Anaheim Island, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anaheim Island, Orange County, California
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 Anaheim Island, California
Location in California
Anaheim Island, California
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Orange |
| Elevation | 157 ft (48 m) |
| Population
(1990)
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| • Total | 6,800 |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP Code |
92804
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| Area code(s) | 714 |
Anaheim Island (also known as Anaheim West, Southwest Anaheim, and Garza Island) is a collection of neighborhoods in Orange County, California. These areas are "unincorporated," meaning they are not officially part of any city. They are surrounded by the cities of Anaheim, Stanton, and Garden Grove.
The areas were mostly built between the 1910s and 1960s. Different local groups have called them by various names, including "Anaheim Island," "Anaheim West," "Southwest Anaheim," and "Garza Island." Some local people even call the area the "Gaza Strip."
Contents
History of Anaheim Island
After World War II, Orange County grew very quickly. Many new cities were formed, and existing cities expanded. Cities wanted to add wealthy neighborhoods and business areas. However, they often skipped older, less wealthy neighborhoods. These areas sometimes had many families and older homes.
Many residents in these unincorporated areas did not want to join a city. They worried about higher taxes. They also wanted to keep their unique community identity. This led to the creation of "county islands." These are areas of the county that are completely or partly surrounded by cities.
Why is it called "Gaza Strip?"
Since the 1960s, these neighborhoods in west Orange County have been called the "Gaza Strip" or "Garza Strip." These nicknames come from Garza Avenue, which is the oldest street in the area. The area also has a long, narrow shape, like a strip.
It was also a popular place for illegal car races. People knew that the county sheriff's office was far away. This meant it took longer for police to respond to calls.
The "Little Gaza" Nickname
In the mid-1990s, many immigrants from the Middle East moved to west Anaheim. Many businesses serving the Arab American community opened on Brookhurst Street, next to these unincorporated areas. This led to the commercial area being called "Little Gaza."
This name combines the "Gaza Strip" nickname with the way we name ethnic neighborhoods, like "Little Italy." It's important to know that the "Gaza Strip" nickname for the area existed before many Middle Eastern immigrants arrived.
The Fire Story
There's a local story about a fire that supposedly happened in one of these unincorporated areas. It was near an Anaheim city fire station. The story says that firefighters saw the fire but didn't put it out because it wasn't in their city's area.
This story might not be true, but it shows a common problem. Sometimes, people in unincorporated areas feel left out by the cities around them.
Neighborhoods of Anaheim Island
Anaheim Island includes several distinct neighborhoods. Most homes here were built in the early 1950s. This was around the time Disneyland was being built and opened.
About 25% of the homes in Anaheim Island needed repairs in 2008. There are programs to help first-time homebuyers with lower incomes buy homes here.
La Colonia Independencia
La Colonia Independencia is a neighborhood of about 30 acres. It has 101 single-family homes. The neighborhood is bordered by Katella Avenue to the south and Pacific Place to the north.
About 1,700 people live in La Colonia. Many families have lived here for generations. They have a strong sense of community pride.
History of La Colonia
La Colonia Independencia started as a "citrus camp." Mexican farm workers lived here near orange groves. It is one of the oldest surviving Mexican American neighborhoods in Orange County.
A Catholic church, Misión del Sagrado Corazón, was built in 1926. Magnolia School No. 2 was also built for Mexican students. In 1946, a court case called Mendez v. Westminster made it illegal to separate students by race in California schools. Even so, Magnolia School No. 2 stayed open until 1954.
A community leader named Gloria Lopez helped close the school. She pushed for white children to attend the school, instead of building a new one. The school was closed and became a bus warehouse. Even in the 1970s, the community did not have paved streets, sidewalks, or sewers.
In 2001, leaders got money to improve the area. They wanted to fix past neglect and deal with an increase in crime.
West Island
West Anaheim Island covers about 187 acres and has 1,026 homes. Many of its streets have names from Louisiana, like Bienville and Gravier. It is bordered by Ball Road to the north and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks to the south.
The West Island Neighbors Group was formed when Anaheim city planned to annex the area. This group publishes a newsletter called the West Island Breeze for residents.
Southwest Anaheim
Southwest Anaheim is a neighborhood with 171 homes. It was built in 1955. It is near the corner of Katella Avenue and Gilbert Street. It is also next to La Colonia Independencia.
Sherwood Forest and Thistle Development
Sherwood Forest is a development of 406 homes built in 1955. It covers about 95 acres. It is located between Brookhurst Street and Gilbert Street.
Next to Sherwood Forest is the Thistle development. This area also has 88 homes and is unincorporated.
Rustic Lane
The Rustic Lane neighborhood is about 9 acres. It has 347 homes and 1,736 residents. It is located north of Katella Avenue.
Mac Island
Mac Island has 116 single-family homes on about eighteen acres of land. It is near the corner of Katella and Magnolia Avenues. About 441 people live in this neighborhood.
Education
Students in Anaheim Island attend elementary schools from two different districts. These are the Anaheim City School District and the Magnolia School District. For middle school and high school, students go to schools in the Anaheim Union High School District.
The Anaheim Public Library and the Stanton branch of the Orange County Public Libraries serve the residents of Anaheim Island.
Public Safety
Police services for Anaheim Island neighborhoods are provided by the Orange County Sheriff's Department. The California Highway Patrol handles traffic enforcement.
Fire protection and emergency services are provided by the Anaheim Fire Department. This is done through an agreement with the Orange County Fire Authority.
