 92701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles

and in the Peninsular Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Orange County Courthouse (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dragon Confectionary (about 600 feet away); Chinatown Memorial 2024 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Delta III Rocket (approx. 1.7 miles away); First Advent Christian Church (approx. 2.3 miles away); Hewes Mansion (approx. 2½ miles away); Stagecoach Stop (approx. 2.6 miles away); Tustin Hardware (approx. 2.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Santa Ana.

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Another marker is no longer nearby. The Episcopal Church of the Messiah (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

West 5th Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Kindig, May 11, 2008

2. West 5th Street

Marker is located in the shadows to the left of the tree trunk. The best access would be from the parking lot behind the marker.

Marker is in a parking lot next to a tree and behind a fence image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tatiana Zavala, March 20, 2025

3. Marker is in a parking lot next to a tree and behind a fence

Base of marker has drawing of a face image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tatiana Zavala, March 20, 2025

4. Base of marker has drawing of a face

Easy to spot when you're in the parking lot because of the bright colored paint

Credits. This page was last revised on April 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 29, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. This page has been viewed 1,146 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 29, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 2. submitted on November 30, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 3, 4. submitted on March 25, 2025, by Tatiana Zavala of Orange County, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.