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® Building ❑ Structure ❑ Object ❑ Site MOVED? ® No ❑ Yes ❑ Unknown Date: ❑ District ❑ Element of District ❑ Other Original Location: STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: (Discuss importance in terms of historical or architectural context as defined by theme, period, geographic scope, and integrity.) Santa Ana was founded by William Spurgeon in 1869 as a speculative townsite on part of the Spanish land grant known as Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana. Early growth and development was stimulated by the arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1878 and the Santa Fe Railroad in 1886. By the end of the 1880s, Santa Ana's downtown business district was defined by five city blocks of brick commercial buildings on Fourth Street, with the heart of the city at the intersection of Fourth and Main Streets. At this time, Santa Ana was governed by the County of Los Angeles. On June 1, 1886, a majority of the eligible voters amongst Santa Ana's 2,000 citizens voted to incorporate as a city of the sixth class. A Board of Trustees was elected, with William Spurgeon selected to be the first Chairman. In August 1888, with a population of 5,000, the city reincorporated as a city of the fifth class. The following year Santa Ana was acknowledged as one of the leading communities in the area in 1889 when it became the seat of the newly created County of Orange. Old Santa Ana City Hall is the most prominent and tangible symbol of the municipal development of the City. It was a source of pride to citizens when it opened, and was described in the Santa Ana Daily Register (November 27, 1935) as having "beauty in design" and "sleek, modern, sturdy, and with ample room." In addition to its historic importance as the seat of city government and the place where important decisions affecting the community were made, Old Santa Ana City Hall is architecturally significant as a fine example of the variant of the Art Deco style often associated with WPA projects. The building is also significant as an example of the work of architect W. Horace Austin. Due to its high level of integrity, all aspects of the exterior of Old Santa Ana City Hall, including materials and finishes, design and composition, building elements and architectural detailing, are considered to be character - defining and should be preserved. SUMMARY/CONCLUSION: This building was individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Under the regulations implementing the California Register of Historical Resources, the building is also listed in the California Register. Listed in the Santa Ana Register of Historical Property, the Old Santa Ana City Hall has been categorized as "Landmark" because it "is on the national register," "is on the state register," "has historical/cultural significance to the City of Santa Ana," and "has a unique architectural significance (Municipal Code, Section 30-2.2). OWNER AND ADDRESS: Page 3 of cmWistaric\tcmplatcs\Main N 217 (Old City Hall) 10/30/01