ROOTED HERE
Behind the downtown streets.
A whole city’s story.
Fullerton's historic core, music legacy and neighborhood restaurants make it one of north Orange County's most walkable centers.
People made the city.
These milestones are an introduction, not a complete local history. Follow the linked city and museum sources to explore the people and places behind them.Read the local historical account.
Watch the city’s history
FROM THE ARCHIVES
History of Fullerton Ca
A local history film shared by California Unearthed.
Watch on YouTube ↗- 1887
Fullerton is founded
George and Edward Amerige founded Fullerton and named it for railroad promoter George H. Fullerton.
Fullerton city reference ↗ - 1894
The citrus era
Charles Chapman purchased an orange orchard in east Fullerton, helping expand the city's citrus economy.
Fullerton city reference ↗ - 1904
City incorporation
Fullerton incorporated as a California city as oil and agriculture drove local growth.
Fullerton city reference ↗ - 1913
Fullerton College
Fullerton College was established at its present Chapman Avenue and Lemon Street location.
Fullerton city reference ↗ - 1949
The Telecaster takes shape
Leo Fender developed and refined the first commercially successful solid-body electric guitar in Fullerton.
Fullerton city reference ↗
See the history for yourself.
Walk downtown to see surviving commercial architecture, then explore the Historical Preservation Society’s museum and visiting information. Check current opening dates before setting out. Historical Preservation Society.
For deeper research, the Fullerton library resources is a starting point for archival material and research help. Historic photographs have their own permissions; we link to the collection instead of treating every old image as free to reuse.
Selected milestones researched September 13, 2026. This is an introduction, not a complete account of the city’s history.