El Modena, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
El Modena, California
|
|
|---|---|
|
Unincorporated community in Orange County, CA
|
|
 |
|
| Population | |
| • Total | 11,045 |
El Modena (say it like "moh-DEE-nah") is a special kind of community. It's an unincorporated community and a neighborhood that surrounds El Modena High School. It's mostly inside the city of Orange, California, but some parts are still outside the city limits. You can find it near the intersection of Hewes Street and Chapman Avenue.
Many parts of El Modena became part of the city of Orange in the 1960s and 1970s. However, there are still some small areas, called enclaves, that are not part of the city. The name "El Modena" comes from Modena, Italy, combined with the Spanish word "el," which means "the."
Contents
A Look at El Modena's Past
El Modena has a rich history, especially for its Hispanic residents. For a long time, it was a barrio or colonia, which are Spanish words for a neighborhood or community. These areas were settled by people of Mexican heritage, as well as some early Californio and Spanish American settlers. This happened even before California became part of the United States after the Mexican American War (1846-1848).
Early Settlers and Farming Life
In 1883, a group of Quakers arrived in El Modena. Quakers are a religious group known for their peaceful beliefs. They started a local chapter of their community here.
For many years, El Modena was a farming area. From the 1880s until the late 1950s, the land was covered with citrus groves, growing fruits like oranges. Roses were also a big crop, grown and shipped to markets far away.
From Farms to Neighborhoods
Today, El Modena is no longer a farming area. It's now a fully developed urban neighborhood. Most of its residents are families with low to middle incomes. The parts of El Modena that were added to the city of Orange became wealthier during the real estate booms of the 1990s and 2000s. Interestingly, the original Quaker church building is still there, but it's now a Mexican restaurant!
Community Improvements Over Time
Like some other areas in Orange County, El Modena faced challenges in the past. By the 1970s, some older homes and areas needed a lot of improvement. Streets weren't always paved, and some areas lacked modern services like proper street lighting or sewer systems.
However, El Modena has changed a lot for the better over time. The living conditions have steadily improved, making it a better place for families.
Helping the Community Grow Stronger
In June 1993, the El Modena Family Resource Center opened. This center was created to help the community deal with safety issues and improve local life. It was very successful! Problems in the area dropped a lot, and the community became much safer. The center and the area around it are now considered a neutral zone, where different groups in the community agree to keep things peaceful.
Railroad History
The Southern Pacific Railroad used to have a train station in El Modena. It was located near La Veta Avenue, close to where La Veta Park is today.
Schools in El Modena
El Modena is home to several schools that serve the community:
- Esplanade Elementary School
- Eldorado Emerson Private School
- El Modena High School
El Modena in Books
The author Kim Stanley Robinson wrote a novel called Pacific Edge. This story is set in El Modena in the year 2065, imagining what the community might be like in the future.
