Corona Founders Monument facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Corona Founders Monument |
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South Riverside - Corona California in 1887
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| Location | near Corona, California |
| Built | 1936 |
| Designated | June 6, 1960 |
| Reference no. | 738 |
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The Corona Founders Monument is a special monument built in 1936. It honors the people who first started the City of Corona in Riverside County, California. This monument is recognized as a California Historical Landmark (No. 738). It received this important title on June 6, 1960. You can find the monument in Corona City Park, located on 6th Street in Corona.
The founders first named their new city South Riverside. This name came from the company they created, called the South Riverside Land and Water Company.
In 1886, the founders bought land from two old Mexican land grants. These were the Rancho La Sierra and the Rancho Temescal. On this land, they started planting many fruit trees. They grew orange and lemon trees. By 1912, Corona had huge groves, covering 5,000 acres. These groves grew lemons, oranges, grapefruit, limes, and tangerines.
The citrus industry was very important to Corona. About 80% of all jobs in the city were related to growing and processing citrus fruits. This industry continued in Corona until the 1980s. Corona was even known as the Lemon Capital of the World for a while. Later, Ventura County, California took over that title. You can still learn about Corona's citrus history at the Corona Heritage Park & Museum.
On July 13, 1896, South Riverside officially became a city. At that time, its name was changed to Corona. The word "Corona" means "Crown" in Spanish. In 1887, H.C. Kellogg designed the city in a unique way. He laid it out as a one-mile wide circle. Around this circle was a larger road called Grand Boulevard, which was three miles long. North of the circle, you would find the railroad station and citrus packing houses. To the south were vast acres of citrus groves, known as the "Queen Colony."
On May 4, 1886, the founders started the South Riverside Land and Water Company. They bought land for $110,000.
- They bought 11,510 acres from the Yorba family from Rancho La Sierra.
- They also bought 5,000 acres from the Serrano family from Rancho Temescal.
Who Were Corona's Founders?
The people who founded South Riverside, which became the City of Corona, were:
- R. B. Taylor - Robert B. Taylor (1849-1940) was born in Ohio. He moved to California in 1886. He hired H.C. Kellogg, the city's engineer. Robert Taylor also donated land for the city's churches.
- George L. Joy (1832-1896) - Born in Vermont, George Joy came to Corona in 1887. He was the president of South Riverside for three years. He also helped build the First Baptist Church in 1894. He was a leader among the founders from Iowa.
- Samuel Merrill (1822-1899) - Samuel Merrill was born in Maine. He was a veteran of the Civil War from Iowa. He also served as the 7th Governor of Iowa. He was also one of the founders of the City of Rialto.
- A. S. Garretson - A.S. Garretson was a banker from Sioux City. He was also a vice president of the Sioux Rail company. He built the large and fancy Temescal Hotel in Corona.
- Adolph Rimpau (1857-1916) - Adolph Rimpau was born in California. He owned the Rimpau Estate Company with his brother. He was also an important pioneer in Anaheim, California.
H.C. Kellogg: The City's Engineer
H.C. Kellogg (1855-1921) was South Riverside's chief civil engineer. He was also an architect and builder. He was born in Napa Valley, California. His family moved to Anaheim, California, in 1869 to farm.
H.C. Kellogg studied to become a civil engineer. In 1886, he started working on the design of South Riverside. He created the city's unique "Circle City" layout. Later, he worked on other projects, including a dam in Arizona. He also became the City Engineer of Santa Ana. He returned to work in Corona again in 1908.
Monument Marker Information
The marker at the Corona Founders Monument in Corona, California, says:
- R. B. Taylor, George L. Joy, Samuel Merrill, A. S. Garretson, and Adolph Rimpau, after purchasing lands of La Sierra Rancho and El Temescal grant, founded the citrus colony and town of Corona on May 4, 1886.
