Orange highlight
Historic Old Towne Orange
The Old Towne Orange Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997, spans approximately one square mile and holds California's largest concentration of National Register historic buildings.
Old Towne Orange centers on the city's original plaza, built after incorporation in 1888. Most of the historic buildings in the district were constructed between 1888 and 1920 in styles including Craftsman Bungalow, Mediterranean Revival, Spanish Colonial Revival, and Victorian architecture. Orange chose to preserve these homes and buildings when many other Southern California cities demolished their early structures in the 1960s, making the district unusual in the region.
The historic plaza remains the commercial and social heart of Old Towne, hosting Orange County's oldest continuously operating bank and many locally-owned restaurants, shops, and gathering spaces. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997 and is California's largest National Register Historic District, reflecting the city's commitment to maintaining its architectural heritage and community identity.
For families and individuals with roots in Orange, the stability of a historic neighborhood embodies the longer-term thinking that life insurance serves. A 20- or 30-year term policy—selected to cover a mortgage, children's upbringing, or years of family stability in the community—aligns with how people approach planning in a place they intend to stay and build.