History of Laguna Beach, California in Timeline

Laguna Beach is a coastal city in Orange County, California, known for its mild climate, picturesque coves, and dedication to environmental conservation. Situated in Southern California along the Pacific Ocean, it serves as a popular seaside resort destination. According to the 2020 census, the city has a population of approximately 23,032 residents.

1904: Laguna Beach post office name correction in 1904

In 1904, the postmaster Nicholas Isch successfully petitioned for a name correction to Laguna Beach for the city's post office.

1913: Founding of Laguna Beach Art Association in 1913

Since the founding of Laguna Beach Art Association in 1913, the community has been considered an open-minded artist village.

1913: Silent films made at local coves starting in 1913

Starting in 1913, dozens of silent films were made at local coves with actors such as Harold Lloyd, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

1918: First art gallery opened in 1918

In 1918, the first art gallery opened and later became the Laguna Beach Art Museum.

1918: Creation of the Laguna Beach Art Association in 1918

The Laguna Art Museum is rooted in the development of Laguna Beach as an art community with the creation of the Laguna Beach Art Association in 1918.

1920: Laguna Beach artist community in 1920

In 1920, Laguna Beach had approximately 300 residents, with a large proportion of them working in creative fields.

1920: Laguna Playhouse founded in 1920

The Laguna Playhouse, noted as the "oldest continuously running theatre on the west coast", was founded in 1920.

1921: Precursors to The Festival of Arts and the Pageant of the Masters began in 1921

In 1921, precursors to The Festival of Arts and the Pageant of the Masters began.

1921: History of Orange County

In his book, History of Orange County, California, Samuel Armor cited the permanent homestead of Nate Brooks as the beginning of the modern-day town and described Brooks as the "Father of Laguna Beach" in 1921.

1926: Completion of Pacific Coast Highway in 1926

In 1926, the Pacific Coast Highway was completed, which was expected to cause a population boom.

1926: Historic tower built at Victoria Beach in 1926

In 1926, there is a historic tower built at Victoria Beach.

June 29, 1927: Laguna Beach Incorporated as a City on June 29, 1927

On June 29, 1927, the municipal government for Laguna Beach incorporated as a city.

1927: Laguna Beach incorporated as a city

In 1927, Laguna Beach officially incorporated as a city.

1927: Laguna Beach government incorporated as a city in 1927

In 1927, the current government of Laguna Beach was incorporated as a city.

1927: Incorporation of Laguna Beach in 1927

Laguna Beach was incorporated in 1927.

1930: Laguna Beach appeared as a city in 1930

After incorporation in 1927, Laguna Beach appeared as a city in the 1930 U.S. Census as part of Laguna Beach Township.

1933: Discovery of Laguna Woman skull in 1933

In 1933, the first fossilized skull of a paleoindian found in California was uncovered during construction on St. Ann's Drive and was named "Laguna Woman".

1933: Pageant of the Masters founded in 1933

The Pageant of the Masters, founded in 1933, is held annually during the summer months.

1936: The Festival of Arts and the Pageant of the Masters established in their present-day form by Roy Ropp in 1936

In 1936, The Festival of Arts and the Pageant of the Masters were established in their present-day form by Roy Ropp.

1940: Laguna Beach Historic Survey classified pre-1940

The Laguna Beach Historic Survey noted the location of pre-1940 buildings and determined which had historic significance.

1944: Council-manager government adopted

In 1944, Laguna Beach adopted a council-manager form of government.

1944: City adopted council-manager government in 1944

In 1944, the city adopted the council–manager form of government.

1955: Brooks Street Surfing Classic begun in 1955

In 1955, the Brooks Street Surfing Classic began and is a "contender for the world's longest running surf competition".

1955: Laguna Open Volleyball Tournament began in 1955

The Laguna Open Volleyball Tournament began in 1955 and, according to tournament directors, it is the second oldest volleyball tournament in the United States.

1961: Laguna Beach School of Art founded

In 1961, the Festival of Arts and Laguna Art Museum founded the Laguna Beach School of Art, which would later become the Laguna College of Art & Design (LCAD).

1962: Population growth in 1962

By 1962, the city's population had risen from 1,900 residents in 1927 to more than 10,000 residents, and the area became four times larger.

1965: Founding of Sawdust Art Festival in 1965

The Sawdust Art Festival was founded in 1965 as a counterculture alternative to the Festival of Arts.

1966: Art-A-Fair began in 1966

The Art-A-Fair began in 1966.

1967: Brotherhood of Eternal Love relocated to Laguna Beach in 1967

In early 1967, John Griggs and other founding members of the Brotherhood of Eternal Love relocated from Modjeska Canyon to the Woodland Drive neighborhood of Laguna Beach.

1968: Laguna Greenbelt founded

In 1968, local conservationists founded Laguna Greenbelt to conserve the hills and canyons surrounding Laguna Beach.

1972: "Laguna Sunrise" song

In 1972, Black Sabbath released the instrumental "Laguna Sunrise", which was inspired by a sunrise guitarist Tony Iommi witnessed.

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1976: 'Vic' Skimboarding World Championship started in 1976

Started in 1976, the 'Vic' Skimboarding World Championship is held at Aliso Beach in Laguna Beach and is the longest running skim boarding contest on the pro circuit.

1977: Art-A-Fair built an exhibition site in 1977

In 1977, Art-A-Fair built an exhibition site.

1980: Laguna Beach Historic Survey conducted

Between 1980 and 1981, the city conducted the Laguna Beach Historic Survey, noting the location of pre-1940 buildings to determine which had historic significance.

1981: Laguna Beach Historic Survey conducted

Between 1980 and 1981, the city conducted the Laguna Beach Historic Survey, noting the location of pre-1940 buildings to determine which had historic significance.

1982: First openly gay elected official in southern California in 1982

In 1982, Robert F. Gentry was elected, marking the first openly gay elected official in southern California and the first openly gay mayor in the state.

1988: George H. W. Bush won the city

In 1988, George H. W. Bush was the last Republican to win the city.

October 1993: Fire in Laguna Beach in October 1993

In October 1993, a fire in Laguna Beach destroyed or damaged 441 homes and burned more than 14,000 acres.

2004: Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County aired

In 2004, MTV created the reality television show "Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County", which aired for three seasons.

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February 2007: Laguna joined U.S. Mayors Climate Initiative

In February 2007, Laguna Beach's city council unanimously voted to join the U.S. Mayors Climate Initiative.

2007: Closure of the Boom Boom Room in 2007

In 2007, The Boom Boom Room of the Coast Inn, a nightclub and disco that predominately catered to the gay community, shut down.

2008: Laguna Beach rejected Proposition 8

In 2008, Laguna Beach rejected Proposition 8, a ballot initiative that revoked marriage rights for same-sex couples in California. Also in 2008, during the Democratic presidential preference primary, Laguna Beach favored Barack Obama over Hillary Rodham Clinton.

2009: Median household income

During 2009, Laguna Beach had a median household income of $94,325.

2010: Population data in 2010

In 2010, the United States census reported that 22,723 people resided in the city of Laguna Beach.

2011: Wildlands constituted

As of 2011, more than 20,000 acres of contiguous wildlands constituted The Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Jim Dilley Preserve, Crystal Cove State Park, and the Aliso-Wood Canyons Wilderness Park.

2011: Ken Frank retired

In 2011, Ken Frank, one of the longest-serving city managers in Orange County history, retired after 31 years of service.

January 2012: San Onofre Nuclear Reactor shutdown

In January 2012, the San Onofre Nuclear Reactor was shutdown.

2012: Laguna Beach State Marine Reserve established

In 2012, the Laguna Beach State Marine Reserve (LBSMR) was established, extending from Irvine Cove to Treasure Island Beach, making most of the coastal area a no-take zone.

April 2013: City requested San Onofre Reactor not be restarted

In April 2013, Laguna Beach became the first Orange County city to formally request that the San Onofre Nuclear Reactor not be restarted after its January 2012 shutdown.

2013: Population living below poverty line in 2013

During 2013, 6.3% of the population of Laguna Beach was living below the federal poverty line.

2013: LCAD enrollment

In 2013, the Laguna College of Art & Design (LCAD) had an enrollment of approximately 450 students.

2014: Aliso Creek Water Reclamation Facility went into operation

In 2014, the Aliso Creek Water Reclamation Facility went into operation and a north–south bicycle route was completed through town.

2015: Laguna Art Museum held "The Canyon Project: Artivism" exhibition

In 2015, the Laguna Art Museum held an exhibition on the Laguna Canyon Project, titled "The Canyon Project: Artivism". The exhibition ran until 2016.

2015: Brooks Street Surfing Classic in 2015

The Brooks Street Surfing Classic competition has been held 52 times from 1955 to 2015.

May 23, 2017: Laguna Beach becomes smoke-free on May 23, 2017

On May 23, 2017, the Laguna Beach Council deemed the city a smoke-free place by imposing Ordinance 1624 to prohibit smoking in all public places.

2017: Major renovation of the Festival of Arts Fine Art Show in 2017

The Festival of Arts Fine Art Show underwent a major renovation in 2017.

2020: Laguna Beach population in 2020

In 2020, the census recorded the population of Laguna Beach as 23,032.

2020: Population of Laguna Beach in 2020

The 2020 United States census reported that Laguna Beach had a population of 23,032.

2023: Katrina Foley represents Laguna Beach

In 2023, Democrat Katrina Foley represented Laguna Beach in the fifth district of the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

2023: Median household income and poverty line in 2023

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $140,508, and about 2.1% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line.